An important way to maintain personal health is a healthy diet . A healthy diet includes many types of plant and animal foods that provide nutrients to the body . These nutrients give the body energy and enable it to maintain its functions . Nutrients help build and strengthen bones , muscles and tendons , as well as regulate body processes ( e . g . blood pressure ). The food guide pyramid is a pyramid-shaped guide to healthy foods divided into sections . Each section shows the recommended intake for each food group .