Think of your diet as a three-legged stool. Your job is to keep it standing. Let one leg become weak, and the whole thing can come toppling over. Keep the legs strong, and good health will be all yours. Wondering about those three legs? Here's what they represent and how you can keep them in working order.

• Variety -- Select a number of different foods within a particular food group. Eating the same 'ol foods all the darn time will rob your body of key nutrients. Eat all carrots and you'll get a good dose of vitamin A but no folate. Got to have dark greens too, like spinach, broccoli, and asparagus. Go colorful with your fruits and veggies and you'll get plenty of variety.
• Balance -- Eat foods from all food groups. Eat grains, veggies, fruits, milk, meat, and beans. Eat a bean burrito with salsa, an apple, and a low-fat glass of milk and you've covered all of these groups. Make it your job is to consciously consume balanced meals throughout the day.
• Moderation -- Portion control is a must. Don't over-consume any one food, and don't ban your favorite foods if they don't meet perfect nutritional standards. There's a place for many different foods in your diet if you control how much you consume.
  

Tell us, do you have three legs to stand on?