If your wellbeing was the engine of a car, consider this principle to be your fuel – for every machine to run, it needs the right ingredients. For your body, these are macronutrients and micronutrients.

Macronutrients, the heavy lifters of the nutrition world, come in the form of carbohydrates, fat, protein, and water. Carbohydrates aren’t just your go-to comfort food; they’re necessary for energy, supporting both your brain and body. Protein serves as the steadfast backbone for your muscles, bones, cartilage, and skin. Fat provides a comfy cushion for your organs, not to mention it makes food taste sinfully good. As for water, it’s the essential lubricant keeping everything running smoothly.

The "conditionally essential" nutrients are the divas of the nutrition world. They come out to shine only when your body can’t produce them on its own, typically during illness or stress. There are "nonessential" nutrients too that your body can produce, but they also contribute to your health when consumed in your diet.

Everything going into your body matters - the function of every organ, cell, skin, blood relies on the nutrients they receive. Deficiency will lead to your body sending SOS signals in the form of various conditions and diseases, while overconsumption often presents its own set of problems. Think of it as finely balanced nutrition scales that need to be kept in equilibrium.

The narrative continues to micronutrients – your vitamins and minerals that complete your body’s carefully composed symphony of functions. Let's not forget other important nutrients that might not have the fancy "essential" tag, but still play crucial roles in your health, like antioxidants and polyphenols gleaned from plant-based food.

A practical (and less boring) way to think of all this is to consider your eating habits. Should you go full 'Bunny Mode' and only eat leafy greens? Or perhaps become a pseudo-caveman on the paleo diet? You may want to shake the thought of going extreme. Instead, consider adopting the 'variety is the spice of life,' philosophy on your plate. Too much of anything can turn you into a weary caricature of the Instagram wellness gurus that crowd your feed.

So be bold, be adventurous, but above all, listen to your body. It’s okay to dip french-fries into mayonnaise once in a while or pair your superfood smoothie with a hearty breakfast sandwich. Your body is your canvas, and its nutritional needs change with age, gender, medical conditions, and activity levels.

Above all, remember your body is the miraculous biological specimen that it is, lapping up all the macronutrients, micronutrients it needs in a day-to-day dance of survival. Whether it be proteins from nuts, seeds, and lean meats, color-filled plates of fiber-packed fruits and veggies, or the much maligned carbohydrates that fuel your energy.

When the going gets tough, seek out a registered dietitian to help you eat right because, let's face it, we’re not all ready for a Biology pop quiz every time we sit down to eat. Here's the takeaway message: commit to understanding what your body needs, feed it a balanced diet, hydrate, exercise, and for heaven's sake, don't forget to enjoy your food.

Remember, you're not just eating to live but living to eat, mindfully and appreciatively.