What should my plate look like at dinner?
Dinner time can cause stress, anxiety, or even arguments. No one can agree what to eat or you just don’t know what to make tonight.
Let’s make it simple. I will give you a formula (not mathematical, just clear and simple), that works for every meal every night.
There is a great resource called MyPlate that describes what kinds and how much of what food we should have on our plate for one meal.
This visual representation of our plate includes fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy. Personally, fruit doesn’t pair well with my savory dinner meals so I prefer to eat my portion before or after dinner.
Here are three great food combos that include all, except fruit:
Meal: Brown rice (grain), carrots (vegetable), baked chicken (protein), cup of milk (dairy)
Shrimp Alfredo: Whole wheat pasta (grain), broccoli (vegetable), shrimp (protein), parmesan cheese and milk sauce (dairy)
Pizza: Whole wheat flour (grain), tomato sauce + vegetable toppings (vegetable), ground beef or chicken topping (protein), mozzarella cheese (dairy)
Similar to Nutrition Coaching, MyPlate is a non-restrictive health plan that enables you to substitute ingredients that you have or prefer. Remember to find diet solutions that work for you and your family that incorporate these portions.
References:
https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/what-is-myplate
