What is a balanced plate model?

• A. A guideline for food portioning for healthy meals.
• B. A diet consisting exclusively of grains.
• C. A program for weight loss only.
• D. A method to reduce food waste.

Answer: (A)

A balanced plate model serves as a visual guideline to help individuals understand how to proportion different food groups on their plates to achieve a nutritious meal. It promotes the idea of including a variety of foods, ensuring that there is a balance of macronutrients and micronutrients essential for health. For example, it typically recommends that half of the plate be filled with fruits and vegetables, a quarter with whole grains, and a quarter with lean proteins. This method encourages diversity and moderation in diet, which is crucial for meeting nutritional needs and supporting overall health.

The other options describe concepts that are not representative of the balanced plate model. While reducing food waste, focusing solely on grains, or being exclusive to weight loss programs can be components of broader nutrition topics, they do not specifically pertain to the balanced plate model's primary function of guiding healthy meal portioning. Thus, option A accurately captures the essence of the balanced plate model.