The Balanced Plate
Are you making an effort to live a balanced lifestyle? Food Services at the University of Waterloo supports and encourages nutritious and balanced dining options. Food choices are one of the biggest parts of living well, which is why we developed our own UW Balanced Plate!
Living a healthy lifestyle means having a balanced diet, as well as taking care of your health mentally and physically. Check out Campus Wellness for more tips on living a healthy lifestyle mentally and physically.
A balanced diet means eating a variety of foods to support our bodies nutritional needs. This includes macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). We can achieve a balanced diet by getting the right variety and portions of different foods.
Using a tool like the UW Balanced Plate can make building your own nutritious meals easy! Our balanced plate is aligned with recommendations in the Canada's 2019 Food Guide.
How to get started: Start by building your plate with at least 2 different kinds of fruits or vegetables, a protein option, and a grain or starch option. If you are still hungry, you can always go back for a seconds.
Each category on the balanced plate contributes important nutrients to our diet:
Source: @joncontird
Most importantly, it’s not just WHAT we eat, but HOW we eat
While a busy schedule can make it hard to take a proper meal break, taking the time to sit down and eat is important for physical and mental wellness.
Try to sit down at a table, avoid distractions such as your phone or laptop, and eat with others at mealtimes. Learn more about the benefits of creating healthy eating habits on the Canadian Food Guide, Healthy Eating Habits webpage.
FAQ
Have questions about the balanced plate, eating well or nutrition on campus? Our UW Dietitian has answers! Email Nicole at nicole.pin@uwaterloo.ca.