In this blog i am trying to explain what a Balanced Plate looks like from my perspective. For the longest time, I never really thought about a “balanced plate.” Carbohydrates were always the hero of the meal. Rice or chapati usually made up the major portion of the plate, with some side dishes alongside it — maybe a vegetable curry, eggs, chicken, fish, or chickpeas depending on the day. And honestly, with both of us working, things were rarely elaborate. Most days it was something quickly put together or takeaway food after a long day.
The focus was never really on portions or balanced meals. It was simply about cooking something comforting and getting through busy days. Especially during busy work weeks, healthy eating started feeling harder than it needed to be.
What Changed?
Things slowly changed when my child started school. When a child starts school, it often brings a whole new learning experience or realisations for parents too. I was introduced to a guide on healthy eating. It made me more aware of what a balanced meal should look like.
This made me aware of the fact that we need to have more balanced meals and suddenly I began trying to make every meal “properly balanced.”
And honestly? Cooking started feeling overwhelming.
I felt like every meal needed a large vegetable dish, a separate protein, carbohydrates, yogurt etc. Imagine preparing lunch and dinner like this every single day 7 days a week. I was mostly overcome by decision fatigue.
Whether you’re a busy working mum, cooking for a family, or simply learning your way around the kitchen, balanced eating can easily start feeling complicated because we associate healthy meals with perfect portions, elaborate cooking, and constant planning.
But what I slowly realised is balanced eating does not have to look complicated. It doesn’t need multiple dishes on the table every day. Sometimes balance can be as simple as:
And honestly, simplifying balanced eating is what finally made it sustainable for me. What truly helped me was changing how I looked at healthy meals. Instead of trying to create elaborate “perfect plates” every day, I started focusing on:
- simple combinations
- repeatable meals
- practical planning
- meal prepping
Over time, I learnt that a balanced plate doesn’t need complicated cooking or multiple dishes. Sometimes it’s simply a yogurt bowl or khichdi, sweet potato for a snack, or chicken soup for dinner.
Simple meals still nourish you.
And often, the simplest meals are the most sustainable.
