"Eating a balanced diet" is advice you hear everywhere, but it is rarely explained in concrete terms. Here is a simple method for putting together a balanced plate, without counting or restriction.
The three food groups to include in every meal
A balanced plate generally brings together three food groups: vegetables, a source of protein (animal or plant-based), and complex carbohydrates (whole grains, legumes, starchy foods). Each plays a different role—vegetables for fiber and micronutrients, protein for satiety, and complex carbohydrates for sustained energy.
Proportions, a simple benchmark
A benchmark widely used by nutrition professionals consists of dividing the plate in two: half vegetables, a quarter protein, and a quarter complex carbohydrates. This is not an absolute rule, but a visual starting point that avoids having to weigh or count anything.
Common mistakes
The two most common pitfalls are opposites: either a plate composed almost entirely of carbohydrates (pasta, rice, bread) with very few vegetables, or excessive restriction that leads to skipping meals—which often encourages snacking later in the day. Balance is built on the repetition of meals, not on the perfection of a single one.
A supplement never replaces a balanced diet
Any dietary supplement should be integrated into a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle—it does not replace them. This is why, at LA MAISON DM, our rituals are always designed as a supplement to good habits, never as an isolated solution.