Building Balanced Meals

The Plate Method

A balanced plate: ½ non-starchy vegetables, ¼ lean protein, ¼ complex carbohydrates, plus a small amount of healthy fat. This roughly delivers 25–35% protein, 40–50% carbs, 20–30% fat — appropriate for most people.

Protein per Meal

Muscle protein synthesis peaks at around 25–40g protein per meal. More can be absorbed, but the anabolic stimulus doesn't increase significantly above this threshold. Spreading 130–160g daily protein across 4–5 meals is more effective than front-loading.

Volume Eating

High-volume, low-calorie foods (leafy greens, cucumber, courgette) fill the stomach and trigger satiety signals without significant calories. Adding 100g of spinach or broccoli to a meal adds ~20 kcal but significant volume and micronutrients.

Meal Nutrition Calculator

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