What do Shakespeare and the Healthy Plate have in common?

Editor’s note: The following was written by a Community Nutrition Services client on the North Shore.

Hello, please forward my thanks to Community Nutrition Services in North Vancouver for promoting their Healthy Plate.  I was inspired to write a poem about their concept.

Healthy Plate

Some food for thought before you munch

again on pizza for your lunch:

The Coastal dietetics team

says balanced eating’s not a dream,

for you can use their Healthy Plate

at your next meal or dinner date.

A simple concept it displays,

applies to any time or place.

Comprising half a Healthy Plate,

two servings from your total of eight

of vegetables and fruit per day.

How quickly they add up that way!

Serve roasted, baked, fresh steamed, or raw,

and think of stir-fries, cabbage slaw.

A quarter plate for grains such as rice.

Such complex carbs are very nice.

For an adventure, try whole oats

or quinoa, buckwheat, or other groats.

Lean protein gets the final spot.

Try fish or those legumes you bought,

like lentil stew instead of meat.

Try edamame, what a treat!

Then drizzle olive oil on top.

One spoonful makes the flavor pop,

since eating fat is not a vice,

just treat it like you would a spice.

This Plate gets milk and fruit as sides.

Tell chips and Coke to run and hide.

No sweets, your tooth enamel rests.

Plain water quenches thirst the best.
By eating Healthy Plates each day,

you help keep much disease away.

Oh, sometimes pizza can be great,

but keep in mind the Healthy Plate!