Lunch and dinner aren’t just a main dish — VitalPlate rounds them out with sides so the plate feels like a real meal.
How many sides
Each lunch and dinner can have 0 to 3 sides, and the default is 2. Breakfast and snack slots are kept simple and don’t get sides.
How sides are chosen
- Balance over repetition — a side pairs a starch with a vegetable rather than stacking two starches.
- Greens and foods you like come first when there’s a good fit.
- Cuisine match — sides are picked to suit the main, so an Italian main gets Italian-leaning sides.
- Variety across the week — the planner spreads sides out so you’re not eating the same vegetable every night.
What makes a plate
A plate is capped at 5 items: one main, up to three sides, and a dessert.
| Part of the plate | How many |
|---|---|
| Main | 1 |
| Sides | 0–3 |
| Dessert | Up to 1 |
Mains exclude dishes under 120 kcal, so the centre of your plate is real food rather than a garnish.
However a plate comes together, it’s scored as one whole-plate verdict — main, sides, and dessert considered together. See Whole-meal scores.