Zehra is an athlete who requires 2600 kcal a day to support her energy needs. To make sure she meets her dietary needs without excess, Zehra has developed a personal meal plan that includes all food groups and meets all of her calorie, vitamin, and mineral targets. As part of her meal plan, she eats the same foods every day. What aspect of a healthful diet is Zehra missing?

• A. Adequacy.
• B. Balance.
• C. Moderation.
• D. Variety.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of a healthful diet. A healthful diet includes several key aspects: adequacy (providing sufficient nutrients and energy), balance (ensuring all food groups are represented), moderation (avoiding excess of any one nutrient or food), and variety (including different types of foods to ensure a wide range of nutrients).
2. Step 2: Analyze Zehra's meal plan. She eats the same foods every day, which means her diet lacks diversity in food choices.
3. Step 3: Relate the concept of variety to nutrition. Variety ensures that the body receives a broad spectrum of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, as different foods provide different nutritional benefits.
4. Step 4: Identify the missing aspect. Since Zehra's diet lacks diversity, the missing aspect of a healthful diet is variety.
5. Step 5: Conclude that while Zehra's meal plan may meet her calorie, vitamin, and mineral targets, eating the same foods every day does not provide the variety needed for optimal health.