On “MyPlate,” which fraction represents how much protein we should eat at each meal?

Choice A reason: A vegan diet, when well-planned, can meet nutritional needs for children, providing adequate protein (0.9 grams/kg daily) through complementary sources like beans and grains. The issue is not veganism itself but the child’s limited intake, making this an incorrect nutritional concern in this context.

Choice B reason: The diet lacks adequate amino acids, as toast, pasta, rice, and vegetables provide incomplete proteins (<5 grams total daily). A vegan child needs complementary proteins (e.g., rice and beans) to meet essential amino acid needs, making this an incorrect choice, as the diet is deficient.

Choice C reason: The child’s diet (toast, pasta, rice, juice, apple, carrots) provides approximately 500-600 kcal, far below the 1400-1800 kcal needed for a 9-year-old. Inadequate calories impair growth and energy needs, making this a valid concern, as low intake stunts development and metabolism.

Choice D reason: Many food dislikes, as a picky eater, limit the variety of protein and nutrient sources, reducing intake of essential amino acids and vitamins. This restricts the ability to meet nutritional needs (0.9 grams/kg protein, 1400 kcal daily), making it a significant concern for growth.

Choice E reason: The diet provides minimal protein (<5 grams daily from toast, pasta, rice, carrots), far below the 0.9 grams/kg needed for a 9-year-old. Inadequate protein impairs growth, muscle development, and immune function, making this a critical nutritional concern for a vegan child.

Choice A reason: Yams are starchy vegetables, providing about 2 grams of protein per cup, primarily carbohydrates. They lack essential amino acids, making them incomplete and unsuitable as a primary protein source for meeting the body’s needs for tissue repair and enzyme synthesis.

Choice B reason: Oatmeal offers about 5 grams of protein per cup but is incomplete, deficient in lysine. It requires combination with other foods to provide all essential amino acids, making it less effective than soybeans as a standalone source of complete protein for dietary needs.

Choice C reason: Soybeans are a complete protein, providing all nine essential amino acids, with about 29 grams of protein per cup. They support muscle repair, immune function, and metabolic needs, making them an ideal plant-based complete protein source for vegetarians or general diets.

Choice D reason: Almonds provide about 7 grams of protein per ounce but are incomplete, lacking sufficient lysine. They require complementary foods to meet essential amino acid needs, making them less effective than soybeans as a standalone complete protein source for dietary requirements.