Which diet planning principle focuses on energy balance to manage weight?

• A. Adequacy
• B. Calorie control
• C. Moderation
• D. Density

Answer: (B)

Calorie control centers on energy balance—keeping the calories you eat in line with the calories your body uses. This principle guides you to plan portions and choose foods that meet your energy needs without going over, which helps you maintain, lose, or gain weight as desired. When intake exceeds expenditure, weight tends to increase; when intake is lower than expenditure, weight tends to decrease; and when they are balanced, weight stays the same. Practical ways to apply it include monitoring portion sizes, reading nutrition labels, and selecting nutrient-dense foods that satisfy hunger with fewer calories.

Other concepts play important roles too, but they don’t focus on energy balance in the same way. Adequacy is about meeting nutrient needs, not total calorie count. Moderation helps avoid excessive intake but doesn’t specifically target calories overall. Density relates to calories per portion and can aid calorie control, but it’s a tool within calorie control rather than the overarching principle.