Final answer:
Meal refers to what people were eating at a particular time and diet refers to the overall pattern of food and drink consumed over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Meal refers to what people were eating at a particular time and diet refers to the overall pattern of food and drink consumed over time.
For example, if someone ate a cheeseburger for lunch, that would be considered a meal. But their diet could consist of a variety of foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins over the course of a day or week.
The term diet is not limited to specific food items in a single meal, but rather encompasses the broader eating habits and choices individuals make over time.