I'd like to start a diet, but I've got too much on my plate right now.
Why this joke works
Too Much Food and Too Much Work
Having “too much on my plate” usually means carrying more tasks or responsibilities than one can manage. A person considering a diet may also literally have too much food on a plate. The excuse therefore admits the dietary problem while pretending to describe a busy schedule. The phrase is especially suited to this setup because its figurative meaning and its food image point in opposite directions: delay the diet because there is already excess food.
A closer look
The Excuse Illustrates Its Own Problem
The speaker begins with a positive intention, then “but” introduces what sounds like a scheduling obstacle. Saving “plate” for the final phrase turns that obstacle into a visual of an overloaded meal. The first-person wording makes it a relatable bit of procrastination, and “right now” implies the plan might begin later. That mild self-deception gives the line more personality than a bare pun.
Fact behind the joke
MyPlate Uses Five Food Groups
USDA’s MyPlate icon divides eating guidance among Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein, and Dairy. Four groups appear as sections of a plate, while Dairy is shown beside it. The image is meant as a simple planning cue, not a picture of one required meal. A literal plate can be full while still varying greatly in balance and variety.