Meal Plans
Meal Prep for a Week of Easy Dinners (and Lunch the next day)
7-Day Souping Meal Plan
Fast Dinners for 400 Calories or Less
Part of sliming down involves a simple, sensible exercise and eating plan. Here's a week-long menu for our Lose 20 Pounds Fast Diet program: Over the next 90 days you should aim to consume 1,200 calories a day plus calorie-free beverages as desired, and take a multivitamin and a 400-milligram calcium supplement daily.
1200 Calorie Diet Plan for Weight Loss with Pros & Cons
Burning the body fat in order to slim down requires a suitable diet plan. A 1200 Calorie Diet Plan is such an eating plan that restricts your total calorie count per day within 1200 calories. A recommended 1200 calorie diet plan covers the major nutrient filled food groups like carbohydrates, protein, fat, each contributing only allowed percentages so that the entire meal plan together reaches the calorie limit. This diet plan looks for meeting the minimum basic nutrient requirement of an adult, which usually varies from 1200 – 1800 calories. The goals of this plan are to give the body a balanced nutrition within this limited calorie diet plan and increase the fat burning process of the body.
1200 calorie diet plan working principle
Our bodies require a definite amount of energy in order to maintain its different functions. This energy is fulfilled through the foods that we eat. A 1200 calorie plan makes a limitation on the calories that you intake. Once there is a calorie deficit, there will be burning of stored fats and hence there will be weight loss. So basically, the goal here is to provide the bottom requirement of nutrients that are enough to keep up the healthy and still lose weight.
Recommended Features of a 1200 calorie diet plan
It should contain complex carbohydrates, enough proteins, vitamins and minerals.
One prime factor here is to include the major food groups so that the calorie deficit won’t make the body feel exhausted or undernourished. The diet plan should include complex carbs and proteins to provide enough energy.
Here’s a recommended 1200 calorie diet plan that you can follow:
1. Include more complex carbs
:-
These are important because they will keep you full for a long time and hence you won’t have hunger pangs that often. Some examples of whole grains are Buckwheat, Brown rice, Corn, Wheat, Quinoa etc. Do not make the mistake of ignoring carbs. Going zero carb for weight loss is never healthy!
1200 Diet Plan should include complex carbs
2. Use oils containing less saturated fat :-Use oils that have less saturated fat. We know, Indian dishes are mostly oil dependent. However, choosing options that are less fattening is always wise. Mustard oil, rice bran oil, canola oil and mustard oil are safer choices.
3. Eat enough proteins:
-Including proteins will help you to maintain lean tissues.[2] Proteins will also make you feel fuller hence help to prevent hunger. Go for lean meats and other good protein sources. You can go for beans, eggs, seafood, nuts and dairy products that are low in fat.
Lean proteins keep you full for a long time
4. Have small frequent meals:-
These will keep you boosted and energized throughout the day. Don’t starve yourself so that when you eat, you start gorging on unhealthy foods.
Is 1200 calorie diet plan suitable for any adult?
No. The figure 1200 is usually applicable to women who lead a lifestyle with minimum physical activity. However, this calorie requirement is not suitable for men because their bodies need more calories to perform the daily bodily requirements. For a man who is trying to go for the 1200 calorie diet plan format, try to keep it between 1500-1700 calories.
5. Don’t skip meals:-
Skipping your meals will only sabotage your health. In a restricted diet plan such as a 1200 calorie diet plan, you are already having just the minimum calorie requirement. So, skipping meals will effect badly.
6. Include non-starchy fruits and vegetable :-A 1200 calorie diet plan must include non-starchy fruits and veggies. Find different ways to include salads and soups in your diet. They will satisfy your hunger as well as fulfil your vitamin requirements. Check out Thai Papaya Salad and Mixed Pepper and Corn salad.
7. Have unprocessed food and fresh fruits:- Processed foods should be avoided not just to bring weight loss but also to bring health. Processed foods contain chemicals for which the foods lose their vitamins and mineral quotient. Moreover, the processed foods contain added fats and salts which further makes them unhealthy, which also make weight loss harder. [1] Instead, carve your diet plan around fresh fruits that are rich sources of vitamins and minerals.
A 1200 calorie plan should not be generalized to everyone because every individual will respond to it differently.
1600 claories Meal plans
1600 calories per day is appropriate for a medium-sized woman who exercises lightly and wants to maintain weight. For men, this level will lead to weight loss, and is probably too low for many men. For the woman who exercises 3-5 times per week, 1600 calories per day will generally cause fat loss.
1600 Calorie Diet Plans
1600 calories per day is appropriate for a medium-sized woman who exercises lightly and wants to maintain weight.
For men, this level will lead to weight loss, and is probably too low for many men.
See another 1500 Calorie Diet Plan
For the woman who exercises 3-5 times per week, 1600 calories per day will generally cause fat los
Meal Plan 1
TOTAL CALORIES ~1612
Breakfast
• 1 cup fat-free milk (90)
• 2 whole grain low fat toaster waffles, topped with: (281 w/toppings)
• 1 cup berries or chopped fruit
• 2 tsp butter or heart healthy spread
• 2 tsp maple syrup
Morning Snack
• 2 tsp. peanut butter (63)
• 2 Graham crackers ( 60)
• Maple Milk (107)
• 1 cup fat-free milk
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup
Lunch
• 1 cup sliced red peppers (24)
• Veggie cheeseburger (see below) (312)
Afternoon Snack
• 1 protein bar (20g protein) (e.g. Pure Protein) (192)
Dinner
• 1 cup steamed broccoli, with a spritz of lemon juice (55)
• Lemon Couscous (see below) (195/1 serving)
• Fish with Olives and Capers (see below) (253/1 serving)
Treat
• 5 Chips Ahoy! Cookies (238)
Ensure you drink plenty of water - aim for 8-10 glasses per day.
Meal Plan 2
TOTAL CALORIES ~1606
Breakfast
• Cereal:
• 150 cal. high-fiber (150)
• 1/2 cup fat-free milk (45)
• 1 small sliced banana (89)
Morning Snack
• 12 almonds (83)
• 6 oz. low fat Greek yogurt w/fruit (160)
• 2 tsp peanut butter (63)a
Lunch
• 1 orange (62)
• 1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese (81)
• 1 cup sliced red peppers (12)
• Turkey and Cheese Sandwich:
• 2 slices whole wheat bread (220)
•
2 slices turkey breast (60)
• 1 slice reduced-fat cheese (50)
• 2 tomato slices (8)
•
1 leaf of lettuce (0)
• 1 tbs low-fat mayo (15)
• 1 tsp mustard (3)
Dinner
• 3/4 cup brown rice (162)
• Shrimp and Vegetable Kebabs (see below) (183)
Treat
• 2 Keebler Sandies Cookies (160)
Ensure you drink plenty of water - aim for 8-10 glasses per day.
Recipes
Veggie Cheeseburger
Ingredients:
• 1 vegetable burger (about 120 calories, such as Gardenburger)
• 1 slice reduced-fat cheese
• 1 whole wheat hamburger bun
• 1 tbs low-fat mayo
• mustard
• tomato slices
• lettuce
Instructions:
Cook 1 vegetable burger (about 120 calories, such as Gardenburger) according to package directions. Melt 1 slice reduced-fat cheese on top and place in 1 whole wheat hamburger bun with 2 teaspoons low-fat mayo, mustard, tomato slices and lettuce.
Lemon Couscous (Serves 2) (389 Total Calories)
Ingredients:
• 2⁄3 cup water
• 1⁄2 teaspoon butter
• Dash of salt
• 1⁄2 cup dry whole wheat couscous
• 2 tablespoons raisins
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest.
Instructions:
In a small saucepan, bring the water, butter, and salt to a boil. Add the couscous. Cover, turn off the heat, and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Add the raisins and lemon zest. Toss to combine.