You asked for menu ideas, and this week you’re getting them!
Planning healthy meals is something many people struggle with. You probably know what foods are good for you, and you have a sense for what a healthy meal looks like. But putting that knowledge into practice – and planning specific menus every day – takes some effort. Maybe that’s why many people take the easy way out and settle for eating the exact same meals day in and day out.
And while there’s nothing really wrong with eating the same meals over and over (as long as they’re nutritionally well balanced), there’s a huge risk of boredom setting in. And once that happens, you’re a lot less likely to stick to your plan.
So, I’ve decided to help you out. For the next five days, I will be providing you with specific daily menus – five days of delicious meals, with no more than 1800 calories each day.
Why Menu Planning is So Important
Menu planning is important for several reasons.
First, planning out what you’re going to eat involves more than just making sure that you don’t exceed your daily calorie limit – it’s also about planning out how you’ll spend your calories in order to get the most nutrition you can.
So, good meal planning means that you do your best to work in plenty of healthy fruits and vegetables, to make sure you get the right amount of lean protein and some whole grains, and that you use healthy fats and sweets sparingly, for flavor.
Also, if you plan out your meals ahead of time, you can make your grocery list at the same time to make sure you have everything you need. All the planning in the world isn’t going to help you if you don’t also have all the ingredients on hand.
The other thing I like to do when I plan meals is to “cook once, eat twice” as much as possible. Simply put, “cook once, eat twice” means that you cook more of a certain food for one meal, and then incorporate the remainder into a meal over the next day or two. This strategy can save you huge amounts of time when it comes to putting meals together.
Keep in mind that – even with the best intentions – plans sometimes fall apart. As much as you may want to stick to your menu plans (or mine), there will be times when you don’t eat exactly what you had intended. But, if you have all your meals planned out ahead of time, it does make it easier to get yourself back on track if you do slip up.
1800 Calorie Menus – What You’ll Get
For each of the next five days, there will be a daily menu for you to follow. These menus are for an 1800 calorie diet – you may need more or less calories, but there will be tips for adjusting your calories up or down.
- Each day calls for three meals, two protein-based snacks during the day, and a fruit snack in the evening. Snacking, done properly, can help you keep your hunger in check, and it gives you more opportunities during the day to work in foods like fruits and veggies.
- The breakfast meal is about 300 calories, the protein snacks are each about 150 calories, the lunch meal is about 500 calories, and the dinner meal (including the fruit snack) is about 700 calories. This means that all the lunches are interchangeable with one another – same goes for the dinners and snacks, too. Knowing this, it may help you to plan your own meals beyond the first five days.
- I’ve started each day with a protein-rich meal replacement shake. I like to use Herbalife Formula 1 shakes in the morning because they’re quick to prepare, they supply more protein than many typical breakfast items and they all have at least one fruit or vegetable serving which provides vitamins, minerals and fiber.
- Each day includes at least seven servings of colorful fruits and vegetables. Relative to their calorie count, these foods are nutrient-rich and I’ve tried to include a wide range. If a meal calls for a fruit or vegetable that you don’t like, feel free to substitute.
- Every day there’s a “cook once, eat twice” item. You’ll be cooking extra of that particular food, which will be used in a subsequent meal.
Many of you will choose to follow these menus to the letter, while others will – I hope – let them be an inspiration for more creative menu planning. I’d love to know what you think of my menus and, once you’ve tried my five day meal plan, how you adapted the diet plan to work for your needs.
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Looking for ways to make healthy eating an everyday part of your life? Take a look at this five day meal plan - tune in all week for daily menus on www.DiscoverGoodNutrition.com«
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| COACH HAS & COACH MNASIR O173256869 |
07 Dec 2014 
Posted by Susan Bowerman, MS, RD, CSSD, FAND 
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