Looking to reduce your sugar intake and increase your protein? This beginner-friendly meal plan offers a comprehensive month of scrumptious, sugar-free, high-protein meals and snacks designed to keep you full and content. We've curated a variety of one-pot and sheet-pan dishes for your convenience, with recipes that are quick to prepare and numerous meal-prep tips to ensure a smooth and flavorful routine.
Here's why this meal plan is perfect for you: each day provides around 105 grams of protein from a diverse range of sources, including fish, nuts, seeds, poultry, beans, eggs, tofu, and dairy. Protein, known for its role in muscle development, is a vital nutrient involved in all aspects of human health, including cell repair, bone strength, and immune system function.
While protein takes center stage in this plan, we haven't neglected fiber, an essential nutrient for better digestion, weight management, blood sugar control, and heart health. Only 7% of US adults meet their daily fiber goal of approximately 28 grams per day, or 14 grams per 1,000 calories consumed. This plan offers an average of 33 grams of fiber per day, allowing you to benefit from this nutrient while focusing on high-protein meals and snacks.
Lastly, we've eliminated added sugars, which many of us consume more than we realize. The average US adult ingests about 17 teaspoons (around 68 grams) of added sugar daily, far exceeding the American Heart Association's recommended maximum of 9 teaspoons for men and 6 for women. Added sugars are not only in expected foods like desserts and sweetened beverages but also in unexpected items like tomato sauces, marinades, salad dressings, cereals, granola, and flavored dairy products. Always check the nutrition label to identify hidden sources of added sugars.
This 1,800-calorie meal plan also includes adjustments for 1,500 and 2,000 calories to accommodate different dietary needs. We no longer offer modifications for 1,200 calories as the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest that this is too low for most people to meet their nutritional requirements and is not sustainable for long-term health.
Week 1
Meal-Prep Tip: Prepare Chicken & Kale Soup for lunch on Days 2 through 5.
Day 1:
Daily Totals: 1,802 calories, 102g fat, 100g protein, 127g carbohydrate, 28g fiber, 1,742mg sodium.
Day 2:
Daily Totals: 1,824 calories, 64g fat, 113g protein, 211g carbohydrate, 38g fiber, 1,320mg sodium.
Week 2
Meal-Prep Tip: Make Chickpea & Quinoa Bowl with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce for lunch on Days 9 through 12. Prepare Mini Crustless Quiches with Kale, Mushrooms & Feta for breakfast throughout the week.
Day 8:
Daily Totals: 1,796 calories, 92g fat, 106g protein, 153g carbohydrate, 35g fiber, 1,153mg sodium.
Day 9:
Daily Totals: 1,804 calories, 82g fat, 99g protein, 171g carbohydrate, 29g fiber, 1,950mg sodium.
Week 3
Meal-Prep Tip: Prepare Overnight Oats with Chia Seeds for breakfast on Days 16 through 19. Make Spinach & Strawberry Meal-Prep Salad for lunch on Days 16 through 19.
Day 15:
Daily Totals: 1,818 calories, 100g fat, 102g protein, 137g carbohydrate, 35g fiber, 1,422mg sodium.
Day 16:
Daily Totals: 1,809 calories, 79g fat, 114g protein, 170g carbohydrate, 34g fiber, 2,223mg sodium.
Week 4
Meal-Prep Tip: Prepare Creamy Chicken, Vegetable & Sun-Dried Tomato Soup for lunch on Days 23 through 26.
Day 22:
Daily Totals: 1,823 calories, 80g fat, 102g protein, 183g carbohydrate, 32g fiber, 1,878mg sodium.
Day 23:
Daily Totals: 1,797 calories, 78g fat, 118g protein, 167g carbohydrate, 32g fiber, 1,079mg sodium.
By Amanda Phillips/Dec 17, 2024
By Grace Cox/Dec 17, 2024
By Victoria Gonzalez/Dec 17, 2024
By Sarah Davis/Dec 13, 2024
By Christopher Harris/Dec 13, 2024
By Elizabeth Taylor/Dec 13, 2024
By Emma Thompson/Dec 13, 2024
By Amanda Phillips/Dec 13, 2024
By Joshua Howard/Dec 13, 2024
By Thomas Roberts/Dec 13, 2024
By Elizabeth Taylor/Dec 13, 2024
By Laura Wilson/Dec 13, 2024
By Joshua Howard/Dec 12, 2024
By Emily Johnson/Dec 12, 2024
By Grace Cox/Dec 12, 2024
By Eric Ward/Dec 10, 2024
By Jessica Lee/Dec 10, 2024
By Sarah Davis/Dec 10, 2024
By Olivia Reed/Dec 10, 2024
By Emma Thompson/Dec 10, 2024
By Lily Simpson/Dec 10, 2024
By Thomas Roberts/Dec 10, 2024
By Michael Brown/Dec 10, 2024
By Jessica Lee/Dec 10, 2024
By John Smith/Dec 10, 2024
By Eric Ward/Dec 2, 2024
By Emily Johnson/Dec 2, 2024
By Laura Wilson/Dec 2, 2024
By Jessica Lee/Dec 2, 2024
By Joshua Howard/Dec 2, 2024
By Benjamin Evans/Dec 2, 2024
By Benjamin Evans/Dec 2, 2024
By Emma Thompson/Dec 2, 2024
By Samuel Cooper/Dec 2, 2024
By Benjamin Evans/Dec 2, 2024
By iuno001/Nov 28, 2024
By iuno001/Nov 28, 2024
By iuno001/Nov 28, 2024
By iuno001/Nov 28, 2024
By iuno001/Nov 28, 2024