1200 Calorie Menu recipes

A 1200-calorie diet plan is a great way to efficiently lose weight. The results can usually be seen after a few weeks of dieting. It’s important to be creative with meal planning and eat foods that are rich in nutrients so you don’t feel hungry at the end of the day. Below is a meal plan for five days on the 1200-calorie diet which offers healthy and creative choices.

One of the best ways to lose weight is to cut back on calories. Many people will opt for a 1200-calorie diet to help them shed unwanted pounds. However, it can be hard to be creative with meal planning when you’re on a restricted diet. It’s also important to make sure you get enough vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients in your diet, which can easily be overlooked if you’re focusing on just cutting calories.

If you’re planning cutting calories make a list of your favorite foods and meals you eat on a regular basis. Try to figure out where you can cut back the calories for each of your favorite meals, for example: if you love scrambled eggs for breakfast switch over to scrambled egg whites which only contain 17 calories (one whole egg contains 72 calories). Make sure to use a calorie friendly cooking spray since adding butter and oil can up your calorie intake even in small amounts. The 1200-calorie diet menu is great since it allows you to eat foods you love as long as you don’t exceed 1200 calories each day.

Below is an example meal plan for five days on the 1200-calorie diet. Over the weekend you can treat yourself and indulge in some of your favorite, calorie-high foods but remember, moderation is key and will be most effective if you’re trying to lose weight.

1200 Calorie Diet Menu Plan

Day One

Breakfast

1 cup of fat free plain yogurt

½ tbsp of honey

½ cup of granola

12 ounces

of coffee

Total Calories: 441

Snack

1 Apple

Total Calories: 81

Lunch

Sandwich

2 slices of whole grain bread

1 tsp of mustard as spread

2 slices of turkey

½ cup of lettuce

¼ cup of almonds

Total Calories: 364

Dinner

1 tilapia filet

1 tbsp of butter

2 cups of cooked zucchini

and squash

Total Calories: 330

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Season the tilapia with salt, pepper, and 1 tbsp of butter. Wrap in foil and bake for about 40 minutes.

Quarter the squash and zucchini and place into boiling water. Cover with a lid and let simmer. Boil squash for 45 minutes to an hour, when you can easily pierce the skin with a fork it’s done. Season with salt and pepper.

Total Daily Calories

Day Two

1 cup of oatmeal prepared with water

12 ounces of coffee

Total Calories: 69

Total Calories: 185 calories

Salad

1 cup of sliced avocado-235 calories

10 cherry tomatoes- 40 calories

½ tsp of olive oil- 60 calories

½ cup of mozzarella cheese- 200 calories

Salt and Pepper to taste

Total Calories: 535

Mix avocado, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and olive together. Add salt and pepper to your liking.

Tuscan Chicken Salad (makes four servings)

1 15-ounce can of cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

2 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken breast

1 1/2 cups diced celery

1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

1 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil,

Salt & freshly ground pepper to taste (optional)

2 cups torn escarole or romaine lettuce

2 cups torn radicchio leaves

Vinaigrette:

1 medium clove garlic

1/4 teaspoon salt

5 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup white-wine vinegar or red-wine vinegar

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Total Calories: 428 calories (per serving)

To prepare vinaigrette: Peel the garlic and chop finely. Whisk in 5 tablespoons oil. Add vinegar and mustard; whisk until well blended. Season with salt and set aside.

To prepare salad: Combine beans, chicken, celery, cheese in a large bowl until well blended. Add chopped basil and 3/4 cup vinaigrette; toss until combined. Taste and season with salt and/or pepper, if desired. Add in salad greens at the end to prevent wilting.

Total Daily Calories: 1, 217

Day Three

3 scrambled egg whites

½ raw, red pepper sliced on the side

Total Calories- 82

Use a cooking spray when scrambling your eggs.

Leftover Tuscan Chicken Salad

Total: 428 Calories

Apple- 81 calories

Dinner:

Taco Night

½ cup of black beans (drained and rinsed)