Simple 1200 calories diet plan

Many people with diabetes believe they need to follow a special diet in order to be healthy. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), however, people with diabetes can eat foods similar to people without, as long as they follow some simple guidelines. A 1, 200 calorie diet using these guidelines is a low-calorie diet that may help you lose weight.

ADA Dietary Guidelines

The ADA takes an approach similar to the MyPlate system. Instead of measuring portion sizes, the ADA recommends dividing your plate into three sections.

1. Imagine a line right down the middle of your plate.
2. On the other side of the plate, imagine a line down the middle, dividing it into two small sections.
3. Fill one of these smaller parts with a starch such as potatoes, bread, or brown rice.
4. Fill the other part with meat, fish, poultry, or other lean proteins.
5. Add an 8 ounces of lowfat dairy or another small portion of carbs.
6. Add a small piece of fruit.

1, 200 Calorie Meal Plan

This meal plan is based on the ADA recommendations, and adds up to around 1, 200 calories per day. It is not endorsed or created by the ADA.

To follow the meal plans, select one each from breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack to total around 1, 200 calories per day.

Breakfast

Each of the following breakfasts has around 300 calories.

Food Details/Instructions Calories Total

Egg white omelet with spinach and mushrooms

1/2 banana

1 slice whole wheat toast

8 ounces skim milk

1. Whisk together 3 egg whites.
2. Spray a saute pan with nonstick.
3. Cook 1 cup of spinach and 8 sliced button mushrooms in pan until softened.
4. Pour egg whites over vegetables.
5. Allow to cook until set.

70

65

77

80

292

Breakfast smoothie

1/2 cup oatmeal with cinnamon

Combine the following in a blender until smooth:

• 8 ounces skim milk
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
• 1 cup raw kale
• 1 cup raw spinach
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• A few drops of stevia or other non-caloric sweetener

217

83

300

Open face breakfast sandwich

1/2 cup fresh berries

6 ounces unsweetened nonfat plain Greek yogurt

For the breakfast sandwich:

1. Toast 1/2 English muffin
2. Spread with 1/4 avocado mashed with a squeeze of lemon juice.
3. Add one slice Canadian bacon and a poached egg.
4. Top with 1/4 tomato, chopped

214

40

90

344

Breakfast burrito

1 orange

Coffee or tea

For the breakfast burrito:

1. Spray a nonstick pan with cooking spray.
2. Over medium heat, saute 1/2 chopped onion and 1 cup chopped zucchini until soft.
3. Add 3 egg whites, whisked together, to the pan and scramble together.
4. Add 1/4 cup salsa and cook until warmed through.
5. Put egg mixture on top of a warmed 6" whole wheat tortilla.
6. Sprinkle with one ounce fat-free cheese.

230 300 1/2 medium avocado, two tablespoons removed from center

1 egg

1 ounce shredded cheddar

1/2 grapefruit

1 piece whole wheat toast

1. Remove pit from avocado.
2. Scoop a few spoonfuls from the center of the avocado to make the hole large enough to accommodate an egg.
3. Crack the egg into a ramekin and carefully transfer it to the avocado.
4. Bake at 425 for 15 to 20 minutes.
5. Top with shredded cheddar and broil until cheese melts.

90

72

45

60

344

Lunch

Each lunch is around 400 calories.

Food Details/Instructions Calories Total

Chef's salad

1. Combine 1 cup spinach, 1 cup arugula, and 1 cup romaine lettuce.
2. Add 2 ounces of chopped roasted skinless chicken breast and one chopped hard-boiled egg.
3. Add 5 cherry tomatoes, halved, 1 sliced carrot, and 1 sliced cucumber.
4. Add 1/4 cup cooked quinoa.
5. Toss and top with 4 tablespoons fat-free ranch dressing.

404 404

1 red pepper, sliced

1/2 cup zucchini, sliced

4 tablespoons prepared hummus

1 ounce pita chips

1 peach, sliced

6 ounces plain nonfat yogurt

• Dip vegetable slices and pita chips in hummus.
• Top yogurt with sliced peaches.

46

10

108

130

82

406

Turkey rollups

1 ounce baked potato chips

1. Layout six large pieces of kale. Top with six slices deli turkey.
2. Mix six tablespoons of cream cheese with one teaspoon of horseradish and spread on top of each of the turkey slices.
3. Place 1 cherry tomato, halved and 3 or 4 pieces of baby spinach on top of the cheese.
4. Roll each piece of kale into a roll.

240

435

Taco salad

1/4 medium cantaloupe

Toss together:

• 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
• 3 ounces 93 percent lean ground beef, cooked
• 5 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 1 ounce baked corn tortilla chips
• Top with 1/4 cup prepared salsa combined with four ounces plain, fat-free Greek yogurt

371

50

421

Ham and veggie pita

1 apple

1. Spread 1/2 whole wheat pita with 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2. Add 3 ounces turkey-ham, 1/4 cup chopped spinach, 5 sliced cherry tomatoes, and 1/2 cup spicy sprouts.

210

116

406

Dinner

Each of these dinners is around 400 calories.

3 ounces grilled salmon

2 cups steamed broccoli

1/2 baked sweet potato

topped with

6 ounces plain, nonfat yogurt

1 teaspoon sriracha

Combine sriracha and yogurt before topping potato.

175

35

25

385

Chicken lettuce wraps

1 cup watermelon chunks

1. Select three large pieces of romaine lettuce.
2. Roast 3 ounces of skinless chicken breast. Toss with 2 tablespoons soy sauce mixed with 1/4 teaspoon grated ginger.
3. Steam 1/4 cup brown rice.
4. Chop four scallions and julienne 1 large peeled carrot.
5. Divide chicken, vegetables, and rice among three lettuce leaves. Top with 1/2 cup bean sprouts, divided evenly, and roll like a burrito.
6. As you eat it, use 3 tablespoons sweet chili sauce as a dip.

325

20

425

3 ounces grilled shrimp

Couscous with peppers

2 cups green beans

To make couscous:

1. Heat one tablespoon olive oil in a pan.
2. Add 1 red pepper, chopped, and 1/2 onion, chopped.
3. Add 1/2 cup cooked couscous.

101

269

44

414

Open-face hamburger

1 cup steamed spinach

1/2 medium pear

For the hamburger:

1. Heat 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil in a pan. Saute 1/2 onion, sliced, and 1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. Toast one slice of whole wheat bread
3. Top with a 3 ounce patty made from 93 percent lean ground beef, and 1 slice fat free cheddar.
4. Top hamburger with onions and mushrooms.

312

30

392

3 ounces grilled halibut

1 cup steamed carrots

1/2 medium potato, baked

1 ounce shredded fat-free cheddar

1/4 cup plain, non-fat yogurt

1/4 medium honeydew melon

Top potato with fat-free cheddar and plain yogurt. Season with salt and pepper.