Are you struggling to lose weight? You’re not alone. We all know that we should be eating healthier and exercising more, but it’s hard to find the time and energy for these changes, especially when you are busy or stressed out. This 7-day weight loss meal plan is designed with convenience in mind. It features healthy recipes that can be quickly made! Plus there’s a list of foods to include in your healthy eating grocery shopping to take the guesswork out of the weight loss.
How To Plan Healthy Meals For Weight Loss?
If you’re trying to lose weight, meal planning might be a useful tool. It can help you establish the calorie deficit necessary for weight reduction while also providing your body with the nutrients it needs to function and stay healthy. Planning your meals may also help you save time by streamlining the meal preparation process (11).
To meal plan successfully, consider the following:
Daily Nutritional Requirements
Different people require different amounts of nutrients, especially those who are very active or working out regularly. Determine how many calories you need each day so that you can adjust your meal plan accordingly.
Ideal Calorie Deficit For Weight Loss
According to experts, you’ll need to reduce your calorie intake by 500-1000 calories per day to lose weight at a healthy and steady pace (10). The exact number of calories you need to cut from your diet depends on various factors, including how physically active you are and your height and weight.
Food Preferences And Tastes
Take your preferences and tastes into consideration, as well as any dietary restrictions and allergies you might have when choosing foods for your meal plan. Plan meals that offer a mix of flavors to keep things interesting. You can also use seasoning mixes to boost the taste of healthy foods without adding fat, sugar, or salt.
Level Of Cooking Expertise
If you are new to the kitchen, keep things simple. Choose recipes that require minimal preparation and cooking time. Also, avoid recipes with many ingredients or complicated steps as they may prove too difficult for novice cooks.
Available Time For Meal Prep
How much time can you spare for meal prep? If you have enough time and want more variety in your meals, you can choose recipes that take longer to prepare. If you are short on spare time, focus on quick-to-prepare recipes instead. You can also save time by preparing some elements of the meal ahead of time (e.g., cutting vegetables).
Read More: 7-Day Liquid Diet Weight Loss Results: Should You Go On This Diet?
What Are The Best Foods For Weight Loss?
Successful meal planning starts with choosing the freshest, most nutritious foods that are also low in calories.
Here are the foods include in your grocery list before you start planning healthy meals for weight loss:
Cruciferous Vegetables
This group of vegetables includes broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. They are known for containing high levels of dietary fiber, antioxidants, and cancer-fighting properties (5).
Lean Proteins
Protein is an essential nutrient that helps to build muscle mass while also maintaining various body functions. Lean protein is especially important for weight loss because it can boost metabolism and aid in the maintenance of healthy body weight (15). These include lean beef, skinless chicken, low-fat dairy products (like milk, yogurt, and cheese), seafood (like salmon), shellfish (like shrimp), eggs, soy products (like tofu), plant proteins (like nuts), seeds, legumes, etc.
Healthy Fats
Fatty acids are necessary for optimal health and wellness. They play an important role in many bodily functions, including the regulation of metabolism and circulation. Fatty acids also help maintain cell structure and function while supporting brain function and mental health (6). Healthy fats include monounsaturated fats (found in olive oil), polyunsaturated fats (found in avocados, sunflower seeds, and fatty fish), as well as omega-3 fatty acids (also found in fatty fish).
Whole Grains
Whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice, millet oats provide long-lasting energy due to their high fiber content. They are also rich in anti-inflammatory compounds, vitamins, and minerals (12).
Legumes
Legumes (which include beans) are rich in antioxidants, vitamin B6, and various minerals, including iron, potassium, and magnesium. It is especially recommended for vegetarians due to its high protein content (14). Other types of legumes include soybeans, peas, peanuts, and lentils.
Non-Starchy Vegetables
These vegetables contain low amounts of calories but high amounts of dietary fiber, which can help you feel full faster while keeping your blood sugar stable. Non-starchy veggies should be included in all healthy diets because they provide various health benefits, including cancer-fighting properties (2). This group includes leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and Swiss chard; cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage; green veggies such as celery, cucumbers, and zucchini; squash fruits such as acorn, butternut, and spaghetti, mushrooms, bell peppers, tomatoes.
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Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruit is rich in vitamin C, which helps support immunity and collagen production. Citrus fruits are also high in fiber content, with few calories per serving. They can help you feel full quickly while keeping your blood sugar stable without adding too many calories to your meal plan (4). Squeeze some lemon juice in your water for taste so that you are more likely to stay well hydrated.
Berries
These are the perfect snacks that boost your metabolism, enhance your memory and improve cardiovascular health. Berries contain large amounts of antioxidants which may help you fight aging while protecting against diseases like cancer (1). Aim to include fresh berries in every fruit serving you have during the day for amazing results. You can also opt for frozen berry varieties, which are just as nutritious while being lower in price.
Ready-To-Use Snack Foods
Don’t have time to cook? Consider having a few ready-to-eat snacks in your cupboard. These snacks should be low in calories but rich in fiber content to keep you full longer. Some examples of healthy ready-to-eat snacks are nuts, seeds, whole-grain crackers, or whole-grain toast. You can also have popcorn kernels so that you don’t have to purchase microwave bags.
What Foods To Avoid For Weight Loss?
Some foods that are high in sugar, carbs, and unhealthy fats can make it harder for you to achieve great weight loss results.
Below are some examples of foods you should not include in your grocery shopping list:
Sugary Beverages
There are many reasons why sugary beverages are detrimental to weight loss. For starters, they contain no nutrition whatsoever yet provide a lot of calories. Sugary drinks can also make you crave more unhealthy foods, which can increase your caloric intake (7). Some examples of sugary drinks that should be avoided include soda, fruit juices, sweetened teas, and energy drinks.
Refined Carbohydrates
Carbs are the main source of energy that your body uses for fuel. However, refined carbs can be detrimental to weight loss because they provide very few nutrients while increasing sugar levels in the blood quickly. This effect triggers a release of insulin, which can make it harder for you to burn stored fat (3).
You should avoid refined carbs as much as possible by choosing complex carbohydrates instead. Some examples of refined carbs include sugar, baked goods, white bread, and pasta. Complex carbs include whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables.
Fried Foods
Fried foods are generally high in calories, fat, and trans fats and can all hinder weight loss efforts. These are also linked to various health issues, such as heart disease, so it’s best to avoid them altogether if weight loss is your goal (16). If you absolutely have no choice but to eat fried food, try cooking them yourself using healthier oil alternatives like olive oil or sunflower oil rather than frying in animal fats or oils.
Read More: How To Stop Eating Junk Food: Tips And Tricks To Improve Your Eating Habits
Processed Foods
Highly processed foods are typically low in nutrients and high in calories per serving. They can also contain added sugar, unhealthy fat, and sodium, which will make it harder for you to achieve weight loss goals (9). Processed carbs like white bread, pasta, or baked goods should also be avoided because they cause an increase in blood sugar levels which often leads to cravings later on when your blood sugar drops (17).
If you’re too busy to prepare whole food meals, consider purchasing healthy snacks like protein bars that only contain natural ingredients. It’s also possible to purchase ready-to-use meal replacements that can help shave off time spent cooking while providing adequate nutrition at the same time.
7-Day Weight Loss Meal Plan
This sample menu includes a variety of meals that are rich in nutrients, fiber, and protein to help you reach your weight loss goals. Portions should be adjusted to your individual needs, according to the calorie deficit you’re aiming for (18). Snack examples are included in this plan but remain completely optional.
Monday
- Breakfast: Overnight oats topped with fresh berries and chia seeds
- Lunch: Lentil-bean salad
- Snack: Mango-spinach smoothie
- Dinner: Baked salmon with steamed broccoli and baked potato
Tuesday
- Breakfast: Berry protein smoothie
- Lunch: Stuffed bell peppers
- Snack: Apple slices with nut butter
- Dinner: Zucchini noodles and turkey mince
Wednesday
- Breakfast: Spinach-cheese-egg scramble
- Lunch: Mixed green salad with cucumber, bell pepper, tomato, corn, sweet potato, olives, and grilled salmon or roasted chickpeas
- Snack: Roasted nuts
- Dinner: Oven-baked chicken thighs with potatoes and carrots
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Thursday
- Breakfast: Greek yogurt topped with berries, nuts, and chia seeds
- Lunch: Turkey sandwich made with whole wheat bread
- Snack: Homemade nut and dried fruit trail mix
- Dinner: Grilled tempeh, potatoes, and sautéed kale
Friday
- Breakfast: Green smoothie made with kale, frozen cherries, banana, protein powder, flax seeds, and milk.
- Lunch: Loaded baked potato
- Snack: Whole wheat crackers with mashed black bean spread
- Dinner: Grilled steak, baked potato, and steamed carrots
Saturday
- Breakfast: Bacon and egg muffins
- Lunch: Slow cooker beef and vegetable stew with whole wheat bread
- Snack: Low-fat Greek yogurt topped with nuts
- Dinner: Fried shrimp with wild rice and steamed vegetables
Sunday
- Breakfast: Chocolate coconut protein shake
- Lunch: Chicken veggie salad with peanut dressing
- Snack: Sweet potato chips
- Dinner: Slow cooker beef and vegetable stew with whole wheat bread
Exercise For Weight Loss
Along with a healthy weight loss diet, exercising daily can help you reach your goals faster. Resistance training exercises like weight lifting and calisthenics help strengthen muscle and boost metabolism so they should be incorporated into your daily routine (13).
Doing cardio can also help speed up the fat burning process (8). Examples of cardio workouts include walking, jogging, running, biking and swimming for at least 30 minutes each day. Remember to stretch before and after every workout session to avoid injury and get the most out of your time spent exercising.
The Bottom Line
Having a personalized weight loss plan can help you reach your goals faster. The 7 day meal plan featured above will provide you with the adequate daily calories, protein, carbs, healthy fats, fiber and other nutrients that are required to lose weight safely. When used in conjunction with regular exercise it will also maximize the amount of fat burned every day. Always remember to adjust this sample menu to meet your individual needs so that cravings don’t get in the way of your weight loss goals.
DISCLAIMER:
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!
SOURCES:
- Berry Phenolic Antioxidants – Implications for Human Health? (2018, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Cancers in Australia in 2010 attributable to inadequate consumption of fruit, non‐starchy vegetables and dietary fibre (2010, onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
- Carbohydrates and Blood Sugar | The Nutrition Source | Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health (n.d., hsph.harvard.edu)
- Citrus fruits as a treasure trove of active natural metabolites that potentially provide benefits for human health – BMC Chemistry (2015, bmcchem.biomedcentral.com)
- Crucial facts about health benefits of popular cruciferous vegetables (2012, sciencedirect.com)
- Functional Roles of Fatty Acids and Their Effects on Human Health (2015, aspenjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
- Intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and weight gain: a systematic review (2011, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Is Cardio Really the Secret to Fat Loss? (n.d., ssaonline.com)
- Is the degree of food processing and convenience linked with the nutritional quality of foods purchased by US households? (2015, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Losing Weight | Healthy Weight, Nutrition, and Physical Activity (2020, cdc.gov)
- Meal planning is associated with food variety, diet quality and body weight status in a large sample of French adults (2017, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Putting the Whole Grain Puzzle Together: Health Benefits Associated with Whole Grains—Summary of American Society for Nutrition 2010 Satellite Symposium (2011, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Strength training: Get stronger, leaner, healthier (2021, mayoclinic.org)
- The Role of Legumes in Human Nutrition (2017, intechopen.com)
- The role of protein in weight loss and maintenance (2015, academic.oup.com)
- TRANS-FATS OF PROCESSED AND FRIED FOODS -A CHOICE FOR TASTE OR SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS? (2019, researchgate.net)
- Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake (2019, cell.com)
- What is the role of portion control in weight management? | International Journal of Obesity (2016, nature.com)
