The Daily Meal Plan that Helps You Lose Weight

 Before you begin your weight loss journey, it’s important to have all the facts about how many calories you should be eating each day and what kinds of foods are best to eat in order to be healthy.

 The truth is that calorie counting isn’t really necessary; instead, you should focus on choosing wholesome foods from each of the major food groups every day, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein sources and healthy fats.

 

Meal planning is a solution

A quick way to lose weight is to meal plan. If you want to lose weight fast, setting up a meal plan and sticking with it is key. 

A healthy, balanced diet will also ensure you are getting all of your vitamins and nutrients without eating too much or too little.

 Although it can be tricky to find time in your busy schedule, setting aside time once a week (or even once a month) is well worth your while.

 The time put into meal planning now will pay off in terms of health and energy levels later!

 

How meal planning can help you lose weight

If you’re looking to lose weight, meal planning can be a huge help.

 It allows you to focus on your food choices, which in turn helps you avoid excess calorie consumption. 

Setting up meals and snacks ahead of time also eliminates mindless snacking or eating while watching TV or working at your computer. 

Finally, meal planning forces you to plan for leftovers (if there are any!), which is a great way to save money and cut down on waste. 

Planning meals will help you stay within a healthy calorie budget for each day; it makes staying on track easier by making sure everything is in order.

 Now let’s get started!

 

Meal planning and diet basics

Before beginning any weight loss effort, it’s important to sit down and make a plan.

 If you want to shed pounds without feeling deprived, there are certain basics you should know:

 how much food to eat per meal and how often, what foods to buy and what foods not to buy, and which meals help you feel full for longer periods of time. 

There are several different strategies for dieting; one of them is known as meal planning. 

This is when you plan out exactly what foods you will eat on a daily basis.

 This helps limit your calorie intake by ensuring that you’re aware of how many calories each food has in it.

 

How often should I eat?

To lose weight safely and quickly, follow a meal plan of no more than three meals per day. 

Ideally, aim for five or six smaller meals each day.

 By keeping you energized throughout your daily routine and preventing blood sugar spikes, frequent eating helps stave off cravings for junk food or sugary snacks—which tend to pack on weight over time.

 Breakfast can be an important part of any meal plan because it’s one of your most important opportunities to build metabolism-boosting muscle mass.

 

What time should I eat?

Asking yourself what time you should eat is like asking whether it’s better to get up early or stay up late.

 It’s a matter of personal preference and one that ultimately doesn’t matter.

 However, there are certain times when it makes sense to eat certain foods based on when they are going to give you your best bang for your buck (so to speak).

 Morning meals tend to be higher in calories than evening meals, because we tend not to burn as many calories in our sleep. 

Additionally, if we eat too close to bedtime, all those extra calories could disrupt our sleep cycle and make us feel more sluggish throughout the day.

 

How much should I eat?

Most meal plans have an average of 1,400 to 1,600 calories. To lose weight safely, follow a meal plan that’s customized for your daily activity level (including your exercise habits) and provides 400 to 500 fewer calories than you typically consume.

 In other words, if you typically eat 2,000 calories a day, stick with a meal plan that’s in line with 1,600 to 1,800 calories—and lower if you want even faster results.

 If you aim for more than a one-pound-per-week weight loss (and most people do), shoot for 25 to 50 fewer calories per day on days when you don’t work out.

 

How do I build my meals?

If you’re looking to lose weight by developing healthy eating habits, it’s important to plan your meals in advance.

 Studies show that people who plan their meals are more likely to lose weight than those who don’t.

 

Recipes for dinner plans - grab these!

To help you stay on track with your weight loss plan, here are 7healthy dinner recipes from our favorite bloggers: 

1. Skinny Sun-Dried Tomato and Spinach Fettuccine Alfredo , Pinch of Yum 

2. Skinny Vegetarian Ramen , Foodie crush

3. Skinny Easy Lasagna , The Recipe Rebel 

4. Lightened Up Chicken Broccoli Cheddar Bake

5. Creamy Avocado Pasta , Kalyn’s Kitchen

 6. Parmesan Crusted Baked Cod with Grapefruit Risotto , Minimalist Baker 

7. Roasted Sweet Potato and Mushroom Quinoa Bowls with Kale Salad ,