1200 calorie diet

sunnyaz4

In need of recipes under 400 calories. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you.

rachael00679

Skinnytaste.com
Addapinch.com

I also use taste.com.au (I'm Australian)

They are the sites I regularly use for inspiration followed by the thread that is called "show me your food/supper/dinner" or something like that under recipes. Link below...
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/823358/what-do-your-meals-look-like-show-me-pictures#latest

DrunkInAGolfCart

I'm still on a big learning curve (and I'm not much of a cook) but in terms of low cal meals I have come across no meal simpler, yummier and low cal as mini "Pizzas" that use the big portabella mushroom tops as the base. Basically, break the stem off, roast them until cooked then spread a standard tomato paste on the underside, add some cheese - roast for a bit more until the cheese is golden brown and you're done. They're SO filling and taste AHMAZING.

The bulk of the calories come from the cheese and you don't need much of it. I use a standard 3 cheese pizza blend which is about 166cals per 50g. You can also add other things to it (I'm going to add some olives next time).

A user on here (who I owe a thousand thank yous to) suggested it when someone asked for a low cal pizza base. It's been invaluabe to me. I've cooked them for my mother and cousin a few times and we all are in love with them.

I'll be interested in seeing what others post here. Hope to find another simple, low cal gem.

eveaugust7

1200 is a very very low calorie intake and isn't sustainable you'll end up being ill!

GeemaLeema

I use a lot of recipes from Resourceful Cook because I learnt them in my first year of uni to keep my food shops cheap. But doing myfitnesspal I've learnt to substitute ingredients rather than taking them away to still keep me full e.g. Instead of using a full portion of rice I go half/half with red lentils, use soya milk instead of semi-skimmed, use Frylite spray oil ect. ect.

Salad and fresh veg in a meal also make it more filling and really yummy

Then it's just making sure you have some nice low cal snacks to keep the sweet tooth away

crispaholicshaz

eveaugust7 wrote: »

1200 is a very very low calorie intake and isn't sustainable you'll end up being ill!

1200 is the starting point that MFP set most of us.. By the time u add exercise u get more allowance, but then its up to you not to use them up too.. Yesterday i had 1, 093 calories left after burning 1,164 calories during exercise... My food intake was 1,271...

sunnyaz4

Thank you crispaholicshaz, geemaleema, DrunkInAGolfCart, Rachael00679! I'm going to try some recipes these coming weeks. Good to know I won't be stuck in a diet rut. As for my daily calorie intake eveaugust7 I know it seems low, but that's where my doctor set it for me because of my PCOS. And if I add exercise I can add a little more calories. Thank you for your concern though.

CandyMonster160

eveaugust7 wrote: »

1200 is a very very low calorie intake and isn't sustainable you'll end up being ill!

This may be true for you, but I find 1200 calories a day very manageable. It's all in how you fill those calories. It doesn't work for some people, but for me personally I'm more than satisfied with my 1200 calories.

I also use Skinnytaste for great recipes, I use her cookbook and website at least 4 times a week. So good!

br3adman

4 ounces of turkey/chicken/top or bottom round or pork chops without the bone. Take a hot pan put half teaspoon olive oil place your meat. Cook until done. Pick any green leaf veggie. broc coliflower cabbage or eggplant cook or steam until tender. Any combo will be under 400 calories

sunnyaz4

Thanks candymonster160 and br3adman. Two very good suggestions. Will try. Especially the meat and veggie one because it's easy on short notice. Thanks! :-)

mpat81

The trick to this for me is to learn a method for making something (instead of a recipe) then just switch up your meats and veggies. Calorie counts will be pretty close and you wont get bored with making the same stuff all the time.

for example:
breakfast- whole wheat English muffin breakfast sandwich with chicken sausage patty and an overeasy egg, add different veggies or a slice of cheese. 300- 400 calories depending on brands.

for lunch- make a soup by roasting a bunch of your favorite root vegetables in the oven then blending them with chicken stock and a little milk. add your favorite herbs and seasonings, mustards, hot sauce or whatever you like to change it up. calories vary on this one depending on what veg you choose but you should get a pretty large portion for under 400 calories.

Dinner- Its summer, use your grill! You'll be surprised how great veggies taste when they've been cooked on the grill. Try zucchini, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, onions. Use different marinades every time. Leftover veggies are great in an omelet for breakfast or on a wrap for lunch.

janisvin

I really enjoy making quesadillas with Tumaro brand high fiber low carb tortillas. They are only 60 or 70 cals each so you can customize a quesadilla with veggies/salsa/low fat cheese easily for 300-400 cals. Also great as a bread or bun substitute. Good luck!

bpetrosky

Bacon, Egg & Cheese taco (220 - 320 cal)

Small tortilla of your choice, 1 egg (or 3tbs Egg Beaters), 1 Slice Bacon, shredded cheese (8 g), Salsa (~15 g), green onions & diced peppers can be added. Cut bacon into small pieces, and cook until crispy. Set aside and drain grease. Cook onions and peppers (if added), add beaten egg and stir bacon pieces into egg as it cooks. Put cooked ingredients on tortilla and top with cheese and salsa.

PixelPuff

Be prepared to love me, for I have found how to make shirataki noodles [those 10 cal noodles; some are 0!] delicious.

SHIRATAKI NOODLE PAD THAI [peanut-y goodness]

1) Drain and rinse noodles.
2) DRY NOODLES THOROUGHLY. Do not boil.
3) Throw into pan under medium-high heat. If good enough pan, don't even need oils. Stir occasionally.
4) After a few min, add sauce of your choosing. MEASURE IT ACCORDING TO THE LABELS. I use Bangkok Peanut Sauce by House of Tsang [sells at Walmart]. It's about 40-45 cal per tablespoon, off the top of my head.

To be honest, that alone is just... Delicious. And it 50-55 calories. From there, you have a few options; you can add a small amount of protein such as a single egg for 60-100 cal [depends on egg and how it is cooked], small low-cal veggies such as mushroom, mung bean sprouts, cabbage, and/or bell pepper. Just keep track of what you add, it is VERY easy to stay below 400 cal with that meal. I like to cook up some shallots in the pan before I add the noodles, but that is totally optional. Just tasty and super low in cal [7 calories per TABLESPOON of chopped shallots; you only need maybe a teaspoon worth].

What I had for lunch; Pad Thai as described above, with roughly 8-10 mung bean sprouts [they are small], teaspoon-ish of shallots, and one egg mixed in. Such low calorie, it is ridiculous for the taste. I like to mix the egg into the noodles as it cooks, but doing a sunny-side up on top of the noodles works for me, too!

PixelPuff

eveaugust7 wrote: »

1200 is a very very low calorie intake and isn't sustainable you'll end up being ill!

For those looking to lose 2lbs/week, MyFitnessPlan will recommend this. 1200isplenty is even a popular subreddit on reddit.

bpetrosky

Homemade Egg Muffin (~300 cals)

English muffin, 1 egg, canadian bacon, 1 slice cheese (need an egg ring)

Toast english muffin. While toasting, preheat a medium skillet, use non-stick spray to coat bottom of skillet and egg ring. Crack 1 egg into ring, add 1-2 tbs water to skillet outside of the ring and cover. Remove cover when water is evaporated, heat canadian bacon in skillet.

When muffin is toasted, add cheese slice, cooked egg, and top with canadian bacon.

JanetMMcC

Take a spaghetti squash. Make lots of holes in it with a good sharp knife. (If you don't have enough holes, it'll explode in the 'wave. I know.) Put it in your microwave on a plate. Cook as long as it takes to soften, turning it over or a half-turn every 10 minutes. Once it's done, cut it in half. Scrape out the seeds in the center with a spoon. Then take a couple forks and scrape out the flesh, which will come out in spaghetti-like strands. You can eat as is, or add sauce.

No, it doesn't taste like spaghetti, but it's still good under sauce. And it's about 42 calories/cup.

allaboutthefood

http://www.skinnytaste.com/ http://www.eat-yourself-skinny.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/798112163571614/

eved305

OK my new favorite thing is spaghetti squash. I cut in half and bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until I can pinch with a knife. Don't over cook I have done that and it gets mushy. Then get half scrape out the inside and mix with marinara sauce (I use about 1/4 cup) add some garlic and parsley or whatever Italian mix you like to add to pasta, stick back in the skin, add some mozzarella (measure it out based on the servings it has) and sprinkle on top. Broil until cheese melts and enjoy. I eat only the one half. Its amazing and super filling for way under 400 calories!

amgreenwell

smoothies!!! Milk or yogurt + frozen fruit + fresh fruit +blend = breakfast every day under 400, add some coffee with creamer and you are still under 400

salads galore for lunch...almost all veggies are acceptable. just get a low cal dressing and don't use much, skip the cheese and any croutons, crackers or bread. I also take tuna to top the salad. soups can be very low cal if you make them yourself, they also last quite a while so you can spread them out over days of meals.

dinner is game on... i LOVE crock-pot recipes for anything. just be sure to measure everything you can have many meals under 400 calories.

Steff46

I use Romaine lettuce leafs instead of taco shells when making turkey tacos. You can actually use the leafs to replace any "bread" you may need for a sandwich or burger. One of my favorite ways to use the leafs is as a container for stir frys. Just spoon it in and enjoy!

jaga13

eveaugust7 wrote: »

1200 is a very very low calorie intake and isn't sustainable you'll end up being ill!

I'm sorry, do you know her stats?? I am 4'11, and MFP gives me 1210 for a .5lb weekly loss. I sure as hell exercise to increase that amount, but if I get injured or for whatever reason can't exercise, I'm stuck with 1210, whether you think it's too low or not.

jaga13

eved305 wrote: »

OK my new favorite thing is spaghetti squash. I cut in half and bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until I can pinch with a knife. Don't over cook I have done that and it gets mushy. Then get half scrape out the inside and mix with marinara sauce (I use about 1/4 cup) add some garlic and parsley or whatever Italian mix you like to add to pasta, stick back in the skin, add some mozzarella (measure it out based on the servings it has) and sprinkle on top. Broil until cheese melts and enjoy. I eat only the one half. Its amazing and super filling for way under 400 calories!

I need to bookmark this for later!

sunnyaz4

Thank you all for the great suggestions. I definitely have to go grocery shopping soon. Won't lie I am a bit skeptical about the spaghetti squash because it's a veggie I haven't used. But in it to win it so I have to be open to new things. Thanks again!

JanetMMcC

I'm interested - what have you tried so far? What did you think of it?

DorisSilver50

I am a huge fan of spaghetti squash I eat it multiple times a week:) I split them, clean them out microwave them in a little water (covered) for 9-10 min or so depending on size. Once you can scoop it off the sides easily (don't let it get too mushy though because it tastes gross), spray with ICBINB and sprinkle with No Salt and Pepper...mmmm! I eat it by itself or with some kind of Nutrisystem Italian dish. I save the other one wrapped in fridge for another meal. You can roast just about any vegetables in the oven on a pan sprayed with a little olive oil and sprinkled with garlic, pepper, No Salt, whatever. Asparagus is a big one here in MI because we get it early in the season, I buy lots and clean it, cut it up and freeze it for later use:) I also like to take frozen yellow and zucchini squash and cook it with stewed tomatoes or any of the seasoned diced tomatoes.

SherryTeach

eveaugust7 wrote: »

1200 is a very very low calorie intake and isn't sustainable you'll end up being ill!

Not necessarily true. At 5'1" and 105 pounds and at age 60, my TDEE is 1350. I easily did all my loss from 136 pounds on 1200 by selecting a variety of nutritious and bulky food. I was never once ill and I've been at this for three years.

DorisSilver50

eveaugust7 wrote: »

1200 is a very very low calorie intake and isn't sustainable you'll end up being ill!

Not true at all, I have been successfully losing weight on a 1200 calorie diet (31+ pounds) over the past 4.5 months. I workout every day 45-60 minutes, I feel wonderful, am off almost all my medications and my lab work is fantastic. I vary between 1200-1350 depending on intensity of my workout. I am 5'4" and started at 165#, 1200 is a perfectly acceptable number of calories.

susiederkins21

Do you have a Trader Joe's near you? They have a LOT of healthy options, and the prices are pretty good. My favorite right now is the miso soup broth in the carton, with 8 chicken cilantro mini wontons and some frozen peas in it. It's like 130 calories and very filling. I also like the turkey burgers and a lot of their "guiltless" stuff.

susiederkins21

Oh, and I found when using spaghetti squash as a substitute for actual spaghetti noodles, I liked it a LOT better when I mixed it with the sauce, instead of putting the sauce on top.

BWBTrish

I have all kinds of 1200 daily intake/meals. Was on 1200 for a long time.
It can be done very well... even with a snack etc etc Its all about what you eat.

These pictures are a normal daily intake for me...around 1200 calories

Breakfast omelet with zuchinni and bean sprouts 218 calories


Lunch crab and left over salad around 200 calories


Dinner around the 208 calories


and my evening snacks (around the 400 to 500 calories)




I log everything to the gram
and make photos and descriptions for my friends what i eat on a daily basis.

It sure can be done!