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Trouble reaching 1200 calories a day..help!

beankid
Posts: 91 Member
Having trouble hitting 1200 a day. I've lost weight but the 1200 calorie goal is hard for me being a student and on the go. I don't really have time to snack so my meals are typically the only eating I do. I don't like to just add meaningless foods on my diary that aren't healthy. Here's an example of a typical day.
Breakfast (345 calories)
2whole wheat pancakes
sugar free syrup
cup of strawberries
medium banana
Lunch
Chicken Fajita (328 calories)
Dinner (300)
Turkey Meatloaf with mash
Broccoli
Only 973 for the day. How should I try to make up the deficit without stuffing myself? Any advice
Breakfast (345 calories)
2whole wheat pancakes
sugar free syrup
cup of strawberries
medium banana
Lunch
Chicken Fajita (328 calories)
Dinner (300)
Turkey Meatloaf with mash
Broccoli
Only 973 for the day. How should I try to make up the deficit without stuffing myself? Any advice
0
Replies
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I'm a student too so I know sometimes it can be hard. Good for you for not filling that space with junk! That's really important.
I like to throw a couple snacks in my bag that I can just pull out during class or between classes. Here are some of my favourites:
- banana (make sure it's at the top or you bag though! haha)
- granola bars (the Special K bars are really yummy and only about 100 calories)
- those 100 calorie snack packs (for a not too horrible treat) I love the smartfood popcorn, or the chocolate covered pretzels
- grapes
- sliced pineapple (I slice a whole one at the beginning of the week and just pack a couple slices into a container in the morning)
- healthy wholegrain cereal (just measured out and put in a plastic baggie/container)
Maybe you'll like some of those ideas. I try to pick ones that don't have to be refridgerated so I can just stick them in my purse or backpack and go and pull them out whenever I have five minutes to eat.
Hope that helps!0 -
1. Possibly Not enough fruits/vegetables
2. If getting in enough calories is a daily problem for you, then incorporate more fats. This can be done by eating nuts such as almonds, and cooking with oils.0 -
I'm a student too so I know sometimes it can be hard. Good for you for not filling that space with junk! That's really important.
I like to throw a couple snacks in my bag that I can just pull out during class or between classes. Here are some of my favourites:
- banana (make sure it's at the top or you bag though! haha)
- granola bars (the Special K bars are really yummy and only about 100 calories)
- those 100 calorie snack packs (for a not too horrible treat) I love the smartfood popcorn, or the chocolate covered pretzels
- grapes
- sliced pineapple (I slice a whole one at the beginning of the week and just pack a couple slices into a container in the morning)
- healthy wholegrain cereal (just measured out and put in a plastic baggie/container)
Maybe you'll like some of those ideas. I try to pick ones that don't have to be refridgerated so I can just stick them in my purse or backpack and go and pull them out whenever I have five minutes to eat.
Hope that helps!
I agree!0 -
Put some cheese on them Chicken Fajitas0
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thanks for the advice guys!0
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Having trouble hitting 1200 a day. I've lost weight but the 1200 calorie goal is hard for me being a student and on the go. I don't really have time to snack so my meals are typically the only eating I do. I don't like to just add meaningless foods on my diary that aren't healthy. Here's an example of a typical day.
Breakfast (345 calories)
2whole wheat pancakes
sugar free syrup
cup of strawberries
medium banana
Lunch
Chicken Fajita (328 calories)
Dinner (300)
Turkey Meatloaf with mash
Broccoli
Only 973 for the day. How should I try to make up the deficit without stuffing myself? Any advice
Yes. You see that lunch and dinner? Have fruit as dessert, that will make up the shortfall and it will not be fattening, at all.
Oranges, apples, pears, anything like that x0 -
I sometimes have the same problems. Olive oil and Peanut butter are lifesavers!0
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Keep some nuts in your backpack!0
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Natural peanut butter is a good thing to add to those pancakes!0
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Nuts they are good for you. They have alot of calories. I don't see any on your list. Did someone else mention them. 1/4 cup gives you alot of calories. Avocados are good but I can see that they may be hard to come by.0
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Having trouble hitting 1200 a day. I've lost weight but the 1200 calorie goal is hard for me being a student and on the go. I don't really have time to snack so my meals are typically the only eating I do. I don't like to just add meaningless foods on my diary that aren't healthy. Here's an example of a typical day.
Breakfast (345 calories)
2whole wheat pancakes
sugar free syrup
cup of strawberries
medium banana
Lunch
Chicken Fajita (328 calories)
Dinner (300)
Turkey Meatloaf with mash
Broccoli
Only 973 for the day. How should I try to make up the deficit without stuffing myself? Any advice
Yes. You see that lunch and dinner? Have fruit as dessert, that will make up the shortfall and it will not be fattening, at all.
Oranges, apples, pears, anything like that x0 -
Having trouble hitting 1200 a day. I've lost weight but the 1200 calorie goal is hard for me being a student and on the go. I don't really have time to snack so my meals are typically the only eating I do. I don't like to just add meaningless foods on my diary that aren't healthy. Here's an example of a typical day.
Breakfast (345 calories)
2whole wheat pancakes
sugar free syrup
cup of strawberries
medium banana
Lunch
Chicken Fajita (328 calories)
Dinner (300)
Turkey Meatloaf with mash
Broccoli
Only 973 for the day. How should I try to make up the deficit without stuffing myself? Any advice
Yes. You see that lunch and dinner? Have fruit as dessert, that will make up the shortfall and it will not be fattening, at all.
Oranges, apples, pears, anything like that x0 -
remember your dairy. Eat a string cheese or grab a glass of milk.0
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I'm with everyone else on adding more veggies to lunch and dinner. Though a 200+ gap is a lot of veggies. Maybe a glass of milk or yogurt? Nuts? You could also try real syrup on your pancakes or sour cream on the fajitas. If you're using "Light" tortillas for the fajita, switch to a "regular".
A lot of people get into the mind set of "If I'm on a diet or losing weight, I need to eat 'light' or 'fat free' everything!" I lost 50 pounds on Weight Watchers, 12.5 with MFP -- I've learned over the years mixing in full fat dairy helps me meet my calorie goals and it is something I like a LOT more than light.
Anyway! Great job!0 -
My daughter is a college student too. She makes a lot of smoothies, both protein and veggie/fruit. Try that!0
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If I eat to much fruit, won't that go over my sugar intake for the day?0
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If I eat to much fruit, won't that go over my sugar intake for the day?0
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That would be healthy sugars though.0
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Try adding some green beans with alittle bit of Olive oil over them with lunch or dinner. Nuts which you have heard are great. Maybe some Cottage Cheese if you like it. I like to slice yellow squash for snacks (not alot of calories but easy to eat on the go, just raw).
Glass of milk with meals, slice of cheese ( i like laughing cow light swiss).
Instead of low fat, low cal. food add in some regular and add a few calories were needed. Just try to do it in the healthiest ways possible.0 -
If you carry a back pack throw a thing of Peanut Butter in there and eat a tablespoon or two twice a day. That right there puts you around 400 extra calories.0
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I agree that more dairy would be good to try. I usually have a cup of skim milk with 2 of my meals each day.0
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When I upped my calories I thought it was hard too. I added yogurt with nuts mixed in as a snack and it was really satisfying and did the trick calorie wise.0
This discussion has been closed.
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