Trouble reaching 1200 calories a day..help!

beankid

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

meghan1789

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!

Nopedotjpeg

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.

sarahmargaret12

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!

dg09

Put some cheese on them Chicken Fajitas

beankid

thanks for the advice guys!

Di3012

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 x

Hollybot

I sometimes have the same problems. Olive oil and Peanut butter are lifesavers!

MB_Positif

Keep some nuts in your backpack!

PoochPottery

Natural peanut butter is a good thing to add to those pancakes!

KeriA

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.

chattipatty2

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 x

where are your drinks? do you drink nothing but water? (which is fine, but....) you can have a glass of milk, juice, etc also

chattipatty2

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 x

where are your drinks? do you drink nothing but water? (which is fine, but....) you can have a glass of milk, juice, etc also

also, almonds pack a good calorie punch with favorable fats.

tinkermommc

remember your dairy. Eat a string cheese or grab a glass of milk.

devil_in_a_blue_dress

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!

gabbymom2

My daughter is a college student too. She makes a lot of smoothies, both protein and veggie/fruit. Try that!

beankid

If I eat to much fruit, won't that go over my sugar intake for the day?

chattipatty2

If I eat to much fruit, won't that go over my sugar intake for the day?

Only if you go over your net cals.

mallory3411

That would be healthy sugars though.

marcenepea

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.

mommymeg2

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.

moose717

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.

AngelikaLumiere

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.