1200 calorie menu ideas
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bump0
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How many times a day do you eat? 3 meals a day? How many times do you snack? I do 3 meals plus 3 snacks and I like to make ALL of them about the same amount of calories. It seems to make it easier for me. If you want more at dinner, just take away a snack or two. If you did 6 "eating" times that would be about 200 calories each. Stay away from those 100 calorie snack packs, they won't fill you up. I mean the 100 calorie packs of cookies or whatever. Instead look for nuts to snack on or a half a sandwich. Throw away the idea of "thats a snack food" or "thats a breakfast food" and just eat. There is nothing wrong with having cheese and crackers for dinner or breakfast (I'd add some grapes or another fruit, too), just increase the portion size to what calories fit for you.0
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I have been doing a lot of roasted veggies,
- 1/2 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
- chopped garlic
- dried chili pepper flakes
- pepper
- asparagus
- sliced red pepper
- sliced onion
(the ones I didn't put amounts for you can use to taste)
they are low cal and very yummy, you can change up some of the veggies too, I often use zucchini or eggplant.
lots of luck1 -
I tend to eat two smaller meals while at work and then my larger meal when I get home which gives me a lot more options as far as cooking. It's working for me, but I have also heard that saving all of your calories for the end of the day makes it harder to lose weight. I lose about 2lbs a week but if I ever slow down my larger supper is going to switch places with one of my smaller meals. The larger supper just makes it easier to eat with my husband (who is eating healthier, but not watching his calorie intake) and friends on the weekend which is super important to me not giving up on weight loss.
That's just a myth, don't worry about it. Eat whenever you prefer.0 -
I love making shrimp skewers lately. I get a 20 oz bag of raw shrimp, marinate them, and then stick 2 oz on each of 10 skewers. That makes each skewer right around 100 calories (depending on which recipe you're using) and you can eat as many or as few as fit your needs. Here are the two recipes I've been making:
Pesto Skewers:
Garlic - Raw, 1 clove minced
Kraft Cheese - 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese, 1/4 cup
Oil - Vegetable, canola, 3 tbsp
Herbs - Basil- Raw, 15 grams
Rainbow Seafood Company - Shrimp - Extra Large, Raw, Tail on, Peeled & Cleaned, 20 oz. raw
Soak 10-12 skewers in water. Blend up the first 4 ingredients in the food processor with salt and pepper. Toss in the shrimp to coat. Place about 5 shrimp per skewer. Heat grill (I use a cast iron skillet with raised ridges like a grill, if you do that just spray it liberally with cooking spray) and place skewers on for about 3-4 minutes per side or until shrimp are pink.
It's different every time because the amount of shrimp is never exact, but it should be around 90 calories per skewer
Garlic Lime Skewers
Generic - Lime Zest, 1 tsp
Spices - Cumin, 0.5 tsp
Spices - Oregano, dried, 0.5 tsp
Salt - Table , 0.5 teaspoon
Oil - Vegetable, canola, 2 tbsp
Lime juice - Raw, 1 lime yields
Garlic - Raw, 3 cloves minced
Kirkland Signature - Raw Shrimp - Tail on (31-40/Pkg 680 g), 20 oz
Mix first 7 ingredients in a bowl. Toss shrimp to coat. Marinate for 3-4 hours. Place on skewers and grill until shrimp are cooked through. Last time I made these they were 81 calories per skewer (5 shrimp each).0 -
Do you net 1200??
I try to stay under my 1200 calories, or if I have earned from working out, right about 1200.
OP, I'm not sure that you understand what she means by net? Correct me if I'm wrong? It sounds like you are trying to stay at 1200 or below regardless of exercise, which you estimated at around 500. So, on a day where you are eating 1200 calories, but burning 500, your net would be 700.Do you eat back ur exercise calories? (not being judgy-just wondering how many calories I had to work with)
No I try real hard to keep it at the 1200 calories, even when I gain exercise calories.0 -
Saving for recipes
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1 cup fresh spinach. Sauteed. Add 1 large egg (or two egg whites). Cook on medium heat so it cooks fast while you shape it into whatever your bread item is. Add a little shredded cheddar. Cover and reduce heat to melt. I use Thomas' whole wheat bagel thins, toasted with no butter or spread. About 250 calories and very yummy. Oh, I don't use any salt but I do add black pepper.
Good luck. I'd be a wreck if I netted only 700 calories a day. (I'm on 1220/day and eat back my burned calories. Losing 2 pounds a week so far x4 weeks.)0 -
How many times a day do you eat? 3 meals a day? How many times do you snack? I do 3 meals plus 3 snacks and I like to make ALL of them about the same amount of calories. It seems to make it easier for me. If you want more at dinner, just take away a snack or two. If you did 6 "eating" times that would be about 200 calories each. Stay away from those 100 calorie snack packs, they won't fill you up. I mean the 100 calorie packs of cookies or whatever. Instead look for nuts to snack on or a half a sandwich. Throw away the idea of "thats a snack food" or "thats a breakfast food" and just eat. There is nothing wrong with having cheese and crackers for dinner or breakfast (I'd add some grapes or another fruit, too), just increase the portion size to what calories fit for you.
I eat 5 times...breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, supper. I only eat either yogurt or almonds for my snacks.0 -
Do you net 1200??
I try to stay under my 1200 calories, or if I have earned from working out, right about 1200.
OP, I'm not sure that you understand what she means by net? Correct me if I'm wrong? It sounds like you are trying to stay at 1200 or below regardless of exercise, which you estimated at around 500. So, on a day where you are eating 1200 calories, but burning 500, your net would be 700.Do you eat back ur exercise calories? (not being judgy-just wondering how many calories I had to work with)
No I try real hard to keep it at the 1200 calories, even when I gain exercise calories.
Oh okay I understand...0 -
your doing great.0
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bump for later0
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It seems like you are doing great. You did say you wanted to keep dinners low carb though so I would cut out the rice.0
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Bump... Some good websites here0
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I eat around 1200 most days. I feel very satisfied with what I am eating. My diary is open and you can feel free to add me if you would like. Please note there were a few days over the weekend that I did not log food. I was getting ready for a race and was eating more so didn't bother logging.0
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If you want to lose weight, then no - you do NOT want to eat back the calories spent on exercise. If you're looking to maintain you weight, then yes, feel free to eat those calories.
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A couple of things I do for really low cal meals I do with extra lean ground turkey are:
Extra lean turkey chili (without beans - just peppers, onions, meat, tomatoes, spices)
Extra lean turkey with broccoli, buffalo sauce, and OPA blue cheese dressing - buffalo without the calories/fat
Extra lean turkey with tomato sauce (look for ones that do not have added sugar) and spaghetti squash0 -
Bump0
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Well since we're feeding a 5 year old child, because they need 1200 cals...0
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Go get Bob Harper's Skinny Meals. I'm finishing up my 2nd week - I average 1100 - 1300 calories per day & I've dropped 7.5 lbs in 10 days! (I'm also on a "3 days on, 1 day off" workout plan - 5 mile run / Spartacus workout / 5 mile run / day off, then flip it) so I'm burning 300-600 a day in exercise.
You do have to have some ability in the kitchen. Meals are pretty labor-intensive (you get really tired of prepping & washing pots & pans) but can't argue with the results. They are high-protein, high-volume meals that taste really good.
Out of the 2 weeks so far there are only 1 or 2 meals I didn't care for (and I can be picky, as my wife can attest!)0 -
You mean 1200 calories for a meal right? Because you will starve on 1200 calories a day unless you exercise like crazy. Sounds like you need a new doctor.0
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Bump for some ideas0
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Why are you people encouraging her? Someone needs to tell her to MEET SCOOBY because 1200 calories is dangerously low:
http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/0 -
I am also doing 1200 only because I am a shortie who is partially disabled so can't exercise much and I am trying to take off the last few stubborn pounds. You may find you do better upping your calories and slowly dropping like I did. I started out at 1700 and dropped as I lost. I know you don't want a lecture lol so I will share my ideas.
Do you find you are overly hungry through the day? If you aren't, I would suggest skipping the snacks all together and focusing on two or three decent meals. It will give you more calories to work with when you plan your menu. Meal timing is irrelevant to weight loss. I like to start very light for breakfast with some oatmeal, and I always have eggs for lunch with some fruit or Greek yogurt. Dinners vary because I am feeding the whole family. I save about 600 calories for that meal and I just eat smaller portions of what they are having and I pair it with a salad. We usually have some sort of meat and potatoes or I lighten up recipes like spaghetti by adding lots of veggies to the sauce and eating less pasta. When we have tacos, I do mine open faced on a plate with one shell crumbled on top and light sour cream on the side. once a week we have pizza night. I find store bought thin crust pizza to be the most calorie friendly. I always have mine with salad greens for a filling meal. Taking calorie laden recipes and lightening them up isnt too difficult. Usually it means going lighter on the cheese, sauce or oil. I also recommend Skinnytaste for ideas
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If you're using the calories MFP gives you, you are meant to eat back exercise calories!If you want to lose weight, then no - you do NOT want to eat back the calories spent on exercise. If you're looking to maintain you weight, then yes, feel free to eat those calories.0 -
I like to have an egg, slice of low calorie cheese, and toast or english muffin for breakfast, You can also do this thing I saw where you bake an egg in an avocado
Yogurt! I eat at least 1 yogurt a day and its really yummy and has protein and good probiotics and helps keep you "regular" lol sorry TMI. I like the brown cow brand they are humanely certified so you know its from happy cows
chipotle black bean burgers (morning star) are yummy....
you can bake chicken and fish and season them all sorts of ways and have with veggies & whole grains for dinner.0 -
I would suggest eating back the calories you burn from exercising. Dropping below 1200 calories can put your body in starvation mode and make it difficult for you to lose weight. Losing weight has less to do with the number or calories and more to do with what you're eating. If you eat "clean" then you WILL lose weight. You want to eat a high protein breakfast because your body has to work harder to break down the protein, so your metabolism speeds up. Try to only eat whole grains, but limit these after 4 pm. Eat lean proteins and lots of green vegetables.
For the recipe part:
chili- ground turkey or lean ground beef, chili beans, canned tomatoes, onion, and chili mix
avocado chicken salad- chicken breast, avocado, lime, cilantro, black pepper, and a little garlic
sweet potato gnochi- I can't find my exact recipe right now.. but you can use whole wheat flower and top with olive oil and cinnamon or olive oil and sage
turkey burger- I use the 80 calorie healthy life whole wheat buns and I top the burger with avocado. you can make sweet potato chips in the oven by baking sweet potato slices with a little olive oil and salt.
a homemade vegetable and bean soup with grilled cheese (we use 2% kraft cheese and healthy life 35 calorie bread)0
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