1500 Calorie Diet Menu Plan

A 1,500 calorie diet is a healthy target that can include room for healthy snacks, vegetables, fruit and lean meats. This diet allows for some really great food, and can be easily followed as long as you keep accurate records of the foods you consume during the day.

Caloric Intake

Before adopting a 1,500-calorie-a-day lifestyle, it is important to really commit to that goal. Keeping accurate records of all the meals and snacks consumed in a day will help to ensure that you reach the appropriate amount of calorie intake in a day. It is important to remember that not exceeding the 1,500 calorie mark is crucial; however, not going below 1,000 calories is equally important. Eating too few calories can make a person sick, and actually keep the dieter from losing weight.

Snacking

Knowing that healthy snacks are available on a diet is a good way to stick to an eating plan. Between-meal snacking is OK as long as the snacks do not boost one over the 1,500 calorie limit.

According to "Low-Calorie Dieting for Dummies," healthy snacks that can be incorporated into the day include: 25 small thin pretzels, 15 pistachio nuts, 15 grapes, five almonds, five dried apricot halves, three dill pickles, two dried dates, and 2 cups of light microwave popcorn. Remember that this is in addition to your basic meals, so don't forget to add the extra calorie count into the day's totals.

Breakfast

Breakfast should be the largest meal of the day. It is the meal where the body gets most of its daily energy, so it should never be omitted. Breakfast can be easy on a 1,500 calorie diet, so there is no excuse for skipping it.

Breakfast ideas include: a tomato and spinach omelet, orange pecan muffins, strawberry smoothies, or apple and cinnamon pancakes. Muffins and pancakes can be made in advance and frozen to save time on rushed mornings.

Lunch

Lunch time can often be crazy between kids, your work schedule, and daily errands. Nevertheless, it is important to take the time to eat a healthy well-balanced lunch.

Salads are an enjoyable and easy way to stay within appropriate calorie limits. Add fresh fruit and lean meat to salads to give the salad extra protein and flavor.

Some good salads include, strawberry and grilled chicken salad, apricot and watercress salad, as well as a shrimp and mandarin orange salad. Remember to add salad dressing calories into the total calorie count for a salad. Select dressings that are low-fat for the lowest calorie count.

Other lunch options include sandwich wraps. A turkey and low-fat cheese wrap, smoked chicken breast with apple-smoked mozzarella wrap, and a tuna salad wrap are all easy lunch options.

Dinner

Dinner should be the lightest meal of the day, and should always be eaten at least two hours before bedtime. A good rule is to never eat anything past 6 p.m., but if that isn't feasible, eat as early as possible.

Some dinner meals include; chili-crusted sea scallops, Cajun blackened salmon, grilled shrimp with bell pepper and eggplant, chicken stew, lemon chicken, and chicken or turkey jambalaya.