This is the meal plan I created and stuck to to lose 40 lbs the healthy and cheap way.
BREAKFAST
1. Oatmeal
1/3 cup plain
oatmeal
2/3 cup water
¼ cup mixed fresh
or frozen berries
1 tbs maple syrup
or honey
1 banana OR 1 cup
of 1% milk
in a microwave safe
bowl mix oatmeal, water, and berries. Heat in a microwave on high for
1 minute. Add syrup and serve along side with banana or milk. You can
also drink plain tea or black coffee.
2. Fruit Smoothie
¼ cup non-fat
plain Greek yogurt
½ banana
1 cup frozen
unsweetened berries
½ cup orange juice
1 scoop of plain
unsweetened protein powder*
In a blender mix
together in this order yogurt, banana, berries, juice and protein
powder. Blend for approximately 45 seconds and serve.
*i used whey
protein but you can use any type of plain unsweetened protein powder
you prefer. Keep in mind the total calories will be different if
using a different type of protein.
3. Toast
2 slices of
whole-wheat or ezekial bread
2 TBS ricotta
peanut butter spread*
Toast bread to
desired darkness. Spread 1 tbs of peanut butter spread on each slice.
*recipe at bottom
4. Poached eggs
2 eggs poached
2 Tbs salsa
1 slice of
whole-wheat toast
1 pat of butter
Poach eggs and serve
with salsa on top. Eat with toast with butter.
5. Veggie omelet
with fruit
2 eggs
2 tbs 1% milk
1 pat butter
¼ cup veggies like
broccoli, kale, spinach, peppers, mushrooms or onions
2 kiwi fruits OR 1
cup berries OR 1 banana OR 1 apple OR 1 whole grapefruit
whisk together egg
and milk. Heat the butter in a skillet on medium high. Once the
butter stops bubbling add egg and fry till done. Fill omelet with
steamed vegetables of you're choice, season with desired salt, pepper
and herbs. Serve fruit on the side.
6. Yogurt parfait
½ cup non fat
plain greek yogurt
½ cup of your
favorite unsweetened fruit like berries, cherries, or peaches
1 tbs honey
¼ cup granola
Mix all ingredients
in a bowl. Honey is optional.
7. Cold cereal and
grapefruit
¾ cup of unsweetened
cereal such as bran flakes
½ cup skim milk
1 whole grape
fruit, no sugar
1 boiled or poached
egg
8. A Japanese
breakfast
½ cup cooked brown
rice
1 cup of vegetables
such as broccoli, peppers, kale, mushrooms or onions
1 boiled or poached
egg
1 miso soup packet
prepared according to directions
in a bowl of brown
rice top with steamed veggies and egg. Add soy sauce and herbs to
taste. Serve miso soup on the side.
9. Pumpkin parfait
2/3 cup plain non
fat yogurt
1 crunchy granola
bar broken into peaces
½ cup canned
pumpkin puree
a dash each of
cinnamon, nutmeg and clove
1 tbs of honey or
maple syrup
Layer all ingredients in a bowl.
10. Protein bars
(serving is 1 bar)
2 eggs
1 cup peanut butter
2 cups rolled oats
½ cup maple syrup
3 oz of protein
powder*
½ cup dried fruit,
chopped
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp of vanilla
extract
1 tsp baking soda
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray
a 9-by-11-inch pan with cooking spray. In a small bowl, use an
electric mixer to mix almond butter, protein powder, and maple syrup.
Beat in the eggs. Stir in baking soda first, then add rolled oats,
cinnamon and fruit, mix well. Firmly press stiff dough into the pan
using the back of a spoon. Bake for 12 minutes or until the top
browns slightly. Cool pan on a rack, cut into 12 squares, and store
leftovers in an airtight container.
LUNCH
1. Bean and cheese
burrito
½ cup cooked or
canned black beans, seasoned with herbs and spices
1 oz shredded
cheese
2 TBS salsa
1 whole-wheat
tortilla
Fill tortilla with
beans, cheese, and salsa. Roll burrito style
2. Edamame Salad
(makes 1 serving)
½ cup steamed
shelled edamame
½ cup can or
cooked cannellini beans
1 clove garlic
minced
juice of half a
lemon
1 TBS extra virgin
olive oil
italian herbs,
salt, and black pepper
In a bowl combine
all ingredients stir and eat.
3. Baked falefel
with yogurt sauce and vegetables
½ cup dry falafel
mix
a little less than
½ cup water
¼ cup non-fat
plain greek yogurt cal
¼ cucumber, diced
1 clove of garlic,
minced
¼ TSP dried herbs
such as mint, parsley, basil and oregano
½ cup of fresh
vegetables, such as cucumber, carrots, broccoli or tomatoes
Combine falafel mix
and water into a bowl, stir and let soak for 30 minutes. Meanwhile
combine yogurt, cucumber, garlic and herbs, salt and pepper to taste.
Pre-heat oven to 400°F. Place parchment paper on cookie sheet . Make
the falafel patties (about 2 tbs of mix per patty) and arrainge on
cookie sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
4. Baked potato and
Soup
1 medium baked
potato
salt and pepper to
taste
1 cup of your
favorite vegetable soup.
Bake potato in oven
or microwave. Heat vegetable soup (homemade or canned is fine).
5. Fresh Veggie
Pizza (one serving is 2 pieces)
1 can of reduced
fat crescent rolls
1 package of
neufchatel cheese
1 cup of fresh
veggies, chopped. Broccoli, carrots, cauliflower and peppers.
1 packet ranch
dressing mix
2 TBS low fat milk
Unroll
crescent roll dough into one long rectangle. Press onto the bottom of
a 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray; seal seams and
perforations. Bake at 375° for 11-13 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool completely. In
a large bowl, beat the neufchatel
cheese, salad dressing mix and milk until smooth. Spread over crust.
Sprinkle with vegetables. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour
before serving. Cut
into 8 pieces.
6.
Sprouted lentil salad
1/2
cup lentils, sprouted
¼
cup chopped onion
1
clove garlic, minced
¼
cucumber chopped
1
medium tomato, diced
5
pitted olives, chopped
italian
herbs, salt and black pepper
1
tbs olive oil
red
wine vinegar or lemon juice to taste
Mix
all ingredients in a bowl.
7.
Onigiri's
1
cup cooked brown medium grain or short glutinous grain rice
½
sheet of nori, cut into 2 strips
1
oz tempeh
¼
red bell pepper, finely diced
½
tsp soy sauce
¼
tsp paprika and curry powder
saute
tempeh, pepper, soy sauce and spices. Set aside to cool. Place a
small sheet of plastic wrap over your hand, put about ½ cup of rice
in your hand and flatten it out a little. In the middle of the rice
place 1-2 tbs of the tempeh mixture. Shape the rice around the
filling and wrap a strip of nori around the rice ball. Cover the ball
in the same plastic wrap you used to shape it.
8.
Hummus Sandwich
2
slices of whole-grain bread
2
tbs hummus
1/3
of a cucumber, sliced
3
tomato slices
a
handful of baby spinach
Spread one tablespoon of hummus on each side and then layer the tomato slices, cucumber and spinach.
9.
Carrot “noodle” salad
1
carrot thinly sliced with a vegetable peeler
½
oz of cashews, chopped
1
tbs fresh parsley or cilantro, minced
3
TBS of coconut milk
1
tbs peanut butter
1
tbs soy sauce
1
tbs lime juice
¼
tsp curry powder
¼
tsp ginger powder
1
clove of garlic minced
Thinly
slice the fresh carrot with the vegetable peeler. In a bowl combine
peanut butter, coconut milk, parsley or cilantro, soy sauce, lime
juice, spices and garlic. Whisk together until homogenized and pour
over carrots, top with cashews. Let chill for one hour before
serving.
10.
Grilled Cheese
2
slices of whole grain bread
2
slices of tomato
1
slice of chedder cheese
½
cup of sugar snap peas, steamed
Coat
skillet in cooking spray and heat to medium high heat. Arrange sandwich and place in skillet. Cook till brown on both sides.
DINNER
1.
Super Simple Vegetarian Chili (serving is 1 ½ cups of chili)
12
oz jar of salsa
1
can of corn
1
can of beans
½
bottle of beer
1
oz tortilla chips, crushed
In
a large pot or dutch oven, add in this order: salsa, corn, beans,
beer, and crushed chips. Heat on medium, stirring occasionally. Bring
to a low boil and let boil for 20 minutes still stirring
occasionally.
2.
Farmer's Market Salad
1
boiled red skin potatoes, quartered
1
boiled egg, sliced
4
cherry tomatoes
2
green beans (raw)
2
asparagus sprigs (raw)
2
carrot sticks (raw)
1
cup of chopped romaine lettuce
2
tbs of lemon dill dressing*
On
a plate of romaine lettuce, place quartered potato, sliced egg,
tomatoes, green beans, asparagus, carrots and drizzle on top the
lemon dill dressing. *recipe follows
3.
Homemade bean burgers with Chutney (serving is 2 burgers with a tsp
of chutney)
1
cup of cooked or canned cannellini beans 240
¼
cup walnuts, chopped 185
2
TBS flour 59
¼
cup of onion chopped 11
¼
cup Parmesan cheese, grated 110
¼
tsp rosemary 2
¼
tsp thyme 2
½
tsp of salt
¼
tsp black pepper 2
2
cloves of garlic, minced 8
2
tablespoons jarred or homemade chutney 45
¼
cup of oil for shallow frying
¼
flour for coating
In
a medium mixing bowl combine beans, walnuts, flour, onion, Parmesan cheese, herbs, salt, pepper, and garlic. Lightly mash together and
mix well. Heat the oil in a pan on medium high heat. Shape about ¼
cup of mixture into your hand and shape into a patty, coat with flour
on both sides and shallow fry the patties until golden brown on both
sides. Serve chutney alongside patties. Makes about 5 patties
4.
Baked eggplant Parmesan (1/4th of dish is 271 calories)
1
medium eggplant, purged
1
12 oz jar of marinara sauce
½
cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1
cup of part skim ricotta cheese
I
cup (4 oz) of mozzarella cheese, shredded
Preheat
oven to 375 degrees F. In a 8 x 8 casserole dish layer in this order:
½ jar of sauce, ½ of the eggplant, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, 1/4th
container of ricotta cheese. Repeat. Then top with the mozzarella. Cover casserole with foil and bake for 35-40 minutes. Remove foil and
put under the broiler until the mozzarella is bubbly and brown.
(about 1 and a half minutes)
5.
Over Stuffed Patty Pan (serving is 2 patty pan halves)
4
(6 oz) patty pan squash
2
cups fresh corn kernels (about 1 ear)
1
clove of garlic, minced
½
cup cooked lima beans
1
shallot, diced
1
tbs thyme
½
tsp black pepper
1
tsp salt
2
tbs olive oil
2
oz toasted pecans
Heat
the oven to 400 degrees F. Put a half sheet pan in the oven to heat
for 15 minutes. Trim the woody ends and halve the squash crosswise.
Scoop out the squash seeds, leaving a 1/2-inch shell. Reserve the
flesh. Brush the cut sides of the squash with 1 tablespoon of the
olive oil, and season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of
pepper. Arrange the squash, cut side down, onto the preheated pan and
roast until the squash is tender and the flesh side is browned, about
15 minutes. Transfer the squash to a serving platter and set aside.
Meanwhile, finely chop the reserved squash flesh. Heat a 10-inch cast
iron skillet over medium heat and add the remaining tablespoon of
olive oil. When the oil shimmers add the chopped squash, shallot,
garlic, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and browned, about 2 to 3
minutes. Add the corn, limas, pecans, and thyme. Cook until heated
through, approximately 1 minute. Divide the stuffing evenly among the
cooked squash and serve immediately.
6.
Vegetable Pot Pie (1 serving, about 1/5 of pie)
1
cup fresh corn kernels
1
large sweet potato, peeled and diced.
2
carrots, peeled and diced
½
large onion, diced
2
cloves of garlic, minced
½
lb of mushrooms chopped
1
leek, sliced and rinsed
½
of a 14 oz refrigerated pie dough
2
cups vegetable broth
1
tbs olive oil
1
tbs flour
1
tsp salt
½
tsp black pepper
½
tsp each, rosemary, thyme, and sage
1
tbs milk
1
egg (for egg wash)
Preheat
oven to 450°. Cook
mushrooms
with olive oil
in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Increase heat to medium-high.
Add potato, leek,
onion, garlic, corn
and carrot to pan; sauté 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in
flour and herbs;
sauté 1 minute, stirring frequently. Slowly add broth to pan,
stirring constantly; bring to a boil. Cook 2 minutes or until
slightly thick, stirring occasionally. Spoon mixture into a 1
1/2-quart glass or ceramic baking dish. Top with dough, folding under
and pressing down on edges to seal. Combine milk and egg brush
mixture over top of dough. Cut small slits in dough to vent. Bake at
450° for 30 minutes or until crust is golden. Let stand 10 minutes.
7.
Lentil Stew and a slice of bread (one serving is 1 cup of stew)
1
cup lentils
1
pound mushrooms, sliced
2
carrots, chopped
1
red pepper, chopped
½
cup frozen or fresh peas.
½
onion, diced
2
cloves garlic, minced
1
tsp each of parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, and curry powder
2
½ cups vegetable broth or water
2
tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper
1
tsp oil
In
a large sauce pan or dutch oven sweat on medium heat the mushrooms,
onions, carrots, red pepper and garlic. Once the veggies are translucent add the curry powder and lentils, continue to stir for
another few minutes. Add vegetable broth or water, salt, pepper, and
herbs. a boil the lentils for another 20 minutes or until tender.
Stir in Peas, wait for the stew to cool and serve with a slice of
whole grain bread.
8.
Baked tofu with Japanese flower salad. (makes 4 servings)
1
lb extra firm tofu
2
tbs barbecue sauce
¼
cup soy sauce
1
tsp honey
1
clove of garlic, minced
1
tbs sesame seed oil
1
head of chicory, leaves separated
1
head of radicchio, leaves separated
12
radishes, cut into roses (see bottom)
2
large carrots, peeled and cut into 8 chrysanthemums (see bottom)
Juice
of one orange
1
tbs of miso (optional)
3
tbs of sesame seed oil
2
tbs rice wine vinager
salt
and pepper
Squeeze
excess moisture from tofu and cut in to 1'” cubes. In a bowl whisk
together the barbeque sauce, soy sauce, honey, garlic and sesame oil.
Put in a zip top freezer bag with tofu and marinade for 1-3 hours.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Arrange tofu in a single layer on a
cookie sheet with parchment paper. Bake tofu for 25-30 minutes.
For
the salad: on 4 plates arrange a small bed of mixed chicory and
raddichio. Arrange the radishes and carrrots. Pour over with a table
spoon of dressing each.
For
the dressing: whisk together orange juice, miso, vinegar and salt and
pepper, then slowly drizzle in the sesame oil until homogenized.
9.
Iced avocado soup with tomato salsa and crostini
2
avocados
1
small onion
1
garlic clove, minced
2
tbs lemon juice
3
¾ cup vegetable stock or water
1
tbs red wine vinegar
1
tsp of salt
½
tsp black pepper
For
the Salsa:
½
red onion, finely chopped
1
tbs freshly chopped parsley
2
tomatoes, deseeded and chopped
1
green chili, deseeded and finely chopped
1
tbs red wine vinegar
1
tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper
Halve
the avocados, remove the pits and skin. Cut the flesh into chunks and
puree in a blender r food processor with the onion, garlic, lemon
juice, and a third of the stock or water. Add the rest of the stock
or water and blend again until very smooth. Add the vinegar and salt
and pepper. Pour into a large boul and Place in the refridgerator to
cool. Mix together all salsa ingredients. Check the seasoning and
serve in chilled owls, garnish with salsa with 2 crostinis on the
side. (makes 4 servings)
10.
Ratatoille stuffed crepes with ricotta cheese. (serving is 2
filled crepes)
For
the crepes:
1
cup flour
½
tsp salt
2
eggs
1
tbs olive oil
½
cup lowfat milk
½
cup of water
2
tbs fresh spinach or herbs (optional)
For
the ratatoulle:
1
6 oz can of tomato paste
½
onion, chopped
2
cloves of garlic, minced
1
tbs olive oil
salt
and pepper to taste
1
zucchini, sliced
1
summer squash, sliced
1
red bell pepper, sliced
1
lb portabello mushrooms, sliced
7
oz part skim ricotta cheese
Preheat
oven to 375 degrees F. At the bottom of a 10x10 baking dish spread
tomato paste, olive oil, garlic, onion and salt and pepper, mix well.
On top of the paste arrange the slices of vegetables and sprinkle
with remaining salt and pepper. Bake the dish for 45 minutes.
In
a blender, combine all of the ingredients and pulse for 10 seconds.
Heat a small non-stick pan. Add butter to coat. Pour 1 ounce of
batter into the center of the pan and swirl to spread evenly. Cook
for 30 seconds and flip. Cook for another 10 seconds and remove to
the cutting board. Lay them out flat so they can cool. Continue until
all batter is gone. After they have cooled you can stack them and
store in sealable plastic bags in the refrigerator for several days
or in the freezer for up to two months. When using frozen crepes,
thaw on a rack before gently peeling apart. (makes 12 crepes)
Once
the ratatoulle is done and all the crepes are cooked. Spread 2-3 tbs
of ricotta cheese on each crepe. Add approx. ¼ cup of ratatouille
to each crepe and roll up.
Lemon
Dill Dressing
Finely
grated zest of 1 lemon (about 1 teaspoon)
1/4 cup
freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 2 medium lemons)
1
tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill
3/4
teaspoon kosher salt
1/2
teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4
teaspoon granulated sugar
Freshly
ground black pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
Place
all ingredients except oil in a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
Slowly drizzle in oil, whisking continuously, until completely
incorporated. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as
needed. Serve immediately.
Ricotta
peanut butter spread:
¼
cup peanut butter
¼
cup part skim ricotta cheese
1
tbs honey
1
tsp cinnamon
Mix
all ingredients together and keep refrigerated.
I can not take credit for any of the photos taken. Not all these recipes are my original ones, a lot of them are made by other people and some recipes I have taken and modded to be lower in calories or to fit a vegetarian lifestyle. Not all of these meals are exactly 300 calories. None of these recipes go above 330 calories or below 250 calories.