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Menu for a 1200 Calorie Diet

People may need to restrict their caloric intake for a wide variety of reasons. Such reasons may include the desire to lose weight as well as the need to recover health in the aftermath of a diagnosis of a serious illness such as diabetes. A 1200 calorie menu may help you accomplish these goals. Here are some menus that meet this requirement.

  1. Breakfast

    • Breakfast is an important meal. Breakfast takes place after one has fasted for several hours while sleeping. Start with a small banana cut in half. Consume an ounce of Cherrios with a cup of skim milk. Another excellent breakfast choice is three-fourths of a cup of blueberries, a fourth of a cup of low fat granola, a cup of skim milk, and half a toasted whole-wheat muffin buttered with a half tablespoon of light margarine. Wash this down with ice water or herbal tea.

    Lunch

    • Lunch should be eaten in order to stave off afternoon hunger pains and make it easier to stick to the diet. Make a peanut butter sandwich from whole wheat bread, with one tablespoon of peanut butter and sugar free jelly in the flavor of your choice. Consume with a cup of skim milk, an orange and a cup of grape tomatoes. Alternatively have a turkey and cheese sandwich made from two ounces of lean turkey breast, half an ounce of low fat swiss cheese and two slices of whole wheat bread. Consume a salad consisting of a cup of leafy green vegetables and a teaspoon of light dressing. Serve with eight ounces of low fat yogurt and a light beverage such as sparkling water.

    Dinner

    • Dinner should be consumed at least three hours before bedtime in order to help aid restful sleep. Eat a cup of broccoli and a cup of lightly steamed mixed greens such as peapods and red peppers. Serve the salad with a teaspoon of reduced calorie dressing. Broil five ounces of lean steak. Bake a medium sized potato. Drizzle a teaspoon of light margarine over the baked potato. Consume with ice water or seltzer. A second low calorie dinner is also easy to create. Steam a cup and a half of broccoli, carrots, cauliflower and green peppers. Grill three ounces of salmon. Boil a third of a cup of cous cous to serve on the side. Add a whole-wheat roll. Finish with a cup of freshly purchased cantaloupe.

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