High-Protein Low-Calorie Meal Plan Created by a Dietitian: 1,200 Calories

Protein does your body a lot of good. It builds healthy cells and repairs ones that are damaged and keeps your immune system in tip-top shape. When trying to lose weight, adding protein to each meal and snack helps you to feel full and satisfied, making weight loss easier.

In this 1,200-calorie meal plan, high-protein foods—like salmon, chicken, edamame, eggs and chickpeas—fill the meals and snacks with healthy, high-quality protein, providing well over the minimum recommendation of 50 grams of protein per day.

Deliciously prepared and paired with other healthy foods to keep things balanced—like vegetables, fruits, whole grains and healthy fats—these tasty meals and snacks come together to create a week-long meal plan for weight loss that will keep you feeling full and satisfied all day long.

Don't miss the helpful meal-prep notes that outline the steps you can do ahead of time over the weekend to prepare for your week ahead.

How to Meal-Prep for Your Week of Meals

1. Make the Chicken Quinoa Bowl with Olives & Cucumber and refrigerate individual portions in separate meal-prep containers to have for lunch on Days 2, 3, 4 and 5.

2. Hard-boil and refrigerate 2 eggs to have for breakfast in the Egg Salad Avocado Toast recipe on Days 4 and 5.

Day 1

Breakfast (407 calories, 33 g protein)

• 1 serving Broccoli & Parmesan Cheese Omelet

A.M. Snack (30 calories, 0 g protein)

• 1 medium plum

Lunch (402 calories, 16 g protein)

• 1 serving Butternut Squash Soup with Avocado & Chickpeas

P.M. Snack (42 calories, 1 g protein)

• 1 kiwi

Dinner (319 calories, 26 g protein)

• 1 serving Citrus Poached Salmon with Asparagus
• 1/2 cup Easy Brown Rice

Meal-Prep Tip: Consider making a double batch of Easy Brown Rice so you'll have enough to have for dinner on Day 2. Freeze any leftovers for up to 6 months.

Daily Totals: 1,200 calories, 77 g protein, 135 g carbohydrates, 22 g fiber, 41 g fat, 1,598 mg sodium

Day 2

Breakfast (194 calories, 18 g protein)

• 1 cup raspberries
• 2/3 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
• 1 Tbsp. sliced almonds

A.M. Snack (45 calories, 1 g protein)

• 1 kiwi

Lunch (519 calories, 34 g protein)

• 1 serving Chicken Quinoa Bowl with Olives & Cucumber

Dinner (471 calories, 11 g protein)

• 1 serving Vegan Coconut Chickpea Curry

Daily Totals: 1,228 calories, 64 g protein, 130 g carbohydrates, 27 g fiber, 50 g fat, 1,315 mg sodium

Day 3

Breakfast (239 calories, 26 g protein)

• 1 cup raspberries
• 1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
• 1 Tbsp. sliced almonds

A.M. Snack (64 calories, 1 g protein)

• 1 cup raspberries

Lunch (519 calories, 34 g protein)

• 1 serving Chicken Quinoa Bowl with Olives & Cucumber

P.M. Snack (42 calories, 1 g protein)

• 1 kiwi

Dinner (348 calories, 24 g protein)

• 1 serving Ginger-Soy Beef Noodle Bowls

Daily Totals: 1,212 calories, 87 g protein, 112 g carbohydrates, 27 g fiber, 47 g fat, 1,265 mg sodium

Day 4

Breakfast (230 calories, 11 g protein)

• 1 serving Egg Salad Avocado Toast

A.M. Snack (64 calories, 1 g protein)

• 1 cup raspberries

Lunch (519 calories, 34 g protein)

• 1 serving Chicken Quinoa Bowl with Olives & Cucumber

P.M. Snack (62 calories, 1 g protein)

• 1 medium orange

Dinner (351 calories, 33 g protein)

• 1 serving Spicy Jerk Shrimp

Daily Totals: 1,225 calories, 81 g protein, 116 g carbohydrates, 26 g fiber, 50 g fat, 1,502 mg sodium

Day 5

Breakfast (230 calories, 11 g protein)

• 1 serving Egg Salad Avocado Toast

A.M. Snack (84 calories, 2 g protein)

• 2 kiwis

Lunch (519 calories, 34 g protein)

• 1 serving Chicken Quinoa Bowl with Olives & Cucumber

P.M. Snack (64 calories, 1 g protein)

• 1 cup raspberries

Dinner (318 calories, 26 g protein)

• 1 serving Zucchini Parmesan

Daily Totals: 1,215 calories, 74 g protein, 106 g carbohydrates, 27 g fiber, 58 g fat, 1,740 mg sodium

Day 6

Breakfast (272 calories, 27 g protein)

• 1 cup raspberries
• 1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
• 1 Tbsp. sliced almonds

A.M. Snack (42 calories, 1 g protein)

• 1 kiwi

Lunch (387 calories, 14 g protein)

• 1 serving Veggie & Hummus Sandwich
• 1 medium orange

P.M. Snack (100 calories, 8 g protein)

• 1 cup edamame (in pods), sprinkled with coarse sea salt to taste

Dinner (416 calories, 41 g protein)

• 1 serving Garlic-Lime Pork with Farro & Spinach
• 2 servings Tangy Broccoli with Almonds

Daily Totals: 1,217 calories, 90 g protein, 136 g carbohydrates, 39 g fiber, 39 g fat, 1,278 mg sodium

Day 7

Breakfast (212 calories, 8 g protein)

• 1 serving Two-Ingredient Banana Pancakes
• 1/2 cup raspberries
• 1 Tbsp. maple syrup

A.M. Snack (97 calories, 12 g protein)

• 1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt with 1 plum, chopped

Lunch (325 calories, 18 g protein)

• 1 serving Green Salad with Edamame & Beets

P.M. Snack (151 calories, 5 g protein)

• 1 slice whole-wheat bread, toasted
• 1/4 avocado, mashed

Top toast with avocado and season with a pinch each of salt, pepper and crushed red pepper.

Dinner (422 calories, 27 calories)

• 1 serving Salmon Tacos with Pineapple Salsa
• 1 serving Broiled Mango

Daily Totals: 1,208 calories, 70 g protein, 144 g carbohydrates, 30 g fiber, 41 g fat, 1,743 mg sodium.

WATCH: How to Make Chicken Quinoa Bowls with Olives & Cucumber