How often do you find yourself stuck in the process of planning an entire weight loss meal plan for the week, without having an actual idea about it? A lot of times we reckon.
Now, how many times do you plan or prepare your weekly meals in advance, to facilitate the whole meal plan in the right manner?
Well, that’s where things can get a lot easier while you get along with any weight loss routine.
So, we can say that this 1200 calorie meal plan is also not an exception and doing the 1200 calorie meal prep in advance can save you a lot of effort and time.
What is a 1200 calorie meal plan?
During the 1200 calorie meal plan, you have to limit your daily calorie intake to 1200 calories while getting all the right nutrition to your body in the process.
You can bring along food items that are high on nutrition and low on calories. Also, the focus is on consuming as much lean meat, fresh fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy as possible.
Why is ‘1200 calorie meal prep required in advance?
No matter what fitness routine you follow, if you are not keeping track of your diet, all the efforts can go in vain within no time.
That said, not everyone has the time to prepare those special meals daily, due to their busy schedules.
Hence, doing the 1200 calorie meal prep in advance (Sunday would be the right day due to the week off) can get a lot of stress away from your head.
For people who don’t have an off on Sunday, they can try 1200 calorie meal prep on their weekly offs to stay prepared for the rest of the week.
How to go about with weekly 1200 calories meal prep?
Step 1.
Try to go with the easy to prepare recipes like baked omelet muffins and store them as per the serving requirements of your 1200 calorie meal plan.
Do pack them in air-tight containers so that you can have them easily on days 1,4, 6, and 7.
Step 2.
Prepare these 3 recipes in advance –Citrus lime vinaigrette, sautéed peppers and onions, and pan chicken thighs.
Besides that, also cook 20 ounces of dry whole wheat rotini that would make you cook 10 cups of pasta for the whole week.
Ensure keeping the same in airtight containers so as they go well with a taste for the rest of the week.
Step 3.
Once you are done with the abovementioned recipes, prepare the slow-cooker pasta e Fagioli soup with the help of already prepared chicken thighs and pasta.
You are now required to store the same in a large freezer-safe storage bag. This 1200 calorie meal prep would serve the 6th-day meal so do remember to defrost them on the night of the 5th day.
Step 4.
You now need to prepare the spicy slaw balls with edamame and shrimp and once done, store them in the airtight meal prep containers.
Do remember to store the dressing in a spate container for all the above-mentioned recipes.
Step 5.
Prepare 3 servings of apple-cinnamon overnight oats in advance too and do ensure to store them in the airtight containers as well.
You are now ready to jumpstart with your 1200 calorie meal plan for the next week. Do ensure to drink enough water during every meal to keep the digestion intact.
Sample weekly 1200 calorie meal plan
Day 1.
1200 Calorie Meal Prep – Omelet muffins
Breakfast- Easy Loaded Baked Omelet Muffins (2 nos) with Raspberries (2/3 cup)
Snack- Dried figs (4 nos)
Lunch- 2 cups of Southwest Salad with Black Beans
Snack – 1 Clementine with unsalted roasted almonds (1 tbsp)
Dinner- 1 serving of Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole with mixed salad greens (2 cups) and Citrus-Lime Vinaigrette (2 tbsp)
Total calorie count for the day – 1203
Day 2.
1200 Calorie Meal Prep – apple – cinnamon overnight oats
Breakfast- 1 serving of Apple-Cinnamon Overnight Oats with almonds (2 oz)
Snack – Raspberries (1 cup) with 1 serving of low-fat plain Greek yogurt
Lunch- 1 serving of Spicy Slaw Bowls with Shrimp & Edamame
Snack- sliced cucumber seasoned with a pinch of salt and pepper(1 cup)
Dinner- 1 serving of Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole with mixed salad greens (2 cups) and Citrus-Lime Vinaigrette(2 tbsp)
Total calories for the day-1207
Day 3.
1200 Calorie Meal Prep – shrimp and edamame
Breakfast- 1 serving of Apple-Cinnamon Overnight Oats with almonds (2 oz)
Snack- 1 Clementine
Lunch- 1 serving of Spicy Slaw Bowls with Shrimp & Edamame
Snack-dried figs (2 nos)
Dinner-1 serving of One-Pot Greek Pasta
Total calories for the day-1205
Day 4.
1200 Calorie Meal Prep – greek pasta
Breakfast- Easy Loaded Baked Omelet Muffins (2 nos) with Raspberries(2/3 cup)
Snack- steamed edamame pods(1/2 cup)
Lunch-1 serving of One-Pot Greek Pasta with sliced cucumber (1/2 cup), cherry tomatoes (1/2 cup)
Snack- 1 medium-sized apple
Dinner- 1 serving of Cheese Quesadillas with Peppers & Onions and mixed salad greens (2 cups)
Total calories for the day-1212
Day 5.
1200 Calorie Meal Prep – Cheese quesadillas
Breakfast- 1 serving of Apple-Cinnamon Overnight Oats with almonds (2 oz)
Snack –Blackberries (1/2 cup)
Lunch- 1 serving of Spicy Slaw Bowls with Shrimp & Edamame
Snack- 1 small-sized apple
Dinner- 1 serving of Cheese Quesadillas with Peppers & Onions and mixed salad greens (2 cups)
Total calories for the day -1210
Day 6.
Breakfast- Easy Loaded Baked Omelet Muffins (2 nos) with blackberries (2/3 cup)
Snack- 1 Clementine
Lunch- 1 serving of Spicy Slaw Bowls with Shrimp & Edamame
Snack-dried figs (3 nos)
Dinner- Slow-Cooker Pasta e Fagioli Soup (2 cups)
Total calories for the day-1210 calories
Day 7.
1200 Calorie Meal Prep – black beans
Breakfast- Easy Loaded Baked Omelet Muffins (2 nos) with blackberries (1/2 cup)
Snack- 1 Clementine
Lunch- 2 cups of Southwest Salad with Black Beans
Snack- Unsalted roasted almonds (3 tbsp)
Dinner- Slow-Cooker Pasta e Fagioli Soup (2 cups)
Total calories for the day-1202
Summing it up
1200 calorie meal prep is quite easy and all you got to do is a bit of planning and execution right at the start of the week.
Once through, you can save yourself some good time which you were otherwise going to spend on preparing all these meals in the middle of a busy schedule.
