1600 Calorie Diet Menu

When thinking of a diet plan to reduce weight, many people often make the mistake of going to improbable extremes such as cutting down their food intake to almost nil, working out for twice the amount of time that they should, etc. This can prove to be very harmful and dangerous to one's health and overall well-being, both in the short run, as well as the long run. The best way to go about dieting is to ensure that you consume a moderately low amount of calories, without starving yourself to health issues and medical problems. The 1600 calorie diet plan is a suitable and smart way of doing so. A 1600 calorie diet meal plan provides your body with an adequate number of calories (in this case, 'adequate' means just enough to fulfill your body's minimum calorie requirement). At the same time, it also takes care to ensure that you are not left completely fatigued after a rigorous exercise session or an energetic workout. Presented ahead, are some sample diet menus for your reference.

1600 Calorie Diet Plan

One of the main fundamentals of this diet plan is to divide your daily food intake into multiple small meals, rather than just a couple of very heavy meals. A 'five small meals a day' format is a good one to follow. You can start off with an early morning breakfast, followed by a light late morning snack. Then comes your lunch (which should also be a light affair, and not a very heavy meal). After that, you can opt for a small mid-afternoon snack (alternatively, you can push this ahead by a few hours and make it an evening snack). Finally, the last meal of the day should be your dinner (once again, not a very heavy meal). Also, make sure that you have your dinner at least two hours prior to bedtime, and not just a few minutes before hitting the sack. Based on this five-meals-a-day diet format, here are a couple of sample 1600 calorie diet plans for your reference.

Menu #1

• Breakfast: Two boiled eggs, half cup skimmed milk, and half cup papaya (or melon)
• Late Morning Snack: One large orange (alternatively, two small oranges)
• Lunch: Lettuce salad (one serving), one small grilled chicken breast, one cup steamed green beans, one small cup brown rice with low fat margarine
• Mid-afternoon or Evening Snack: One medium-sized apple, six low fat crackers, one glass orange juice
• Dinner: One lean loin lamb chop (grilled), one baked potato, garden salad (one serving), fresh strawberries with low fat yogurt (one bowl)

Menu #2

• Breakfast: One bowl of low fat oatmeal or wheat flakes with skimmed milk, and one large apple (or a pear)
• Late Morning Snack: Two slices of brown, wheat bread, one tablespoon low fat margarine (or peanut butter) and one cup coffee
• Lunch: One bowl mushroom soup, green salad (one large serving), steamed mixed vegetables
• Mid-afternoon or Evening Snack: Two scoops of low fat popcorn (unbuttered), one diet coke (or a glass of orange juice)
• Dinner: One small cup of whole wheat pasta, one cup of lentils, three ounces of grilled fish (cod, salmon, trout), two slices of watermelon

Remember, the ultimate tip is to not cheat, and have a strong resolve towards losing weight, if that be your target. Here's where I sign off. Take care!