1800 Calorie Diet Plan

Human body needs a specified number of calories every day to keep all the bodily functions, organs and systems running. The food that we consume every day is divided into different food nutrients, such as the carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, fats etc. The nutrients aid the human body in different ways. One of the most important function that these nutrients fulfill, is to provide the body with sufficient fuel and energy, so as to keep it going. Different nutrients are digested by the body into different substances, like carbohydrates are decomposed into sugar, which are burnt or rather combusted by the respiratory system, in order to give the body sufficient energy.

The substances that are combusted by the body are measured in the form or calories. A 1800 calorie diet involves consuming not more than 1800 calories every day. Logically, a 1200 calorie diet is well-suited for an average adult, however, there are many people who exert themselves both physically and mentally and an 1800 calorie diet can provide such people with the appropriate amount of energy, in terms of calories, to keep maintain their health. Sometimes, people prefer to lose weight with the help of natural and long term weight loss programs. Such natural weight loss is achieved when people follow a diet plan as well as exercise. The weight loss is extremely gradual in such cases and spans over a couple of years. In fact, many physicians and medical practitioners are of the view that the 1800 calorie diet is one of the ideal ways of losing weight.

Advantages of an 1800 Calorie Diet Plan

The first and fore most advantage is that the person following the 1800 diet does not over feed or does not even suffer from hunger pangs, or food cravings. This diet can also be followed by any person who wants to just maintain weight and a good digestive health. Physicians also recommend this type of diet to people who regularly play sports and is prescribed to people who suffer from diabetes or hypertension.

Measuring the Servings for 1800 Calorie Diet

People following the 1800 calorie diet, at times, get confused about the portion of food items that fit into one serving. Dietitians usually consider, 1 cup to be 1 serving of fruits and vegetables. In the 1800 calorie diet, a person can have about 3 servings of fruits and 5 servings of vegetables per day. A similar portion is followed for milk and dairy products of all kinds. A person can have about 3 to 5 servings of all the dairy products or milk. In case of meat and eggs, 1 ounce is considered to be one serving. A person can have 3 to 4 ounces of meat or eggs every day.

Sample Diet Plan

The following is a sample diet menu plan for one day.

Morning: A cup of milk, a fruit, a serving of bran cereal or instead of the three a one egg omelet.

Afternoon: Two ounces of meat, two slices of bread, small tablespoon of cheese, butter or a slice of cheese, one potato, one fruit.

Evening: A cup of tea, coffee or milk, or a tub of yogurt, a fruit, two to three cookies or biscuits.

Night: 3 ounces of meat or eggs or fish, half a cup vegetables, 2 slices of bread, a cup of baked beans.

The key to the success of the 1800 calorie diet is to have regular meals, with disciplined time intervals in between. Another very important aspect is to have patience for the initial few days and avoiding overeating. You can also prepare your own diet menu plan by consulting the calorie table which is released by the United States Department of Agriculture.