Updated on October 18th, 2022
Running a diet plan has become the go-to solution for almost every health problem. And the reason isn’t so far-fetched. Most times, our bodies respond to what we eat, and the unhealthy stuff tends to be much when we don’t pay attention. And of the many diet plans considered super healthy, the high-protein-low-carb option remains one of the most effective.
Here, we’ll offer you some of the most impressive meals for this diet plan and a schedule that works for almost all kinds of lifestyles. The high-protein-low-carb diet is perfect for weight loss and controlling blood sugar and is adaptable to a wide range of nutritional needs.
Features
This meal plan comprises a collection of menus packed with protein foods while low on carbs. The protein sources include lean options from plant and animal foods like legumes, eggs, poultry, lean beef cuts, dairy, and fish. And the carbs include whole foods like grains and starchy tubers, with a moderate amount of fat from foods like nut butter, healthy oils, and oily fish. You’ll also find some menus, including seafood, nuts and seeds, and protein powders.
The diet plan also includes a decent helping of vegetables and fruits, necessary for infusing a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals to the menu. But its majority is made up of protein foods, ensuring the bulk of the nutrients are amino acids and fewer carbohydrates. The schedule also comes on three daily meals for one week, including snacks, provided they keep the measured calories in check. The duration can also be extended, as the diet regimen is healthy and maintainable for up to a month. And while this diet plan can be kicked off at a daily count of 1200 calories, users can go lower or higher, depending on their physical and nutritional requirements.
The high-protein-low-carb meal plan is open to all users but still subject to the scrutiny of a certified medical professional. You’re advised to seek the counsel of your dietician to help decide how many calories you count with each meal. The dietician will also inform if you qualify for the meal plan, what exercises you’ll need if any, and the best ways to combine various food items for the best results.
Benefits of this Diet
The high-protein-low-carb meal plan is a splendid method for encouraging weight loss. As the diet controls how much carbs you consume, your body is triggered into a state of ketosis, meaning it depends on the fat deposits to release energy. This allows enough pounds to shed and develop lean muscles, while the controlled carb amountenergizes the body. And at the typical 1200 calorie count, you can shed up to five pounds in one week.
This meal plan is ideal for those on a keto diet, as the carb restriction is adjustable to the user’s preference. And its collection of whole foods makes it great for paleo diets, as it deals with whole grains, fresh fish, lean meats, fruits, vegetables, and loads of protein. You can swap the animal protein for purely plant-based sources if you’re vegan, including protein powders. And the diet plan helps with the reduction of blood sugar, as the low carb condition of the menu means excess glucose in the body is purged during the diet period.
With this high-protein-low-carb diet plan, you’ll also experience more fullness as proteins are renowned for taking a significant time to digest. This situation may also encourage you to practice the program without adding snacks between meals. And though it can be combined with exercises, you’ll still gain considerable muscle mass while at rest. Plus, you’ll experience a decent improvement in bone health, as proteins offer essential nutrients that encourage the development of healthy bone mass.
Meal Plan
Download Here: High-Protein Low-Carb Diet Meal Plan
Day 1
Breakfast
- Egg in a Hole Peppers with Avocado Salsa
- Two clementines
Morning Snack
- Blueberries (one cup)
- 20 unsalted almonds
Lunch
- Salmon Salad-Stuffed Avocado
Afternoon Snack
Dinner
- White-Bean Sage Cauliflower Gnocchi
- Two cups mixed salad greens with one tablespoon Caesar salad dressing
- Chopped cucumber(quarter cup)
- Chopped tomato(quarter cup)
- Diced avocado(three tablespoons)
Day 2
Breakfast
- Two Flourless Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins
- Nonfat Greek Yogurt (One cup)
- Raspberries (One cup)
Morning Snack
- Blackberries (one cup)
Lunch
- Chicken Satay Bowls with Spicy Peanut Sauce
Afternoon Snack
- Shelled edamame, seasoned with coarse salt and pepper
Dinner
- Shrimp Scampi Zoodles
- One slice whole wheat baguette brushed with olive oil (one teaspoon)
Day 3
Breakfast
- Two Flourless Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins
- Raspberries (one cup)
- Nonfat Greek yogurt (one cup)
Morning Snack
- 25 unsalted almonds
- Two clementines
Lunch
- Chicken Satay Bowls with Spicy Peanut Sauce
Afternoon Snack
- Blackberries (one cup)
Dinner
- Pork Paprikash with Cauliflower Rice
- Roasted Fresh Green Beans
Day 4
Breakfast
Morning Snack
- Shelled edamame (one cup), seasoned with coarse salt and pepper
- Blackberries (one cup)
Lunch
- Chicken Satay Bowls with Spicy Peanut Sauce
Afternoon Snack
- One Flourless Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffin
Dinner
- Roasted Salmon with Smoky Chickpeas and Greens
Day 5
Breakfast
- Low-Carb Bacon and Broccoli Egg Burrito
Morning Snack
- 20 unsalted almonds
- Raspberries (one cup)
Lunch
- Chicken Satay Bowls with Spicy Peanut Sauce
Afternoon Snack
- Four celery stalks
- Hummus (quarter cup)
Dinner
- Vegan Pesto Spaghetti with Mushrooms and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
- No-salad-added canned white beans33, rinsed33 (2/3 cup)
Day 6
Breakfast
- Nonfat plain Greek yogurt (one cup)
- Raspberries (one cup)
- Chia seeds (one tablespoon)
- Honey (one teaspoon)
Morning Snack
- One string cheese
- One small apple
Lunch
- Chicken Satay Bowls with Spicy Peanut Sauce
Afternoon Snack
- Raspberries (one cup)
- 15 unsalted almonds
Dinner
- Taco Lettuce Wraps
- Pineapple and Avocado Salad
Day 7
Breakfast
- Spring Green Frittata
- Raspberries (one cup)
Morning Snack
- 20 unsalted almonds
Lunch
- Taco Lettuce Wraps
- Sliced pineapple (half cup)
- Quarter avocado, sliced
Afternoon Snack
- Blackberries (one cup)
Dinner
- Zucchini Lasagna
Extra Tips
- Reduce the stress of cooking every day by making meal prep of your menu. If you have foods on the menu that take a long to cook, make them beforehand and keep them in freezing conditions in airtight containers. You can also chop fruits and vegetables to be kept in this manner.
- When picking menus from this meal plan, check for allergies, and make switches when needed.
- If you live an active lifestyle, consider cooking quick prep meals, especially work. This way, you’ll stick to the food plan without deviating from unhealthy snacks.
- If you must snack between meals, make provisions to fit in the daily calorific count. Or, you can focus on protein-based snacks like yogurts, cheese slices, boiled eggs, and nuts.
- Avoid foods high in sugar during this meal plan. In addition, candies, sugar bars, popsicles, and other such snacks are prohibited.
- Stay off foods high in saturated fats. These include high dairy items and deep-fried foods like dark-skinned chicken, pork, ice cream, and sour cream.
- Foods made from refined carbs can’t be consumed during this diet plan. Examples include pizzas, tortillas, breakfast cereals, white rice, and pastries.
Shopping List
Meat and Fish
- Canned salmon
- Shrimp
- Pork tenderloin
- Wild salmon
- Bacon
- Chicken tenders
Fruits
- Avocado
- Clementines
- Blueberries
- Bananas
- Pineapples
- Zucchini
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Apples
- Lemons
- Limes
Grain and Grain Products
- Whole-wheat baguette
- Wheat crackers
- Rolled oats
- All-purpose flour
Vegetables and Legumes
- White beans
- Green beans
- Cucumbers
- Garlic cloves
- Chickpeas
- Celery stalks
- Baby spinach
- Cilantro
- Bell peppers
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Jalapeno peppers
- Red onions
- Edamame
- Frozen cauliflower gnocchi
- Shallots
- Baby arugula
- Green cabbage
- Parsley
- Carrots
- Green onions
- Hummus
- Scallions
- Chives
- Mixed salad greens
- Broccoli
- Kale
- Banana peppers
- Cauliflower
Milk and Dairy
- Greek yogurt, nonfat
- String cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Reduced-fat milk
- Cheddar cheese, sharp
- Butter
- Buttermilk
- Sour cream (light)
- Mayonnaise, reduced fat
- Asiago cheese
Seeds, Nuts, and Nut Products
- Unsalted almonds
- Chia seeds
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Peanut butter
- Lite coconut milk
Others
- Chocolate chips
- Olive oil
- Eggs
- Canned diced tomatoes (no-salt-added; with garlic, basil, and oregano)
- Dijon mustard
- Dry white wine
- Dried herbs
- Chicken broth, reduced-sodium
- Anchovy paste
- Fish sauce
- Black pepper
- Honey
- Pesto
- Red pepper flakes
- Brown sugar
- Canola oil
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Vanilla extract
- Soy sauce, reduced-sodium
- Paprika
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
Conclusion
The high-protein-low-carb diet isn’t as scary as it sounds. The regimen works perfectly to improve body weight, promote muscle and bone development, and control cravings. And because it can be merged with exercises, you’ll experience more energy and liveliness. Plus, it’s a great way to improve your diet and build your body towards an active lifestyle.