Got a few extra summer pounds that seems to just be sticking around your waistline, refusing to budge? Desperate to shed them prior to having to fit into those fabulous new skinny jeans you’ve been eyeing?
Well, we’re here to help. It is suggested that most people should be following a daily diet of somewhere between 1,800 and 2,000 per day to maintain their current weight and that most people are able to lose weight by cutting down to 1,200 calories a day until they reach their goal weight.
But 1,200 calories seems like so little, right? Not if you do it the right way. Here is what a healthy (and filling!) 1,200 calorie day looks like…
Breakfast
Never, ever forget about the first meal of the day. Eating breakfast will not only help keep you from overeating later in the day but will also get your metabolism going at full spead, helping you to better burn calories throughout the day. Aim to consume somewhere between 250-300 calories during this meal, using a healthy mix of carbs and protein.
Your perfect meal: One slice of whole wheat toast with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, a small banana, plus tea or coffee and a glass of skim milk. Total calories: 300.
Morning Snack
It’s natural, as you buzz through your morning to get a little peckish between breakfast and lunch. A fibre-rich snack that comes in around 100 calories will fill you up without making a huge dent in your diet.
Your perfect snack: A small apple plus four Wheat Thin crackers. Total calories: 100.
Lunch
This is the perfect meal to rev up for the long stretch between lunch and dinner. Aim for between 350-400 calories at lunch as it will provide you with substance to get through the rest of the day and enough time to burn it all off before the evening.
Your perfect meal: Two slices of whole wheat bread with 2 oz of lean turkey slices, lettuce, tomato, and light mayo. Finish off with a low-fat yogurt for dessert. Total calories: 350.
Dinner
This is undoubtedly the most hungry you will be all day, as you have likely been running around and burning off all you have ate prior to this point. Nix the temptation to grab something quick and easy on the go, this will normally lead to bad food decisions. Instead aim for a 400-500 calorie mix of healthy fats, carbs, and protein.
Your perfect meal: 4 oz of BBQ chicken, chopped and topped over 2 cups of lettuce, tomato, carrots, cucumber, and 1 tbsp of balsamic vinaigrette. Serve with a one medium corn on the cob. Total calories: 400
TOTAL DAILY CALORIE COUNT: 1,200
