Menu for a 1200 Calorie Diet

People may need to restrict their caloric intake for a wide variety of reasons. Such reasons may include the desire to lose weight as well as the need to recover health in the aftermath of a diagnosis of a serious illness such as diabetes. A 1200 calorie menu may help you accomplish these goals. Here are some menus that meet this requirement.

Breakfast

Breakfast is an important meal. Breakfast takes place after one has fasted for several hours while sleeping. Start with a small banana cut in half. Consume an ounce of Cherrios with a cup of skim milk. Another excellent breakfast choice is three-fourths of a cup of blueberries, a fourth of a cup of low fat granola, a cup of skim milk, and half a toasted whole-wheat muffin buttered with a half tablespoon of light margarine. Wash this down with ice water or herbal tea.

Lunch

Lunch should be eaten in order to stave off afternoon hunger pains and make it easier to stick to the diet. Make a peanut butter sandwich from whole wheat bread, with one tablespoon of peanut butter and sugar free jelly in the flavor of your choice. Consume with a cup of skim milk, an orange and a cup of grape tomatoes. Alternatively have a turkey and cheese sandwich made from two ounces of lean turkey breast, half an ounce of low fat swiss cheese and two slices of whole wheat bread. Consume a salad consisting of a cup of leafy green vegetables and a teaspoon of light dressing. Serve with eight ounces of low fat yogurt and a light beverage such as sparkling water.

Dinner

Dinner should be consumed at least three hours before bedtime in order to help aid restful sleep. Eat a cup of broccoli and a cup of lightly steamed mixed greens such as peapods and red peppers. Serve the salad with a teaspoon of reduced calorie dressing. Broil five ounces of lean steak. Bake a medium sized potato. Drizzle a teaspoon of light margarine over the baked potato. Consume with ice water or seltzer. A second low calorie dinner is also easy to create. Steam a cup and a half of broccoli, carrots, cauliflower and green peppers. Grill three ounces of salmon. Boil a third of a cup of cous cous to serve on the side. Add a whole-wheat roll. Finish with a cup of freshly purchased cantaloupe.