Close
We all know-and you’ve heard me give my registered dietitian spiel before-that to slim down you have to eat less than you burn or burn more than you eat. Same difference.
Depending on the type of person you are, this might sound more math-intensive than balancing a checkbook. And downright dreadful if you’re the type who never balances your checkbook…
The good news, says Nicci Micco, author of EatingWell’s500-Calorie Dinnersbook, is thatmostof us will lose weight on a daily diet of 1,500 calories. (If you want to be even more precise about cutting calories, use this calculation to get a daily calorie goal that can help you lose a healthy 1 to 2 pounds per week.)
OK, great, but what does 1,500 calories look like?
Breakfast:Start your day off with 300 to 350 calories. For example, the breakfast here is 349 calories and you get 1 cup of oatmeal topped with ¼ cup nonfat plain yogurt and ½ cup of berries, plus a 12 oz. nonfat latte.
Lunch:Aim to make lunch 325 to 400 calories. What’s pictured is 362 calories-one slice whole-wheat bread, toasted with ½ oz. Cheddar cheese and 2 slices of tomato, plus1½ cups black bean soup. A version that’s a little more portable (for the office or a road trip, say) is a tuna sandwich (2 slices multigrain bread, ½ cup tuna salad made with 2 tsp. low-fat mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato) plus a peach-all for 327 calories.You can find more lunch ideas for 400 calories or less here.
If you want to enjoy a glass of wine with dinner, consider trading it for dessert. A 5 oz. glass of wine is about 120 calories.
Have you noticed yet what’s missing? Juices and soft drinks! Here’s why: studies show that sweet beverages don’t satisfy us the way solids do, so do you really want to spend 150 calories on a drink?
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Tell us why!
