Diet meal plans are sample meals dieters can use when trying to lose weight or follow a healthier diet. These meal plans provide a menu of food choices a person may consume on a specific diet. For example, a diet meal plan may include a list of three meals per day for an entire week. Instead of figuring out what to eat on a particular diet, a person can just refer to the meal plan for that day and consume what is on the list.
Some diet meal plans are very detailed; they tell the dieter exactly what he should eat for the day. For example, a detailed plan may include exact serving sizes of foods and tell the dieter how the foods should be prepared. It may suggest that the dieter eat a palm-sized serving of grilled chicken, for example. Often, a detailed diet plan will also include condiments a person may use, beverages to drink, and the amount of sugar the dieter should use in his drinks. A diet meal plan may include one cup of coffee or tea at breakfast, for example, and suggest that the dieter use one cube of sugar in it and skip the cream.
Very detailed diet meal plans may be helpful for someone who doesn’t want to put a good deal of effort into deciding what to eat for the day. Some people, however, like having choices and prefer a meal plan that allows the user to make a selection. For example, a meal plan may suggest three different foods for each meal. In such a case, the dieter can choose the meal that most appeals to him. Some diet meal plans even include food selections that are interchangeable, allowing a person to choose a protein source from one selection but swap its suggested side dish for another choice.
A dieter who prefers to create his own recipes or plan every aspect of his own meals may prefer diet plans that are more bare bones in nature. These diet plans may not suggest meals or food dishes. Instead, they may suggest the type and quantity of food the person should eat at each meal. For example, this type of plan may suggest that a dieter eat a specific serving size of protein, carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables at his meals. Sometimes this type of diet plan may also include a list of foods that should be avoided at a particular meal or for the duration of the diet.
It’s important to note that not all diet meal plans are intended for weight loss. Some are intended to help a person stay healthy by avoiding certain harmful food choices. Others may be aimed at preventing or treating a particular health condition. For example, meal plans for the Candida diet are used to help prevent or treat the overgrowth of yeast that leads to oral, vaginal, and skin yeast infections.