By Emma Hynes
For those who want to stay under 2000 calories while maintaining healthy amounts of protein, minor or even major alterations to their current meal plan may be necessary.
If you're embarking on your low-cal, high protein journey, here's what your diet could look like.
It’s the most important meal of the day for a reason! Breakfast is where you can really set the tone for your 1700-calorie high-protein diet.
blend one scoop of whey protein powder, 1 frozen banana, a tablespoon of almond butter, and unsweetened almond milk. The resulting drink will be as delicious as it is protein-rich.
Need something lighter? Try a slice of whole grain toast lightly spread with avocado.
If you prefer a grab-and-go approach, mix plain nonfat Greek yogurt with chia seeds and sliced strawberries.
What does a 1700-calorie high-protein diet look like for lunch? The options are endless.
For lunch, try out a grain bowl. Grain bowls are versatile, keeping you from getting bored. Plus, they’re meal-preppable.
If you want something that has fewer steps for quick meal prep, try a lettuce wrap. Make a turkey sandwich, but swap the bread for lettuce before rolling the whole thing up for easy munching.
Dinner is where protein shines. Most dinner meals put protein front and center, meaning this is an easy place to manage your daily intake. However, it’s also where calories might start to stack.
Seafood like salmon, herring, shrimp, or mackerel can be pan-seared or oven-baked. Avoid breading and frying, which add carbs, saturated fats, and unnecessary calories. Serve with brown rice, salads, or grilled veggies.
Sheet-pan dinners also make for fantastic high-protein meals. Add lean chicken breasts and asparagus to a parchment-paper-lined cookie sheet.
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