Hey Gals.

I'm sure a lot of you (like me) find that eating 1500 cals in a day, along with a good exercise program is the perfect combination to slow, sustainable and healthy weight loss. My problem, I don't have the time or creativity to come up with a variety of meals that will add up!

I propose: everyone post one or two days of meals they've come up with (and enjoy!) that add to roughly 1500cals. I know that would help me out so much to have that information at my fingertips when trying to plan for the next day/week, and keep some variety in my life to help encourage me to stay on plan!

Whaddya think?

I'm game. Here are two days made of up foods I typically eat:

Day 1 (1500 calories)
Breakfast- 1.5 cups Trader Joe's High Fiber Cereal (180 calories)
- 3 oz unsweetened soy milk (30 calories)

Mid-AM Snack
- 4-oz banana (100 calories)
- Decaf coffee with milk and artificial sweetener (10 calories)

Lunch
- Turkey Sandwich: 2 slices whole wheat bread, 2 oz turkey breast, 1 Laughing Cow Cheese Wedge, 1.5 oz grilled onion, 1.5 oz grilled peppers, mustard (300 calories)
- Salad: 2 oz baby spinach, 2 oz fresh strawberries, 3 oz cucumber, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, sea salt, lemon pepper (50 calories)

PM snack
- Prial energy bar (170 calories)

2nd PM snack
- 1/2 cup NF greek yogurt, 2 oz blackberries, 2 tbsp toasted wheat germ (110 calories)
- Low fat string cheese (60 calories)

Dinner
- Chicken with Leeks in Adobo Sauce (24 oz chicken breast, 5 oz chopped leeks (or onions or other veggies), 2/3 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce, ground pepper, bay leaf. Saute chicken (and veggies if not leeks) in non-stick frying pan until browned. Add remaining ingredients and cook covered for 15 min, stirring occasionally. Add leeks, if using. Uncover and cook for another ten minutes or so until sauce is reduced, stirring occasionally. Makes 4 servings at 230 calories per serving)
- Wild rice cooked in chicken broth and cumin (140 calories)
- Salad: 1 cup romaine lettuce, 3 oz cucumbers, 1 oz hearts of palm, 1 oz radishes, 1 tbsp low calorie dressing (50 calories)

After Dinner Snack
- Jello pudding cup (60 calories)
- Hot tea with milk and artifical sweetener (10 calories)

Day 2 (1505 calories)
Breakfast
- 1 cup cooked oatmeal (1/2 cup uncooked) with cinnamon, artificial sweetener, and 2 oz skim milk (175 calories)

Mid-AM Snack
- English muffin with NF cream cheese (135 calories)
- Decaf coffee with milk and artificial sweetener (10 calories)

Lunch
- Tuna in Green Curry Sauce from Trader Joes (220 calories)
- 1 cup frozen brown rice from Trader Joes (160 calories)
- Salad: 5 oz cucumbers, 5 oz cherry tomatoes, 2 oz raspberries, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, sea salt, freshly ground pepper (50 calories)

PM Snack
- 1/4 cup almonds (140 calories)

2nd PM Snack
- 5 oz carrots
- 2 tbsp hummus

Dinner
- Chili (1.25 lb lean ground beef, 1 cup diced onion, 1 cup diced green or red pepper, 28 oz canned tomatoes with juice, 15 oz canned pinto beans rinsed and drained, 8 oz canned tomato sauce, 2 tsp dried basil, 1 to 3 tbsp chili powder (depending on how spicy you like your chili), 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper, salt to taste. Cook ground beef, onions, and peppers in saucepan until beef is browned. Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Makes 4 servings at 365 calories each.)
- Salad: 1 cup baby greens, 3 oz cucumbers, 1 oz diced bell pepper, 1 oz diced fennel bulb, sea salt, pepper, 1 tbsp low calorie dressing (50 calories)

After dinner snack
- 100 calorie cookie (or Hostess) pack (100 calories)
- Tea with milk and artificial sweetener (10 calories)

This is what an average school day looks like for me. On these days, I need portable food that can live in my backpack during the day. I also commute and stay with a family member a few nights a week, so I like to have easy -- but healthy -- dinners.

Luckily, this is my last week of grad school, so other than a couple of nights for finals, I'm almost done!! Will have to re-evaluate my meals when I'm at home full-time. So excited!!

Total: 1490 calories

Earning morning, before commute (8:00 a.m.)
Lifestream Flax Plus Whole Grain Waffles (2 waffles, 200 calories)
Smuckers Simply Fruit Strawberry Jam (1.5 tablespoon, 60 calories)

AM snack during class (12:00 p.m.)
Dannon Light & Fit Peach Yogurt (45 calories)

Lunch (1:00 p.m.)
Nature's Own 100% Whole Wheat Bread (2 slices, 200 calories)
Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter Creamy (2 tablespoons, 210 calories)
Smuckers Simply Fruit Strawberry Jam (1 tablespoon, 40 calories)
Red raspberries (3 ounces, 40 calories)

PM snack (4:00 p.m.)
Blueberries (2.5 ounces, 39 calories)

Second PM snack (5:45 p.m.)
Kashi Organic Promise Cinnamon Harvest cereal (1 cup, 190 calories)
Gala apple (medium, 81 calories)

Dinner (8:00 p.m.)
Kashi Chicken Florentine meal (290 calories)

Midnight snack (10:30 p.m.)
Kashi Organic Promise Cinnamon Harvest cereal (0.5 cup, 95 calories)

Breakfast: 207 calories I eat this every single day..
1/4c oatmeal soaked in 1/2c soy milk with splenda
1/2c eggwhite omelette just pan fried with a touch of olive oil

Snack 155 calories for the CC and yogurt
1/2c cottage cheese mixed with 1/2c yogurt plain or flavoured sometimes with a fruit like an apple or walnuts ...

Lunch approx. 200+ calories
5oz canned tuna
Miracle whip salad dressing
veggie of some kind or salad

Snack 155 calories same as AM snack CC and yogurt, + a fruit 80 cals.

Supper 4-5oz chicken, salmon or lean beef with a salad or cooked veggie with brown or white rice 1/2c ....

This is a GOOD day, NOT all my days are this perfect