Weekly diet plan for weight loss
Dear Nutritionist,
Could you help with a weekly diet plan with Jamaican meals to guarantee me weight loss?
“The amount of weight you can lose with the plan I’ll share depends on several factors, including your current weight, age, sex, metabolic rate, level of physical activity, and adherence to the diet,” said nutritionist Keisha Black.
“A safe and sustainable rate of weight loss is about one to two pounds per week, which generally requires a caloric deficit of 500-1,000 calories per day. The diet plan focuses on balanced, nutritious meals that are likely to keep you within this caloric range, assuming portion sizes are controlled and there is no excessive snacking or high-calorie additions. If you’re not seeing results after a few weeks, consider adjusting your caloric intake or increasing physical activity.”
She said if you adhere strictly to the diet plan and incorporate regular exercise, you can expect to lose around one to two pounds per week, which translates to about four to eight pounds per month.
MONDAY
Breakfast
Callaloo and green banana – 1 cup steamed callaloo, 1 boiled green banana
Snack
Papaya slices – 1 cup papaya
Lunch
Chicken salad – 1 cup grilled chicken, greens, with non-creamy simple dressing.
Snack
1 cup coconut water, 10 almonds
Dinner
Steamed fish – 1 fillet snapper or kingfish, 1/2 cup steamed okra, 1/2 cup steamed carrots
TUESDAY
Breakfast
Oats and banana – 1/2 cup oats cooked in water or almond milk and one small banana, sliced
Snack
1 small mango
Lunch
Ackee and salt fish – 1/2 cup ackee and salt fish, 1 cup steamed cabbage
Snack
1 medium guava or similar fruit
Dinner
Soup – 1 bowl pumpkin soup (without dumplings)
WEDNESDAY
Breakfast
Smoothie – 1 cup almond milk, 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup spinach, 1/2 cup mango, and 1 tablespoon chia seeds
Snack
1 cup carrot sticks
Lunch
Chicken and quinoa – 1/2 cup brown stew chicken (skinless), 1/2 cup cooked quinoa, 1/2 cup steamed broccoli
Snack
1 cup pineapple slices/chunks
Dinner
Veggie stew – 1 cup ital stew (vegetable stew with yam, carrots, beans and coconut milk)
THURSDAY
Breakfast
2 hard-boiled eggs, 1/2 avocado pear
Snack
1 cup watermelon cut up
Lunch
Fish and veggies – 1 fillet escovitch fish, 1 cup mixed greens with tomatoes and cucumber, simple dressing
Snack
1 medium apple/other fruit
Dinner
Vegetable curry – Lentils and vegetable curry (1 cup lentils curried with veggies), and 1/2 cup steamed brown rice
FRIDAY
Breakfast
1 cup peanut porridge (made with unsweetened almond milk and minimal sugar)
Snack
1 medium orange/other fruit
Lunch
Fish and potatoes – 1/2 cup grilled shrimp or other fish, 1 medium sweet potato (baked)
Snack
Sliced carrots or beets
Dinner
Chicken and vegetable stir-fry – 1/2 cup chicken breast strips, 1 cup mixed vegetables, 1/2 cup steamed brown rice