5 Day Macro Dieting Meal Plan
Starting any new diet can be challenging, especially knowing what to eat.
Here are 5 days worth of meals for both men and women who are starting to count macros or do the flexible diet. Or, maybe you’ve already started a macro diet but need some more meal ideas.
10 days of meals and recipes are included in our Macro Solution Program.
The Macro-Based Meal Plan
This meal plan was developed using our macro diet calculator.
The men’s meal plan is based on a 41-year-old male, weighing 170 pounds, 70 inches tall, moderately active, extra protein, and a 20% calorie deficit.
The women’s meal plan is based on a 41-year-old female, weigh 150, 64 inches tall, moderately active, extra protein, 20% calorie deficit.
Of course, you’ll have to adjust the portions based on your individual macros, but this 5-day flexible diet macros based meal plan will give you great guidelines for what a macros diet should look like.
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Woman’s Macro Diet Meal Plan: ~1651 Calories
Day One
| Breakfast
Power Eggs (see recipe) Macros
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| Snack
All-natural vanilla protein shake (1.5 scoops) mixed with water 2 cups red grapes Macros
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| Lunch Green Salad w/tuna
A large apple Macros
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| Snack 1 Luna Berry Greek Yogurt protein barMacros
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| Dinner
Eggplant Primavera (see recipe) (2 servings) 1 oz. dark chocolate Macros
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Daily Macro Totals: Calories: ~1686
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Day 2
| Breakfast
Blueberry Oatmeal
Macros
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| Snack
12 dry roasted almonds with salt Macros
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| Lunch
Tilapia Lettuce Wraps
Macros
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| Snack
Banana protein smoothie
Macros
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| Dinner
Roasted Veggie and Grilled Chicken Salad (see recipe) (2 servings) 1 teaspoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar as dressing 1 Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich Macros
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Daily Macro Totals: Calories: ~1649
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Day Three
| Breakfast
Spinach & Onion Omelet
1 medium orange Macros
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| Snack
1 medium apple dipped in 1/2 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt with .5 scoop vanilla protein powder mixed in. Macros
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| Lunch
Smoked Salmon on Brown Rice Crackers
Blueberry Protein Smoothie
Macros
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| Snack
1 large banana (6 ounces) Macros
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| Dinner
Grilled Chicken with Almond Alfredo (see recipe) (1 servings) 6 dried figs Macros
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Daily Macro Totals: Calories: ~1681
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Day Four
| Breakfast
Cinnamon & Raisin Oatmeal
Macros
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| Snack
Luna Bar – Berry Greek Yogurt Protein Macros
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| Lunch
Tuna and Kale Salad
Macros
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| Snack
Banana Protein Smoothie
Macros
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| Dinner
Low Carb Turkey Burgers (see recipe) (2 burgers) 1/2 cup non-fat frozen yogurt Macros
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Daily Macro Totals: Calories: ~1686
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Day Five
| Breakfast
Power Eggs (see recipe) 2 kiwi fruits Macros
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| Snack
Protein Smoothie
Macros
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| Lunch
Chicken Burrito
Macros
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| Snack
Large banana Macros
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| Dinner
5 oz “jerk seasoned” grilled chicken breast 1 medium baked sweet potato 3 cups steamed broccoli Homemade fruit sorbet
(blended with a high-speed blender) Macros
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Daily Macro Totals: Calories: ~1711
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Man’s Macro Diet Meal Plan: ~2088 Calories
Day One
| Breakfast
Power Eggs (see recipe) 1 large orange Macros
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| Snack
All-natural vanilla protein shake (2 scoops) with 2 cups almond milk 2 cup red grapes Macros
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| Lunch Green Salad w/tuna
A large apple Macros
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| Snack Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie
Nature Valley granola bar Macros
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| Dinner
Eggplant Primavera (see recipe) (2 servings) 1 oz. dark chocolate 10 large strawberries Macros
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Daily Macro Totals: Calories: ~2,114
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Day 2
| Breakfast
Blueberry Oatmeal
Macros
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| Snack
22 dry roasted almonds with salt 3 dried apricots Macros
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| Lunch
Tilapia Lettuce Wraps
1 large apple Macros
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| Snack
Peanut butter banana protein smoothie
Macros
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Dinner
1 Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich Macros
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Daily Macro Totals: Calories: ~2109
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Day Three
| Breakfast
Spinach & Onion Omelet
2 strips crispy bacon 1 medium orange Macros
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| Snack
1 large apple-dipped in-1/2 cup vanilla nonfat Greek yogurt with 1 scoop vanilla protein powder mixed in. Macros
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| Lunch
Smoked Salmon on Brown Rice Crackers
Blueberry Protein Smoothie
Macros
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| Snack
1 large banana Macros
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| Dinner
Grilled Chicken with Almond Alfredo (see recipe) (1 serving) 6 dried figs Macros
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Daily Macro Totals: Calories: ~2051
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Day Four
| Breakfast
Cinnamon & Raisin Oatmeal
Macros
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| Snack
Apple Pie Larabar 1 medium orange Macros
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| Lunch
Tuna and Kale Salad
Macros
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| Snack
Banana Protein Smoothie
Macros
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| Dinner
Low Carb Turkey Burgers (see recipe) (2 burgers) 3/4 cup nonfat frozen yogurt Macros
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Daily Macro Totals: Calories: ~2039
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Day Five
| Breakfast
Power Eggs (see recipe) 2 kiwi fruits Macros
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| Snack
All-natural vanilla protein shake (2 scoops) with 2 cups water 2 cups red grapes Macros
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| Lunch
Chicken Burrito
A large apple Macros
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| Snack
Large banana Macros
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| Dinner
6 oz “jerk seasoned” grilled chicken breast 1 medium baked sweet potato 1/2 tablespoon of butter 3 cups steamed broccoli Homemade fruit sorbet
(blended with a high-speed blender) Macros
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Daily Macro Totals: Calories: ~2,107
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Wait! Your Macros Aren’t Exact?
We have to stress the importance of being flexible when planning out your meal plans. If you strive to meet your exact macros each day, you will either end up eating the exact same thing every day or you’ll stress yourself out!
The macro diet is about being FLEXIBLE! If one day you eat fewer carbs and more fat or more protein and fewer carbs it’s OK.
When counting macros, just try to aim to be within + or – 5 grams of your target macro amounts.
And, if your calorie levels are a little higher or lower on a particular day, that’s ok too. Small daily differences will make little difference in your overall long-term outcome.
If you stress out about hitting each macro exactly, it will become frustrating or it will cause you to feel the need to eat some strange foods at the end of the day just to satisfy your macros.
After all, tracking macros isn’t an exact science but just an estimation of what your body needs.
Roasted Veggie Salad
Can you eat over 1800 calories and still lose weight?
Yes, remember that the macro diet takes into consideration your TDEE. So, if your weight loss adjusted TDEE is 1800 calories or more you will still lose weight because it is providing less energy than your body requires to maintain itself.
Looking at the meal plan, you’ll notice that it requires quite a bit of food to hit the macro amounts in the example.
This is mainly due to the elimination of most processed foods, refined grains, and refined sugars. Those types of foods are calorie-dense and don’t really fill you up nor keep you satisfied.
Eliminating most of these foods actually allows you to eat a lot more, which means you are seldom hungry.
Macro Diet Meal Plan Shopping List
Here’s a shopping list to help you if you want to try the meal plan. Again you’ll have to adjust some of the quantities based on your macros. It contains everything needed for all 5 days, but of course some stuff you may already have on hand.
Meats
1 can of albacore tuna
26 ounces of chicken breast
2 strips bacon (buy a pound and freeze in 2 strip portions) (man’s plan)
4 oz package of smoked salmon
8 oz ground turkey (92% lean)
8 oz of tilapia (fresh or frozen)
Dairy
7 large eggs
16 oz Greek yogurt
½ gallon of plain unsweetened almond milk (man’s plan)
8 oz Parmesan cheese
Produce
1 yellow squash
2 lbs mini sweet peppers (use in place of all peppers)
1 bunch of Lacinato kale
16 oz. frozen wild blueberries
2 avocados
3 yellow Onions
1 bag mixed green salad mix
1 eggplant
2 heads of Broccoli
2 cups white mushrooms
1 small head of Romaine lettuce
2 medium sweet potatoes
1 small fresh beet
1 cucumber
1 head of garlic
1 bag of baby kale mix or baby kale spinach mix blend (can be used for all kale and spinach)
1 bag baby spinach
A bag of shredded red cabbage or 1 small head
1 small spaghetti squash
2 medium and 1 large orange
2 lbs Red seedless grapes
3 large apples
2 medium and 3 large bananas
8 oz fresh strawberries
2 kiwi fruits
8 oz frozen blackberries
1 lb dry roasted almonds
8 oz raw almonds
8 oz package of dried figs
8 oz package of raisins
1 can pineapple (woman’s plan)
Condiments/spices/seasonings
Virgin coconut oil
Garlic salt
Salt
Black pepper
A jar of pasta sauce
Olive oil
Honey
Dijon mustard
Balsamic vinegar
Thyme
Salsa
Cinnamon
Vanilla extract
Miscellaneous
2 lbs all-natural sugar-free vanilla protein powder (18 protein grams per scoop) (man’s plan)
2 lbs vanilla low carb protein powder 25 grams per scoop (woman’s plan)
A jar of all-natural peanut butter
1 Nature Valley granola bar (male plan)
2 Luna Bars (protein) (women’s plan)
1 small bar of dark chocolate (72% cacao or greater)
1 cup steel-cut oats
1 package of brown rice crackers
8 oz of frozen yogurt
1 Larabar (male plan)
1 package of large whole-wheat tortillas
1 box of Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches
You'll Love My Macro Solution Program
Step-by-step ebooks, or fully customized personal macros coaching. Now with complete vegan edition.
Resources Used for the Meal Plan
- Calorieking.com and MyFitnessPal were used to establish macro amounts for each food item.
- The nutritional info. for MRM All Natural Whey Protein was used where it says vanilla protein powder.
- The Brown Rice Crackers were the Trader Joe’s brand.
- Lead image credit
Scientific Reference: Wing, R. R., Jeffery, R. W., Burton, L. R., Thorson, C., Nissinoff, K. S., & Baxter, J. E. (1996). Food provision vs structured meal plans in the behavioral treatment of obesity. International journal of obesity and related metabolic disorders: journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, 20(1), 56-62. Study link
Ted Kallmyer is an ISSA certified Specialist in Fitness Nutrition, a Certified Fitness Trainer, and is Healthy Eater's author and nutitional coach. If you need help reaching your weight loss/fitness goals see his personal macros coaching options.