What Do 300 Calorie Meals Look Like?
Need help visualizing appropriate portion sizes? This guide will help.
Breakfast Meals
English Muffin Breakfast – 394 Calories
1 whole wheat English muffin
2 pats low fat butter
1 hard boiled egg
1/2 cup of fruit
8 oz fruit juice
8 oz water
Cereal – 300 Calories
1 cup of cereal
8 oz 2% milk
1 banana
1 coffee or tea
Oatmeal – 345 Calories
1 cup (cooked) oatmeal with raisins
½ cup of fruit
1 cup coffee or tea
1 small banana
Scrambled eggs – 360 Calories
2 scrambled eggs
2 strips of turkey bacon
1 piece whole wheat toast
1 pat of low fat butter
1 coffee or tea
8 oz water
Lunches
Baked potato – 305 Calories
1 medium baked potato
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons salsa
1 cup sliced melon
12 oz water
Roasted Veg. Salad – 373 Calories
3 cups mixed greens
1 cup sweet potato
1 cup eggplant
1 cup red bell pepper
3 Tbs lite honey mustard
Soup – 350 Calories
1 bowl of soup
1 small tossed salad
2 tablespoons reduced fat oil and vinegar dressing
12 oz water
4 saltine crackers
Chicken Salad – 350 Calories
1 large tossed salad
2 tablespoons reduced fat oil and vinegar dressing
6 oz sliced chicken
1 cup of low fat wheat thin crackers
12 oz water
MORE: Quick Lunches for under 400 Calories
Dinners
Chicken – 345 Calories
6 oz of chicken
1 cup of green beans
2 pats of low-fat butter
1 small tossed salad
2 tablespoons reduced fat oil and vinegar dressing
12 oz water
Grilled Eggplant – 323 Calories
1 cup egg plant
1/4 avocado
Asparagus (10 spears)
3 whole wheat crackers
1 Tbsp olive oil and seasonings
Fish – 365 Calories
6 oz broiled white fish
1 cup of mashed potatoes
1 pat of butter
1/2 cup of peas
8 oz diet iced tea
Tortellini – 366 Calories
3/4 cup tortellini
1/2 cup marinera
1 cup mixed vegetables
Chicken and Rice – 395 Calories
6 oz cooked chicken
2 tablespoons of barbecue sauce
1 cup of mixed vegetables
1/2 cup of brown rice
1 small tossed salad
2 tablespoons reduced fat oil and vinegar dressing
Stuffed Butternut – 376 Calories
1/2 small butternut squash (2 cups)
1/2 cup quinoa (prepared)
1/2 cup red bell pepper
1/2 cup onion
curry seasoning
cilantro
1/4 cup lite coconut milk
Think you can estimate calorie amounts?
I can’t. It’s too hard.
It’s one of the reasons why it is so hard to eat healthily. Most meals you buy out are far more calorie-dense that what you thought.
If you don’t believe me – check out a standard Starbucks Hot Chocolate. It’s 440 Calories. Even you ask them to hold the whipped cream, it’s still 360 Calories.
What happens when you combine that with a snack? Maybe a small chocolate croissant.
Ouch! That’s another 340 Cals.
Looking for some easy ways you can save a lot of calories in your everyday cooking? Learn how cook healthy.
The Challenge
Most of these photos are from a doctor who had prepared a diet for his patients. He felt it was easier to show them the pictures.
I think the doctor’s done great here. Although there are some items I don’t like. Low-fat butter? What is that? Reduced fat oil?
I don’t like frankenfoods. Better to have the real thing, but in moderation.
What do you think?
Did you spot some meals that didn’t quite fit?
The ones with the colorful plate.
They were made by one of our writers here – Ted. I think they are much more enticing than the doctor’s photos. You can see all his recipes here.
Any better ideas?
MORE – 10 Quick Snacks for under 200 Calories
Ted Kallmyer is an ISSA certified Specialist in Fitness Nutrition and is our lead macro coach. If you need help reaching your weight loss/fitness goals see our personal coaching options.