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7-Day Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan for More Energy, Created by a Dietitian

Feeling sluggish? This Mediterranean diet meal plan may be just the ticket to improving your energy levels. To promote satiety and prevent that afternoon energy slump, we spread protein and fiber fairly evenly throughout each day, while following the principles of the Mediterranean diet, which is full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, nuts and legumes. As with all meal plans, this is meant to serve as a framework for a healthy eating plan. Feel free to substitute a different meal, opt for leftovers or tailor it to whatever makes sense for your routine. Aim to eat mindfully, listen to your hunger cues and do what works best for your body. Meal Plan at a Glance Egg bites & smoothie/ Yogurt & fruit Tuna salad/ Energy balls Stew & salad English muffin & yogurt/ Pistachios Chicken soup/ Energy balls Salmon tacos Egg bites & smoothie/ Apple & nut butter Chicken soup/ Pear Steak salad English muffin & yogurt/ Apple Chicken soup/ Energy balls Chicken couscous bowl Egg bites & smoothie/ Yogurt & fruit Chickpea salad/ Energy balls Cauliflower salad English muffin & yogurt/ Egg & fruit Chickpea salad/ Energy balls Shrimp kebabs Egg bites & smoothie/ Pear Tuna salad/ Apple & nut butter Chicken & broccolini & beans Day 1 Breakfast (322 calories) 1 serving Roasted Red Pepper & Spinach Egg Bites 1 serving Berry-Mint Kefir Smoothies Morning Snack (135 calories) 1 (5-oz.) container low-fat plain strained (Greek-style) yogurt ½ cup raspberries Lunch (351 calories) 1 serving Tuna Salad with Egg over 1 cup mixed greens 1 medium apple Afternoon Snack (190 calories) 1 serving (3 each) Blueberry-Lemon Energy Balls Dinner (490 calories) 1 serving Coconut Stew with Spinach & Beans 2 cups mixed greens 1 serving Citrus Vinaigrette Daily Totals: 1,488 calories, 71g fat, 74g protein, 150g carbohydrate, 30g fiber, 1,620mg sodium To make it 2,000 calories: Add 3 Tbsp. chopped walnuts to A.M. snack, 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter to lunch and half an avocado, sliced, to the salad at dinner. Day 2 Breakfast (365 calories) 1 serving Peanut Butter & Chia Berry Jam English Muffin 1 (5-oz.) container low-fat plain strained (Greek-style) yogurt Morning Snack (176 calories) ¼ cup shelled unsalted dry-roasted pistachios Lunch (363 calories) 1 serving Curried Chicken & Cabbage Soup 1 clementine Afternoon Snack (125 calories) 2 each Blueberry-Lemon Energy Balls Dinner (460 calories) 1 serving 30-Minute Roasted Salmon Tacos with Corn & Pepper Salsa Daily Totals: 1,489 calories, 61g fat, 95g protein, 158g carbohydrate, 31g fiber, 1,471mg sodium To make it 2,000 calories: Add 2 Tbsp. chopped walnuts to breakfast, 1 medium apple to A.M. snack, 1 medium bell pepper with ¼ cup hummus to lunch and 1 serving Pineapple & Avocado Salad to dinner. Day 3 Breakfast (322 calories) 1 serving Roasted Red Pepper & Spinach Egg Bites 1 serving Berry-Mint Kefir Smoothies Morning Snack (305 calories) 1 medium apple 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter Lunch (359 calories) 1 serving Curried Chicken & Cabbage Soup ½ cup blackberries Afternoon Snack (131 calories) 1 large pear Dinner (405 calories) 1 serving Grilled Flank Steak with Tomato Salad 1-oz. slice whole-wheat baguette Daily Totals: 1,522 calories, 70g fat, 83g protein, 144g carbohydrate, 29g fiber, 1,852mg sodium To make it 2,000 calories: Increase to 2½ Tbsp. natural peanut butter at A.M. snack, add ¼ cup unsalted dry-roasted almonds to P.M. snack and add 1 serving Blueberry-Lemon Energy Balls as an evening snack. Day 4 Breakfast (365 calories) 1 serving Peanut Butter & Chia Berry Jam English Muffin 1 (5-oz.) container low-fat plain strained (Greek-style) yogurt Morning Snack (95 calories) 1 medium apple Lunch (363 calories) 1 serving Curried Chicken & Cabbage Soup 1 clementine Afternoon Snack (190 calories) 1 serving (3 each) Blueberry-Lemon Energy Balls Dinner (473 calories) 1 serving Chicken, Feta & Cucumber Couscous Bowls Daily Totals: 1,486 calories, 49g fat, 90g protein, 186g carbohydrate, 30g fiber, 1,667mg sodium To make it 2,000 calories: Add 2 Tbsp. chopped walnuts to breakfast, 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter to A.M. snack and 1 serving Traditional Greek Salad to dinner. Day 5 Breakfast (322 calories) 1 serving Roasted Red Pepper & Spinach Egg Bites 1 serving Berry-Mint Kefir Smoothies Morning Snack (135 calories) 1 (5-oz.) container low-fat plain strained (Greek-style) yogurt ½ cup raspberries Lunch (401 calories) 1 serving Bell Pepper & Feta Chickpea Salad Afternoon Snack (125 calories) 2 each Blueberry-Lemon Energy Balls Dinner (502 calories) 1 serving Roasted Cranberry, Squash & Cauliflower Salad Daily Totals: 1,486 calories, 80g fat, 65g protein, 135g carbohydrate, 31g fiber, 1,680mg sodium To make it 2,000 calories: Add 2 Tbsp. chopped walnuts to A.M. snack, 1 medium peach to lunch and 1 medium banana with 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter as an evening snack. Day 6 Breakfast (365 calories) 1 serving Peanut Butter & Chia Berry Jam English Muffin 1 (5-oz.) container low-fat plain strained (Greek-style) yogurt Morning Snack (120 calories) 1 large hard-boiled egg ½ cup blueberries Lunch (401 calories) 1 serving Bell Pepper & Feta Chickpea Salad Afternoon Snack (190 calories) 1 serving (3 each) Blueberry-Lemon Energy Balls Dinner (442 calories) 1 serving Shrimp & Pepper Kebabs with Grilled Red Onion Slaw Daily Totals: 1,518 calories, 75g fat, 75g protein, 143g carbohydrate, 28g fiber, 1,179mg sodium To make it 2,000 calories: Add ¼ cup chopped walnuts at breakfast, 1 medium peach to lunch and 1 serving Mango & Avocado Salad to dinner. Day 7 Breakfast (322 calories) 1 serving Roasted Red Pepper & Spinach Egg Bites 1 serving Berry-Mint Kefir Smoothies Morning Snack (131 calories) 1 large pear Lunch (345 calories) 1 serving Tuna Salad with Egg over 1 cup mixed greens 1 medium bell pepper, sliced 2 Tbsp. hummus Afternoon Snack (200 calories) 1 medium apple 1 Tbsp. natural peanut butter Dinner (520 calories) 1 serving Perfect Pan-Seared Chicken Breasts 1 serving Caramelized Broccolini & White Beans Daily Totals: 1,519 calories, 67g fat, 99g protein, 135g carbohydrate, 29g fiber, 1,953mg sodium To make it 2,000 calories: Add ¼ cup unsalted dry-roasted almonds to A.M. snack, increase to 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter to P.M. snack and add 1 serving Blueberry-Lemon Energy Balls as an evening snack Frequently asked Questions Is it OK to mix and match meals if there's one I don't like? Yes! This meal plan is meant to serve as inspiration. It doesn't need to be followed exactly to reap the benefits. When choosing recipes, we made sure to check the calories, fiber, protein and sodium to align with the parameters of this plan and be within our sodium limits. If you're making a recipe swap, it may be helpful to choose a recipe with similar calories, fiber, protein and sodium levels. For more inspiration, check out these delicious Healthy Mediterranean Recipes. Can I eat the same breakfast or lunch every day? Definitely, it's fine to eat the same breakfast or lunch every day. The breakfasts range from 322 to 365 calories while the lunches span 345 to 401 calories. These ranges are fairly close, though if you're closely monitoring your calories or other nutrients, like protein, you may want to adjust a snack or two. Why is there not a modification for 1,200 calories? We no longer provide modifications for 1,200-calorie days in our meal plans. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests that limiting calories to 1,200 per day is too low for most people to meet their nutritional needs, plus it's unsustainable for long-term health and well-being. Tips for Using the Mediterranean Diet to Improve Energy Levels Rich in nutrients, the Mediterranean diet is a healthy way of eating that includes plenty of fresh produce, whole grains, legumes, healthy fats and a wide variety of lean proteins. Long regarded as one of the healthiest diets for its numerous health benefits, the Mediterranean diet is more of a lifestyle than a strict diet. Of course, it emphasizes plenty of nutrient-rich produce, but it also promotes cooking more meals at home, sharing meals with others, increasing mindfulness and slowing down to sit and enjoy meals rather than eating on the go. Because eating too little can zap energy levels, be sure to listen to your body and make sure that you're eating enough. You can keep your energy levels high by doing the following: Staying hydrated Eat regular meals and snacks Get enough sleep Eat balanced meals with carbs, healthy fats and protein Exercise daily Read the original article on EATINGWELL