1500 Calorie Meal Plan: Complete Guide
A sustainable 1500 calorie meal plan with delicious meals, smart macros, and practical tips for real-world weight loss.
Is 1500 Calories Right for You?
1500 calories works well for:
- Women with sedentary to moderate activity (creates ~500 cal deficit)
- Shorter or smaller-framed individuals
- People with a TDEE around 2,000-2,200 calories
It may be too low for taller women, men, or highly active individuals. Use our TDEE calculator to find your ideal target.
Macro Targets for 1500 Calories
- Protein: 120-150g (480-600 cal) — 32-40%
- Carbs: 100-150g (400-600 cal) — 27-40%
- Fats: 45-55g (405-495 cal) — 27-33%
Sample 7-Day Meal Plan
Day 1 — Monday
Breakfast (350 cal): Greek yogurt parfait — 1 cup nonfat Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup berries, 1 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp granola
Lunch (400 cal): Chicken salad wrap — 4 oz grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, light mayo in whole wheat wrap + apple
Dinner (500 cal): 5 oz salmon, 1 cup roasted broccoli, 1/2 cup brown rice
Snacks (250 cal): 1 oz almonds (160 cal) + 1 medium banana (90 cal)
Day 2 — Tuesday
Breakfast (300 cal): 2 scrambled eggs + 2 egg whites, 1 slice whole wheat toast, 1/2 avocado
Lunch (450 cal): Turkey and veggie bowl — 4 oz turkey breast, quinoa, roasted vegetables, olive oil drizzle
Dinner (450 cal): 4 oz lean beef stir-fry with mixed vegetables, 1/2 cup rice
Snacks (300 cal): Protein shake (150 cal) + 1 cup cottage cheese with cucumber (150 cal)
Day 3 — Wednesday
Breakfast (350 cal): Overnight oats — 1/2 cup oats, 1 cup almond milk, 1 scoop protein powder, 1/2 banana
Lunch (400 cal): Large salad with 5 oz grilled chicken, mixed greens, veggies, 2 tbsp light dressing + whole grain crackers
Dinner (500 cal): Shrimp tacos — 5 oz shrimp, 2 corn tortillas, cabbage slaw, lime crema, side of black beans
Snacks (250 cal): Rice cakes with 2 tbsp almond butter (200 cal) + carrot sticks (50 cal)
Day 4 — Thursday
Breakfast (320 cal): Smoothie — 1 scoop protein, 1 cup spinach, 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup berries, almond milk
Lunch (430 cal): Tuna salad on greens — 1 can tuna, light mayo, celery, on massive bed of mixed greens + crackers
Dinner (480 cal): 5 oz chicken breast, sweet potato, steamed asparagus with lemon
Snacks (270 cal): Hard boiled eggs x2 (140 cal) + string cheese (80 cal) + cherry tomatoes (50 cal)
Day 5 — Friday
Breakfast (380 cal): Veggie omelet — 3 eggs, spinach, mushrooms, feta cheese, 1 slice toast
Lunch (420 cal): Mediterranean bowl — falafel, hummus, cucumber, tomato, olives, 1/4 cup rice
Dinner (450 cal): 4 oz grilled tilapia, quinoa, roasted zucchini and bell peppers
Snacks (250 cal): Apple with 1.5 tbsp peanut butter (200 cal) + celery sticks (50 cal)
Day 6 — Saturday
Breakfast (400 cal): Protein pancakes — 2 small pancakes made with protein powder, banana, eggs + berries
Lunch (350 cal): Turkey and avocado lettuce wraps (4 wraps) + vegetable soup
Dinner (550 cal): Homemade burger (lean beef) on lettuce wrap with all fixings + baked sweet potato fries
Snacks (200 cal): Greek yogurt (100 cal) + dark chocolate square (100 cal)
Day 7 — Sunday
Breakfast (370 cal): Avocado toast — 2 slices whole grain bread, 1/2 avocado, 2 poached eggs
Lunch (400 cal): Chicken soup with vegetables + side salad
Dinner (480 cal): 5 oz pork tenderloin, roasted Brussels sprouts, mashed cauliflower
Snacks (250 cal): Protein bar (200 cal) + cucumber slices with hummus (50 cal)
Meal Prep Tips
- Batch cook proteins — Grill 2-3 lbs of chicken/fish on Sunday
- Pre-chop vegetables — Ready-to-eat veggies increase consumption
- Portion snacks — Pre-bag nuts and snacks to avoid overeating
- Make overnight oats — Prep 3-4 days of breakfasts at once
- Cook grains in bulk — Rice, quinoa keep 4-5 days refrigerated
Smart Swaps to Stay Under 1500
| Instead of... | Try... | Save |
|---|---|---|
| Regular pasta (2 cups) | Zucchini noodles | ~350 cal |
| Flour tortilla | Lettuce wrap | ~120 cal |
| Mayo (2 tbsp) | Greek yogurt | ~170 cal |
| Mashed potatoes | Mashed cauliflower | ~150 cal |
| Rice (1 cup) | Cauliflower rice | ~180 cal |
| Granola (1 cup) | Bran flakes | ~300 cal |
Staying Full on 1500 Calories
- Prioritize protein — Most satiating macro, aim for 30g+ per meal
- Volume eat — Fill up on vegetables and water-rich foods
- Eat fiber — 25-30g daily from whole grains, vegetables, fruit
- Stay hydrated — Often thirst mimics hunger
- Don't skip meals — Leads to overeating later
- Eat slowly — Takes 20 minutes for satiety signals to kick in
Key Takeaways
- • 1500 calories works for moderate deficit for most women
- • Prioritize protein (120-150g) to stay full and preserve muscle
- • Meal prep on weekends for weekday success
- • Use volume eating strategies (veggies, lean proteins)
- • Track everything — hidden calories add up fast
Track Your 1500 Calories with Pandish
Scan meals instantly. Stay on track without the guesswork.
