Pandish
Meal PlanDecember 7, 202515 min read

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 tortillaLettuce wrap~120 cal
Mayo (2 tbsp)Greek yogurt~170 cal
Mashed potatoesMashed cauliflower~150 cal
Rice (1 cup)Cauliflower rice~180 cal
Granola (1 cup)Bran flakes~300 cal

Staying Full on 1500 Calories

  1. Prioritize protein — Most satiating macro, aim for 30g+ per meal
  2. Volume eat — Fill up on vegetables and water-rich foods
  3. Eat fiber — 25-30g daily from whole grains, vegetables, fruit
  4. Stay hydrated — Often thirst mimics hunger
  5. Don't skip meals — Leads to overeating later
  6. 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.

Written by the Pandish Team