7 Day High-Protein Meal Plan for Menopause, Created by a Dietitian

Support a healthy menopause transition with this high-protein, high-fiber meal plan.

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Recipe images of Shrimp Tacos and Honey-Mustard Pork with Spinach & Smashed White Bean Puree on designed background
  • This 7-day plan is set at 1,800 calories, with modifications for 1,500 and 2,000 calories.
  • Each day provides at least 80 g of protein and 30 g of fiber to support a healthy metabolism.
  • This plan prioritizes protein, healthy fats, complex carbs and foods with calcium and magnesium.

The transition to menopause can be uncomfortable, especially if you’re experiencing symptoms like hot flashes, joint and muscle pain and trouble sleeping. Luckily, there are lifestyle habits and foods that can help make it more manageable and support your health during this stage of life. Specifically, nutrients like protein, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium and magnesium are important for the body’s changing needs during this transition. In this seven-day meal plan, we focused on high-protein and high-fiber meals as well as dishes that are packed with omega-3s to help support overall health for those going through menopause. 

There are likely a lot of things on your mind if you’re going through peri-menopause, so make mealtimes easier with this dietitian-created plan. This meal plan focuses on high-protein, high-fiber recipes and prioritizes omega-3-rich foods like chia seeds, avocados, fish and walnuts to help reduce peri-menopause symptoms and support healthy hormone changes.

Meal Plan at a Glance
BREAKFAST/ A.M. SNACK LUNCH/ P.M. SNACK DINNER
Pancakes & strawberries/ Banana & walnuts Shrimp tacos & salsa/ Cottage cheese snack jar Turkey burgers & fries
Oatmeal & egg/ Apple & nut butter toast Turkey meatball wrap/ Energy balls Tuna noodle casserole
Oatmeal, banana & egg/ Gut tonic, strawberries & yogurt Greek salad with chicken/ Cottage cheese snack jar Pork & white bean puree
Oatmeal & egg/ Apple & nut butter Turkey meatball wrap/ Edamame Tofu curry & rice
Oatmeal, strawberries & egg/ Gut tonic, banana & yogurt Greek salad with chicken/ Energy balls Salmon souvlaki & green beans
Breakfast bowl/ Apple & nut butter Turkey meatball wrap/ Cottage cheese snack jar Lemony orzo & tuna salad
Tofu scramble, toast & fruit/ Yogurt, banana & walnuts Salmon pita & chopped salad/ Edamame Chicken Parmesan

Day 1

6854594.jpg

Breakfast (462 Calories)

Morning Snack (201 Calories)

  • 1 medium banana
  • 2 Tbsp. chopped walnuts

Lunch (452 Calories)

Afternoon Snack ( 219 Calories)

Dinner (463 Calories)

Daily Totals: 1,798 calories, 77g fat, 21g saturated fat, 100g protein, 197g carbohydrate, 35g fiber, 1,741 mg sodium 


To make it 1,500 calories:
Omit Chunky Black Bean Salsa with Corn and Bell Pepper at lunch and omit P.M. snack.

To make it 2,000 calories: Make it ½ cup Chunky Black Bean Salsa with Corn and Bell Pepper at lunch and add 1 large hard-boiled egg to P.M. snack.

Day 2

a recipe photo of the High-Protein Lemon-Blueberry Energy Balls

Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl

Breakfast (266 Calories)

Morning Snack (275 Calories)

Lunch (588 Calories)

Afternoon Snack (251 Calories)

Dinner (518 Calories)

Daily Totals: 1,897 calories, 82g fat, 19g saturated fat, 90g protein, 201g carbohydrate, 30g fiber, 2,056mg sodium 

To make it 1,500 calories: Omit A.M. snack. 

To make it 2,000 calories: Add another serving of High-Protein Lemon-Blueberry Energy Balls to P.M. snack.

Day 3

Quick Greek Chopped Salad with Chicken
Carson Downing

Breakfast (371 Calories)

Morning Snack (160 Calories)

Lunch (491 Calories)

Afternoon Snack (314 Calories)

Dinner (499 Calories)

Daily Totals: 1,836 calories, 74g fat, 12g saturated fat, 125g protein, 166g carbohydrate, 41g fiber, 1,698g sodium 

To make it 1,500 calories: Omit avocado at lunch and walnuts at P.M. snack.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add another serving of Quinoa & Chia Oatmeal Mix at breakfast and add 1 Tbsp. chopped walnuts to A.M. snack. 

Day 4

a recipe photo of the Tofu Curry

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Breakfast (266 Calories)

Morning Snack (286 Calories)

  • 1 medium apple
  • 2 Tbsp. smooth natural peanut butter

Lunch (588 Calories)

Afternoon Snack (129 Calories)

  • 1 cup frozen edamame in pods

Dinner (555 Calories)

Daily Totals: 1,823 calories, 82g fat, 26g saturated fat, 87g protein, 192g carbohydrate, 37g fiber, 1,819mg sodium 

To make it 1,500 calories: Omit A.M snack.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add ½ cup halved strawberries to breakfast, ½ avocado to lunch and another ½ cup edamame to P.M. snack/ 

Day 5

6859254.jpg

Breakfast (278 Calories) 

Morning Snack (240 Calories)

Lunch (491 Calories)

Afternoon Snack (251 Calories) 

Dinner (491 Calories)

Daily Totals: 1,757 calories, 77g fat, 14g saturated fat, 102g protein, 191g carbohydrate, 37g fiber, 1,560mg sodium 

To make it 1,500 calories: Omit P.M. snack.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 Tbsp. chopped walnuts to A.M snack and have 4 High-Protein Lemon-Blueberry Energy Balls at P.M. snack. 

Day 6

a recipe photo of the High-Protein Black Bean Breakfast Bowl

Ali Redmond

Breakfast (396 Calories)

Morning Snack (190 Calories)

  • 1 Tbsp. smooth natural peanut butter
  • 1 medium apple

Lunch (588 Calories)

Afternoon Snack (315 Calories)

Dinner (345 Calories)

Daily Totals: 1,834 calories, 84g fat, 19g saturated fat, 91g protein, 190g carbohydrate, 40g fiber, 2,226mg sodium 

To make it 1,500 calories: Omit P.M. snack. 

To make it 2,000 calories: Add ½ avocado to dinner.

Day 7 

a recipe photo of the stuffed peppers

Breakfast (525 Calories)

Morning Snack (229 Calories)

  • ½ cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 medium banana
  • 1 Tbsp. chopped walnuts

Lunch (328 Calories)

Afternoon Snack (129 Calories)

  • 1 cup frozen edamame in pods

Dinner (628 Calories)

Daily Totals: 1,839 calories, 69g fat, 13g saturated fat, 137g protein, 177g carbohydrate, 32g fiber, 2,085mg sodium 

To make it 1,500 calories: Omit toast at breakfast and omit A.M. snack.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add another 1 Tbsp. walnuts to A.M. snack and add ½ cup cottage cheese to P.M. snack.

Prep Ahead Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

  • ​​Is it OK to mix and match meals if there is one I do not like?

    Yes! This meal plan is meant to serve as a framework for a healthy eating pattern for menopause. It doesn’t need to be followed exactly to reap the benefits. When choosing recipes, we made sure to check calories, protein and sodium so they would fit within the total calorie goal of 1,800 calories per day, be within our sodium limits and be high in antioxidants. If you’re making a recipe swap, it may be helpful to choose a recipe with similar calories, protein and sodium levels. For more inspiration, check out these high-protein, high-fiber 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 196 to 422 calories, while the lunches span 328 to 588 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 Healthy Eating During Menopause

  • Eat balanced meals with protein: With hormone changes during menopause, muscle mass can decrease quite a bit. Eating a high-protein diet can help to preserve muscle mass, promote bone health, support healthy digestion and more. Incorporating strength training into your routine, even if it is just body-weight exercises, can also help you keep your muscles healthy and strong. Balanced meals with protein and healthy fats have also been shown to help increase quality of sleep, which is another thing often impacted by menopause.
  • Support gut health with fiber and probiotics: Fiber is an important nutrient that most people usually don’t get enough of. It is essential to eat for a healthy gut regardless of age, but especially during menopause since estrogen levels can affect gut microbiota. Incorporate a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and fermented foods to support a healthy gut microbiome. If you aren’t eating much fiber right now, slowly increase your intake over time to avoid any unpleasant symptoms like bloating or constipation. 
  • Decrease inflammation with omega-3-rich foods: Inflammation can increase as your estrogen levels decrease, causing side effects like joint pain and weakening your immune system. Combat inflammation by incorporating omega-3-rich foods like chia seeds, walnuts, avocados and fatty fish like salmon and tuna into your diet alongside fiber-rich fruits and vegetables.
  • Maintain healthy bones: Bone loss notably increases during menopause because of the decrease of estrogen. To lower your risk of osteoporosis, try to add vitamin D- and calcium-rich foods and make time for regular exercise. 

How We Create Meal Plans

Registered dietitians thoughtfully create EatingWell’s meal plans to be easy-to-follow and delicious. Each meal plan meets specific parameters depending on the health condition and/or lifestyle goal it is targeting and is analyzed for accuracy using the nutrition database, ESHA Food Processor. As nutritional needs differ from person to person, we encourage you to use these plans as inspiration and adjust as you see fit.

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  1. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2020-20205 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

  2. Erdélyi A, Pálfi E, Tűű L, Nas K, Szűcs Z, Török M, Jakab A, Várbíró S. The importance of nutrition in menopause and perimenopause—A review. Nutrients. 2024; 16(1):27. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16010027