7-Day No-Sugar, High-Protein Meal Plan for Beginners, Created by a Dietitian

Hit your protein intake goals while avoiding added sugar with this beginner-friendly meal plan.

a side by side of recipes featured in the 7-Day No-Sugar, High-Protein Meal Plan for Beginners, Created by a Dietitian
Credit:

Recipe photos: Victor Protasio and Jen Causey. EatingWell design.

  • This 7-day plan is set at 1,800 calories, with modifications for 1,500 and 2,000 calories.
  • Each day provides at least 95 grams of protein and 30 grams of fiber to promote satiety.
  • This plan prioritizes lean proteins, healthy fats and complex carbs with no added sugars.

If you’re looking for a practical way to increase your protein intake and cut out added sugars, this seven-day meal plan is a great place to start. Designed with beginners in mind, it features high-protein, no-added-sugar meals and snacks that are not only easy to prepare but also bursting with flavor.

By focusing on protein-rich meals and snacks, this plan can help keep you full and satisfied throughout the day, while providing your body with the building blocks it needs to function at its best. By cutting out added sugars, this plan helps to promote stable blood sugar levels and support overall health. With straightforward ingredients lists, sheet-pan meals and plenty of make-ahead meal-prep tips, you’ll have everything you need to stay on track.

Meal Plan at a Glance
BREAKFAST/ A.M. SNACK LUNCH/ P.M. SNACK DINNER/ LATE-NIGHT SNACK
Cherry crumble & yogurt/ Egg & raspberries Chicken tostadas/ Cottage cheese jar Salmon, potatoes & green beans/ Pear
Mini omelets, almonds & raspberries/ Banana & nut butter Chicken tostadas/ Pear & walnuts Steak & potatoes
Mini omelets, almonds & raspberries/ Peach & pistachios Meatballs & quinoa/ Banana & nut butter Grain bowls
Mini omelets, almonds & raspberries/ Yogurt & blueberries Meatballs & quinoa/ Cottage cheese jar Shrimp bowls/ Pear
Cherry crumble & yogurt/ Egg & raspberries Meatballs & quinoa/ Banana & nut butter Skillet chicken & quinoa/ Peach & pistachios
Smoothie bowl/ Pear & walnuts Tuna arugula salad/ Cottage cheese jar Pork chops & rice/ Banana & nut butter
Oatmeal & raspberries/ Yogurt & blueberries Tuna arugula salad/ Cottage cheese jar Chicken & veggies

Day 1

a recipe photo of the Lemon-Garlic Sheet Pan Salmon with Potatoes & Green Beans
Lemon-Garlic Sheet Pan Salmon with Potatoes & Green Beans.

Photographer: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Sally McKay, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood

Breakfast (434 Calories)

●      1 serving No-Added-Sugar Cherry Crumble

●      1 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt

Morning Snack (109 Calories)

●      1 large hard-boiled egg

●      ½ cup raspberries

Lunch (495 calories)

●      1 serving 3-Ingredient Chicken Salad Tostadas

●      ¼ cup avocado

Afternoon Snack (219 Calories)

●      1 serving Cottage Cheese Snack Jar

Dinner (427 Calories)

●      1 serving Lemon-Garlic Sheet Pan Salmon with Potatoes & Green Beans

Evening Snack (101 Calories)

●      1 pear

Daily totals: 1,785 calories, 72 g fat, 119 g protein, 175 g carbohydrates, 36 g fiber, 1,908 mg sodium

To make it 1,500 calories: Omit avocado from lunch and omit afternoon snack.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 ounce of walnuts to evening snack.

Day 2

3 ingredient chicken tostadas
3 Ingredient Chicken Salad Tostadas. Carolyn Hodges, M.S., RDN

Breakfast (416 Calories)

●      1 serving Parmesan & Vegetable Muffin-Tin Omelets

●      1 ounce unsalted dry-roasted almonds

●      ½ cup raspberries

Morning Snack (230 Calories)

●      1 serving Peanut Butter & Hemp Banana

Lunch (495 calories)

●      1 serving 3-Ingredient Chicken Salad Tostadas

●      ¼ cup avocado

Afternoon Snack (287 Calories)

●      1 pear

●      2 tablespoons walnuts

Dinner (415 Calories)

●      1 serving Sheet-Pan Steak & Potatoes

Daily totals: 1,842 calories, 106 g fat, 98 g protein, 137 g carbohydrates, 32 g fiber, 1,977 mg sodium

To make it 1,500 calories: Omit avocado from lunch and omit afternoon snack.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Yogurt with Blueberries as an evening snack.

 Day 3

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Spinach & Feta Turkey Meatballs with Herbed Quinoa.

Breakfast (416 Calories)

●      1 serving Parmesan & Vegetable Muffin-Tin Omelets

●      1 ounce unsalted dry-roasted almonds

●      ½ cup raspberries

Morning Snack (221 calories)

●      1 peach

●      2 tablespoons pistachios

Lunch (400 calories)

●      1 serving Spinach & Feta Turkey Meatballs with Herbed Quinoa

Afternoon Snack (230 Calories)

●      1 serving Peanut Butter & Hemp Banana

Dinner (553 Calories)

●      1 serving Green Goddess Grain Bowl

Daily totals: 1,820 calories, 98 g fat, 95 g protein, 156 g carbohydrates, 32 g fiber, 1,384 mg sodium

To make it 1,500 calories: Omit peach from morning snack and omit afternoon snack.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Yogurt with Blueberries as an evening snack.

 Day 4

Charred Shrimp, Pesto & Quinoa Bowls
Charred Shrimp, Pesto & Quinoa Bowls.

Breakfast (416 Calories)

●      1 serving Parmesan & Vegetable Muffin-Tin Omelets

●      2 tablespoons unsalted dry-roasted almonds

●      ½ cup raspberries

Morning Snack (205 Calories)

●      1 serving Yogurt with Blueberries

●      1 tablespoon chia seeds

Lunch (400 calories)

●      1 serving Spinach & Feta Turkey Meatballs with Herbed Quinoa

Afternoon Snack (219 Calories)

●      1 serving Cottage Cheese Snack Jar

Dinner (436 Calories)

●      1 serving Charred Shrimp, Pesto & Quinoa Bowls

Evening Snack (101 Calories)

●      1 pear

Daily totals: 1,777 calories, 81 g fat, 130 g protein, 145 g carbohydrates, 36 g fiber, 1,871 mg sodium

To make it 1,500 calories: Omit morning snack and evening snack.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add ¼ cup avocado to lunch and add 1 ounce of walnuts to evening snack.

 Day 5

Creamy garlic skillet chicken with spinach recipe
Creamy Garlic Skillet Chicken with Spinach Recipe.

Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

Breakfast (434 Calories)

●      1 serving No-Added-Sugar Cherry Crumble

●      1 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt

Morning Snack (109 Calories)

●      1 large hard-boiled egg

●      ½ cup raspberries

Lunch (442 calories)

●      1 serving Spinach & Feta Turkey Meatballs with Herbed Quinoa

●      ½ cup blueberries

Afternoon Snack (230 Calories)

●      1 serving Peanut Butter & Hemp Banana

Dinner (411 Calories)

●      1 serving Creamy Garlic Skillet Chicken with Spinach

●      ½ cup cooked quinoa

Evening Snack (221 Calories)

●      1 peach

●      2 tablespoons pistachios

Daily totals: 1,848 calories, 83 g fat, 111 g protein, 171 g carbohydrates, 30 g fiber, 1,151 mg sodium

To make it 1,500 calories: Omit morning snack and afternoon snack.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 2 tablespoons chia seeds to breakfast and add ¼ cup avocado to lunch.

Day 6

Arugula & Cucumber Salad with Tuna
Arugula & Cucumber Salad with Tuna.

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Breakfast (352 Calories)

●      1 serving Raspberry-Peach-Mango Smoothie Bowl

Morning Snack (287 Calories)

●      1 pear

●      2 tablespoons walnuts

Lunch (290 calories)

●      1 serving Arugula & Cucumber Salad with Tuna

●      ¼ cup avocado

Afternoon Snack (215 Calories)

●      1 serving Cottage Cheese Snack Jar with Fruit

Dinner (418 Calories)

●      1 serving Skillet Pork Chops with Peas, Carrots & Pearl Onions

●      ½ cup cooked brown rice

Evening Snack (230 Calories)

●      1 serving Peanut Butter & Hemp Banana

Daily totals: 1,793 calories, 81 g fat, 112 g protein, 162 g carbohydrates, 31 g fiber, 1,365 mg sodium

To make it 1,500 calories: Omit morning snack.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt and 1 tablespoon chia seeds to morning snack.

 Day 7

Sheet-Pan Balsamic-Parmesan Chicken & Vegetables
Sheet-Pan Balsamic-Parmesan Chicken & Vegetables.

Breakfast (423 Calories)

●      1 serving Savory Herbed Oatmeal with Tomato & Sausage

●      ½ cup raspberries

Morning Snack (205 Calories)

●      1 serving Yogurt with Blueberries

●      1 tablespoon chia seeds

Lunch (290 calories)

●      1 serving Arugula & Cucumber Salad with Tuna

●      ¼ cup avocado  

Afternoon Snack (215 Calories)

●      1 serving Cottage Cheese Snack Jar with Fruit

Dinner (646 Calories)

●      1 serving Sheet-Pan Balsamic-Parmesan Chicken & Vegetables

●      1 cup cooked quinoa

Daily totals: 1,779 calories, 87 g fat, 126 g protein, 131 g carbohydrates, 31 g fiber, 2,204 mg sodium

To make it 1,500 calories: Omit avocado from lunch and omit afternoon snack.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Peanut Butter & Hemp Banana as an evening snack.

Prep Ahead Tips

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 high-protein and no-sugar 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 352 to 434 calories while the lunches span 290 to 495 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 1,200 calorie modification?

    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.

  • What is the difference between natural sugar and added sugar?

    Natural sugar is the type of sugar that is naturally occurring in foods, such as lactose in dairy and fructose in fruits. Added sugar is any type of sugar that is added during the processing or making of a food. That also includes any types of "natural" sugar that is added, such as honey, agave or maple syrup.

 Health Benefits of Protein

As the building blocks of life, protein plays a pivotal role in supporting the structure and function of our cells, tissues and organs. It’s essential for building muscles, repairing tissues and promoting proper growth and development. Protein also produces enzymes and hormones that regulate numerous bodily processes, from digestion to metabolism. Our immune systems require protein to produce antibodies that ward off harmful invaders like bacteria and viruses and keep us healthy. Additionally, protein helps to balance blood sugar levels and increase satiety, keeping you fuller for longer and supporting healthy weight management. By getting enough protein in the day, you’re providing your body with the foundation it needs to perform at its best.

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.

Dig Deeper


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Sources
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
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  2. LaPelusa A, Kaushik R. Physiology, proteins. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.

  3. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus. What are proteins and what do they do?

  4. Luhovyy BL, Kathirvel P. Food proteins in the regulation of blood glucose control. Adv Food Nutr Res. 2022;102:181-231. doi:10.1016/bs.afnr.2022.05.001