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

Enjoy the best flavors of spring in this protein-packed meal plan.

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

Recipe photos: Victor Protasio and Grant Webster. EatingWell design,

About This Plan

  • This 7-day plan is set at 1,800 calories per day, with modifications for 1,500 and 2,000 calories.
  • Each day provides at least 90 grams of protein and 28 grams of fiber—two nutrients that can help keep you full and satiated between meals.  
  • You’ll find a week of high-protein, spring-inspired meals and snacks, plus meal-prep tips at the beginning of the week to help simplify your routine.

By the time the temperatures warm up and the ground begins to thaw out, many of us are ready to say goodbye to stews, roasts and chilis and welcome some fresh spring produce to the mix. Spinach? Leeks? Snap peas? Sign me up! In this seven-day no-sugar-added, high-protein meal plan for spring, we include some of the season’s best produce while prioritizing protein-rich meals. While we focus on protein and seasonal veggies, you won’t find any added sugars in this plan. We include meal-prep tips at the beginning of the week and three different calorie levels to choose from, so this healthy eating plan can work for most people. Follow along to start the season off feeling your best. 

Meal Plan at a Glance
 Breakfast/ AM Snack  Lunch/ PM Snack  Dinner/ Evening Snack
Egg tortilla/ Cottage cheese bowl Green goddess wrap/ Buffalo chickpeas Salmon with melting leeks
Mango smoothie/ Cottage cheese bowl Cabbage salad with chicken/ Energy bites Fritter salad/ Stuffed mini peppers
Yogurt parfait/ Almonds Cabbage salad with chicken/ Energy bites Penne with turkey & mushrooms
Egg tortilla/ Yogurt parfait Cabbage salad with chicken/ Energy bites Chicken & broccoli salad/ Apple
Yogurt parfait/ Buffalo chickpeas Avocado tuna salad/ Energy bites  Tzatziki bowls
Yogurt parfait/ Cottage cheese bowls Avocado tuna salad/ Energy bites Chicken skillet with rice/ Apple & nut butter
Egg tortilla/ Cottage cheese bowl  Green goddess wrap/ Energy bites Fish taco bowl/ Yogurt parfait  

Day 1

a photo of the Sheet Pan Crusted Salmon with Sliced Leeks served on a ceramic plate

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman

Breakfast (370 calories)

  • Serve with: 1 medium orange

A.M. Snack (170 calories)

Lunch (406 calories)

  • Serve with: 1 cup sliced strawberries

P.M. Snack (109 calories)

Dinner (742 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,797 calories, 82g fat, 104g protein, 171g carbohydrate, 39g fiber, 1,991mg sodium.

Make it 1,500 calories: Omit A.M. snack and P.M. snack.

Make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Apple with Cinnamon Almond Butter as an evening snack.

Day 2

Crispy Pea Fritter Salad
Jason Donnelly

Breakfast (427 calories)

A.M. Snack (170 calories)

Lunch (384 calories)

  • Serve with: 3 oz. cooked chicken breast

P.M. Snack (261 calories)

Dinner (413 calories)

Evening Snacks (122 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,778 calories, 91g fat, 97g protein, 158g carbohydrate, 31g fiber, 1,578mg sodium.

Make it 1,500 calories: Omit P.M. snack.

Make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 medium apple to lunch and add a 1-oz. slice of whole-wheat baguette to dinner. 

Day 3

an image of the High-Protein Penne with Ground Turkey & Mushrooms

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Breakfast (301 calories)

A.M. Snack (206 calories)

  • ¼ cup unsalted dry-roasted almonds

Lunch (384 calories)

P.M. Snack (261 calories)

Dinner (625 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,778 calories, 102g fat, 104g protein, 141g carbohydrate, 28g fiber, 1,365mg sodium.

Make it 1,500 calories: Omit P.M. snack.

Make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Apple with Cinnamon Almond Butter as an evening snack.

Day 4

a recipe photo of the Baked Zucchini, Feta & Egg Tortilla

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Breakfast (370 calories)

A.M. (301 calories)

Lunch (384 calories)

P.M. Snack (261 calories)

Dinner (394 calories)

Evening Snacks (95 calories)

  • 1 medium apple

Daily Totals: 1,806 calories, 97g fat, 104g protein, 147g carbohydrate, 31g fiber, 1,801mg sodium.

Make it 1,500 calories: Omit A.M. snack.

Make it 2,000 calories: Add 2 Tbsp. almond butter to evening snack.

Day 5

an image of the Roasted Potato Tzatziki Bowl

Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Christina Daley

Breakfast (311 calories)

  • Serve with: 1 cup low-fat plain strained Greek-style yogurt, ½ cup raspberries and 3 Tbsp. sliced almonds

A.M. Snack (109 calories)

Lunch (375 calories)

  • Serve with: ½ cup blueberries

P.M. Snack (261 calories)

Dinner (514 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,789 calories, 88g fat, 94g protein, 169g carbohydrate, 41g fiber, 1,673mg sodium.

Make it 1,500 calories: Omit P.M. snack.

Make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Cottage Cheese Snack Jar with Fruit as an evening snack. 

Day 6

Creamy garlic skillet chicken with spinach recipe

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

Breakfast (301 calories)

A.M. Snack (170 calories)

Lunch (375 calories)

P.M. Snack (261 calories)

Dinner (414 calories)

Evening Snack (291 calories)

  • 1 medium apple
  • 2 Tbsp. almond butter

Daily Totals: 1,812 calories, 98g fat, 90g protein, 156g carbohydrate, 31g fiber, 1,212mg sodium.

Make it 1,500 calories: Omit evening snack.

Make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Massaged Kale Salad to dinner. 

Day 7

8376485.jpg

Breakfast (370 calories)

A.M. Snack (170 calories)

Lunch (406 calories)

  • Serve with: 1 cup sliced strawberries

P.M. Snack (261 calories)

Dinner (478 calories)

Evening Snack (139 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,821 calories, 88g fat, 93g protein, 175g carbohydrate, 31g fiber, 2,059mg sodium.

Make it 1,500 calories: Omit orange at breakfast and omit P.M. snack.

Make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Spinach Smoothie to breakfast.

Prep Ahead Tips

  1. Make Roasted Cabbage Salad with Lemon-Shallot Dressing to have for lunch on Days 2 through 5.
  2. Prepare Trail Mix Energy Bites to have as a snack throughout the week.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Yes, if there’s a meal you don’t like, feel free to repeat a meal in this plan or browse more of our no-added-sugar and high-protein recipes for additional inspiration For reference, we aimed for at least 90 grams of protein and 28 grams of fiber per day and also capped the sodium at 2,300 milligrams per day, as recommended by the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

  • Can I eat the same breakfast or lunch every day?

    You can eat the same breakfast or lunch option every day, if it’s easier for your routine. Each option we selected is a protein-rich meal, so a simple swap should work for most people. If you’re closely monitoring calories or other nutrients, you may want to adjust a snack or two to meet your goals.

  • 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.

  • What’s the difference between added sugars and natural sugars?

    Added sugars refer to sugar or sweeteners that are added during processing. These include honey, maple syrup, white sugar, high-fructose corn syrup and more. They are added to increase the palatability of foods and have little to no nutritional value. Natural sugars are sugars that are naturally occurring in a food. Foods with natural sugars include unsweetened dairy, fruits and vegetables.

How Added Sugars May Impact Your Health

It’s not surprising to most that added sugars aren’t exactly beneficial to our health. But you may be surprised to hear that the average American adult consumes 17 teaspoons of added sugar each day. Added sugars aren’t just found in sweetened beverages and desserts; you’ll often find them in cereals, granola bars, salad dressings, breads, crackers, nut butters and more. Because these sugars add calories but minimal nutritional benefit (depending on the type of added sugar), excess intake can lead to some serious health consequences. Research links a high intake of added sugars with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity, cancer and reduced cognitive function.


While we opted to skip added sugars in this plan, they certainly don’t need to be completely off the table. Researchers recommend limiting added sugars to 25 grams, or about 6 teaspoons, per day. If you’re trying to cut back on your added sugar intake, take a glance at the nutrition label to see where they are making their way into your routine. You may be surprised!

Dig Deeper

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.

Was this page helpful?
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.
  1. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.

  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Get the Facts: Added Sugars.

  3. Gillespie KM, White MJ, Kemps E, Moore H, Dymond A, Bartlett SE. The Impact of Free and Added Sugars on Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2023;16(1):75. doi:10.3390/nu16010075

  4. Huang Y, Chen Z, Chen B, et al. Dietary sugar consumption and health: umbrella review. BMJ. 2023;381:e071609. doi:10.1136/bmj-2022-071609