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

Following a vegetarian diet doesn't mean lacking protein, and this meal plan is proof.

4572432.jpg
  • This 7-day plan is set at 1,500 calories, with modifications for 2,000 calories
  • Each day provides at least 75 grams of protein and 28 grams of fiber to support healthy digestion. 
  • This plan prioritizes plant-based protein for healthy muscles and overall health.  

If you’re currently following a vegetarian diet or are considering eating more plant-based proteins, you may wonder if you’ll be able to get enough protein. It’s a valid concern. Protein is made up of amino acids, often dubbed the building blocks of protein, and plays a vital role in all areas of the body, including muscle strength, bone density and digestion. Fortunately, there are plenty of plant-based and vegetarian protein options out there, which makes getting adequate protein both feasible and delicious. When protein-rich meat is off the table, it becomes more important to focus on eating a variety of healthy vegetarian protein sources, such as beans, lentils, nuts, dairy, eggs, soy and whole grains. We also opted to skip added sugars and instead focus on nutrient-rich foods, including foods with natural sugars such as fruit, vegetables and unsweetened dairy.

Meal Plan at a Glance
 BREAKFAST/ A.M. SNACK  LUNCH/ P.M. SNACK  DINNER
 Eggs/ Clementine  Bean salad/ Kefir  Vegetable stew
 Smoothie/ Blueberries  Lentil soup/ Almonds  Tacos & slaw
 Yogurt/ Eggs  Lentil soup/ Orange  Veggies bowl
 Smoothie/ Raspberries  Lentil soup/ Banana  Mac & cheese
 Yogurt/ Eggs  Lentil soup/ Clementine  Kale salad
 Smoothie/ Raspberries  Sandwich/ Bananas  Lasagna soup
 Eggs/ Raspberries  Sandwich/ Cookies  Tofu curry

Day 1

6904115.jpg

Breakfast (384 calories)

Morning Snack (125 calories)

  • 1 string cheese, mozzarella, low-moisture, part-skim (or 1-oz. slice cheese of choice)
  • 1 clementine

Lunch (501 calories)

Afternoon Snack (82 calories)

  • ¾ cup low-fat plain kefir

Dinner (407 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,497 calories, 60g fat, 77g protein, 172g carbohydrate, 28g fiber, 1,800mg sodium

Make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Raspberry-Kefir Power Smoothie to breakfast and add 1 serving Peanut Butter & Hemp Banana to P.M. snack.

Day 2

Chipotle Tofu Tacos
Jason Donnelly

Breakfast (318 calories)

Morning Snack (130 calories)

  • ⅔ cup low-fat plain strained Greek-style yogurt
  • ¼ cup blueberries

Lunch (365 calories)

Afternoon Snack (268 calories)

  • ¼ cup unsalted dry-roasted almonds
  • 1 medium orange

Dinner (433 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,513 calories, 63g fat, 81g protein, 175g carbohydrate, 32g fiber, 1,461mg sodium

Make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Peanut Butter & Hemp Banana to breakfast, 3 Tbsp. chopped walnuts to A.M. snack and ¼ cup guacamole to dinner.

Day 3

vegetarian protein bowl
Fred Hardy

Breakfast (368 calories)

  • 1 cup low-fat plain strained Greek-style yogurt
  • 1 medium peach, sliced (or fruit of choice)
  • 3 Tbsp. chopped nuts, such as walnuts or almonds

Morning Snack (155 calories)

  • 2 large hard-boiled eggs
  • Pinch of salt & pepper

Lunch (365 calories)

Afternoon Snack (62 calories)

  • 1 medium orange

Dinner (572 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,522 calories, 62g fat, 77g protein, 175g carbohydrate, 29g fiber, 1,773mg sodium

Make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 medium banana to A.M. snack, ¼ cup unsalted dry-roasted almonds to P.M. snack and 1 serving No-Sugar-Added Vegan Oatmeal Cookies as an evening snack.

Day 4

Butternut Squash Chickpea Mac & Cheese

Breakfast (318 calories)

Morning Snack (141 calories)

  • ⅔ cup low-fat plain strained Greek-style yogurt
  • ½ cup raspberries

Lunch (365 calories)

Afternoon Snack (230 calories)

Dinner (449 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,503 calories, 49g fat, 84g protein, 198g carbohydrate, 28g fiber, 1,626mg sodium

Make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Salsa Scrambled Eggs to breakfast, 3 Tbsp. chopped walnuts to A.M. snack and 1 medium apple to lunch.

Day 5

Massaged Kale Salad with Roasted Sweet Potato & Black Beans
Jacob Fox

Breakfast (368 calories)

  • 1 cup low-fat plain strained Greek-style yogurt
  • 1 medium peach, sliced (or fruit of choice)
  • 3 Tbsp. chopped nuts, such as walnuts or almonds

Morning Snack (155 calories)

  • 2 large hard-boiled eggs
  • Pinch of salt & pepper

Lunch (365 calories)

Afternoon Snack (35 calories)

  • 1 clementine

Dinner (588 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,511 calories, 69g fat, 80g protein, 155g carbohydrate, 28g fiber, 1,713mg sodium

Make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 medium apple to A.M. snack, ¼ cup unsalted dry-roasted almonds to P.M. snack and 1 serving No-Sugar-Added Vegan Oatmeal Cookies as an evening snack.

Day 6

Overhead photo of Vegetarian Lasagna Soup

photographer: Jennifer Causey, food stylist: Ali Ramee, prop stylist: Claire Spollen

Breakfast (318 calories)

Morning Snack (141 calories)

  • ⅔ cup low-fat plain strained Greek-style yogurt
  • ½ cup raspberries

Lunch (334 calories)

Afternoon Snack (230 calories)

Dinner (402 calories)

Evening Snack (88 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,513 calories, 54g fat, 78g protein, 193g carbohydrate, 30g fiber, 1,469mg sodium

Make it 2,000 calories: Add 3 Tbsp. chopped walnuts to A.M. snack, ½ cup low-fat plain kefir to lunch, 1 serving Traditional Greek Salad to dinner and increase to 2 cookies (1 serving) No-Sugar-Added Vegan Oatmeal Cookies at evening snack.

Day 7

a recipe photo of the Cucumber Salad Sandwich
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Breakfast (384 calories)

Morning Snack (125 calories)

  • ⅔ cup low-fat plain strained Greek-style yogurt
  • ¼ cup raspberries

Lunch (334 calories)

Afternoon Snack (88 calories)

Dinner (555 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,486 calories, 58g fat, 75g protein, 183g carbohydrate, 28g fiber, 1,630mg sodium

Make it 2,000 calories: Add 3 Tbsp. chopped walnuts to A.M. snack, ½ cup low-fat plain kefir to lunch and increase to 2 cookies (1 serving) No-Sugar-Added Vegan Oatmeal Cookies at P.M. snack.

Prep Ahead Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Why is there not 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.

  • 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 plant-based 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 318 to 384 calories, while the lunches span 334 to 501 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.

Health Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet

Whether you plan to cut out meat entirely or are simply aiming to reduce your meat intake, there are several benefits to eating more plant-based and vegetarian protein options. People who eat more vegetarian proteins tend to get more fiber than those who eat only meat proteins, thanks largely to the high fiber content of foods like beans, lentils, nuts, seeds and whole grains. Likely related to the higher fiber intake, people who eat more plant-based proteins may also have improved heart health and a decreased risk of developing diabetes. Plus, research shows that eating more fiber, independent of other diet changes, can aid weight-loss efforts.

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

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.