7-Day High-Protein Meal Plan for Summer

A delicious and satisfying high-protein meal plan chock-full of fruits and veggies for summer.

Tangy Chicken Salad With Grapes in a bowl
Credit: Antonis Achilleos
  • This 7-day plan is set at 1,500 calories, with modifications for 2,000 calories.
  • Each day provides at least 76 grams of protein and 25 grams of fiber for satiety.
  • This plan prioritizes high-protein and high-fiber foods, whole grains, fruits and veggies.

Every cell in your body needs protein. From muscle growth to digestion to skin health, the protein you eat goes directly to maintaining the health of your body. Along with fiber, protein reduces digestion speed and, therefore, helps keep you full and satisfied. During summer, when fruits and vegetables are plentiful, it's easy to hit your fiber goals. Choose whole grains, such as brown rice and whole-wheat bread, over refined carbohydrates, such as white bread and white pasta, to give an even bigger fiber—and satiety—bump. This plan includes all our summer favorites, such as tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, berries and herbs, plus lean proteins, whole grains and dairy.

Meal Plan at a Glance
BREAKFAST/ A.M. SNACK LUNCH/ P.M. SNACK DINNER
Smoothie/ Cucumber & ranch Tuna spinach salad/ Edamame Shrimp & broccoli
Smoothie/ Bell pepper & hummus Quinoa salad/ Almonds & apricots Chicken casserole
Smoothie/ Edamame Chicken wraps/ Banana & nut butter Cauliflower steaks
Overnight oats/ Cucumber & hummus Salmon-stuffed avocado/ Pear & walnuts Stuffed peppers
Overnight oats/ Cucumber Chicken salad/ Edamame Salmon grain bowl
Overnight oats/ Yogurt & raspberries Chicken salad/ Almonds Vegetable quiche
Egg scramble & toast/ Banana & nut butter Chicken salad/ Popcorn Tofu Poke

Day 1

Shrimp and broccoli served over rice in a bowl with a fork

Dotdash Meredith Food Studio

Breakfast (304 calories)

Morning Snack (153 calories)

Lunch (432 calories)

Afternoon Snack (200 calories)

  • 1 cup edamame in pods

Dinner (422 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,511 calories, 85 g protein, 137 g carbohydrates, 30 g fiber, 74 g fat, 1,358 mg sodium

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 2 hard-boiled eggs to breakfast, add 1 slice whole-wheat bread to lunch, increase A.M. snack to 3 Tbsp. ranch dressing and increase P.M. snack to 2 cups edamame.

Day 2

an image of the Chicken & Zucchini Casserole

Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali

Breakfast (304 calories)

Morning Snack (175 calories)

  • 1 medium red bell pepper
  • 1/3 cup hummus

Lunch (404 calories)

Afternoon Snack (317 calories)

  • 1/3 cup unsalted dry-roasted almonds
  • 5 dried apricots

Dinner (307 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,507 calories, 85 g protein, 142 g carbohydrates, 33 g fiber, 75 g fat, 1,501 mg sodium

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 2 hard-boiled eggs to breakfast, increase to 1/2 cup hummus at A.M. snack, add 1 slice whole-wheat bread to lunch, increase to 1/2 cup dried apricots at P.M. snack and add 1/2 cup brown rice to dinner.

Day 3

Roasted Cauliflower Steak & Spanakopita Melts

Breakfast (304 calories)

Morning Snack (200 calories)

  • 1 cup edamame in pods

Lunch (526 calories)

Afternoon Snack (217 calories)

  • 1 large banana
  • 1 tablespoon peanut butter

Dinner (251 calories)

Meal-Prep Tip: Use the remaining cauliflower for cauliflower rice for Day 4 dinner. Prepare 3 servings of Blueberry-Banana Overnight Oats to have for breakfast tomorrow and on Days 5 and 6.

Daily Totals: 1,498 calories, 83 g protein, 157 g carbohydrates, 36 g fiber, 66 g fat, 1,481 mg sodium

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 2 hard-boiled eggs to breakfast, increase to 2 cups of edamame at A.M. snack and increase to 2 1/2 tablespoons peanut butter at P.M. snack.

Day 4

Cauliflower Rice-Stuffed Peppers

Breakfast (285 calories)

Morning Snack (128 calories)

  • 1 medium cucumber
  • 1/4 cup hummus

Lunch (371 calories)

Afternoon Snack (349 calories)

  • 1 large pear
  • 1/3 cup walnut halves

Dinner (374 calories)

1 serving Cauliflower Rice-Stuffed Peppers

Daily Totals: 1,507 calories, 76 g protein, 137 g carbohydrates, 33 g fiber, 81 g fat, 1,375 mg sodium

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 2 scrambled eggs to breakfast, add 2 oz. Cheddar cheese to A.M. snack and add Basic Green Salad with Vinaigrette to dinner.

Day 5

Jerk-Spiced Salmon & Quinoa Bowl with Mango Vinaigrette
Jacob Fox

Breakfast (285 calories)

Morning Snack (24 calories)

  • 1 medium cucumber

Lunch (385 calories)

Afternoon Snack (200 calories)

  • 1 cup edamame in pods

Dinner (598 calories)

Meal-Prep Tip: Refrigerate 2 servings of the Tangy Chicken Salad with Grapes to have for lunch on Days 6 and 7.

Daily Totals: 1,491 calories, 94 g protein, 124 g carbohydrates, 28 g fiber, 61 g fat, 1,468 mg sodium

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 2 scrambled eggs to breakfast, add 1 medium red bell pepper and 2 Tbsp. ranch dressing to A.M. snack and increase to 2 cups of edamame at P.M. snack.

Day 6

Loaded Vegetable Quiche
Will Dickey

Breakfast (285 calories)

Morning Snack (230 calories)

  • 1 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 cup raspberries

Lunch (350 calories)

Afternoon Snack (206 calories)

  • 1/4 cup unsalted dry-roasted almonds

Dinner (455 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,525 calories, 92 g protein, 124 g carbohydrates, 27 g fiber, 80 g fat, 1,216 mg sodium

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1/3 cup chopped walnuts to breakfast, add 1 Tbsp. honey to A.M. snack, add 1 slice whole-wheat bread to lunch and increase P.M. snack to 1/3 cup unsalted dry-roasted almonds.

Day 7

Spinach & Egg Scramble with Raspberries

Breakfast (366 calories)

Morning Snack (315 calories)

  • 1 medium banana
  • 2 tablespoons peanut butter

Lunch (385 calories)

Afternoon Snack (195 calories)

  • 3 cups air-popped popcorn
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter

Dinner (262 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,522 calories, 86 g protein, 119 g carbohydrates, 25 g fiber, 81 g fat, 1,998 mg sodium

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 2 clementines to breakfast, add 1/3 cup unsalted peanuts to P.M. snack and add 1/2 cup brown rice to dinner.

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 healthy high-protein 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 285 to 366 calories while the lunches span 350 to 526 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.

Health Benefits of Animal and Plant-Based Protein

This meal plan includes both plant-based protein, such as tofu, nuts and edamame, and also animal proteins, such as chicken, shrimp, eggs and dairy. Unless you have a preference for a specific dietary pattern that excludes animal proteins, having both in your diet provides excellent nutrition. Plant-based diets have been shown to help reduce inflammation, lower risk factors for heart disease and decrease the risk of obesity. They are rich in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, such as potassium and selenium. Animal proteins typically have higher amounts of protein per gram and the iron in animal proteins, such as beef, may be better absorbed by the body. Animal proteins also have a long list of beneficial nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B-12 and zinc. So, you see, having a variety of proteins in your diet ensures you get a plethora of nutrients to keep you healthy.

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.
  1. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.

  2. Herpich C, Müller-Werdan U, Norman K. Role of plant-based diets in promoting health and longevityMaturitas. 2022;165:47-51. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2022.07.003