7-Day Vegan Meal Plan: 1,200 Calories (2024)

Following a vegan diet—or even just including more plant-based foods in your routine—can be a healthy and delicious approach to eating. Research has shown that cutting back on animal products and eating more beans, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds is associated with a decreased risk for diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer. Plus, you may have an easier time losing weight on a vegan diet, thanks to fiber-rich foods, which help you feel full and satisfied throughout the day.

At 1,200 calories, this vegan meal plan sets you up to lose a healthy 1 to 2 pounds per week and includes a variety of nutritious foods and balanced meals to make sure you're getting the nutrients you need each day. Whether you're a full-time vegan or just looking for healthy vegan recipe ideas, this plant-based meal plan makes for a week of wholesome eating.

Looking for a different calorie level? See our 1,500-calorie and 1,800-calorie vegan meal plans.

9 Healthy Tips to Help You Start Eating a Vegan Diet

How to Meal Prep Your Week of Meals

  1. Make a batch of the Vegan Pancakes to have for breakfast on Days 1, 5 and 7. Store the cooked pancakes in a single layer in an airtight container and freeze until ready to eat; reheat in the microwave.
  2. Cook a batch of Basic Quinoa to have for lunch on Day 2 and dinner on Day 5.
  3. Make the to have on Day 4. Store the dry mix in an airtight container for up to one month.

Looking for More? See all of our healthy vegan meal plans for more inspiration.

Day 1

Breakfast (296 calories)

  • 2 Vegan Pancakes
  • 1/4 cup blackberries
  • 1 Tbsp. peanut butter

Mix peanut butter with 1 tsp. warm water (or more, as needed, to thin out the peanut butter). Drizzle over pancakes.

A.M. Snack (150 calories)

  • 3/4 cup edamame pods, seasoned with a pinch of salt

Lunch (245 calories)

  • 1 serving
  • 1 cup sliced cucumber

P.M. Snack (30 calories)

  • 1 small plum

Dinner (499 calories)

  • 1 serving Falafel Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing

Daily Totals: 1,221 calories, 50 g protein, 137 g carbohydrates, 38 g fiber, 59 g fat, 1,586 mg sodium

Day 2

7-Day Vegan Meal Plan: 1,200 Calories (2)

Breakfast (262 calories)

  • 1 serving

A.M. Snack (100 calories)

  • 1/2 cup edamame pods, seasoned with a pinch of salt

Lunch (360 calories)

  • 4 cups

If you're taking this salad to go, pack it up in this handy meal-prep container, specifically made to keep your greens fresh and dressing separate until you're ready to eat. (To buy: amazon.com, $17)

Dinner (500 calories)

  • 2 cups Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl

Daily Totals: 1,222 calories, 48 g protein, 153 g carbohydrates, 46 g fiber, 53 g fat, 1,370 mg sodium

Day 3

Breakfast (266 calories)

  • 1 serving Peanut Butter-Banana Cinnamon Toast

A.M. Snack (114 calories)

  • 2 Tbsp. pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

Lunch (325 calories)

  • 4 cups serving

P.M. Snack (62 calories)

  • 2 cups air-popped popcorn

Dinner (446 calories)

  • 1 1/2 cups
  • 1/2 small whole-wheat pita, toasted
  • 1/3 cup hummus

Meal-Prep Tip: Save 1 serving of the in a leakproof meal-prep container (To buy: amazon.com, $11) for lunch on Day 4.

Daily Totals: 1,213 calories, 49 g protein, 132 g carbohydrates, 34 g fiber, 57 g fat, 1,760 mg sodium

Day 4

7-Day Vegan Meal Plan: 1,200 Calories (4)

Breakfast (296 calories)

  • 1/3 cup cooked with 1 1/4 cups unsweetened soymilk

Meal-Prep Tip: Make the and store it in an airtight container for up to one month.

A.M. Snack (30 calories)

  • 1 small plum

Lunch (309 calories)

  • 1 1/2 cups
  • 1/2 small whole-wheat pita, toasted

P.M. Snack (114 calories)

  • 2 Tbsp. pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

Dinner (472 calories)

  • 1 serving Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing

Daily Totals: 1,222 calories, 51 g protein, 177 g carbohydrates, 40 g fiber, 40 g fat, 1,327 mg sodium

Day 5

7-Day Vegan Meal Plan: 1,200 Calories (5)

Breakfast (296 calories)

  • 2 Vegan Pancakes
  • 1/4 cup blackberries
  • 1 Tbsp. peanut butter

Mix peanut butter with 1 tsp. warm water (or more, as needed, to thin out the peanut butter). Drizzle over pancakes.

Lunch (325 calories)

  • 1 serving

P.M. Snack (100 calories)

  • 1/2 cup edamame pods, seasoned with a pinch of salt

Dinner (487 calories)

  • 1 cup Chickpea Curry
  • 1 cup Basic Quinoa

Daily Totals: 1,208 calories, 44 g protein, 149 g carbohydrates, 33 g fiber, 50 g fat, 1,253 mg sodium

Day 6

7-Day Vegan Meal Plan: 1,200 Calories (6)

Breakfast (262 calories)

  • 1 serving

A.M. Snack (17 calories)

  • 1/4 cup hummus
  • 2 medium celery stalks, cut into sticks

Lunch (308 calories)

  • 1 serving Vegan Bistro Lunch Box
  • 2 Tbsp. pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

Dinner (525 calories)

  • 1 serving
  • 1 cup

Daily Totals: 1,211 calories, 51 g protein, 118 g carbohydrates, 32 g fiber, 65 g fat, 2,065 mg sodium

Day 7

7-Day Vegan Meal Plan: 1,200 Calories (7)

Breakfast (296 calories)

  • 2 Vegan Pancakes
  • 1/4 cup blackberries
  • 1 Tbsp. peanut butter

Mix peanut butter with 1 tsp. warm water (or more, as needed, to thin out the peanut butter). Drizzle over pancakes.

A.M. Snack (62 calories)

  • 1 medium orange

Lunch (325 calories)

  • 4 cups serving

P.M. Snack (93 calories)

  • 3 cups air-popped popcorn

Dinner (434 calories)

  • 1 serving

Daily Totals: 1,209 calories, 45 g protein, 144 g carbohydrates, 32 g fiber, 51 g fat, 1,732 mg sodium

You Did It!

Congratulations on finishing this vegan weight-loss meal plan. Maybe you followed along with every single meal and snack or perhaps you just used it as an inspirational guide for following a vegan diet. Either way, we hope you found this plan interesting, delicious and informative. Following a plant-based diet is a healthy way to lose weight and keep it off.

7-Day Vegan Meal Plan: 1,200 Calories (2024)

FAQs

How long will it take to lose 30 pounds on a 1200 calorie diet? ›

For example, it would take one 3 to 6 months on average to lose 30 pounds on a 1200 calorie diet. It is based on CDC; one can lose 1 to 2 pounds per week on average.

What is the 7 day vegan challenge? ›

How does it work? No meat, poultry, seafood, dairy or eggs for 7 days (any 7 straight days). Announce to your friends, family, followers that you're doing the challenge. Add your name to the list of Challengers.

How much weight can I lose in a week on a vegan diet? ›

This gradual calorie reduction can lead to a sustainable weight loss of about 1-2 pounds per week. Optimize Protein Intake: Ensure adequate protein consumption by incorporating various plant-based protein sources such as legumes, tofu, tempeh, seitan, and plant-based protein powders.

How to lose 20 pounds on a vegan diet? ›

5 Habits for Easy Vegan Weight Loss: How I Lost 20 lbs
  1. Consuming enough vegan protein. ...
  2. Eat enough Fruit and Vegetables. ...
  3. Make sure your meals are balanced! ...
  4. 80/20 Rule. ...
  5. Create a list of easy vegan recipes.
Feb 3, 2024

How to lose 10 lbs in 7 days? ›

To lose 10 pounds in one week, you'll need to burn between 3,500 and 5,000 calories more than you consume each day by restricting your diet to small portions of nutritious yet low-calorie foods, and significantly increasing your aerobic exercise with interval training, sports, and other vigorous activities.

How much weight can I lose eating 1200 calories a day for a week? ›

If 1,200 calories a day is more than 500 calories lower than your weight-maintenance calories, you can expect to lose more than 1 to 2 pounds per week.

What happens to your body the first week of being vegan? ›

At the start of a change to a vegan diet, you could experience a variety of differences to your body. These may include being hungrier, getting gassier, a change in your skin or body odor, weight loss or gain, better or worse sleep, headaches, tiredness, or having more energy.

How many calories should a vegan eat per day? ›

Energy. Not surprisingly, the vegan diet had the lowest total energy intake, followed by vegetarians. Vegan diets did meet the WHO recommendation for energy intake, with intakes ranging from 1,672 and 2,055 calories per day. The main energy sources for vegans were carbohydrates and soy proteins.

Why is it so hard to lose weight as a vegan? ›

A whole food plant-based diet often leads to healthy weight loss, but if you're not seeing the scale move, these reasons could be why: You're still eating and cooking with oil. You need to eat more leafy greens (and fiber in general) You're going out to eat too much.

How to get rid of tummy fat? ›

8 Ways to Lose Belly Fat and Live a Healthier Life
  1. Try curbing carbs instead of fats. ...
  2. Think eating plan, not diet. ...
  3. Keep moving. ...
  4. Lift weights. ...
  5. Become a label reader. ...
  6. Move away from processed foods. ...
  7. Focus on the way your clothes fit more than reading a scale. ...
  8. Hang out with health-focused friends.

What foods are good for vegan weight loss? ›

Best vegan foods for weight loss
  • Soy, quinoa, and tempeh, which are vegan sources of protein.
  • Soy and almond milks, which are rich in vitamin D.
  • Nuts and seeds, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids.
Apr 12, 2018

How to eat only 1200 calories? ›

To stay at 1,200 calories a day, you should plan your meals in advance and ensure they are balanced with a variety of nutrient-dense foods. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help you stay full while keeping your calorie intake low.

Is 1200 calories enough? ›

For weight loss, 1,200 calories per day is still often touted as a goal, and for most people, weight loss will occur at such a low caloric intake. A 1,200 calorie per day diet is considered a low-calorie diet and is generally not recommended for the long term.

How long does it take to start losing weight on a vegan diet? ›

Studies have shown that a vegan diet can reduce your weight by an average of 5.6 pounds in 18 weeks, or less or more than a third of a pound per week! In theory, you can lose up to 63 pounds in a year.

What is a realistic timeline to lose 30 pounds? ›

It's a fairly large weight loss goal and will require you to stick to a healthier lifestyle for a significant amount of time. Typically, you should aim to lose approximately one to two pounds each week. This means that in about four months or so, you'll be able to lose about 30 pounds.

Can I lose 30 lbs in 3 months? ›

Rapid weight loss may lead to weight regain through metabolic changes, muscle loss, hormonal changes, and possibly frustration with the restrictions associated with dieting. With that in mind, for many people, 3 months is a realistic timeframe for losing 30 pounds. That amounts to losing a little over 2 pounds a week.

How long does it take to lose 50 pounds eating 1200 calories a day? ›

Although you'd need 50 weeks, or close to a year, to reach your goal of 50 pounds, 1 pound per week is a reasonable rate of weight loss. Organizations such as the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute suggest that 1 to 2 pounds per week is a reasonable rate of weight loss.

Why am I not losing weight on 1200 calories a day? ›

You might be struggling to lose weight on 1200 calories because your metabolism is slow. Losing weight can be a difficult task, especially if your metabolism is running slow. It's possible that with only a 1200 calorie diet, it might not be enough to shed off those extra pounds due to metabolism costs.

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