1500 Calorie a Day Diet

Just because you are on a 1,500-calorie-a-day diet, this does not mean that you have to forego all of your favorite foods. In fact, there are many things that you can eat. One of the easiest ways to follow a 1,500-calorie-a-day diet is to plan out each meal and a snack every day.

Breakfast

Allot yourself about 350 calories for breakfast. You may be surprised at what kinds of breakfasts you can eat that are 350 calories or less. For example, you can eat two whole-grain waffles with 1/4 cup of strawberries and walnut compote. You also could eat a Florentine egg scramble and place it on an English muffin. This meal would include two eggs, one whole-grain English muffin and even 1 cup of cantaloupe. You also may eat a sliced pear and two slices of whole-grain bread with a tablespoon of almond butter for another option.

Lunch

Allow yourself about 400 calories for lunch. A tasty 400-calorie lunch could include a barbecued black-bean burger with coleslaw or a turkey, pear and Swiss sandwich. This sandwich will include 1 tsp. mustard, two slices of whole-grain bread, five turkey slices, one medium pear and a slice of low-fat Swiss cheese. You can actually put the pear slices on the sandwich.
Even though McDonald's would not seem to be the best place to eat if you are on a 1,500-calorie diet, you can find a good lunch for less than 400 calories there. For example, you can order a hamburger with a side salad, a low-fat balsamic vinaigrette dressing, apple dippers and a low-fat caramel dip.

Dinner

Dinner can include up to 450 calories, or a little more if you ate fewer calories for breakfast and lunch. Applebee's features an item on its menu that could be eaten for dinner. The Southwest Cobb Salad includes grilled chipotle chicken, diced tomatoes, corn, black beans, shredded cheese and broccoli served with cilantro ranch dressing. This meal is less than 450 calories.

If you're looking for something even spicier, make spicy peanut chicken wraps. These wraps include 2/3 cup of chicken strips, 1/4 cup of scallions, 1 tbsp. hot sauce, two whole-wheat tortillas, 2 tbsp. peanuts and a mixed cup of shredded broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and cabbage.

Snack

Your snacks can be eaten any time in the day. You can allot yourself 150 calories for a snack. There are many companies now that make snack bags in 100-calorie servings. For example, you could get a bag of Oreos or chocolate chip cookies that include only 100 calories. Likewise, you can find 100-calorie mini-bags of popcorn. You can also include a drink that is less than 50 calories.