Summer Shape Up

Summer Shape Up Meal Plan

The two most common pit falls that contribute to people not succeeding at managing their weight are:

  • Not eating enough calories
  • Eating so-called diet foods
Why this diet program can help you manage your weight:
  • It outlines the recommended food amounts for your suggested calorie range
  • You eat real food on this meal plan (no “diet foods”), which helps promote satiety
  • It provides the right combination of complex carbs, lean protein, and essential fats shown to promote moderate weight loss when combined with appropriate exercise
Calorie Goals

1. Match your body weight to the corresponding column to get your daily calorie goal and corresponding food portion amounts.

2. Distribute the recommended food amounts throughout the day between three meals and two snacks. This will help keep your metabolism revved up, even out blood sugar spikes and prevent overeating.

3. As you lose weight and drop pounds, you will need to recalculate your calorie and corresponding food portion amounts.
Other important tips:
  • Success with the program does not always mean following it to a T. Keep in mind that this is a lifestyle, not a diet. Use this meal plan as a guide to help relearn healthy habits and instill lifelong changes.
  • Hunger often varies from day to day. Remember the above recommend food portions are a guide. Listen to your body. Eat when you are hungry; stop when you are full.
  • If you are eating a mostly clean diet, it’s okay to indulge a little. Feel free to include a treat 2 times a week in place of a carb/starch (yellow) food portion.
  • Aim to drink half your weight, in ounces of water every day. You may need more or less than this. Pay attention to how your body feels when it is properly hydrated and use that as a guide.

Putting the Plan in Action

Use the links below to see a detailed plan for your daily intake as suggested by the chart above. You will see a complete breakdown of each day and a grocery list of foods that will help you succeed.

HAVE A NUTRITION QUESTION?

Ask the Dietician


Heather Harpster, MS, RD, LDN, CDE

Registered Dietitian, Diabetes Educator
Mount Nittany Medical Center