{"id":29358,"date":"2025-07-28T19:11:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T19:11:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/29358\/"},"modified":"2025-07-28T19:11:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T19:11:08","slug":"7-day-mediterranean-diet-meal-plan-for-more-energy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/29358\/","title":{"rendered":"7-Day Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan for More Energy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Meal Plan at a Glance<\/p>\n<p>BREAKFAST\/ A.M. SNACK<br \/>\nLUNCH\/ P.M. SNACK<br \/>\nDINNER<\/p>\n<p>Egg bites &amp; smoothie\/ Yogurt &amp; fruit<br \/>\nTuna salad\/ Energy balls<br \/>\nStew &amp; salad<\/p>\n<p>English muffin &amp; yogurt\/ Pistachios<br \/>\nChicken soup\/ Energy balls<br \/>\nSalmon tacos<\/p>\n<p>Egg bites &amp; smoothie\/ Apple &amp; nut butter<br \/>\nChicken soup\/ Pear<br \/>\nSteak salad<\/p>\n<p>English muffin &amp; yogurt\/ Apple<br \/>\nChicken soup\/ Energy balls<br \/>\nChicken couscous bowl<\/p>\n<p>Egg bites &amp; smoothie\/ Yogurt &amp; fruit<br \/>\nChickpea salad\/ Energy balls<br \/>\nCauliflower salad<\/p>\n<p>English muffin &amp; yogurt\/ Egg &amp; fruit<br \/>\nChickpea salad\/ Energy balls<br \/>\nShrimp kebabs<\/p>\n<p>Egg bites &amp; smoothie\/ Pear<br \/>\nTuna salad\/ Apple &amp; nut butter<br \/>\nChicken &amp; broccolini &amp; beans<\/p>\n<p>  Day 1  <\/p>\n<p> Photography \/ Jennifer Causey, Styling \/ Ali Ramee \/ Audrey Davis<\/p>\n<p>  Breakfast (322 calories)  <\/p>\n<p>  Morning Snack (135 calories)<br \/>\n 1 (5-oz.) container low-fat plain strained (Greek-style) yogurt\u00bd cup raspberries\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>  Lunch (351 calories)  <\/p>\n<p>  Afternoon Snack (190 calories)  <\/p>\n<p>  Dinner (490 calories)  <\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_23-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Daily Totals: 1,488 calories, 71g fat, 74g protein, 150g carbohydrate, 30g fiber, 1,620mg sodium\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_25-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> To make it 2,000 calories: Add 3 Tbsp. chopped walnuts to A.M. snack, 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter to lunch and half an avocado, sliced, to the salad at dinner.\n<\/p>\n<p>  Day 2  <\/p>\n<p> Sara Haas<\/p>\n<p>  Breakfast (365 calories)\u00a0  <\/p>\n<p>  Morning Snack (176 calories)<br \/>\n \u00bc cup shelled unsalted dry-roasted pistachios<\/p>\n<p>  Lunch (363 calories)  <\/p>\n<p>  Afternoon Snack (125 calories)  <\/p>\n<p>  Dinner (460 calories)  <\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_44-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Daily Totals: 1,489 calories, 61g fat, 95g protein, 158g carbohydrate, 31g fiber, 1,471mg sodium\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_46-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> To make it 2,000 calories: Add 2 Tbsp. chopped walnuts to breakfast, 1 medium apple to A.M. snack, 1 medium bell pepper with \u00bc cup hummus to lunch and 1 serving <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/recipe\/252829\/pineapple-avocado-salad\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Pineapple &amp; Avocado Salad<\/a> to dinner.\n<\/p>\n<p>  Day 3  <\/p>\n<p>  Breakfast (322 calories)  <\/p>\n<p>  Morning Snack (305 calories)<br \/>\n 1 medium apple2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter<\/p>\n<p>  Lunch (359 calories)  <\/p>\n<p>  Afternoon Snack (131 calories)  <\/p>\n<p>  Dinner (405 calories)  <\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_65-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Daily Totals: 1,522 calories, 70g fat, 83g protein, 144g carbohydrate, 29g fiber, 1,852mg sodium\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_67-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> To make it 2,000 calories: Increase to 2\u00bd Tbsp. natural peanut butter at A.M. snack, add \u00bc cup unsalted dry-roasted almonds to P.M. snack and add 1 serving <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/recipe\/7964794\/blueberry-lemon-energy-balls\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Blueberry-Lemon Energy Balls<\/a> as an evening snack.\n<\/p>\n<p>  Day 4  <\/p>\n<p> Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee<\/p>\n<p>  Breakfast (365 calories)\u00a0  <\/p>\n<p>  Morning Snack (95 calories)  <\/p>\n<p>  Lunch (363 calories)  <\/p>\n<p>  Afternoon Snack (190 calories)  <\/p>\n<p>  Dinner (473 calories)  <\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_86-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Daily Totals: 1,486 calories, 49g fat, 90g protein, 186g carbohydrate, 30g fiber, 1,667mg sodium\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_88-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> To make it 2,000 calories: Add 2 Tbsp. chopped walnuts to breakfast, 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter to A.M. snack and 1 serving <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/recipe\/262713\/traditional-greek-salad\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Traditional Greek Salad<\/a> to dinner.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<p>  Day 5  <\/p>\n<p> Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Styling: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster<\/p>\n<p>  Breakfast (322 calories)  <\/p>\n<p>  Morning Snack (135 calories)<br \/>\n 1 (5-oz.) container low-fat plain strained (Greek-style) yogurt\u00bd cup raspberries\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>  Lunch (401 calories)  <\/p>\n<p>  Afternoon Snack (125 calories)  <\/p>\n<p>  Dinner (502 calories)  <\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_107-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Daily Totals: 1,486 calories, 80g fat, 65g protein, 135g carbohydrate, 31g fiber, 1,680mg sodium\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_109-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> To make it 2,000 calories: Add 2 Tbsp. chopped walnuts to A.M. snack, 1 medium peach to lunch and 1 medium banana with 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter as an evening snack.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<p>  Day 6  <\/p>\n<p>  Breakfast (365 calories)\u00a0  <\/p>\n<p>  Morning Snack (120 calories)<br \/>\n 1 large hard-boiled egg\u00bd cup blueberries<\/p>\n<p>  Lunch (401 calories)  <\/p>\n<p>  Afternoon Snack (190 calories)  <\/p>\n<p>  Dinner (442 calories)  <\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_128-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Daily Totals: 1,518 calories, 75g fat, 75g protein, 143g carbohydrate, 28g fiber, 1,179mg sodium\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_130-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> To make it 2,000 calories: Add \u00bc cup chopped walnuts at breakfast, 1 medium peach to lunch and 1 serving <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/recipe\/7964304\/mango-avocado-salad\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mango &amp; Avocado Salad<\/a> to dinner.\n<\/p>\n<p>  Day 7  <\/p>\n<p>  Breakfast (322 calories)  <\/p>\n<p>  Morning Snack (131 calories)  <\/p>\n<p>  Lunch (345 calories)  <\/p>\n<p>1 serving <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/recipe\/7935164\/tuna-salad-with-egg\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tuna Salad with Egg<\/a> over 1 cup mixed greens<br \/>\n1 medium bell pepper, sliced<br \/>\n2 Tbsp. hummus<\/p>\n<p>  Afternoon Snack (200 calories)<br \/>\n 1 medium apple1 Tbsp. natural peanut butter<\/p>\n<p>  Dinner (520 calories)  <\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_149-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Daily Totals: 1,519 calories, 67g fat, 99g protein, 135g carbohydrate, 29g fiber, 1,953mg sodium\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_151-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> To make it 2,000 calories: Add \u00bc cup unsalted dry-roasted almonds to A.M. snack, increase to 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter to P.M. snack and add 1 serving <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/recipe\/7964794\/blueberry-lemon-energy-balls\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Blueberry-Lemon Energy Balls<\/a> as an evening snack\n<\/p>\n<p>Frequently Asked Questions<\/p>\n<p>Is it OK to mix and match meals if there&#8217;s one I don&#8217;t like?\n<\/p>\n<p>Yes! This meal plan is meant to serve as inspiration. It doesn\u2019t 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\u2019re 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/recipes\/18314\/cuisines-regions\/mediterranean\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Healthy Mediterranean Recipes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Can I eat the same breakfast or lunch every day?\n<\/p>\n<p>Definitely, it\u2019s fine to eat the same breakfast or lunch every day. The breakfasts range from 322 to 365 calories while the lunches span 345 to 401 calories. These ranges are fairly close, though if you\u2019re closely monitoring your calories or other nutrients, like protein, you may want to adjust a snack or two.<\/p>\n<p>Why is there not a modification for 1,200 calories?\n<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s unsustainable for long-term health and well-being.<\/p>\n<p>  Tips for Using the Mediterranean Diet to Improve Energy Levels  <\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_157-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Rich in nutrients, the Mediterranean diet is a healthy way of eating that includes plenty of fresh produce, whole grains, legumes, healthy fats and a wide variety of lean proteins. Long regarded as one of the healthiest diets for its numerous health benefits, the Mediterranean diet is more of a lifestyle than a strict diet. Of course, it emphasizes plenty of <a class=\"recommendation-inline-link-ai\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/vegetables-to-eat-each-week-11746040\" link-destination-recommendation-ai=\"true\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">nutrient-rich produce<\/a>, but it also promotes cooking more meals at home, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/article\/8025502\/cooking-and-eating-together-impact-your-health\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"2\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">sharing meals with others<\/a>, increasing mindfulness and slowing down to sit and enjoy meals rather than eating on the go.\u00a0Because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/article\/7676567\/7-signs-you-might-not-be-eating-enough-calories\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"3\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">eating too little<\/a> can zap energy levels, be sure to listen to your body and make sure that you\u2019re eating enough. You can keep your energy levels high by doing the following:\n<\/p>\n<p> Staying hydratedEat regular meals and snacksGet enough sleepEat balanced meals with carbs, healthy fats and proteinExercise daily<\/p>\n<p> How We Create Meal Plans<\/p>\n<p>Registered dietitians thoughtfully create EatingWell\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>Dig Deeper<br \/>\n<a id=\"mntl-card-list-items_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-card-list-items mntl-document-card mntl-card card card--no-image\" data-doc-id=\"8419258\" data-tax-levels=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/best-carbs-for-more-energy-8419258\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>7 Best Carbs You Should Eat for More Energy, Recommended by a Dietitian<\/p>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n<a id=\"mntl-card-list-items_2-0\" class=\"comp mntl-card-list-items mntl-document-card mntl-card card card--no-image\" data-doc-id=\"7562769\" data-tax-levels=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/article\/8050356\/brain-benefits-mediterranean-diet\/\" data-ordinal=\"2\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>3 Amazing Things That Happen to Your Brain When You Follow the Mediterranean Diet<\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Meal Plan at a Glance BREAKFAST\/ A.M. SNACK LUNCH\/ P.M. SNACK DINNER Egg bites &amp; smoothie\/ Yogurt &amp;&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":29359,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[102,6636,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-29358","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-nutrition","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29358","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29358"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29358\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29359"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29358"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29358"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}