A 1,200-calorie-per-day plan should help most people lose weight. In order to prevent extreme hunger that may result from skipping meals, divide the calories up over a minimum of three meals, says Joanne Larsen, R.D., on Ask the Dietitian.
Significance
Knowing how many calories to eat at each meal when dieting helps you make appropriate food choices and not go over your 1,200-calorie-per-day goal.
Considerations
Eat a minimum of three, 400-calorie meals per day. If you find mid-morning or mid-afternoon hunger strikes, try eating three 350-calorie meals and one 150-calorie snack daily. You might even prefer eating three 300-calorie meals and two 150-calories snacks daily. The strategy your choose really depends on personal preferences.
Caution
A 1,200-calorie diet is barely enough to provide adequate nutrition, notes Larsen. In fact, MedlinePlus recommends that men never dip below 1,500 calories per day when dieting unless under medical supervision.
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