Your Stay-Full Diet Plan; Get tips for cutting calories that won't leave you feeling hungry

By Karen Ansel, R.D.

Last time you tried to lose weight, did you become so ravenous that you blew it with a big binge? Sure, you have to eat less to slim down, but drastic changes shouldn't happen overnight. We're here to make the trimming process painless. The plan: Give yourself 2 to 3 weeks to gradually reduce portion sizes. Start by comparing the amount you'd normally eat with the recommendations in our portion guide. Then, downsize proteins, starches and/or fats by about one third each week until you reach the ideal serving size. To fill in the gaps, round out your plate with lots of volume-rich foods (big in mass but low in calories) like fruits and veggies.

Sample 5-Day Stay-Full Meal Plan

This plan provides about 1,550 calories a day. (If you need more or fewer calories, simply add or subtract a snack; each one is about 150 calories.) To help you lose weight while staying full, we're emphasizing water-packed soups, salads, fruits and veggies. The menus also include lean protein and fiber-filled whole-grains; these foods are digested super-slowly, so they'll ward off between-meal hunger pangs that weaken your willpower. Feel free to mix and match breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks as you like.

Day 1

Breakfast

• Bacon, egg & tomato sandwich: Top 2 slices lightly toasted whole-grain bread with 1 scrambled egg, 1 slice turkey bacon and 2 slices tomato.
• 4 oz calcium- and vitamin D-fortified orange juice

Lunch

• Greek shrimp salad: Whisk together 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar, ⅛ tsp dried oregano, and salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle over 1 cup romaine lettuce, 2 Tbsp feta cheese crumbles, ½ cup sliced grape tomatoes, 5 sliced Kalamata olives, ½ sliced red bell pepper, ¼ sliced cucumber, 2 slices red onion and 10 precooked shrimp; toss.
• 10 whole-wheat pita chips

Dinner

• Risotto with saffron & scallops: Cook ¼ cup Arborio rice in 8 oz chicken stock according to package directions. Stir in 1 pinch saffron. Sauté 1 clove crushed garlic in 2 tsp olive oil over medium heat for 30 seconds. Add 4 oz bay scallops and sauté until opaque (about 3 to 5 minutes). Fold into risotto.
• 2 cups baby spinach sautéed in 1 tsp olive oil

Snacks

• 8 oz minestrone with 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan
• 4 oz all-natural rice pudding topped with 1 Tbsp dried tart cherries

Day 2

Breakfast

• 5.3 oz 2% Greek yogurt with honey, 1 sliced banana, 1 Tbsp chopped walnuts

Lunch

• 2 oz smoked turkey slices, ½ sliced apple, 1 slice Cheddar and 1 Tbsp honey mustard on 2 slices whole-wheat bread
• ½ cup cucumber salad (sliced cucumbers drizzled with white vinegar and seasoned with salt and pepper)

Dinner

• Chinese food takeout: 8 oz ginger chicken with broccoli, 5 oz garlic sugar snap peas, ½ cup brown rice

Snacks

• ½ cup soft-serve chocolate ice cream
• 1 cup cantaloupe chunks and 1 cup pineapple chunks, topped with ¼ tsp chopped mint

Day 3

Breakfast

• Strawberry French toast: Dip 1 slice whole-wheat bread into 1 large beaten egg. Fry in 1 tsp butter over medium heat until golden, 2 to 3 minutes, turning halfway. Top with 1 cup sliced strawberries tossed with 1 tsp sugar.
• 8 oz nonfat or 1% milk

Lunch

• Southwestern veggie burger: Prepare 1 black-bean veggie burger according to package directions. Serve on whole-wheat hamburger bun with ¼ sliced avocado, tomato and onion slices, and 1 Tbsp barbecue sauce.
• 10 blue-corn tortilla chips

Dinner

• Cranberry-chicken couscous: Combine ¼ cup dried cranberries, ¼ tsp curry powder and ½ cup chicken broth. Bring to a simmer. Add ¼ cup whole-wheat couscous. Cover, remove from heat and steam for 10 minutes. Add 4 oz cubed grilled chicken breast and 1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley; toss.
• 1 cup string beans with 1 tsp olive oil

Snacks

• 16 oz light mango smoothie (Try Jamba Juice Jamba Light Mango Mantra, or make your own smoothie by blending ½ cup frozen mango chunks with ½ cup calcium- and vitamin D-enriched orange juice and ½ cup nonfat vanilla yogurt.)
• 1 oz cinnamon-brown sugar roasted almonds

Day 4

Breakfast

• 1 cup whole-oat cereal (such as Cheerios), 1 cup blueberries, 2 Tbsp almonds, 8 oz nonfat or 1% milk

Lunch

• Small 3-bean chili and ½ roast beef sandwich with wasabi (spread 1 Tbsp wasabi mayonnaise on ½ kaiser roll and top with 2 oz lean roast beef, ½ tsp pickled ginger and romaine lettuce)

Dinner

• 4 oz meat loaf
  1 small baked potato with 1 Tbsp sour cream
  1 cup sliced carrots roasted in 2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil

Snacks

• 1 mini Babybel cheese and 1 apple
• 10 pretzel twists dipped in 2 tsp Nutella hazelnut spread

Day 5

Breakfast

• ½ cup cooked oatmeal with 1 tsp brown sugar and 1 Tbsp each dried cherries, dried cranberries and dried blueberries (or try Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal)
• 12 oz nonfat cappuccino

Lunch

• Peanut butter and banana pizza: Spread 1 whole wheat pita with 1 Tbsp peanut butter. Top with ½ sliced banana. Drizzle with 1 tsp honey and broil for 2 minutes.
• 8 oz nonfat or 1% milk

Dinner

• Mexican rice bowl: Toss ½ cup cooked brown rice with ½ cup each drained canned black beans and microwaved frozen corn. Top with ½ cup diced tomato, ¼ cup chopped onions, 2 Tbsp shredded Cheddar and ¼ cup chunky salsa.

Snacks

• Two 2¼-in. homemade chocolate chip cookies; 8 oz coffee with 1% milk
• 1 pear, quartered, sprayed with nonstick cooking spray and roasted at 400°F for 15 minutes, topped with ½ cup vanilla frozen yogurt

11 Satisfying Foods (Keep this list with you!)

1. Vegetable- and-bean-based soups and chilis
2. Fresh fruits and vegetables
3. Baked potatoes
4. Main-dish salads with vinaigrette
5. Lean broiled or baked meat, fish and skinless white-meat chicken
6. Brown rice, whole-wheat couscous risotto, pasta and polenta au naturel or with a light vegetable or tomato sauce
7. Whole-grain cereals
8. Small servings of olive oil, canola oil and butter
9. Small portions of natural tortilla and regular potato chips (Fat-free ones aren't satisfying)
10. Mini-servings of cookies, ice cream and brownies
11. Coffee, tea, nonfat cappuccinos and lattes

For a few more get-real tips when it comes to dieting, check out The Get Real Diet Plan.