One doesn’t need to look very carefully on the internet for a general 2500 calorie meal plan for building muscle pdf of meal plan templates filled with healthy meals, foods to eat and not to eat. A 2,500 caloric meal plan is required for anyone looking to gain muscle. No matter what kind of weight training you are doing, you want to make sure you are eating enough calories. A good way to make sure you are getting the right amount of calories is to create a meal plan….
A 2500 Calorie Meal Plan That Works
Is a 2500 Calorie Meal Plan Up to The Task?: All That You Need to Know
Looking for a specific 2500 calorie meal plan? Did you know that 34.2% of American adults (20years and above) are overweight? As if that’s not enough, 33.8% are obese, and 5.7% are extremely obese. Shocking? Not yet! As a result, 37% of Americans suffer from cardiovascular diseases, 34% have hypertension, and 36% have prehypertension– blood pressure that’s way beyond the expected level but still not at the hypertension range.
The good part is that such ailments are preventable through smart eating.
Eating smart has never been easier. However, most people grapple with thoughts on developing a plan that addresses their nutritional needs. Ever wondered how a 2500 calorie meal plan looks like? We do understand if you’re a virgin meal planner but don’t beat yourself about it.
Whatever your mind runs to, we won’t judge. Whether it’s a freakingly large bowl of ice cream, a healthy plate of fruits and veggies, or a pile of fast food, it won’t matter what you drop on your plate as long as you target your daily calorie intake; right?
Exactly! But there’s a twist to it that a lot of peeps out there seem to overlook.
Since many believe that calories are calories, a 2500 calorie meal plan should have the same effect on one’s body despite their food options or choices. Such a plan can vary drastically in terms of nutritional composition, quantity, and quality. Most people tend to overlook how many calories are broken down into proteins, fats, and carbs. This will ultimately impact your general physique, general health, and performance.
Visualizing the 2500 Calorie Meal Plan
To help evoke what such a meal plan looks like as actual food on your plate, we’ve come up with different diet plans centered on the three macros; proteins, Carbs, and fats.
We have the (1) 20/50/30
(2) 30/20/50, and
(3) 40/40/20.
The first option represents what the typical American diet looks like. What follows is typically a low-carb, high-fat diet. The last option is the bodybuilder’s diet, representing a low-fat, high protein diet accustomed to many.
Evidently, you’ll hit your daily calorific intake with all three options. However, the food on your plate will vastly differ in appearance.
But before we determine what foods to eat, our assumption is you already calculated your calorie requirement. As an example, you could use a macro calculator to help you portion out your macros. The maths behind it is pretty straightforward (If you passed your grade 5 maths, you’ve got this).
Once you’ve figured out your calorific intake, choose your macro ratio. For example, let’s take the 40/40/20 split that works for most people.
- 40% of the total (1000) calories will come from proteins
- Another 40% (1000) calories come from carbs, and finally,
- 20% (500)calories come from fats.
By knowing how many calories you’ll eat from each subgroup, divide them by the calories in each gram of each macro. Each gram of proteins and carbohydrates contains 4 calories each, while fats have 9.
Therefore,
A 40/40/20 split results in 1000 calories of proteins, equivalent to 250g, another 1000 calories of carbs(250g), and 500 calories protein(55g). Easy peasy, right?
Now, once this framework is in place, all you have to do is substitute it with real foods. Most of these foods have their nutritional information embedded at the back so, take note while shopping.
Before we look at what foods to eat, you may ask or wonder whether a daily 2500 calorie meal is on the higher side. The calorie guideline hasn’t changed. Depending on your gender, it advises that women should hit 2000 calories while men should keep it at 2500 a day( inclusive of drinks). By surpassing the limit by 200-300 calories, problems such as weight gain and other ailments are bound to arise.
How to Pump up Your Body With a 2500 Calorie Meal: What Foods to Eat.
The following breakdown can be used as an example in a typical day, using the 40/40/20 split in hitting your daily calorie intake.
Breakfast
- 1 cup oats
- 1 cup blueberries
- Maple syrup( 2 tablespoons)
- 1 cup eggwhite
- 2 whole eggs.
This results in 40g of proteins, 75g in carbs, and 15g in fats. The total calorific intake comes to 595.
Snack
For your pre-lunch snack, you could take,
- 1 medium apple and,
- 2 scoops of whey protein which results in,
- 50g of protein,
- 35g carbs and,
- 4g of fat totaling to,
376 calories
Lunch
Your lunch can consist of;
- A cup of long-grain brown rice,
- A cup of chopped and steamed broccoli,
- 6-ounce chicken breast
This results in 45g of both proteins and carbs and 6.5g of fats. (419 calories)
You may decide to snack up a bit before dinner time and indulge in a bag of sour cream and cheddar protein chips, 1 medium orange, and a scoop of whey protein resulting in,
46g protein, 64g in carbs, and 4g in fat. (476 calories)
Dinner
To cap it off, you could indulge in a
- 6-ounce steak,
- A pat of butter,
- 15 chopped asparagus spears,
- 1 medium sweet potato and,
- A cup of diced carrots with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
What are the end results?
60g of proteins, 46g of carbs, and 28g of fats. (676 calories)
The summation of all meals comes to 2,542 calories.
A Basic Meal Plan For a 2500 Calorie Meal
In this context, meal planning isn’t just about saving you a boatload of money (coupons aside) but ensuring that you hit your daily calorific requirements. For the beginner, it may sound like an uphill task, but hey, keep your focus.
You might have pushed your calorific intake a bit too far. Let’s face it. No one goes from chowing down McDonald’s 4 times a week to a veggie smoothie for breakfast. It’ll also be advisable to start at your current point and work with your personality instead of against it. Let’s face it. You may not be the type to drive past a chick-fill- a when hunger pangs strike.
So, what are the essential meal plan tips for maintaining your calories at the appropriate range?
The 15-Minute Meal Hack
This is for the extremely hectic weeks where you work late and out of your house. The temptation of eating fast food is rife. The 15-minute meal hack uses convenience foods and may not be the healthiest option, but it’s super fast and costs less than a drive-thru. Not only is it quicker and costs less, but you could also use paper plates to minimize dishes.
Examples include; Greek salad and broiler steaks, Chicken parmesan pasta, and pepperoni pizza bagels.
The key is making sure that your portion your meals in an appropriate way with respect to your macro goals.
The advantage to this is that there’s no meal prep, cooking skills, or defrosting involved.
CrockPot Meals
This is best for those who won’t be away from the house for more than 10 hours but still don’t want to spend time cooking. Crockpot simmers meals for up to 8 hours and keeps them warm for an additional 2 hours. We assume that you have a functional meal plan in place; therefore, portion your parts according to your daily calorific requirements. Let them slowly cook in time for your lunch or dinner.
Here is one of my favorite Slow Cooker recipes:
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Freezer Cooking
If you have an extra day off or some spare time on the weekend, you could batch cook your portions according to your daily calorie requirements and freeze them up for later use. It’s a much better option compared to buying preservative-filled and expensive convenience foods.
Freezer Dump Cooking
Once you portion out your meals in terms of calories, empty them in a bag and freeze them. Thaw them and dump them inside the crockpot once you are ready to eat them. This way, you get an easier avenue in attaining the calories you need in the quickest possible way.
Backward Meal Planning
Maybe you stocked up your fridge earlier. Go through your fridge and freezer, taking stock of what you have, and come up with a combination of appropriate meals to cater to your calorific needs.
Though it saves you a ton of money, it’s harder for a meal planning newbie to kick off. However, it pays to include it in your meal plan since it gives you huge savings.
Eating Out
Contrary to what most believe, eating out shouldn’t be a sin in itself. There are rare occasions where eating out seems more sensible than having home-cooked meals. The only downside to it is mindlessly eating outside (cost implications).
‘Further, restaurants and hotels are known to serve significant portions that may likely change the calorie composition. You may end up piling extra calories that may prove challenging to get rid of ( only consume what you need).
Why planning your plate ahead of time Can make all the Difference
Whether you’re trying to gain or shed off some extra weight, or just improve your nutrition, Planning in advance makes all the difference. There are many advantages associated with meal planning and below are just a few;
Portion Control
If your goal is to lose weight, planning in advance will limit the number of portions. You’ll less be likely to overeat hence adding more calories than what the body requires.
Having the correct meal prep containers is vital when it comes to portion control.
Saves Time
Advanced planning rids you of the negative experience of thinking when to shop, what to eat, and cleaning up after meals. It means no more last-minute shopping trips and overspending.
Food Waste Reduction
This is what really stands out when you put meal planning and calorific intake on one plate. Since you know what your body needs (grams), you could plan well in advance, portioning out meals accordingly to meet your goals.
Avoiding Unhealthy Options
Some look at calories as just calories no matter where it comes from, and though it is true, what transpires later when calories get broken down is what makes all the difference. Quality and nutrition are key that will ultimately determine your physique, performance, and general wellness.
Variety
Busy schedules are a recipe or catalyst for boring, bland, and repetitive meals. However, meal planning gets rid of this. Different portions can be accorded on other days according to your preference while hitting your daily calorific target.
So, why is it essential to track your calories?
Calorie tracking is a proven time-tested way of either losing or gaining weight. The following are reasons why tracking your calories work;
- Tracking calories is a vital way that monitors which feeding pattern works best in gaining or losing weight.
- Though not precise, calorie tracking provides an approximation from where to start from and when comparing against during your weight loss or weight gain journey.
- It comes with behavioral benefits since you can monitor your feeding behavior. You’ll be accountable for your daily choices in terms of what you eat. It will, in turn, motivate you in your progression towards your goals.
- Most of all, it’s free. You don’t need to subscribe to expensive weight loss plans nor monthly subscriptions. The only thing you require is an app to track what goes in.
- Tracking your calories provides a platform for visualizing your transformation. It’s all psychological. When you see the weight shedding off or piling on, you’ll continue making conscious decisions to further propel you to your goals.
2500 Calorie Meal Plan, As we cap it off,
You don’t need expensive gym subscriptions or celebrity fad diets to attain your goals. What matters is what goes in, and what better way to do this than tracking your calories? Next time you look into the mirror, you’ll be shockingly amazed at the wonders of what a 2500 calorie meal plan can do to your body.
Use the meal plan generator above to create your own customizable 2500 Calorie high-protein diet plan.
Below is a sample 2500 Calorie plan created using the generator, and in plain-text format (the planner above is interactive and looks much better 🙂
Example 2500 Calorie High-Protein Meal Plan
254.5g Carbs 48.8g Fat 259.7g Protein
| Meal Summary | Ingredients | Directions |
| Breakfast337.6 Calories | 46.3g Carbs | 9.0g Fat | 19.0g Protein 1 toast slice Morning Salmon Salad 178.5 Calories | 13.3g Carbs | 6.7g Fat | 15.5g Protein 1/2 cup (41 g) Natural granola with raisins 159.1 Calories | 33.0g Carbs | 2.3g Fat | 3.5g Protein | Morning Salmon Salad scaled to 1 toast slice 1 1/2 oz Atlantic salmon 1 slice Whole-wheat bread 1 tsp chopped Chives 1/2 dash Pepper 1 tbsp Cream cheese Natural granola with raisins 41 g Natural granola with raisins | Morning Salmon Salad Shred salmon with a fork (either pre-cooked or smoked). Mix the cream cheese and salmon. When cream cheese and salmon are mixed, add the chives and season with black pepper to taste. Spread on toast. |
| Lunch2248.4 Calories | 152.8g Carbs | 19.7g Fat | 122.4g Protein 3 shake Mango Protein Shake 1066.0 Calories | 133.0g Carbs | 18.3g Fat | 98.3g Protein 1 serving Yogurt & Strawberries 182.4 Calories | 19.8g Carbs | 1.3g Fat | 24.1g Protein | Mango Protein Shake scaled to 3 shake 1 1/2 cup, sliced Mangos 3 cup Reduced fat milk 3 tbsp Honey 90 grams Whey protein powder Yogurt & Strawberries scaled to 1 serving 8 oz Nonfat greek yogurt 1 cup, halves Strawberries | Mango Protein Shake Blend together. Ideally use vanilla or unflavored whey protein. Yogurt & Strawberries Mixed sliced strawberries with yogurt and enjoy! |
| Dinner882.7 Calories | 55.4g Carbs | 20.1g Fat | 118.3g Protein 2 serving Easy Grilled Chicken 415.8 Calories | 25.0g Carbs | 8.2g Fat | 57.8g Protein 1 serving Roasted Green Beans 122.3 Calories | 14.1g Carbs | 7.2g Fat | 3.7g Protein 2 serving Cottage Cheese with Radishes 344.5 Calories | 16.3g Carbs | 4.7g Fat | 56.8g Protein | Easy Grilled Chicken scaled to 2 serving 1 breast Chicken breast 1/2 cup Italian dressing 1 large Red bell pepper 1/2 large Zucchini Roasted Green Beans scaled to 1 serving 2 cup 1/2″ pieces Green beans 1/2 tbsp Olive oil 1/4 tsp Salt 1/8 tsp Pepper Cottage Cheese with Radishes scaled to 2 serving 2 cup, Cottage cheese 2 dash Salt 2 dash Pepper 1 cup slices Radishes | Easy Grilled Chicken Place washed chicken breasts in large sealable bag. Add fat-free Italian dressing and close. Let marinate for 5 to 10 minutes. Cut up peppers into big chunks, and zucchini into big slices. Grill chicken and veggies over medium heat. Roasted Green Beans Preheat oven to 400°F. Wash, dry well, and trim green beans. Put green beans on a small baking pan or dish and drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Use your hands to be sure all the beans are evenly coated and spread them out into 1 layer. Roast for 20-25 minutes, turning after 15 minutes, until beans are fairly brown in spots and somewhat shriveled. Serve hot or at room temperature. Cottage Cheese with Radishes Cut radishes into quarters. Combine with cottage cheese and a dash of salt and pepper. Serve. |
2500 Calorie Indian Diet To Gain Weight In Healthy Way
Gaining weight and body mass may look easier than losing weight or burning fat, however, this isn’t the case. When we talk about weight gain, the first thing that comes to mind is eating food. But not every food helps to gain weight. So, I am giving 2500 Calorie Indian Diet for a healthy Indian weight gain diet.
Calories are a quantity of energy in the human body, which is necessary for conducting physical activities. This amount of calories is obtained through the diet. Regular intake of a high-calorie diet can lead to overweight, which can lead to a variety of serious illnesses. The reason for overweight in individuals is not being able to burn calories. People who are struggling with the problem of overweight, and want to reduce their weight, those people can get rid of this problem by eating a low-calorie diet and adopting calorie burn. So, check out the 2500 calorie Indian diet below…
2500 Calorie Indian Diet Plan:
This 2500 calories Indian diet plan will help you in a healthy Indian diet for weight gain. So, see the sample diet plan below…
Early Morning (7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.):
- 1 Glass toned milk + 10 Almonds + 5 Walnuts
- 10 Almonds + 10 Walnuts + 10 Pecans
Breakfast (9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.):
- 4-6 slices of bread with Peanut Butter + 2 Bananas
- 2 Vegetable Egg sandwich + 1 Glass of fruit juice.
- 2 Chapati + Paneer Sabji
- 4 Bread toast + 4 eggs, scrambled + 2 Banana
Mid-morning (11 a.m. – 12 p.m.):
- A cup of boiled chana
- 1 Banana
- A glass of milk with 2 spoon whey protein
- 1 Apple
- 10-12 Almonds
Lunch (1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.):
- 1 Cup Rice + A small bowl Dal + 2 Slice of grilled chicken + 1 cup steamed vegetables
- 3 Roti + A bowl dal + 1 bowl chicken curry
- 2 Cup rice + A bowl green vegetable sabji + Paneer curry
- 2 Cup rice + A bowl Dal + 1 Piece of Fatty fish
After Lunch (3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.):
- Fruit of your choice
Evening Snack (5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.):
- Apple with peanut butter
- A cup of greek yogurt with berries.
- Coffee + 2 cookies
Dinner (8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.):
- 3 Roti + 1 cup sabji + 2 slices of chicken
- 1 Cup rice + 1 Cup mashed potato + 1 piece of fish
Bedtime Snack (10:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.):
- A glass of banana milkshake.
- A cup of mix nuts.
This is the 2500 Calorie Indian Diet that will help you to gain weight in a healthy way. So, follow this diet plan for a healthy weight gain. We can also change a few things in this diet plan and include food as your preference.
Foods To Include In 2500 Calorie Indian Diet:
Here are some foods that contain fat. Eat these foods for healthy weight gain. These foods are…
Dry Fruits:
Dry Fruits are a good source of calories, nutrients, and fiber. So add raisins, almonds, walnuts and cashew nuts to your diet. A cup of raisins contains about 449 calories, whereas one cup of almond contains 529 calories. You should include dry fruits to your 2500 calorie diet.
Cheese:
Like other dairy products, cheese also has all the essential nutrients. There is a lot of fat in it and if you want to increase the weight quickly, it is useful for you. It contains proteins, calcium, and cholesterol along with calories. So add something to make it more delicious. There are approximately 69 calories in a serving of cheese. You can also add this to your 3000 calorie Indian diet plan for weight gain.
Peanut Butter:
Peanut Butter is a rich source of protein and fat and is suitable for those who want to increase the weight. A spoonful peanut butter contains about 100 calories. There is a large number of essential nutrients in it. Fat which is fat in peanut butter is of an unsaturated type which is good for your heart. This is one of the high calorie Indian foods to gain weight.
Whole Milk:
Fatty milk can be used with oatmeal, serials, or it can also be sipped by adding chocolate. It is rich in calories and contains vitamin D and A. Use fat milk instead of fat-free milk so that you can increase the weight quickly. A glass of fat milk contains about 120 – 150 calories.
Potato:
Potatoes are a normal vegetable and when people have to reduce weight than people generally do not like to eat it. But why should you stay away from it? It is a rich source of complex carbohydrates and is helpful in increasing weight. It has nutrient value and it is rich in starch, fiber and vitamin C. Eat potatoes with peels as it is rich in protein with peel or mix it in other vegetables. A medium-sized potato contains about 150 calories.
Pasta:
Pasta is a delicious and calorie diet. It is also a good source of carbohydrates. Mix it in vegetables and it becomes a good source of essential nutrients. There are approximately 390 calories in one cup macaroni, while one cup cooked spaghetti contains about 220 calories.
Butter:
Butter is a type of saturated fats and its small amount can be used to make food. It can be enjoyed with bread or fried substances or it can be added to enhance tastes in tasty foods. This is one of the Indian food to gain weight.
Fatty Fruits:
Source
Fruits like mango, papaya, bananas, and pineapple are helpful in increasing weight. They contain natural sugar which is a good source of energy. An avocado is a good option for those people who want to increase the weight. So add these sweet and healthy fruits to your diet like salads, desserts or smoothies.
Egg:
Source
Eggs are rich in calories and contain plenty of protein and nutrients. An egg contains approximately 70 calories and is 5 grams fat. So it’s like those people who want to make the body tight.
It is also rich in omega 3 fatty acids, and in egg yolk, there is a lot of cholesterol which is not unhealthy. So enjoy fried, boiled eggs and increase the weight quickly. This is one of the food that you should include in your Indian diet plan for weight gain.
Red Meat Without Fat:
Source
Red meat without fat is rich in calories and it increases the weight quickly. For a healthy body, it can be eaten as a healthy diet. It is also a good source of protein which is useful in making muscle muscles. Eat it in a baked form or fry it and quickly increase the weight. So, this is one of the foods that you can include to your weight gain Indian diet.