1,800 Calorie Clean Eating Meal Plan

Woah. You guys! We released our 1,500 calorie meal plan last month and you absolutely loved it. It was so great to hear from all of you about how you incorporated it into your lives. Now it's time to introduce you to our newest meal plan, the 1,800 calorie meal plan.

As we mentioned before, many people have this idea of a magical number of calories being 1,200 but that is far too few calories, especially for those who are active. Individual calorie needs will vary but let's all start fueling our bodies with enough calories! Try this meal plan to meet your goals and have great tasting food at the same time. ;)

You may also find the following posts helps as you prepare your meals for the week:

• Our Top 5 Clean Eating Pantry Staples
• Essential Meal Prep Tools

>>>> Not sure how to get started? Join our FREE 13 to Clean Challenge. It's a 13-day plan that will set you up for a lifetime of success!

>>>> Looking for a printable version of this meal plan? Click here to print!
*You will be asked for your email address and then directed to the printable meal plan.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Check our disclosure policy for more details.

1,800 Calorie Clean Eating Meal Plan

Breakfast:

• Scott drinks this protein shake for breakfast every single morning. I would say it's his obsession and has been for the last 2-3 years! This shake will keep you full because of the healthy fats, carbs, and protein. It's delicious!
• Blueberry Avocado Protein Smoothie
  • Calories: 304
  • Fat: 14 g
  • Carbs: 27.9 g
  • Protein 17.9 g

AM Snack:

• We also included these in our 1,500 calorie meal plan but just had to keep them in for this one too. They are so good, especially if you crave chocolate during the day! The recipe makes 4 servings (of 4 bars per serving) so after you make them, divide them up into little baggies and there's your snack for the week! You'll also be eating a serving of almonds to round out this snack.
• 4 Chocolate Protein Bars
  • Calories: 264
  • Fat: 2.8 g
  • Carbs: 36.8 g
  • Protein 22.8 g

Almonds (1 ounce/23 almonds)

• Calories: 162
• Fat: 14 g
• Carbs: 6.1 g
• Protein 6 g

Lunch:

• This simple and delicious avocado turkey burger is perfect to make in advance and tastes amazing, especially on an Ezekiel English Muffin! Just like breakfast, this contains the perfect mix of healthy fats, carbs, and protein. 
• Avocado Turkey Burger on an Ezekiel English Muffin
• Avocado Turkey Burger
  • Calories: 220
  • Fat: 13.3 g
  • Carbs: 3.7 g
  • Protein 22.8 g
• Ezekiel English Muffin (look for these in the freezer section of your grocery store)
  • Calories: 160
  • Fat: 1 g
  • Carbs: 30 g
  • Protein 8 g

PM Snack:

• Our 4 Ingredient Protein Pudding and Simple Baked Grapefruit are two popular recipes on our site. They are both simple but taste amazing! Even if you don't typically like grapefruit, try this recipe! Once again, you will also have a serving of almonds with your snack.
• 4 Ingredient Protein Pudding
  • Calories: 110
  • Fat: 1.1 g
  • Carbs: 6.6 g
  • Protein 18.70 g
• Simple Baked Grapefruit
  • Calories: 80
  • Fat: .3 g
  • Carbs: 20.5 g
  • Protein 1.5 g

Almonds (1 ounce/23 almonds)

• Calories: 162
• Fat: 14 g
• Carbs: 6.1 g
• Protein 6 g

Dinner:

• We make this grilled orange chicken almost weekly. If you are sick of plain, boring, and dried out baked chicken, give this recipe a try! When you pair it with sweet potato cubes you have the perfect filling dinner.
• Grilled Orange Chicken
  • Calories: 166
  • Fat: 4.7 g
  • Carbs: 3.6 g
  • Protein 25.7 g
• Sweet-Sweet Potato Cubes
  • Calories: 118
  • Fat: 4.6 g
  • Carbs: 18.5 g
  • Protein 1.4 g

Everything listed above brings your daily totals to:

• Calories: 1,746
• Fat: 70 g
• Carbs: 160 g
• Protein: 131 g

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Notes:

• Don't forget to include veggies in your day! I consider veggies "free foods" as long as you are eating them raw or close to raw (without adding a ton of olive oil, butter, etc). We love to cut up celery, carrots, and broccoli for the week.
• You can move around these meals if you want.
• Don't be scared to eat protein, carbs, and fats. Your body needs all nutrients.
• You'll notice that the calories are a little less than 1,800. Your exact calories will vary based on the brand of ingredients you use. I have calculated the macros based on the brands that we typically use.
• If you feel like you need a snack before bed, have eggs or another protein shake. It's better that you satisfy your craving with something healthy than devouring an entire pint of ice cream! Look for a cleaner protein powder. Look at the label...it should have few ingredients, low calories, low carbs, and low sugar. Adding a plain protein shake may add 120-150 calories to your day - this is not a deal breaker!

We will definitely be sharing more meal plans soon! Make sure you are subscribed to our email list so you don't miss when they are released!

1,500 Calorie Clean Eating Meal Plan

We hear from so many of you that are looking for meal plans. Finally, we decided to make a few that should fit many calorie needs. I know a lot of people (mainly women), think that the magic calorie number is 1,200 but that is FAR from the truth. I would say 1,500-1,800 is the minimum for most people. I'm starting with a 1,500 calorie meal plan to help encourage you to forget the idea of living on 1,200 calories.

These meals are reader favorites for a reason... they are delicious! All of the meals can be made ahead of time which is a huge time saver during the week. P.S. We share a lot of our food prep on Instagram (heandsheeatclean), Pinterest, and Facebook. So follow along!

You may also find the following posts helps as you prepare your meals for the week!

• Our Top 5 Clean Eating Pantry Staples
• Essential Meal Prep Tools

>>>> Not sure how to get started? Join our FREE 13 to Clean Challenge. It's a 13-day plan that will set you up for a lifetime of success!

>>>> Looking for a printable version of this meal plan? Click here to print!
*You will be asked for your email address and then directed to the printable meal plan.

1,500 Calorie Clean Eating Meal Plan

Breakfast:

• This recipe for Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats was one of our very first recipes on the website and still continues to hold down a top spot! It's SO. GOOD. You can make a big batch in advance and then portion them out for the week. If you are not used to eating steel cut oats, this may seem like a lot of food but you need to fuel your body. The best way to get the correct serving size is by weighing your entire batch of oats after they cook and dividing by how many servings you made. Pair these oats with a few eggs and you have a complete breakfast.
• 1 serving Crock Pot Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats
  • Calories: 193
  • Fat: 3.7 g
  • Carbs: 34.3 g
  • Protein 7.4 g
• 2 whole eggs (make them in the Instant Pot, oven, scramble them, or make an omelet) 
  • Calories: 140
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Carbs: 0 g
  • Protein 12 g

AM Snack:

• These bars are everything! If you are the kind of person who needs a little chocolate during the day or you will go crazy, you must try these. The recipe makes 4 servings (of 4 bars per serving) so after you make them, divide them up into little baggies and there's your snack for the week!
• 4 Chocolate Protein Bars
  • Calories: 264
  • Fat: 2.8 g
  • Carbs: 36.8 g
  • Protein 22.8 g

Lunch:

• This one is a staple in our house almost every week, especially during the cooler weather. We've been making ours in the Instant Pot lately but it can also be made in the Crock Pot or stovetop.
• 1 serving Bison Chili
  • Calories: 340
  • Fat: 15 g
  • Carbs: 22.6 g
  • Protein: 30.3 g

PM Snack:

• We love to mix frozen berries with Greek yogurt. One option is to go ahead and mix them together when you are getting your meals prepped for the day and by the time you are ready to eat the frozen berries should be melted. Another option is to thaw the fruit and then add to the Greek Yogurt. You could also use fresh fruit but we just love the juices from the frozen fruit.
• 2% Greek Yogurt (170 g)
  • Calories: 150
  • Fat: 4 g
  • Carbs: 8 g
  • Protein: 20 g
• Organic Frozen Blueberries (1 cup)
  • Calories: 60
  • Fat: 0 g
  • Carbs: 18 g
  • Protein: 0 g

Dinner:

• This casserole is another one of our top recipes! If you want to save some time on this one, make your chicken in advance (learn how to boil it here) and buy already cubed butternut squash.
• 1 serving Savory Chicken Casserole
  • Calories: 318
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Carbs: 13.1 g
  • Protein 28.8 g

Everything listed above brings your daily totals to:

• Calories: 1,465
• Fat: 46 g
• Carbs: 133 g
• Protein: 121 g

Notes:

• Don't forget to include veggies in your day! I consider veggies "free foods" as long as you are eating them raw or close to raw (without adding a ton of olive oil, butter, etc). We love to cut up celery, carrots, and broccoli for the week.
• You can move around these meals if you want. Sometimes I just want eggs and oats for dinner so that's what I have!
• Don't be scared to eat protein, carbs, and fats. Your body needs all nutrients.
• You'll notice that the calories are a little less than 1,500. Your exact calories will vary based on the brand of ingredients you use. I have calculated the macros based on the brands that we typically use.
• If you feel like you need a snack before bed, try our Four Ingredient Protein Pudding or a protein shake. It's better that you satisfy your craving with something healthy than devouring an entire pint of ice cream! Look for a cleaner protein powder. Look at the label...it should have few ingredients, low calories, low carbs, and low sugar. Adding a plain protein shake may add 120-150 calories to your day - this is not a deal breaker!

We will definitely be sharing more meal plans soon! Make sure you are subscribed to our email list so you don't miss when they are released!

20 Non-Toy Gift Ideas

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. Read more about our disclaimer here.

We hear it all the time. Parents are tired of all of the toys laying around. They are tired of buying toys that only get played with a few times. They are tired of every special occasion being about toys. There IS another way. Gifts don't have to be toys. There are plenty of good non-toy gift ideas out there that won't put a hole in your wallet just to take up space in a corner collecting dust.

You probably already know by now but we value experiences over things and know that this way of thinking can be instilled early on in a child's life. We've shared 10 Things to Get Rid of for a Clutter-Free Home and also released a 30-Day Minimalism Challenge.

Below is a list of our picks for non-toy gift ideas! Think of anything we left out? Let us know in the comments below!

20 Non-Toy Gift Ideas

1. Money in a savings account

You could start a normal savings account, a 529 plan which is a savings college account, or you could buy stocks. Something that I think would be really cool is to start the accounts but not even tell the child about them until they are older! How awesome would it be to have someone tell you when you are 16, 18, 21 (whatever age you choose) that you have XX amount of money in an account that you didn't even know existed!?

2. Membership (museum, zoo, amusement park, etc)

Purchase a yearly membership to a local establishment. It's a gift that keeps on giving! A few ideas include amusement parks, the zoo, or museums.

3. Movie tickets

Sure, the parents probably pay for the child to attend movies normally but movie tickets are always a great idea. It makes them feel more grown up with their own movie ticket and they can choose which movie they want to see. You could even include some goodies for them to take with them to the movie!

4. Subscription (little passports, etc)

Subscription services are the latest craze and there are quite a few for kids. Little Passports is one that I've heard of recently and it seems like a really cool option. They inspire children to learn about the world and each month the child will receive a new package in the mail. Another one is Kiwi Crate. Kiwi Crate inspires kids to see themselves as scientists, artists, creators, and makers.

5. Dress up clothes

Some might consider dress up clothes as a form of toys but I think that they spark creativity. You could even go to a secondhand store and get some really cool vintage dress up clothes!

6. Luggage

Having your own piece of luggage as a kid is so cool! It makes you feel like an adult. Whether they just use it to store things or actually take it on trips, either way, it's going to a piece that they love and think of you each time they see it.

7. Tickets to an event

Have a child that loves sports or theater? Consider buying them a ticket to an event! You could even get them multiple tickets so they can take friends!

8. Books

This one doesn't take much explanation. Books are a great educational gift. If you don't want to buy any full price check out the local thrift store or take them on a trip to the library. Amazon is one of our favorite places to buy books!

9. Lessons (art, music, sports, etc)

Pay for your child (grandchild, niece, nephew, etc) to take lessons on something they are interested in! Things like gymnastics lessons, art lessons, and sports club fees can all be presented as a gift.

10. Family vacation

Experiences are always better than things and going on a family vacation is definitely an experience! Gift them with a vacation that the whole family is going to take. Print off fun articles or pictures are where you are going and box those up and wrap them. Even if the vacation is far away you can make it fun by giving them a way to countdown the days.

11. Room decor

Kids (and adults!) are always wanting to re-design rooms. Gift them with the tools they need to do that! Have the room painted and/or buy new decor. Bonus points if you can sell the old decor!

12. Sports equipment

Does your child need a new football or baseball gear? Instead of just buying it, give it as a gift. If they are already into the sport, they will love it!

13. Telescope

Know a child interested in astronomy? Get them a telescope. Even if they aren't interested now I bet they will be! Amazon has small travel telescopes, telescopes made just for kids, and large professional telescopes!

14. Gift card to a restaurant

Similar to the idea for movie tickets, getting them their own gift card to a restaurant will make them feel very grown up. Pick their favorite restaurant, get the gift card, and then set a special date that you will go together, if possible.

15. Sleeping bag

I remember having my own luggage and sleeping bag as a kid. For some reason, it was so much fun to take it and watch movies while curled up in it. Maybe that's why I like to backpack now and sleep in my sleeping bag. Amazon is also another great resource for sleeping bags!

16. Hobby kits (cake decorating, model cars, sewing, etc)

Again, this could be considered a toy by some but I believe that it gets their brain going in a different direction. They have to concentrate on what they are making or building. Some good ideas include cake decorating, model cars, and sewing!

17. Coupon book (that you create)

Create a coupon book for them that includes things like going to the movie, going bowling, going out to eat, playing in the park, etc. You could even include a coupon or two in there about YOU cleaning their room. ;-)

18. Craft supplies

If they are really interested in taking that hobby kit to the next level you could invest a little bit more in the supplies they need. Our nephew loves to get sketchbooks and art supplies.

19. Board games

Another memory I have of growing up is board games. Maybe your kids have too many board games already and you consider this another piece of clutter but again, I think some of them make kids think in a different direction. My favorite game growing up was always Monopoly!

20. Money

And the best gift of all... MONEY! I honestly don't care if people think it's not personal enough or whatever reason they come up with... I've never met anyone to turn down money. If you are giving it for Christmas turn it into a money tree (tutorial here).