These macro friendly recipes are the best meal prep recipes for counting macros because they’re well balanced between protein, carbs and fat!
Have you heard of counting macros? My mom recently started and has raved about her results, so I’ve set out to learn more!
The reason I wanted to give this a try is because it does not restrict certain foods. You can eat whatever you love! You just have to try to reach certain goals for how much Protein, Carbs and Fat you’re eating every day.
The most difficult part about following a macro diet is that you have to log everything you eat. But in doing so, you learn SO MUCH about the nutritional value of what you’re eating. Rather than eating tiny amounts, the goal is to find foods with lots of volume but are low in calories and high in protein.
What Are Macros?
I can’t explain it as well as some others have, so here are some articles that explain it in more detail:
Here’s a macro calculator that will tell you how many grams of each macronutrient you should eat per day based on your weight, age and activity level.
Once you’ve figured out your macro goals, it’s time to start planning! I use the app MyFitnessPal to track everything I’m eating.
The Best Macro Friendly Recipes
I found it’s much easier to plan out your meals ahead of time so you know exactly how your food fits into your macros in advance. If I don’t plan, I sometimes find myself way out of balance halfway through the day and it’s hard to fix it.
That’s why these macro friendly meal prep recipes are here to help! Each one includes the macronutrient count so you can easily plan in advance.
Just make these meals a couple days in advance and refrigerate them for lunches or dinners.
Green Vegetables are the most macro friendly. They give you the most bang for your buck. These include: Broccoli, Kale, Spinach, Peppers, Green Beans, Asparagus, Cucumber, Zucchini, Lettuce, Mustard Greens, Celery, Brussel Sprouts, and many more.
A macro-friendly meal is one with a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat to make a balanced meal. Most will usually be high in protein with a moderate amount of carbs and fat. Not only does having a balanced meal help with having a variety of foods, but it is also beneficial for our bodies in many ways.
Carbohydrates are the quickest, and fats are the slowest. Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are digested in the intestine, where they are broken down into their basic units: Carbohydrates into sugars.
This includes strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber, making them the perfect macro friendly fruit option for most people. Nutrition per 1 Cup Serving (Mixed Berries): Protein: 1 gram. Fat: 0 grams.
Nightshade vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and eggplant; also, spinach, beets, and avocados, are not recommended or are used sparingly in macrobiotic cooking, as they are considered extremely yin.
Some experts advise eating vegetables, followed by proteins and healthy fats, then finishing your meal with carbohydrates. Experts recommend patients focus on the ratios of food on their plates before worrying too much about what order they eat it in.
What foods should I avoid on the macrobiotic diet? Foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar as well as processed foods and artificial ingredients are to be avoided on the diet. Meat, dairy and eggs are avoided by some, as are animal fats and genetically modified foods.
A basic strategy would be to divide your total daily targets including calories, carbs, fat and protein by four. This would give you even macro targets for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Then, divide that 1/4 number by two to get the target macros for your two snacks.
Cronometer's free version offers more than most comparable apps. However, people who are new to counting macros may benefit from the app's paid version, which recommends foods that help you meet your targets and macronutrient goals.
As a general rule, Albert advises a macronutrient breakdown of 20%-30% fat, 30% protein and 40%-50% carbohydrates. "Focus on getting healthy fats from things like nuts, seeds, olive oil, salmon, and avocados," Albert says. "Keep portion control in mind, because fats are higher in calories.
Distribute Your Calories Among Macros & Set Your Macro Ratios. The optimal starting point for weight loss is often suggested as 40% carbohydrates, 30% proteins, and 30% fats. However, these ratios should be adjusted based on your individual response, preferences, and specific dietary needs.
Introduction: My name is Saturnina Altenwerth DVM, I am a witty, perfect, combative, beautiful, determined, fancy, determined person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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