slideshow(s)meal plans

Although low-calorie diets may promise rapid weight loss, they are guaranteed to leave you hungry, low on energy, and likely deficient in many important nutrients. Depending on your unique needs, a 2,000-calorie meal plan may be a more sustainable approach, providing you with all the nutrients you need while working toward sustainable and safe weight loss goals. You may notice that nutrition labels on packaged foods base their recommended supplements on a 2,000-calorie diet, but that doesn't mean everyone needs 2,000…

Everyone's calorie needs vary depending on individual goals, such as weight loss, maintenance or muscle gain. Understanding your health and weight goals is the first step in determining your daily calorie intake. For example, if you have a weight loss goal, your caloric needs will be different than if your goals are sports performance and muscle gain. Once you've decided how you want food to affect your weight, health and performance, you can start determining your energy needs. For those focused on weight control, a…