Why I Don't Do Meal Plans

I work with clients of all different backgrounds. Some are athletes but many are not. Some want to count macros and the idea of it makes others want to pull their hair out. They are busy moms and dads, successful in their careers, with and without kids, all juggling the many facets of life. And every once in a while someone really wants me to write them a meal plan.  

But meal plans aren't something I do, and I want to explain why. 

Now don't get me wrong, I do give clients sample days. I think it can provide guidance on how to structure a day and feel really good based on what I know about them. But a full on meal plan (as in Monday for breakfast eat exactly what I say) is tough, not only for me to compile, but for clients. And here's why..

1. You're not going to stick to the plan. This phrase sticks out for me, "If I just had a meal plan to follow I could do it perfectly, but without it I have no idea what to do." I get it, really I do. Self-motivating yourself to make good decisions in the moment is hard. And when you don't know what to make for dinner, it can be hard to choose the perfect meal. But things happen and you can't always stick to the plan. You had friends in town and couldn't do meal prep so now you whole week is out of whack. Your boss asked you to stay late at work and you don't have your dinner with you. Or you got asked to go to dinner with a friend you haven't seen forever. Buh-bye meal plan!
   
   The other thing is, a lot of people also struggle with rebelling against a meal plan. Even if you want one, you might find yourself conscious (or not so consciously) resisting or changing the plan that your nutritionist has written for you. This is normal, but kind of defeats the purpose of the plan.
   

2. You do follow the plan and you do it to the tee. You're a disciplined rockstar, but meal plans are intended to be temporary and short term to reach a specific goal. Competing in a bodybuilding competition? Cool, let's get you set up with a meal plan and stick to it. Otherwise, strictly following meal plans can be a really harmful thing. You could end up with disordered eating habits, be unable to socialize in food-oriented settings, or damage your health (mentally, hormonally, and metabolically).
   

3. You follow it, but you hate it. You don't like the food on the plan. You're tired of plain food. It's to complicated to be forced to eat a meal you just don't feel like having that day. You don't always feel like a mid-morning snack. Maybe you see results, but if you never had to measure out 4 oz of chicken again you could be happy. Sometimes this ends in feeling like "eating healthy sucks." You don't get to make any choices in your food and it just feel crappy.
   

4. Shit happens. Things come up. Plans change. People get sick. Eating with others changes the entire meal plan game. The meals we eat can be a direct result of our culture and background. Typically meal plans don't reflect that or account for Taco Tuesday.
   

5. Most people do not need that level of guidance. There are only a handful of people who need to be very specific with their food: bodybuilders, professional athletes, and those altering their body composition at already low levels. That's it. If measuring your 4 oz of chicken, 6 oz of broccoli and 2 oz of rice helps you to feel in control and fully grasp what you're doing, great! You go! But I don't need to prescribe a plan for you and follow day in and day out. This is why macros and counting calories can be flexible when it comes to meals.
   

6. What happens when you meal plan ends? If you're still not convinced that a meal plan isn't serving you, this is my question for you. What then? Do you just repeat it on an endless cycle or do you know how to feed yourself without checking the menu for exact details. Knowing how to survive off of a meal plan, in the real world, and still achieve your goals is the best thing you can do for yourself. Why not learn that in the first place?

I support everyone in doing what helps them best achieve their goals, but when I'm asked for a meal plan and I say no, it's really for your own good. I want to help you long term. It's one of my core values to create sustainable long-term nutrition for clients - not short-term solutions.