Health Library

Health Library Explorer
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A-Z Listings
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Click a letter to see a list of conditions beginning with that letter.
Click 'Topic Index' to return to the index for the current topic.
Click 'Library Index' to return to the listing of all topics.

Daily Food Plan Worksheet: 1,000 Calories

Your doctor advises that you need about 1,000 calories a day. Below are the recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans for the amount you need from each food group.

Protein foods (1 to 1½ servings)

Dairy (2 servings)

Vegetables (1¼ servings)

Fruits (1 serving)

Whole grains (1 to 2 servings)

Healthy fats (2½ servings)

Include beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, tofu, fish, eggs, poultry, and lean meats.

Limit processed meats like bacon, sausage, and deli meats.

Choose milk, yogurt, and cheese with little or no added sugars.

You can also choose fortified nondairy alternatives, like soy milk.

 

Eat a variety of vegetables each day, including dark green, red, orange, and other colorful options.

Fresh, frozen, and low-sodium canned vegetables all count.

 

 

Eat a variety of whole fruits.

Choose fresh, frozen, or canned fruit packed in water or juice instead of syrup.

Limit fruit juice.

 

Choose whole grains more often than refined grains.

For example, choose whole-grain breads and cereals and whole wheat pasta and whole-grain crackers.

Choose mostly unsaturated fats, such as olive oil, canola oil instead of butter, shortening, or coconut oil.

 

Source: Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025–2030, www.realfood.gov

Know your limits on saturated fats, added sugars, and sodium

  • Limit saturated fats to no more than 10% of your calories each day. For a 1,000-calorie food plan, that is 10 grams of saturated fat.
  • Limit added sugars to less than 10 grams per meal.
  • Limit sodium (salt) to less than 2,300 milligrams per day.

Get moving and be active!

Aim for at least 150 minutes of exercise a week. That's about 22 minutes a day. Even better, try to get 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week.

Daily Servings Worksheet: 1,000 calories

This worksheet tells you how many servings you should get each day from each food group. And it tells you how much food makes a serving. Use this as a guide as you plan your meals throughout the day. Track your progress daily by writing in what you actually ate.

Food group

Daily goal

What you ate today

Protein foods

1 to 1½ servings

1 serving is:

  • 3 ounces cooked lean beef, pork, lamb, or ham
  • 3 ounces cooked chicken or turkey (no skin)
  • 3 ounce cooked fish or shellfish (not fried)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup egg substitute
  • 1 ounce nuts or seeds
  • 2 tablespoons peanut or almond butter
  • 1/2 cup cooked dry beans or peas
  • 3 oz of soy products, such as tofu

Dairy

2 servings

1 serving is:

  • 1 cup (8 fl oz) milk
  • 1 ounce cheese
  • 3/4 cup (6 fl oz) yogurt

 

Vegetables

1¼ servings

1 serving is:

  • 1 cup cut-up raw or cooked vegetables
  • 2 cups raw, leafy vegetables
  • 1/2 baked sweet potato
  • 1/2 cup vegetable juice

Fruits

1 serving

1 serving is:

  • 1 cup fresh, frozen, or canned fruit
  • 1 medium piece of fruit
  • 1 cup of berries or melon
  • 1/2 cup dried fruit
  • 1/2 cup 100% fruit juice

Whole grains

1 to 2 servings

1 serving is:

  • 1 slice bread
  • 1 cup dry cereal
  • 1/2 cup cooked rice, pasta, or cereal
  • 1 5-inch tortilla

Healthy fats

2½ servings

1 serving is:

  • 1 teaspoon oil, such as olive oil or canola oil
Online Medical Reviewer: Brittany Poulson MDA RDN CD CDE
Online Medical Reviewer: Heather M Trevino BSN RNC
Date Last Reviewed: 9/1/2025
© 2000-2026 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
Contact Our Health Professionals
Follow Us