Muscle Gain Diet, 2800 Calories

The following daily muscle-building diet has 2820 calories with 33% coming from protein, 36% from carbs, and 31% from fats. Use the Fitness Guide to see how many calories are appropriate for you and select from this and other diets accordingly.

Feel free to modify this diet with your own choice of healthy foods that are roughly equivalent in calores, protein, carbs, and fats to the foods of this diet. Also feel free to substitute or add as many non-starchy vegetables as you wish. These include lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, squash, peppers, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, and virtually any other vegetable besides potatoes, corn, peas, and carrots. Similarly, feel free to add low-calorie and calorie-free spices and herbs.

Learn how to customize your diet: read Create Your Own Healthy Meals section of the Nutrition article.

Proteins
(grams)
Carbs
(grams)
Fats
(grams)
Calories Food Type
 
Meal 1
Whey Protein Powder,
1/3 cup (1 scoop)
22 3 2 114 Very Lean Protein
Plain Old-Fashioned Oats,
1 cup cooked
5 30 3 167 Starchy Carb
Ground Flax Seed, 2 tbsp 4 2 8 96 Healthy Fat
Strawberries, 2 cups 2 24 0 104 Starchy Carb
 
Meal 2
Chicken Breast, 6 oz 30 0 3 147 Very Lean Protein
Brown Rice,
1 cup cooked
7 47 3 243 Starchy Carb
Olive Oil, 1 tbsp 0 0 16 144 Healthy Fat
 
Meal 3
Salmon, 9 oz 40 0 16 304 Lean Protein
Sweet Potatoes,
1 medium-sized
2 28 0 120 Starchy Carb
 
Meal 4 (Before Workout)
Tuna, 6 oz 33 0 2 146 Very Lean Protein
Egg, 1 5 1 4 56 Lean Protein
Whole-Grain Bread,
2 slices
8 42 3 227 Starchy Carb
 
Meal 5
Lean Steak, 8 oz 36 0 14 270 Lean Protein
Brown Rice, 1 cup cooked 7 47 3 243 Starchy Carb
Green Beans and Carrots,
2 cups
3 15 0 72 Non-Starchy Carb
 
Meal 6
Chicken Breast, 6 oz 30 0 3 147 Very Lean Protein
Lettuce, 3 cups 1 15 0 64 Non-Starchy Carb
Olive Oil, 1 tbsp 0 0 16 144 Healthy Fat
 
Day Totals 235 g 254 g 96 g 2820 cal