1.IT’S A WASTE OF TIME AND RESOURCES
Creating a meal plan for someone takes time for the individual to record what they eat and do each day
It takes me some time to then go through, analyse your data then turn it into a meal plan
To create an effective meal plan requires the individual to be honest and provide plenty of detail around portion sizes and brands of products. E.g. whensomeone puts ’bowl of cereal’ under breakfast. I have no idea of the brand or how much you had therefore the analysis will be incorrect
2. IT’S RESTRICTIVE
Sticking to the plan may be difficult and doesn’t account for other/unexpected events such as finishing work late or other commitments
You may not have been able to get the ingredients for the specific meal or snack set for you on a particular day = what do you do now?
You may not fancy the meal or snack that has been planned for you at that time or don’t have enough time to prepare the meal or snack
3. IT TELLS YOU WHAT TO DO BUT DOESN’T GIVE YOU THE WHY
A meal plan tells you what to have and when but doesn’t help you to understand WHY. As mentioned, meals plans can be very restrictive and most individuals that I have worked with have previously given up after a short period of time
Investing in a qualified Nutritionist that can educate you about the role of nutrition and how to use nutrition to support with your training goals and performance is going to provide a much more effective long-term success
So what should you do?
✅ Consult a qualified Nutritionist or dietitian e.g. ANut or Rnut for support around health goals. Contact a sport nutritionist on Sport and Exercise Nutritionist register (SENr) who can guide you on food choices around your exercise and training goals.