7-Day Meal Plan for a Healthy Gut: 1,200 Calories

A healthy gut is a hot topic these days. Words like probiotics, prebiotics, fermented foods, microbiome, microbiota and gut bacteria are making their way into everyday chatter-and for good reason! Research has shown that a healthy gut microbiome has many surprising health benefits, beyond just helping with digestion. Good gut bacteria have been shown to improve heart health, reduce the risk of colon cancer, and can even improve your sleep pattern and mood by producing feel-good neurotransmitters, like serotonin. An added bonus: diverse gut bacteria is also associated with a healthy weight.

Read More: Gut Health: Prebiotics, Probiotics and the "Forgotten Organ"

To help you boost your good-gut bacteria count, we created this 7-day meal plan that features foods that promote healthy gut bacteria growth and maintenance. We've included healthy probiotic foods (like yogurt, kimchi, kefir and kombucha) that deposit helpful bacteria into the gut, as well as prebiotic foods (like high-fiber fruits, vegetables and whole grains) that feed the good-gut bacteria. We left out foods that have the tendency to harm your gut, like highly processed, refined foods that contain additives and preservatives, artificial sweeteners and red meat.

Here's what to prep ahead to make it easy to eat healthy during the busy work week. There are other "Meal-Prep Tips" throughout the week. Be sure to read those ahead of time to know what more prep can be done during the week.

1. Buy store-bought cooked chicken or prepare Best Poached Chicken to have for lunch on Day 2 and Day 5. Refrigerate in an air-tight container to keep fresh. (To buy: amazon.com, $15 for 1 large)
2. When making the Roasted Root Veggies & Greens over Spiced Lentils for dinner on Day 2, make the associated recipe for the Sheet-Pan Roasted Vegetables. You'll use some on Day 2 and will use the leftovers on Days 3 & 6. Refrigerate in a large air-tight container to keep fresh. (To buy: amazon.com, $15 for 1 large)
3. For breakfasts like the Creamy Blueberry-Pecan Overnight Oatmeal, pack in a leak-proof container (To buy: amazon.com, $9 for 1)
4. Pack up lunches for the week in air-tight containers to keep fresh. (To buy: amazon.com, $26 for 5)

• 1 serving Berry-Kefir Smoothie

• 1/2 cup raspberries

• 1 serving Green Salad with Edamame & Beets

• 1 medium bell pepper, cut into strips
• 1/4 cup Avocado-Yogurt Dip

• 1 serving Mediterranean Chicken with Orzo Salad

Meal-Prep Tips: Prepare Creamy Blueberry-Pecan Overnight Oatmeal to have for breakfast on Day 2. Buy store-bought cooked chicken or prepare Best Poached Chicken to have for lunch on Day 2 and Day 5.

Daily Totals: 1,201 calories, 70 g protein, 129 g carbohydrates, 37 g fiber, 49 g fat, 1,399 mg sodium

• 1 serving Creamy Blueberry-Pecan Overnight Oatmeal

• 1 cup blackberries

• 1 serving Greek Kale Salad with Quinoa & Chicken

• 1 15-oz. bottle kombucha
• 1 clementine

• 1 serving Roasted Root Veggies & Greens over Spiced Lentils

Meal-Prep Tip: You'll have leftover roasted root vegetables from tonight's dinner. Plan to save 1 cup of roasted veggies to have with lunch on Day 3 and Day 6 (1/2 cup for each day).

Daily Totals: 1,208 calories, 51 g protein, 164 g carbohydrates, 33 g fiber, 43 g fat, 1,169 mg sodium

Peanut-Butter Banana Toast

• 1 slice whole-wheat bread, toasted
• 1 Tbsp. natural peanut butter
• 1 medium banana, sliced

• 1/2 cup raspberries

• 1 serving Roasted Veggie & Hummus Pita Pockets

• 1 medium apple

• 1 serving Honey-Garlic Salmon
• 1/2 cup Easy Brown Rice
• 2 cups mixed greens
• 2 Tbsp. vinaigrette or salad dressing of your choice

Related: Vinaigrette Salad Dressing Recipes

Daily Totals: 1,199 calories, 57 g protein, 161 g carbohydrates, 28 g fiber, 41 g fat, 1,580 mg sodium

• 1 serving White Bean & Avocado Toast

• 1 clementine
• 10 almonds

• 1 serving Kimchi Shrimp Cup of Noodles

Easy Cucumber Salad

• 1 1/2 cups sliced cucumber
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. olive oil
• Salt, pepper & dried dill to taste

• 1/2 cup blackberries

• 1 serving Spaghetti Squash & Chicken with Avocado Pesto

Meal-Prep Tips: Make a batch of Basic Quinoa to use for lunch and dinner on Day 5. Prepare Creamy Blueberry-Pecan Overnight Oatmeal tonight to have for breakfast on Day 5.

Daily Totals: 1,215 calories, 70 g protein, 112 g carbohydrates, 30 g fiber, 49 g fat, 1,398 mg sodium

• 1 serving Creamy Blueberry-Pecan Overnight Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup blackberries

• 1 serving Greek Kale Salad with Quinoa & Chicken

• 1 medium bell pepper, cut into strips
• 1 serving Avocado-Yogurt Dip

• 1 serving Tex-Mex Black Bean & Quinoa Bowl

Daily Totals: 1,189 calories, 53 g protein, 148 g carbohydrates, 29 g fiber, 46 g fat, 1,598 mg sodium

• 1 serving Berry-Kefir Smoothie

• 1/2 cup raspberries

• 1 serving Roasted Veggie & Hummus Pita Pockets

• 1 clementine

• 1 serving Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing

Daily Totals: 1,199 calories, 52 g protein, 208 g carbohydrates, 46 g fiber, 27 g fiber, 1,284 mg sodium

Peanut-Butter Banana Toast

• 1 slice whole-wheat bread, toasted
• 1 Tbsp. natural peanut butter
• 1 medium banana, sliced

• 1 medium apple

• 1 serving Kimchi Shrimp Cup of Noodles
• 3 medium celery stalks
• 1 serving Avocado-Yogurt Dip

• 1 clementine
• 10 almonds

• 1 serving Lemony Linguine with Spring Vegetables

• 1/2 cup Pineapple Nice Cream

Daily Totals: 1,223 calories, 59 g protein, 196 g carbohydrates, 36 g fiber, 29 g fat, 1,875 mg sodium