Lose 5 Pounds Fast! Choose Your Favorite Meals

Still carrying a few winter pounds? It’s not too late to lose them superfast, à la Hollywood’s A-list.

Our safe, no-hunger diet plan, developed specially for Health by Los Angeles–based nutritionist Jackie Keller, founder of NutriFit, is based on the advice she gives clients like Charlize Theron, Anna Paquin, and Susan Sarandon.

Use this mix-and-match 1,200-calorie plan for seven days, taking your pick of our meals and yummy snacks. Choose one breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and two snacks every day from these tasty choices.

(200 to 250 calories)

Smear half of a small (3-inch-diameter) bagel with 1 tablespoon fat-free cream cheese; top with 1 1/2 ounces smoked salmon, adding black pepper, herbs, sliced onion, and a squirt of fresh lemon juice, if you’d like. Enjoy with 1 small orange.

(200 to 250 calories)

Scramble 1/2 cup liquid egg whites (about 3 egg whites) in a skillet coated with nonstick cooking spray; remove from skillet, and top with 1/2 cup salsa. Cook 1 turkey sausage link. Serve eggs and sausage with 2 medium slices of melon.

(200 to 250 calories)

Cook 1 package plain instant oatmeal according to the directions. Stir in 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed, 1 tablespoon chopped almonds, and 1/4 cup fresh blueberries. Drink 1/2 cup fat-free milk.

Choose one of these meals for lunch and one for dinner every day.

(250 to 300 calories each)

Combine 3 ounces grilled chicken (that’s about the size of three of your fingers) with salad greens and as many of your favorite veggies (chopped tomato, carrot, onion, red bell pepper, cucumber) as you want; drizzle with 2 teaspoons low-fat salad dressing. Have 1/2 cup grapes.

250-300 calories

Combine 1 (3-ounce) can albacore tuna in water, drained, with 1/4 cup fresh salsa (try regular, pineapple, or papaya). Serve tuna on top of 3 cups mixed baby greens and 1 cup each sliced cucumber and red bell pepper. Have 1 grapefruit, too.

(250-300 calories)

Grill or broil a 3-ounce pork chop until it reaches an internal temperature of 160°; top with 1 teaspoon tomato sauce. Serve pork chop with 1 cup steamed asparagus, drizzled with 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar, and half of a small baked potato.

(250 to 300 calories)

Marinate a 3-ounce salmon fillet in 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 dill sprig, and 1 minced garlic clove for 30 minutes. Grill fish just until it turns opaque. Prepare 3/4 cup microwaveable brown rice. Steam 1 cup sliced zucchini. Garnish cooked fish and zucchini with additional 1 teaspoon chopped dill; serve with brown rice.

(250 to 300 calories)

Combine 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1/4 teaspoon each salt and black pepper, and 1 sliced garlic clove. Marinate a 3-ounce sirloin steak (or 3 ounces tofu) in the mixture at room temperature for 15 minutes. Microwave half of an ear of corn for 3 minutes or until tender. Grill steak until medium-well (or to the desired degree of doneness). Serve corn smeared with 1 teaspoon trans fat–free margarine, and 1 cup steamed green beans tossed with 1 minced garlic clove.

(250 to 300 calories each)

Fill 1 (6-inch) whole-wheat tortilla with 2 ounces chicken breast (you can use the skinless meat from a rotisserie chicken), 2 romaine lettuce leaves, 1/4 cup diced tomato, and 1 tablespoon diced onion. Drizzle chicken and vegetables with 2 teaspoons light Italian dressing; roll it up. Have 1/2 cup baby carrots on the side.

(100 to 150 calories each)

Choose two snacks a day to enjoy whenever you like.

1 cup edamame with sea salt
1 pear with 1 light string cheese
1 (6-inch) corn tortilla filled with 1/4 cup black bean dip
1/2 cup sliced strawberries with 1/2 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt
3 cups plain popcorn
Mini–trail mix made of 2 tablespoons almonds and 3 tablespoons raisins
1/2 cup baby carrots with 2 tablespoons fat-free veggie cream cheese