Bodybuilding Diet Meal Plan | My Diet Meal Plan (2024)

The 40:40:20 Bodybuilding Diet

OK, tell me the basics

The ’40:40:20’ diet is renowned for being used by many of the most successful bodybuilders in history and helped popularised by Arnold Schwarzenegger. It is a macronutrient (macro) split/macro tracking diet with its total daily calorie content composing of 40% carbohydrate, 40% protein and 20% fat. Bodybuilders employ this macro split when they wish to ‘cut’ (lose weight), maintain or ‘bulk’ (gain weight).

In the My Diet Meal Plan meal wizard, we have built in a little more flexibility to these percentages in order to make the diet easier to follow.

A little more detail..

Following the diet entails the consumption of at least 5 meals a day. Meal replacement drinks are allowed but at least 3 of the 5 meals must be solid food. Consuming 5 meals is especially recommended for bulking diets where calorie and protein intake is higher.

The 40:40:20 split remains the most popular macro target for bodybuilders who are ‘cutting’ but bodybuilders who are ‘bulking’ may prefer a macro split of 50:30:20 because the protein targets are more manageable.

The My Diet Meal Plan diet planner applies some flexibility within these ratios, which provides a little more variety in recipes possible. If you want to change the macronutrient split slightly or wish to make it much stricter, our Custom Diet Planner is able to do this.

The benefits

  • The diet has been adopted by many of the best bodybuilders in history, underlining its credibility.
  • Consuming higher percentage of calories from protein, for weight loss diets in particular, has a long track record for showing positive results and is increasingly backed by scientific studies.

Cons

  • Potentially not the best diet for vegetarians or vegans to follow due to the high protein and low carbohydrate values.
  • There is an enormous amount of protein to consume if a ‘bulking’ diet is being followed.
  • Eating 5 meals per day is not always practical for everyone, especially for those working full-time.

Is it for me?

If you are someone who takes the gym and your bodybuilding goals very seriously, this could be the best diet for you to follow. You really have to ask yourself whether you are serious enough about your goal with the discipline to stick with the diet. For many people this diet might just be considered ‘overkill’.

Bodybuilding Diet Meal Plan | My Diet Meal Plan (2024)

FAQs

What does a bodybuilder meal plan look like? ›

Shoot for 25-30 grams of protein (6-8 oz) at eat meal. Quality proteins like grass-fed beef, wild caught salmon, organic turkey and chicken, eggs, whey and casein protein powders, shrimp, cottage cheese and Greek yogurt are all great options. Keep your carbohydrate intake around 150 to 250 grams daily.

What is the 40 40 20 meal plan for bodybuilding? ›

It is a macronutrient (macro) split/macro tracking diet with its total daily calorie content composing of 40% carbohydrate, 40% protein and 20% fat. Bodybuilders employ this macro split when they wish to 'cut' (lose weight), maintain or 'bulk' (gain weight).

How to make your own diet plan for bodybuilding? ›

Sample meal plan
  1. Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with mushrooms, oatmeal, and a pear.
  2. Snack: Low-fat cottage cheese with blueberries.
  3. Lunch: Venison burger, white rice, and broccoli.
  4. Snack: Protein shake and a banana.
  5. Dinner: Salmon, quinoa, and asparagus.

How to eat 5 meals a day to gain muscle? ›

The Beginner Bodybuilder Meal Plan
  1. Meal 1: Breakfast (containing some starchy carbs)
  2. Meal 2: Snack (low-carb)
  3. Meal 3: Lunch (low-carb)
  4. Meal 4: Post-workout snack or shake (containing starchy carbs)
  5. Meal 5: Dinner (containing starchy carbs)
Aug 5, 2021

What food to eat to gain muscle? ›

To maximize muscle growth, a clean bulk is better than simply eating high calorie foods. This may include a well-balanced diet of healthy fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. Some foods include chicken, shrimp, eggs, salmon, brown rice, quinoa, sweet potatoes, and fruits.

Do bodybuilders eat potatoes? ›

Yup! Gram for gram, potatoes are one of the most filling and low-calorie foods we can eat. When you're building muscle, you need to take in huge amounts of calories per day to fuel your energy and for your bodybuilding journey.

What is the most important meal for a bodybuilder? ›

Never Skip Breakfast

It's the most important meal of the day for building and maintaining muscle, says Jose Antonio, Ph. D., CEO of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.

How much protein to build muscle? ›

To increase muscle mass in combination with physical activity, it is recommended that a person that lifts weights regularly or is training for a running or cycling event eat a range of 1.2-1.7 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, or 0.5 to 0.8 grams per pound of body weight.

How many grams of protein per day? ›

How much protein do you need? Anywhere from 10% to 35% of your calories should come from protein. So if your needs are 2,000 calories, that's 200–700 calories from protein, or 50–175 grams. The recommended dietary allowance to prevent deficiency for an average sedentary adult is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight.

What are good snacks for bodybuilders? ›

High-protein snacks could help you build muscle mass. They can also help you feel fuller for longer—preventing you from overeating during your meals. High-protein snacks you could eat on the go include nuts, protein bars, roasted chickpeas, hard-boiled eggs, pumpkin seeds, and low-sodium jerky.

How to create a meal plan for muscle gain? ›

For a muscle gain diet plan, each meal should consist of 400 to 600 calories with snacks providing between 150 to 400 calories. Including recommended balances of protein, fat, and carbohydrates at each meal and snack will keep you fuller longer.

Is pasta good for muscle gain? ›

Adding pasta to your daily diet is a healthy way of building muscle mass as it's rich in carbohydrates and protein. Adding light sauces, lean meats and low-fat cheeses to your dish is also recommended.

Which protein is best for muscle gain? ›

Whey is a top choice for those wishing to gain muscle because it may be absorbed more rapidly than other types of protein, and it contains all nine essential amino acids (we must get these from food, as our bodies cannot make them).

How much rice do bodybuilders eat per meal? ›

You could also have fish, chicken, or turkey along with rice for carbs. Start with six ounces of meat (cooked) and one cup of rice. Over time, work up to eight ounces of meat and two cups of rice. The point of this isn't so much to increase caloric intake as it is to maximize timing.

What do bodybuilders eat per day? ›

Eating too much protein at once can be counterproductive, so many bodybuilders spread it out, eating six or seven smaller meals per day. The best sources of protein for healthy muscle building are lean. Choose a variety of fish and seafood, chicken, tofu, legumes, and low-fat dairy. A protein powder is another option.

How to create a meal plan for building muscle? ›

For a muscle gain diet plan, each meal should consist of 400 to 600 calories with snacks providing between 150 to 400 calories. Including recommended balances of protein, fat, and carbohydrates at each meal and snack will keep you fuller longer.

What does a bodybuilder prep diet look like? ›

A bodybuilding meal plan should consist of healthful fats, proteins, and carbs. A person should plan to eat between three and six times a day and adjust their total caloric count based on whether trying to bulk up or lean out.

What is basically a bodybuilding food? ›

Food rich in proteins are generally referred to as bodybuilding food. They are required for the growth and repair of cells in our body. Milk, chicken, fish, egg and pulses are rich sources of proteins. Fruits and vegetables are sources of vitamins and minerals.

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