Meal Plan Templates

Save time with pre-built meal plan templates. Load ready-made nutrition plans and customize them for your clients.

Accessing Meal Plan Templates

To use a template for a client:

1. Go to Clients and select a client
2. Click the Meal Plan tab
3. Click "Use Template" if starting fresh
4. Or click "Load Template" if replacing an existing plan

Available Templates

Coach+ provides 12 pre-built meal plan templates:

Muscle Gain Templates

• High Protein - 2500 calories - 200g protein, 250g carbs, 83g fat
• High Protein - 3000 calories - 225g protein, 300g carbs, 100g fat

Weight Loss Templates

• Weight Loss - 1500 calories - Aggressive deficit, 120g protein
• Weight Loss - 1800 calories - Sustainable deficit, 140g protein

Maintenance Templates

• Maintenance - 2200 calories - Balanced macros
• Mediterranean - 2100 calories - Heart-healthy fats

Special Diets

• Vegan - 2000 calories - Plant-based nutrition
• Vegetarian - 2000 calories - Complete proteins
• Ketogenic - 2000 calories - Low-carb, high-fat (50g carbs)
• Paleo - 2200 calories - Grain-free, whole foods

Performance Templates

• Endurance Athlete - 2800 calories - High carbs for endurance
• Intermittent Fasting 16:8 - 2000 calories - Time-restricted eating

Selecting the Right Template

Choose a template based on:

• Client Goal - Weight loss, muscle gain, or maintenance
• Calorie Needs - Calculate TDEE and adjust for goal
• Dietary Preferences - Vegan, keto, etc.
• Activity Level - Athletes need more calories/carbs
• Experience - Simpler plans for beginners

Applying a Template

When you select a template:

1. Preview the meals and macros
2. Review the food choices
3. Click "Apply Template"
4. The meal plan loads into the editor
5. All meals expand automatically for review
6. Make any needed customizations
7. Click "Save" to assign to client

Customizing Templates

Templates are starting points. Customize them by:

Adjusting Portions

• Increase/decrease food quantities
• Match exact calorie targets
• Fine-tune macro ratios

Swapping Foods

• Replace foods client doesn't like
• Substitute for allergies
• Use foods client already buys
• Add variety

Adding/Removing Meals

• Adjust meal frequency (3-6 meals)
• Add snacks
• Combine meals if preferred

When to Use Templates

Templates work best when:

• You need a quick starting point
• Client is flexible with food choices
• Standard calorie targets apply
• You want to show the client meal structure
• Time is limited

When to Build Custom

Skip templates and build from scratch when:

• Client has many food preferences/restrictions
• Unusual calorie targets (very high/low)
• Specific macro ratios needed
• Client wants to use specific recipes
• Building around their current diet

Template vs. Custom Comparison

Best Practices

Before Applying

• Calculate client's TDEE first
• Ask about food allergies and preferences
• Review the template meals yourself
• Explain the plan to the client before assigning

After Applying

• Customize at least 2-3 foods for personalization
• Verify macros match client goals
• Ensure meals fit their schedule
• Add notes with preparation tips

Ongoing Management

• Check client adherence weekly
• Swap out foods they don't like
• Adjust portions based on progress
• Provide recipe ideas

Troubleshooting

Nutrition features locked?

Meal plan features may not be available in your tier. Contact support to enable nutrition features.

Template not loading?

Refresh the page and try again. If it persists, try a different template or create from scratch.

Macros don't match client needs?

Adjust portions or swap foods after loading the template. You can fine-tune to exact targets.

What's Next?

Master nutrition planning:

• Custom Meal Plans - Build from scratch
• Client Check-Ins - Monitor adherence
• Progress Tracking - Adjust based on results