My Top Tips for Counting Macros & Free Macro Meal Plan Templates

I have counted macros on and off for several years now. I feel like I have truly tried every diet known to mankind over the course of the past ten years, but counting macros is truly my favorite! Why? Because when you count macros (macronutrients), you are learning about the composition of food–how many carbs, protein and fats are in food. Rather than focusing solely on calories, you focus on these macronutrients and try to comprise your diet of a certain percentage of each macronutrient. So while counting macros definitely encourages you to make healthy food choices–it also promotes balance. You can’t go carb crazy, but you can definitely have a treat here or there and still meet your goals. Eventually (for me at least) counting macros helps you learn how to eat intuitively. I know understand so much about food that I can eat in a really balanced way without measuring or tracking all of my food– because who wants to do that forever?!

As I am getting ready to start counting macros again for the Madeline Moves Tighter Together challenge this month, I thought I would post a few of the tips that really helped me when I was learning how to track macros. I also am including some free macro meal plan templates at the end of the post–so make sure to scroll down!

Tip 1: Pre-log your meals!

This is a tip that you will hear a lot, but it is crucial in your success!! If you just “wing it” there is a pretty good chance you won’t be successful. I always log all of my meals the night before so I can make small adjustments to make sure that I hit all of my macros. It takes a little extra effort but is worth it!

Tip 2: Log dinner first

I always log my dinner first because that is the meal that I share with my family and it might not be as “macro friendly”. I next log my “treat” and then I can use my remaining macros to divide up throughout the rest of the day!

Tip 3: Include a small treat

Most people do not do well with restriction–I know I don’t! The minute I tell myself I can’t have something, I want it a million times more! Macros are often referred to as “flexible dieting”–this means that you CAN have a small treat and still meet your goals! I encourage you to do so! It will give you something to look forward to and will help you not feel deprived.

Tip 4: Find (or create) macro friendly recipes that you love!

Don’t feel like you have to only eat egg whites, chicken and broccoli when you are tracking your macros! Most meals can be made macro friendly by making adjustments; for example, you can use reduced fat cheese, add more chicken, use less sauce, etc. If you are looking specifically for macro friendly recipes, I love Lillie Love Macros as well as Skinnytaste!

Tip 5: Don’t stress!

Don’t worry if you don’t hit your numbers exactly! They are there as a general guideline and I guarantee that your results won’t be affected if you are a few grams off. Even if you are ten grams off–think about how much healthier you are eating than you would be if you weren’t making an effort! If you mess up a little bit, just get back on track as soon as you can. No one is perfect and you don’t have to be in order to reach your goals 🙂

Tip 6: Write it down!

I will always be a paper and pencil kinda girl. There is something about actually writing down my meal plan that I love! I created these macro meal plan templates for myself, but wanted to share them with you, in case you’re the same way!

The first one is a weekly macro meal plan template. This definitely can feel daunting at first, but it can also provide a sense of relief to start the week with a solid plan!

Download the weekly macro meal plan template here!

I also created a daily macro meal plan template which is a little bit more manageable and great if you just want to take it one day at a time! I plan on using the daily meal plan templates and keeping them in a binder. Eventually I will be able to use the daily templates to build a weekly meal plan from!

Download the daily macro meal plan template here!

I hope these are helpful for you! If you have any questions about macro counting, leave a comment below! I am no expert, but am happy to share what I know! 🙂

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