7-Day Mediterranean-Diet Meal Plan for High Blood Pressure, Created by a Dietitian

Following this meal plan makes taking care of your blood pressure a delicious endeavor!

a recipe photo of the Lemon Blueberry Overnight Oats
Credit: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman
  • This 7-day plan is set at 1,500 calories, with modifications for 2,000 calories.
  • Each day provides at least 69 grams of protein and 31 grams of fiber to support overall health.
  • This plan prioritizes lower-sodium foods that fit into the Mediterranean diet eating pattern.

Nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, also called hypertension. Though it's often symptomless, high blood pressure should be taken seriously. If left untreated, high blood pressure increases your risk of several conditions, including kidney and vision damage, heart disease and stroke. Treatment for high blood pressure should include a coordinated effort with your health care provider, including regular blood pressure checks. In this meal plan, we map out a week of meals and snacks that incorporate the principles of the Mediterranean diet. You'll find heart-healthy foods like fish, nuts, seeds, legumes and fruits and vegetables. Plus, we limit the salt to no more than 1,500 milligrams per day, per the American Heart Association's recommendations. It's a heart-healthy trip to the Mediterranean—let's dig in.

Meal Plan at a Glance
BREAKFAST/ A.M. SNACK LUNCH/ P.M. SNACK DINNER
Avocado toast/ Peach Green Goddess sandwich/ Pistachios Salmon & salad
Overnight oats/ Energy balls Chicken salad/ Pear & pistachios Chicken & potatoes
Overnight oats/ Energy balls Chicken salad/ Almonds Cauliflower steaks & butter beans
Overnight oats/ Blackberries Chicken salad/ Energy balls Chicken & vegetables
Smoothie/ Yogurt & raspberries Chicken salad/ Edamame Fajitas
Smoothie/ Energy balls Tuna salad/ Pistachios Kofta & salad
Avocado toast/ Pear Tuna salad/ Edamame Fish & roasted zucchini

Day 1

green goddess sandwich
Victor Protasio

Breakfast (332 calories)

Morning Snack (59 calories)

  • 1 medium peach

Lunch (417 calories)

Afternoon Snack (172 calories)

  • ½ cup unsalted dry-roasted pistachios (measured in shell)

Dinner (535 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,514 calories, 82g fat, 14g saturated fat, 75g protein, 138g carbohydrate, 32g fiber, 1,470mg sodium

Make it 2,000 calories: Increase to 2 servings Avocado-Egg Toast at breakfast and add 1/4 cup unsalted dry-roasted almonds to A.M. snack.

Day 2

a recipe photo of the Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken with Zucchini-Corn Relish (sched for FRI)
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman

Breakfast (384 calories)

Morning Snack (92 calories)

Lunch (339 calories)

Afternoon Snack (246 calories)

  • 1 large pear
  • ⅓ cup unsalted dry-roasted pistachios (measured in shell)

Dinner (433 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,493 calories, 54g fat, 9g saturated fat, 87g protein, 181g carbohydrate, 36g fiber, 1,492mg sodium

Make it 2,000 calories: Increase to 1/4 cup chopped walnuts at breakfast, increase to 3 servings energy balls at A.M. snack, add 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter to apple at lunch, and add 1 medium peach as evening snack.

Day 3

6437110.jpg

Breakfast (384 calories)

Morning Snack (212 calories)

Lunch (339 calories)

Afternoon Snack (154 calories)

  • 20 unsalted dry-roasted almonds

Dinner (427 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,515 calories, 70g fat, 8g saturated fat, 72g protein, 166g carbohydrate, 34g fiber, 1,472mg sodium

Make it 2,000 calories: Increase to 1/4 cup chopped walnuts at breakfast, add 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter to lunch and add 1 serving Spinach-Strawberry Salad with Feta & Walnuts to dinner.

Day 4

Tandoori Chicken Salad
Ali Redmond (photography, food & prop styling)

Breakfast (384 calories)

Morning Snack (46 calories)

  • ¾ cup blackberries

Lunch (339 calories)

Afternoon Snack (212 calories)

Dinner (535 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,516 calories, 54g fat, 9g saturated fat, 95g protein, 175g carbohydrate, 32g fiber, 1,404mg sodium

Make it 2,000 calories: Increase to 3 Tbsp. chopped walnuts at breakfast, add 1/4 cup unsalted dry-roasted almonds to A.M. snack, and add 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter to lunch.

Day 5

a recipe photo of the Sheet Pan Portobello Fajitas served on a plate
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Breakfast (333 calories)

Morning Snack (182 calories)

  • 1 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup raspberries

Lunch (339 calories)

Afternoon Snack (200 calories)

  • 1 cup edamame, in pods

Dinner (441 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,495 calories, 53g fat, 9g saturated fat, 88g protein, 179g carbohydrate, 43g fiber, 1,476mg sodium

Make it 2,000 calories: Add 2 Tbsp. chopped walnuts to A.M. snack, 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter to lunch (with apple) and 1 medium peach to P.M. snack.

Day 6

Chickpea Tuna Salad
Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth Blackburn

Breakfast (333 calories)

Morning Snack (212 calories)

Lunch (357 calories)

Afternoon Snack (172 calories)

  • ½ cup unsalted dry-roasted pistachios (measured in shells)

Dinner (450 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,523 calories, 78g fat, 17g saturated fat, 69g protein, 150g carbohydrate, 31g fiber, 1,411mg sodium

Make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Peanut Butter-Banana Cinnamon Toast to breakfast, 1 medium apple to A.M. snack and 1 medium banana to P.M. snack.

Day 7

Pan-Seared Fish with Basil Oil & Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette
Eva Kolenko

Breakfast (332 calories)

Morning Snack (131 calories)

  • 1 large pear

Lunch (357 calories)

Afternoon Snack (200 calories)

  • 1 cup edamame, in pods

Dinner (450 calories)

Daily Totals: 1,478 calories, 76g fat, 13g saturated fat, 83g protein, 118g carbohydrate, 32g fiber, 1,449mg sodium

Make it 2,000 calories: Increase to 2 servings Avocado-Egg Toast at breakfast, add 1/4 cup unsalted dry-roasted almonds at A.M. snack, and add 1 medium peach to P.M. snack.

Prep Ahead Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is it OK to mix and match meals if there's one I don't like?

    Yes! This meal plan is meant to serve as inspiration. It doesn’t need to be followed exactly to reap the benefits. When choosing recipes, we made sure to check the calories, fiber, protein and sodium to align with the parameters of this plan and be within our sodium limits. If you’re making a recipe swap, it may be helpful to choose a recipe with similar calories, fiber, protein and sodium levels. For more inspiration, check out these delicious Healthy Mediterranean Recipes.

  • Can I eat the same breakfast or lunch every day?

    Definitely, it’s fine to eat the same breakfast or lunch every day. The breakfasts range from 332 to 384 calories while the lunches span 339 to 417 calories. These ranges are fairly close, though if you’re closely monitoring your calories or other nutrients, like protein, you may want to adjust a snack or two.

  • Why is there not a modification for 1,200 calories?

    We no longer provide modifications for 1,200-calorie days in our meal plans. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests that limiting calories to 1,200 per day is too low for most people to meet their nutritional needs, plus it’s unsustainable for long-term health and well-being.

Health Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet is consistently touted for its health benefits. This healthy way of eating is linked to improved heart health, sharper brains, reduced risk of developing diabetes, decreased inflammation and weight loss. In recent years, the Mediterranean diet has come under criticism for being too focused on the cuisines of countries like Italy, France, Spain and Greece, while leaving out other countries in this large region. In fact, the Mediterranean region spans three continents and includes 21 countries. Our New Mediterranean Diet aims to take a more comprehensive approach to following the nutrition, food and cultural attributes of this region. This shift in viewpoint is more inclusive, diversifies the flavor profile and is a more accurate viewpoint of the Mediterranean region.

To follow the Mediterranean diet (and reap the health benefits), aim to include plenty of fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, and whole grains, as well as a wide variety of proteins, such as nuts, seeds, beans and lentils, and animal proteins. One principle of the Mediterranean diet includes cooking more meals at home, which helps reduce sodium intake by limiting processed foods. The Mediterranean diet is more lifestyle-focused than a traditional diet, so aiming to find enjoyment in meal preparation and flavors, sharing meals with others, increasing mindfulness and incorporating regular exercise are all components of this healthy lifestyle.

How We Create Meal Plans

Registered dietitians thoughtfully create EatingWell’s meal plans to be easy-to-follow and delicious. Each meal plan meets specific parameters depending on the health condition and/or lifestyle goal it is targeting and is analyzed for accuracy using the nutrition database, ESHA Food Processor. As nutritional needs differ from person to person, we encourage you to use these plans as inspiration and adjust as you see fit.

Dig Deeper

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Sources
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. High blood pressure facts.

  2. American Heart Association. How much sodium should I eat per day?

  3. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.

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