Daily Meal Calories Calculator

Distribute your daily calorie target across meals and snacks based on the number of eating occasions and preferred allocation.

cal
%

Calories per Meal

533 cal

Calories per Snack200 cal
Protein per Meal (est.)40 g
Total Daily (verification)2,000 cal

How to Distribute Daily Calories

Formula

Snack Calories = Daily Target x Snack %

Meal Calories = (Daily Target - Snack Calories) / Number of Meals

Common Distributions

  • 3 meals, no snacks: Breakfast 25%, Lunch 35%, Dinner 40%
  • 3 meals, 2 snacks: Meals 80%, Snacks 20%
  • 5-6 small meals: Equal portions throughout the day
  • Protein Target

    A general estimate is 30% of calories from protein, or about 0.075 g protein per calorie per meal. Active individuals may need more. This calculator provides a rough protein guideline.

    Example Calculation

    2000 daily calories, 3 meals and 2 snacks, snacks = 20%.

    1. 01Snack total = 2000 x 0.20 = 400 cal
    2. 02Meal total = 2000 - 400 = 1600 cal
    3. 03Per meal = 1600 / 3 = 533 cal
    4. 04Per snack = 400 / 2 = 200 cal
    5. 05Protein per meal (est.) = 533 x 0.075 = 40 g

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Learn More

    Recipe Scaling Guide - How to Double, Halve, or Adjust Any Recipe

    Learn how to scale recipes up or down accurately. Covers multiplying ingredients, adjusting cooking times and temperatures, and avoiding common scaling mistakes.

    Related Calculators