7-Day Vegetarian Meal Plan for High Blood Pressure

With heart disease being the leading cause of death in the United States and nearly half of American adults experiencing high blood pressure, many of us are looking for strategies to protect our hearts. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, can be particularly tricky to navigate because it often presents without any symptoms and requires routine medical care to catch it early. Left untreated, it can have some serious health repercussions by increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Fear not! There are a few powerful measures you can take to protect your ticker. Improving your diet, participating in aerobic exercise and losing weight all play a significant role in lowering blood pressure.

In this plan, we focus on plant-based vegetarian proteins, whole grains and plenty of nutrient-rich produce throughout each day. By including proteins like beans, nuts and seeds and tons of fruits and vegetables, this plan packs in plenty of fiber (at least 33 grams per day!), which can help protect your heart and improve gut health. Because weight loss plays a role in improving blood pressure, we set this plan at 1,500 calories per day, which is a level where most people will achieve a healthy weight loss. But if you want to tailor the plan to your individual calorie needs, we've included modifications for 1,200 and 2,000 calories per day.

How to Lower Blood Pressure

The following five tips can help you effectively lower your blood pressure:

1. Follow the DASH diet

The DASH diet, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, continues to rank as one of the healthiest eating patterns. Essentially, the DASH diet emphasizes a high intake of whole grains, plant-based and lean proteins, tons of fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy and healthy fats from nuts and seeds. It limits processed foods, excess sugar, refined grains and higher-fat meats. As a bonus, it's a nutritious way of eating even if you don't have high blood pressure.

2. Get plenty of sleep

Adults who get less than seven hours of sleep per night have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure. Though it's not always possible, aiming for more shut-eye can have some serious health benefits and may even help with weight loss.

3. Reduce stress

Though a stressful event tends to cause brief, temporary upticks in blood pressure and is less related to long-term hypertension, chronic stress can still negatively impact your heart health. Chronic stress can impact sleep and decrease quality of life, and you may also be less likely to take part in the healthy habits that improve heart health, such as regular exercise and a healthy diet.

4. Get more physical activity

Research shows that increasing physical activity has some serious perks for our heart health. Aiming for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, such as a daily brisk walk, plus including at least two days a week of full-body strength training is a good goal. If that's above your current ability, increasing activity in any way you're able to has benefits too!

5. Improve your gut health

Focusing on probiotic foods (such as yogurt, kefir and kimchi) plus pumping up your fiber intake can populate your microbiome with the balance of the right bacteria to improve your gut health. Of course, this benefits digestion but a healthy gut can also improve your weight and heart health and lower blood pressure.

Vegetarian Foods to Focus on for High Blood Pressure

Aim for foods rich in potassium, magnesium and calcium to lower your blood pressure, such as:

• Bananas
• Potatoes
• Sweet potatoes
• Winter squash
• Oranges
• Tomatoes
• Melons, especially watermelon
• Dark leafy greens (such as spinach, kale, collards, chard)
• Broccoli and cauliflower
• Legumes (beans, lentils)
• Edamame
• Nuts and seeds (including natural nut butters)
• Yogurt
• Kefir
• Kimchi
• Berries
• Beets
• Whole grains (quinoa, whole wheat, oats, bulgur, freekeh and more)
• Avocados and avocado oil
• Olive oil

How to Meal-Prep Your Week of Meals

Make Vegan Superfood Grain Bowls to have for lunch on Days 2 through 5.

Day 1

Breakfast (295 calories)

• 1 serving Spinach & Egg Scramble with Raspberries

A.M. Snack (110 calories)

• 1 cup low-fat plain kefir

Lunch (472 calories)

• 1 serving Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing

P.M. Snack (206 calories)

• ¼ cup unsalted dry-roasted almonds

Dinner (431 calories)

• 1 serving Quinoa Avocado Salad with Buttermilk Dressing

Daily Totals: 1,515 calories, 63g protein, 168g carbohydrate, 45g fiber, 72g fat, 1,338mg sodium

To make it 1,200 calories: Change A.M. snack to 1/4 cup blueberries and change P.M. snack to 1/4 cup sliced cucumbers.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 medium apple with 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter to A.M. snack, add 1 large peach to lunch, plus add a 1-oz. slice whole-wheat baguette to dinner.

Day 2

Breakfast (262 calories)

• 1 serving Peanut Butter & Chia Berry Jam English Muffin

A.M. Snack (166 calories)

• ¾ cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt
• ½ cup blueberries

Lunch (381 calories)

• 1 serving Vegan Superfood Grain Bowls

P.M. Snack (259 calories)

• 1 cup edamame (in pods)
• 1 medium peach

Dinner (439 calories)

• 1 serving Greek Stuffed Eggplant
• 1 serving Cucumber, Tomato & Avocado Salad

Daily Totals: 1,507 calories, 71g protein, 173g carbohydrate, 49g fiber, 68g fat, 1,320mg sodium

To make it 1,200 calories: Omit yogurt at A.M. snack and omit edamame at P.M. snack.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Berry-Kefir Smoothie to breakfast and add 1/4 cup unsalted dry-roasted almonds to A.M. snack.

Day 3

Breakfast (286 calories)

• 1 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt
• ⅓ cup blackberries
• 3 Tbsp. sliced almonds

A.M. Snack (131 calories)

• 1 large pear

Lunch (381 calories)

• 1 serving Vegan Superfood Grain Bowls

P.M. Snack (262 calories)

• 20 dried walnut halves

Dinner (430 calories)

• 1 serving Easy Pea & Spinach Carbonara

Daily Totals: 1,489 calories, 70g protein, 155g carbohydrate, 36g fiber, 73g fat, 855mg sodium

To make it 1,200 calories: Change A.M. snack to 1 medium peach and change P.M. snack to 1 plum.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1/3 cup unsalted dry-roasted almonds to A.M. snack and add 1 serving Guacamole Chopped Salad to dinner.

Day 4

Breakfast (262 calories)

• 1 serving Peanut Butter & Chia Berry Jam English Muffin

A.M. Snack (154 calories)

• 20 unsalted dry-roasted almonds

Lunch (381 calories)

• 1 serving Vegan Superfood Grain Bowls

P.M. Snack (110 calories)

• 1 cup low-fat plain kefir

Dinner (588 calories)

• 1 serving Massaged Kale Salad with Roasted Sweet Potato & Black Beans

Daily Totals: 1,495 calories, 62g protein, 165g carbohydrate, 40g fiber, 74g fat, 1,274mg sodium

To make it 1,200 calories: Change A.M. snack to 1/2 cup raspberries, and change dinner to 1 serving Spinach Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, White Beans & Basil.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Berry-Kefir Smoothie to breakfast and add 15 dried walnut halves to P.M. snack.

Day 5

Breakfast (286 calories)

• 1 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt
• ⅓ cup blackberries
• 3 Tbsp. sliced almonds

A.M. Snack (252 calories)

• 1 medium apple
• 1½ Tbsp. natural peanut butter

Lunch (381 calories)

• 1 serving Vegan Superfood Grain Bowls

P.M. Snack (59 calories)

• 1 medium peach

Dinner (503 calories)

• 1 serving Cheesy Black Bean & Corn-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
• 1 serving Guacamole Chopped Salad

Daily Totals: 1,480 calories, 63g protein, 141g carbohydrate, 40g fiber, 82g fat, 936mg sodium

To make it 1,200 calories: Omit almonds at breakfast and omit peanut butter at A.M. snack.

To make it 2,000 calories: Increase to 2 Tbsp. peanut butter at A.M. snack, add 1 serving Everything Bagel Avocado Toast to lunch, and add 1/3 cup unsalted dry-roasted almonds to P.M. snack.

Day 6

Breakfast (262 calories)

• 1 serving Peanut Butter & Chia Berry Jam English Muffin

A.M. Snack (166 calories)

• ¾ cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt
• ½ cup blueberries
• 10 dried walnut halves

Lunch (315 calories)

• 1 serving Chopped Salad with Chickpeas, Olives & Feta
• 1 medium peach

P.M. Snack (200 calories)

• 1 cup edamame (in pods)

Dinner (404 calories)

• 1 serving Tofu & Watercress Salad with Mango & Avocado
• 1-oz. slice whole-wheat baguette

Daily Totals: 1,477 calories, 70g protein, 152g carbohydrate, 33g fiber, 70g fat, 1,596mg sodium

To make it 1,200 calories: Omit walnuts at A.M. snack plus switch P.M. snack to 1 small apple.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Berry-Kefir Smoothie to breakfast and add 1 medium apple with 1 Tbsp. natural peanut butter to P.M. snack.

Day 7

Breakfast (295 calories)

• 1 serving Spinach & Egg Scramble with Raspberries

A.M. Snack (205 calories)

• 1 cup low-fat plain kefir
• 1 medium apple

Lunch (315 calories)

• 1 serving Chopped Salad with Chickpeas, Olives & Feta
• 1 medium peach

P.M. Snack (231 calories)

• 30 unsalted dry-roasted almonds

Dinner (443 calories)

• 1 serving Chipotle Tofu Tacos
• ¼ cup guacamole

Daily Totals: 1,488 calories, 65g protein, 144g carbohydrate, 33g fiber, 79g fat, 1,539mg sodium

To make it 1,200 calories: Omit apple at A.M. snack and switch P.M. snack to 1 plum.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Berry-Kefir Smoothie to breakfast and add 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter to A.M. snack.