Cirrhosis meal plan, protein at every meal.
With cirrhosis, going too long without food is a problem. AASLD guidance is to keep gaps to 3 to 4 hours, keep protein up and eat late at night. Here is a week at about 2,100 to 2,300 calories a day.
Built from AASLD and NIDDK cirrhosis guidance.
The rules
Three habits that protect muscle
Protein is not the enemy
Aim high, not low, and spread it across the day.
Never go long without eating
Eat every 3 to 4 hours while awake, with a snack before bed.
Sodium near 2,000 mg with ascites
Cook fresh, leave the salt shaker off the table.
Sample week
Seven days with four protein meals
About 2,100 to 2,300 calories a day. Move the snack to bedtime if that suits you. Scale portions to your needs. Find your number
A cirrhosis plan has to be set with your hepatology team, especially your sodium and fluid limits. Confusion, vomiting blood or a swelling belly needs urgent care.
Day 1Monday
BreakfastEggs with toast, milk and strawberries2 eggs scrambled in 1 tsp oil, 2 slices whole-grain toast, 1 cup whole milk, 1 cup strawberries
LunchChicken and rice soup with bread3 oz chicken, 1 cup cooked white rice, 1 cup carrots, celery, 2 tsp olive oil, 1 slice whole-grain bread
SnackYogurt with muesli and banana¾ cup whole-milk Greek yogurt, ½ cup muesli, 1 banana
DinnerBaked chicken with mashed potatoes3 oz chicken breast, 1½ cups mashed potatoes with butter, 1 cup carrots, 1 cup green beans
About 2,180 kcal124 g protein34 g fiber
Day 2Tuesday
- BreakfastCreamy peanut butter oats½ cup dry oats cooked in 1 cup whole milk, 1 banana, 2 tbsp peanut butter
- LunchTuna sandwich with milk1 can tuna in water, 2 tbsp mayo, 2 slices whole-grain bread, 1 cup whole milk, 1 apple
- SnackCottage cheese with honeydew and crackers¾ cup cottage cheese, 1 cup honeydew melon, 6 whole-grain crackers
- DinnerSlow beef and barley bowl4 oz beef stew meat, 1¼ cups cooked barley, carrots and celery, 1 tbsp oil
About 2,300 kcal126 g protein33 g fiber
Day 3Wednesday
- BreakfastScrambled eggs with cheese and toast2 eggs, 1 oz cheddar, 2 slices whole-grain toast, 1 tsp butter, 1 cup whole milk
- LunchChicken with quinoa and zucchini2 oz chicken, 1 cup cooked quinoa, roasted zucchini, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 pear
- SnackYogurt with blueberries and almonds¾ cup whole-milk Greek yogurt, ½ cup blueberries, 1 tbsp almonds, 1 tsp honey, 1 banana
- DinnerSalmon with potatoes and peas4 oz salmon, 1¼ cups boiled potatoes, 1 cup peas, 1 tbsp olive oil
About 2,250 kcal122 g protein37 g fiber
Day 4Thursday
- BreakfastToast with ricotta, banana and milk2 slices whole-grain toast, ½ cup part-skim ricotta, 1 banana, 1 tsp honey, 1 cup whole milk
- LunchBeef and vegetable soup with a roll3 oz beef, ¾ cup cooked barley, carrots, celery, tomato, 1 whole-grain roll, 1 tsp butter
- SnackWarm milk with a peanut butter sandwich1 cup whole milk, 2 slices whole-grain bread, 1 tbsp peanut butter
- DinnerTurkey meatloaf with mash4 oz turkey meatloaf, 1½ cups mashed potatoes with butter, 1½ cups green beans
About 2,230 kcal124 g protein38 g fiber
Day 5Friday
- BreakfastEgg muffin sandwich with orange juice1 whole-wheat English muffin, 2 eggs, 1 oz cheddar, 1 tsp butter, ½ cup orange juice, 1 cup strawberries
- LunchChicken salad sandwich with milk2 oz chicken with 1 tbsp mayo, 2 slices whole-grain bread, lettuce, tomato, 1 cup carrots, 1 cup whole milk
- SnackThick yogurt with honey and walnuts¾ cup whole-milk Greek yogurt, 1 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp walnuts, 1 banana
- DinnerPork chop with rice and green beans3 oz pork chop, 1¼ cups cooked rice, 1 cup carrots, 2 cups green beans, 1 tbsp olive oil
About 2,230 kcal118 g protein33 g fiber
Day 6Saturday
- BreakfastOatmeal with dates, almonds and milk½ cup dry oats cooked in 1 cup whole milk, 2 dates, 1 tbsp almonds, 1 tbsp peanut butter
- LunchBaked chicken thigh with rice and peas4 oz chicken thigh, 1 cup cooked rice, 1 cup peas, 1 cup carrots, 1 tbsp oil
- SnackCheddar, crackers and milk1 oz cheddar, 6 whole-grain crackers, 1 cup whole milk
- DinnerCod with potatoes and spinach5 oz cod, 1½ cups boiled potatoes, 1 cup cooked spinach, 1 tbsp olive oil, lemon
About 2,240 kcal124 g protein35 g fiber
Day 7Sunday
- BreakfastFrench toast with banana and yogurt2 slices whole-grain bread dipped in 1 egg and milk, ½ cup Greek yogurt, 1 banana, 1 tsp syrup
- LunchChicken and pasta with marinara2 oz chicken, 1½ cups cooked pasta, ½ cup marinara, 1 tbsp Parmesan, 1 tbsp olive oil
- SnackCottage cheese with pineapple and crackers½ cup cottage cheese, ½ cup pineapple, 6 whole-grain crackers, 1 orange
- DinnerRoast chicken with quinoa and broccoli3 oz chicken, 1 cup cooked quinoa, 2 cups broccoli, 1 tbsp olive oil
About 2,090 kcal121 g protein34 g fiber
Shopping list
What to buy
Most days
Protein at every mealEggs, chicken, turkey, lean beef, pork, cod, salmon, tunaeggchicken breast
DairyWhole milk, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, ricotta, cheddargreek yogurtcottage cheese
Now and then
No raw or undercooked shellfish, fish or meat, and no unpasteurized milk or dairy.
Make it yours
This week is a sample. Alma builds yours.
- Meals fit to your goal and the foods you like
- Log a meal by photo, voice or text in about 10 seconds
- Every meal gets an Alma Score from 0 to 100
Questions
What people ask
How much protein should I eat with cirrhosis?
AASLD guidance puts it at 1.2 to 1.5 g per kg of ideal body weight a day, and says protein should not be restricted, even with hepatic encephalopathy. At an ideal weight of 70 kilograms, that is 84 to 105 g a day. This week runs about 120 g, so scale it down if you weigh less and check with your team.
Why do I need a late-evening snack?
With cirrhosis the body copes poorly with long fasts. AASLD guidance says to keep gaps to 3 to 4 hours and to shorten the overnight fast with an early breakfast or a late-night high-protein snack. Move this week's snack to bedtime if that fits. Keep a snack by the bed if you wake up hungry.
How much sodium is in this plan?
The meals are cooked from fresh food with no salt added at the table, so sodium stays low. AASLD guidance says to consider under 2,000 mg a day when there is ascites. Your hepatology team sets your own limit, and loosening a salt limit that stops you from eating enough can be right.
How many calories is this meal plan?
About 2,100 to 2,300 calories a day, with 118 to 126 grams of protein and 33 to 38 grams of fiber. AASLD guidance aims for about 35 kcal per kilogram of body weight for a non-obese adult, about 2,450 for a 70 kilogram adult. Scale the portions and ask your dietitian for your number.
Can I still eat bread and potatoes?
Yes. Enough calories matter with cirrhosis, and carbs supply them. This week keeps a starch at every meal, and each snack pairs 30 to 75 g of carbs with protein. Your dietitian can tell you if anything needs to change.
Should I avoid shellfish with cirrhosis?
NIDDK tells people with cirrhosis to avoid raw or undercooked shellfish, fish and meat, and unpasteurized milk and dairy, because bacteria or viruses in them can cause severe infections. Cooked fish and shellfish count as good protein. Cook them through.
Can Alma help me keep the protein up?
Yes. Log a meal by photo, voice or text in about 10 seconds, and every meal gets an Alma Score from 0 to 100 that draws on Harvard's Alternate Healthy Eating Index. Alma builds a plan around your goal and the foods you like, which makes the four meals and the evening snack easier to keep up.
Sources
Written by Alma from the sources below and reviewed October 28, 2026. Calories and protein are estimates. This is general information, not medical advice. If you manage a health condition or take medication, check changes with your clinician. Editorial standards
Get a week built around you.
Tell Alma your goal and the foods you like. It plans the meals and scores each one.