How Much Shrimp Can You Eat on the Optavia Diet Plan?

The Optavia diet, formerly known as Medifast, is a popular meal replacement program for weight loss With Optavia, you eat packaged “fuelings” along with one lean and green meal prepared yourself each day Shrimp is considered a great lean protein option for the diet. But how much shrimp can you really eat while following Optavia? Let’s take a look at the recommended shrimp guidelines and portions.

Optavia Guidelines for Shrimp

According to Optavia materials, shrimp is one of the leanest and most recommended fish choices for the program. The key rules are:

• 3-4 oz cooked shrimp counts as a “lean” protein
• Should be grilled, broiled, steamed – not breaded or fried
• Pair with 2 “healthy fat” servings like avocado, nuts, or dressing

The Optavia “Asia Pacific” guide gives a more specific recommended portion size of 200g (7oz) of cooked shrimp as a lean protein serving.

So in total, you can have 200g of grilled, steamed, or broiled shrimp paired with 2 healthy fat options as a satisfying lean and green meal.

How Much Raw Shrimp is 200g Cooked?

Since shrimp loses mass and weight after cooking, you’ll need more than 200g of raw shrimp to end up with a 7oz cooked portion.

The exact amount depends on the shrimp size, but here is a general guideline:

• Extra Jumbo (U10 or less): 250-280g raw
• Jumbo (U10-U15): 230-250g
• Large (16-20 count): 200-220g
• Medium (36-45 count): 170-190g

So if you’re preparing a 7oz lean protein serving, purchase around 225-250g (8-9oz) of raw, peeled and deveined large shrimp to end up with 200g cooked.

What is One Serving of Shrimp on Optavia?

Based on the 200g/7oz recommendation, here are some examples of a single lean protein serving of shrimp:

• 7 medium shrimp (36/45 count)
• 5 large shrimp (16/20 count)
• 3 jumbo shrimp (U10-U15)

Again, this is for cooked weights. The number of raw shrimp needed depends on the size as explained above.

Tips for Incorporating Shrimp into Optavia Meals

Here are some tips to enjoy delicious shrimp meals while sticking to the Optavia guidelines:

• Sauté in olive oil with veggies
• Make lettuce wrap shrimp tacos
• Grill or broil with Cajun seasoning
• Add to zucchini noodle “pasta”
• Make shrimp salad with vinaigrette
• Stir fry with cauliflower rice

Focus on dry heat cooking methods, not battered and fried. And carefully weigh portions using a food scale until you can visually identify a proper 7oz serving.

Pair the shrimp with healthy fats like half an avocado, tablespoon of olive oil, 1/4 cup nuts, or 2 tablespoons dressing for a balanced lean and green meal.

Can You Have More Than 7oz of Shrimp per Meal?

While 7oz or 200g is the recommended Optavia protein portion, some people may be able to incorporate slightly larger servings depending on their calorie needs and preferences.

The maximum recommended amount per the diet materials is 12oz or 340g of shrimp at one time. This would count as 2 lean protein servings and require 4 healthy fat pairings.

However, it’s best to first discuss larger portion sizes with your Optavia coach to make sure it aligns with your program calorie budget and weight loss goals. They can provide personalized guidance.

Other Lean Protein Alternatives

While shrimp is one of the top lean protein choices, you can also incorporate:

• Chicken breast or turkey
• Fish like flounder, tilapia, salmon
• Lean beef like sirloin or 93% lean ground beef
• Eggs and 100% egg whites
• Firm tofu

Aim for 20-25g protein per meal, so adjust lean protein amounts based on the source. And always combine with healthy fats.

The Takeaway

Shrimp can be a delicious and diet-friendly lean protein on Optavia. The recommended portion is 7oz or 200g cooked weight for a single protein serving. Pair with healthy fats and veggies or salad for a well-balanced meal. Stick within your daily calorie budget and consult your coach if interested in larger portions. Enjoy shrimp as part of achieving your weight loss goals!