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Learning how to calculate containers for 21 Day Fix recipes can seem very intimidating at first, but making recipes fit into 21 Day Fix containers is actually very easy. The 21 Day Fix eating plan teaches you how to use portion control for weight loss without counting calories.
Learning how to count containers for the Fix recipes is pretty straightforward until you start making recipes like soups, stews, casseroles, and chili, and where several foods from the approved food list are mixed. It’s important to remember that recipes like these are never exact, and that is okay.
What are the 21 Day Fix container sizes?
The first step of counting containers in a mixed recipe (like soup) is knowing how much of one type of food fits in each color coded container so you can accurately count them.
- Green (vegetables): 1 cup
- Red (protein) 3/4 cup
- Yellow (carbohydrates) 1/2 cup
- Purple (fruit) 1 cup
- Blue (healthy fats) 1/3 cup
- Orange (seeds and dressings) 2 tbsp
- Teaspoons (oils and nut butters) 1 tsp
Is it recipe 21 Day Fix approved?
Next, you will need to make sure all of your ingredients are on the approved 21 Day Fix food list. Simple swaps like brown rice for white rice, whole wheat pasta for plain, and olive oil for vegetable oil can “Fix” a recipe quickly. If you’re wondering if a food or ingredient is 21 Day Fix approved, it’s probably worth checking into.
Let’s learn How to Calculate Containers for 21 Day Fix Recipes
In the picture below I have used my Easy Fajita Breakfast Casserole Recipe to show you just how easy it is.
First, we start by adding all of the ingredients from each containers together.
- 1/2 cup onion (1/2 green) + 1 1/2 cup bell peppers (1 1/2 greens) = 2 Green containers for the entire recipe.
- 1 tablespoon of olive = 3 teaspoons for the entire recipe
- 4 eggs = 2 reds for the entire recipe
Second, you will figure out the container count for each serving by dividing each container total by the number of servings. This recipe is 2 servings, so you will divide each container total by 2.
- 2 greens/2 servings = 1 Green Container per serving
- 3 teaspoons/2 servings = 1 1/2 teaspoons per serving
- 2 reds/2 servings = 1 red per serving
Your final total is 1 Green, 1 Red, and 1 1/2 teaspoon per serving.
Still struggling to understand?
That’s ok–I need to see things in action. While this video is long, it goes through each step of how to count containers for the Ultimate Portion Fix.
How to Calculate Containers FAQs
The quick answer is you’re going to figure out how many containers each ingredient in your recipe has, then divide them by the serving size. If you need more help, I have written instructions, a diagram, and a video teaching how to calculate containers for 21 Day Fix recipes.
Green (vegetables): 1 cup
Red (protein) 3/4 cup
Yellow (carbohydrates) 1/2 cup
Purple (fruit) 1 cup
Blue (healthy fats) 1/3 cup
Orange (seeds and dressings) 2 tbsp
Teaspoons (oils and nut butters) 1 tsp
Find your 21 Day Fix bracket to determine how many containers to eat per day, and start tracking! You’ll need a food list to help you determine what foods go in each container – sometimes it’s a set size (like two eggs is one red container), but sometimes it’s best to fill the container with the food to get your portion.
Need Somewhere to Start?
If this is too much right now–use one of these easy and free 21 Day Fix recipes instead. The containers have been calculated for you already!
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It’s important to remember that while you lose weight all medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment come from your healthcare professional. I am not a Beachbody Coach and do not receive a commission from Team Beachbody.
Thanks for the information! My question is this: Is there a way to look at a recipe’s nutrition information and get a container count from it?
For example, if a recipe (assuming it’s 21 day fix approved) has 10 grams of protein, 25 grams Carb, 5 grams fat, Can we look at that information and say that 1 serving equals 1 red, 1 yellow, 1/2 blue?
Thanks!
Hi Becky–there is not. Man that would make it easier! The macros don’t work like that for this diet :)
Hi Becca.. I have to say your website is AMAZING! Thank you so much for all the information & recipes! My question is this..Many years ago I purchased 21 day fix program when it first came out. I have the exercise videos & All the cups but I cannot find the guide book that came with it. Can you tell me what the formula they use to know what calorie level I would be? Thank you in advance for your help!
Hi Joan! Thank you SO much for your kind words :)
Here is where you can find the information for calculating your bracket: https://mycrazygoodlife.com/what-is-the-21-day-fix/
Also, there are a few changes that you might not have with your original package. Brackets E and F have been added, and bracket A changed a little. You can find that information lower in the post I linked above :)
Becca