Planning what you’ll eat in advance and cooking at home are skills that will help you both reach your weight loss goal and maintain your new weight. During Phase 1 of the Ideal Protein protocol, your meal planning will be made easier because many of your meals and snacks will be based around Ideal Protein foods. Even so, if you sit down for a few minutes and plan out your meals and snacks in advance, it will be easier for you to stay on protocol.