How to eat a 1200 Calorie diet that makes sense

It takes a lot of time and tweaking to find the right combination of foods that work for you and fit your calorie requirements. This is what I have found that works for me.

Breakfast (2 options)

Either
Coffee                                 2 cups          5 Calories
Cream                                2 tbs           40 Calories  (1 tbsp per cup, measure it)
Fage 0% Greek Yogurt    32.5 oz            100 calories
Cascade Farms Granola   1/2 cup          110 calories
Blueberries                         1/2 cup        41 calories
                                                     Total 296 calories
Or
Coffee                                2 cups          5 Calories
Cream                                 2 tbs           40 Calories  (1 tbsp per cup, measure it)
Quaker 1 min oatmeal     1/4 cup dry     75 calories
Motts natural applesauce singles     1/2 the container  25 calories
Banana sliced                   1/2 medium size   52 calories
Diced Prunes                    1/4 cup               100 calories
                                                       Total 297 calories

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Lunch (3 options)

Either
Unsweetened Almond Milk        1 cup          30 calories
Protein Shake mix                      1 scoop     120 calories
Strawberries                              5 medium   50 calories                          
                                                               Total: 196

Or
Arnold Whole Wheat Bread Thin  1 roll     100 calories
Oscar Meyer Deli Turkey            6 slices   50 calories
Mayo  (the real stuff)                   1/2 tbs    45 calories
                                                             Total: 195

Or 
Arnold Whole Wheat Bread Thin   1 roll     100 calories
Starkist Tuna Fish                          1/2 can   50 calories
Mayo  (the real stuff)                     1/2 tbs    45 calories
                                                             Total: 195

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Snacks (all)
String Cheese 50 calories
Hard boiled Egg 78 calories (or 12 can of V8 = 70 calories)
Chocolate chip granola bar 100 calories (or 20 cheez it crackers 110 calories (count!!))
                                                              Total: 228

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Dinner

Either
Grilled Chicken breast marinated in Kraft Italian Dressing   150 calories
White rice   3/4 cup           181 calories
I can't believe it's not butter   1/2 tbsp   35 calories
Steamed broccoli    1 cup     54 calories
                                          Total 420 calories

Or
Allrecipes Basil Pork Chops   247 calories
Allrecipes Baked Sweet potato sticks 132 calories
Steamed Zucchini   1 cup  20 Calories
I can't believe it's not butter   1/2 tbsp   35 calories
                                              Total 434 calories

 Or
Allrecipes Chicken and Biscuit Cassarole  450 calories

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So the basic idea is breakfast is around 300 calories (good start to the day).
Lunch + healthy snacks are 450 calories spread out every two hours or so.
Dinner is around 400-450 Calories.

300+450+450=1200

If I have a little room left, I do tend to pour myself a small glass of wine.
(barefoot pinot grigio,  4 oz,  91 calories)

You just have to know what you're eating and how much.

Use your measuring spoons.

Use a kitchen scale.

Use your brain!  If a package of 3 chicken breasts weighs 1.25 lbs you should be able to figure out approximately how much each one weighs.
(16 oz in a pound, plus 4 more oz for the .25 = 20 oz total. Divide by 3 = 6 oz per breast, approx.)