How Much Should a Week of Meal Prep Cost in the UK?
The honest answer is "it depends", but that is not very useful on its own. This guide gives representative weekly ranges for different meal prep approaches, and explains what actually moves the number up or down.
To turn this into a weekly plan, take the meal plan quiz or browse all UK meal plans.
Representative Weekly Ranges
These ranges assume a mix of breakfasts, lunches and dinners batch-cooked for one person across a working week, using everyday ingredients rather than premium or specialist products. Use the shopping budget estimator above for a figure tailored to your supermarket, household size and protein preference.
| Approach | Typical weekly range | Roughly per meal (14 meals) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget, discount supermarket | £20-30 | £1.40-2.15 |
| Standard shop, mainstream supermarket | £28-38 | £2.00-2.70 |
| Higher-protein shop | £32-45 | £2.30-3.20 |
What Actually Moves The Number
A handful of decisions account for most of the difference between the low and high end of the ranges above.
- Supermarket choice: discount supermarkets are typically the biggest single lever, see the cheapest UK supermarket comparison for specifics.
- Protein target: a higher-protein shop costs more, since protein-dense foods generally cost more per 100g than carbohydrate staples.
- Own-brand vs branded: own-brand ingredients are consistently cheaper for a similar result in most meal prep recipes.
- Batch size: cooking in bulk (a whole pack of chicken thighs rather than a small portion) usually lowers the cost per meal.
- Fresh vs frozen: frozen vegetables and frozen meat are often cheaper than fresh with a similar nutritional profile once cooked.
Why This Is Still Cheaper Than The Alternative
A single UK meal deal typically costs £3.50-5, and a takeaway meal is commonly £8-15. Five meal-deal-equivalent lunches a week alone (£17.50-25) can cost close to what an entire week of home-cooked meal prep costs, before counting dinners. See the dedicated comparison of meal prep versus meal deals for a fuller breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does meal prep cost for one person per week in the UK?
Typically £20-45 depending on supermarket, protein target and how many meals you are covering, with discount supermarkets and standard (not high) protein targets sitting toward the lower end.
Is meal prep cheaper at Aldi or Lidl than Tesco?
Generally yes for a comparable basket, though the exact difference depends on the specific items and any promotions running. See the cheapest UK supermarket comparison for a fuller breakdown.
Does higher protein always cost more?
Usually, since protein-dense foods tend to cost more per 100g than carbohydrate staples like rice, pasta or potatoes. Choosing cheaper protein sources like lentils, chicken thighs or tinned tuna narrows the gap meaningfully.
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