Students on a tight budget. This 7-day plan targets 2,000 kcal/day and averages 116g of protein, built around Aldi's Everyday Essentials for an estimated £40–70/week. Meals are chosen to hold up after a few days in the fridge or freezer — stews, chillies, tray bakes and grain bowls — rather than anything that goes soggy or dries out on reheating.
Adjust Household PortionsCurrently 1 person · 1 cook portions
Your 7-Day Meal Plan
Monday
2022 kcal per person99g protein · 258g carbs per person
Breakfast425 kcal · 10g protein · 51g carbs · 15 min
Quinoa and Coconut Milk Porridge with Mango
Made with quinoa, coconut milk light, mango chunks.
Recipe
Ingredients
50g quinoa
175ml light coconut milk
70g mango chunks
½ tsp cinnamon
1 tsp maple syrup
Method
Rinse the quinoa in a sieve, then put it in a small saucepan with the light coconut milk and cinnamon.
Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring often, until the quinoa is tender and creamy. Add a splash of water if it gets too thick.
Spoon into a bowl, top with the mango chunks and drizzle over the maple syrup.
Lunch495 kcal · 38g protein · 63g carbs · 12 min
Tuna and Edamame Brown Rice Bowl
Made with tinned tuna in spring water, brown rice, edamame beans.
Recipe
Ingredients
1 standard tin of tuna, drained
70g brown rice (dry weight)
70g edamame beans
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
2 spring onions
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Fish, Sesame, Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Cook the rice according to its packet instructions, then drain and cool slightly.
Drain tuna.
Slice or chop spring onions. Cook edamame beans in boiling water for 3-4 minutes, then drain.
Arrange tuna, the cooked brown rice, edamame beans and spring onions in a bowl and finish with soy sauce and sesame oil.
Dinner665 kcal · 40g protein · 85g carbs · 20 min
Teriyaki Tofu with Brown Rice and Broccoli
Made with firm tofu, brown rice, broccoli.
Recipe
Ingredients
175g firm tofu
80g brown rice (dry weight)
½ small head of broccoli (about 175g)
2 tbsp plus 1 tsp teriyaki sauce
1 tsp sesame seeds
2 spring onions
Allergens in this meal: Sesame, Soybeans. Check the label for: Cereals containing gluten. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Cook the rice according to its packet instructions, then drain if needed.
Meanwhile, cook the tofu in a non-stick pan over medium heat, stirring, until browned and hot through. Add a small head of broccoli and spring onions and cook until tender.
Fold the cooked rice through the pan, stir in teriyaki sauce, and heat through before serving with sesame seeds scattered over.
Snack251 kcal · 6g protein · 43g carbs · 3 min
Banana and Peanut Butter on Rice Cakes
Made with banana, peanut butter, rice cakes.
Recipe
Ingredients
1 banana
1 tbsp peanut butter
2 rice cakes
Allergens in this meal: Peanuts. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Slice or portion banana as needed.
Top rice cakes with banana and peanut butter and serve.
Snack186 kcal · 5g protein · 16g carbs · 1 min
Almonds and Dried Cranberries
Made with almonds, dried cranberries.
Recipe
Ingredients
20g almonds
20g dried cranberries
Allergens in this meal: Tree nuts. Check the label for: Sulphur dioxide and sulphites. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Combine almonds and dried cranberries in a bowl or lidded container.
Estimated cost: £40–70/week for 1 person from Aldi. Calories and macros remain per person, while shopping quantities are scaled for the household.
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Dairy & Eggs
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Herbs & Spices
Condiments & Oils
Extras
Sponsored #ad - container setup
Container setup for this plan
This plan has about 16 prep-friendly meals. Start with 13 main containers, 4 small sauce or snack tubs, and 2 freezer tubs.
Use 3 five-container glass packs to provide at least 13 main meal spaces, then add the separate small tubs shown above.
RecommendedMid-range glass setup
Best for regular weekday lunches, reheating at work, curry, chilli, pasta, and repeat washing.
Material
Glass
Price and availability
Check Amazon UK before buying
This plan includes saucy or reheated meals, so choose containers with secure, leak-resistant lids. If using plastic, check that it is suitable for reheating and follow the product instructions.
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The One Appliance This Plan Assumes
This is a batch plan built around slow-cooked meals — the kind of cooking a slow cooker does unattended while you are out. A 3.5L bowl suits the portion counts here. If you already own one, you need nothing else for this plan.
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Slow cookerBudget-to-mid range
Crock-Pot Slow Cooker, 3.5L
The classic entry-level Crock-Pot: two heat settings, a removable ceramic bowl for easy cleaning, and a size that suits most households cooking 3-5 portions at once.
Best forA standard household batch cooking stews, curries and casseroles
Good to knowNo timer or digital display on this entry model, so you set it and check back manually.
This plan uses repeated weekday bases so the Sunday prep instruction matches the actual meals.
Prepare five portions of Quinoa and Coconut Milk Porridge with Mango for quick breakfasts.
Cook and portion five lunches of Tuna and Edamame Brown Rice Bowl.
Batch cook Teriyaki Tofu with Brown Rice and Broccoli and Butternut Squash and Lentil Soup with Bread as the main dinner bases, then alternate them Monday to Friday.
Portion snacks in advance: Banana and Peanut Butter on Rice Cakes, Almonds and Dried Cranberries, Dark Chocolate and Almonds, Apple with Walnuts, Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese Crackers, Roasted Spiced Chickpeas, Low-Fat Greek Yogurt with Berries, No-Bake Peanut Butter Oat Protein Balls, Tuna on Rye Crackers, and Almond Butter with Celery Sticks.
Cool everything quickly and get it into the fridge within one to two hours.
Refrigerate only the portions you will eat within two days — freeze the rest straight away, and move each one to the fridge the night before you need it. Freezing the later part of the week is a food-safety step, not a freshness preference.
Ranges rotate and stock varies by store, so plan a fallback for any single named product.
Fewer speciality and free-from lines than the big four, which matters for restrictive diets.
Retailer details checked 2026-07-20. Ranges and loyalty schemes change — the weekly cost estimate above is based on the plan's budget tier, not on live prices at this store.
Swaps & Suggestions
💰 Make it cheaper
Buy Aldi's Everyday Essentials range for rice, pasta, oats and tins — nutritionally identical to standard lines, at the lowest price point in store
Replace fresh salmon with tinned mackerel or sardines in brine (saves ~£2–3/week)
Buy dried pulses (lentils, chickpeas, black beans) and cook in bulk rather than tinned — cheaper per portion
Use frozen chicken breast instead of fresh (saves ~£1.50/week, same protein)
Swap fresh berries for frozen mixed berries (same nutrients, fraction of the cost)
💪 Increase protein
Cook an extra portion of mince or beans into the weekly batch — cheap to add, keeps well
Add tinned beans or lentils to a batch-cooked chilli or curry for extra protein at low cost
Portion cooked chicken thighs into the freezer in 100g bags to add to any meal without extra cooking
🥦 Make it vegetarian
Replace chicken with Quorn fillets or diced firm tofu
Swap beef mince for tinned green lentils or plant-based mince
Use halloumi or feta instead of meat in lunch salads
Substitute eggs or cottage cheese for fish-based meals
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does this cheap student plan cost per week?
This plan is designed for Aldi and is estimated at £40–70 per week for one person at typical UK prices, depending on what you already have at home. Buying in bulk and choosing own-brand items can reduce this further.
How much protein does this plan provide per day?
This plan averages 116g of protein per day across the week, based on the meals actually selected — in line with general UK guidance of roughly 0.8–1.6g per kg of bodyweight for active adults.
How is this different from a generic cheap student plan?
Plenty of cheap student plans share the same 2,000 kcal target — the difference here is that meals are filtered for how well they hold up over several days, not just for taste on day one.
Can I print this cheap student meal plan or save it as a PDF?
Yes. Use the export / print PDF button on the plan page. The printable version summarises all 7 days at 2,000 kcal/day, the Aldi shopping list, and your chosen household portion sizes.
Is this plan suitable for meal prep?
Yes — this plan is specifically designed for batch cooking. Prep everything on Sunday in 60–90 minutes and portion into containers for the week ahead.
Is this plan suitable for beginners?
Yes. Recipes are rated Batch cook (prep on Sunday) and use ingredients available at Aldi — no specialist equipment or advanced technique is needed.
