Aldi Vegetarian Tinned & Frozen Weekly Cheap Student Plan — 1,800 kcal
Students on a tight budget. This 7-day plan targets 1,800 kcal/day and averages 91g of protein, built around Aldi's Everyday Essentials for an estimated £35–60/week. Meals are built around ingredients that freeze well — frozen vegetables, frozen fruit, tofu and freezer-friendly bases — so a weekly shop keeps for longer and less goes to waste.
Plan summary
Individual days vary around these figures.
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We'll send: Aldi Vegetarian Tinned & Frozen Weekly Cheap Student Plan — 1,800 kcal
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Adjust Household PortionsCurrently 1 person · 1 cook portions
Your 7-Day Meal Plan
Monday
Chia Seed Pudding with Mango
Made with chia seeds, coconut milk, mango chunks.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 20g chia seeds
- 150ml coconut milk
- 70g mango chunks
- vanilla extract, to taste
Method
- Stir chia seeds and coconut milk together in a lidded jar or container.
- Stir well, cover and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Stir again before eating, then add mango chunks and vanilla extract, to taste. Loosen with a splash of coconut milk if needed.
Red Lentil and Vegetable Soup with Wholemeal Roll
Made with red lentils, carrot, onion.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 70g red lentils
- 1 carrot
- ¾ onion
- 2 celery stalks
- 1 wholemeal roll
- 375ml vegetable stock
Allergens in this meal: Celery, Cereals containing gluten. Check the label for: Sesame, Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
- Peel and chop carrot, onion and celery into even pieces.
- Heat a large pan over medium heat and soften carrot, onion and celery for 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in vegetable stock, then add red lentils and simmer gently until tender and thickened.
- Taste, season and serve with wholemeal roll on the side.
Tofu and Vegetable Curry with Brown Rice
Made with firm tofu, tinned chickpeas, frozen mixed veg.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 150g firm tofu
- 70g chickpeas, drained
- 150g frozen mixed veg
- 150g light coconut milk
- 1 tbsp plus 1 tsp curry paste
- 60g brown rice (dry weight)
Allergens in this meal: Soybeans. Check the label for: Cereals containing gluten, Fish, Mustard, Tree nuts. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
- Drain and rinse chickpeas.
- Heat a large pan over medium heat and brown the tofu for 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in light coconut milk and curry paste, then add chickpeas and frozen mixed veg and simmer gently until tender and thickened.
- Meanwhile, cook the rice according to its packet instructions, then drain and serve alongside.
Frozen Edamame Beans with Sea Salt
Made with frozen edamame beans, sea salt, optional to taste (excluded from nutrition estimate).
Recipe
Ingredients
- 100g frozen edamame beans
- sea salt, to taste
Allergens in this meal: Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
- Cook the frozen edamame beans in boiling water for 3-4 minutes, then drain.
- Sprinkle with sea salt to taste and eat warm, or cool and chill for later.
Weekly Shopping List
Need containers for this batch? Compare meal prep containers →
Estimated cost: £35–60/week for 1 person from Aldi. Calories and macros remain per person, while shopping quantities are scaled for the household.
Protein
Carbs & Grains
Vegetables
Dairy & Eggs
Fruit
Herbs & Spices
Condiments & Oils
Extras
Container setup for this plan
This plan has about 21 prep-friendly meals. Start with 11 main containers, 5 small sauce or snack tubs, and 2 freezer tubs.
Use 3 five-container glass packs to provide at least 11 main meal spaces, then add the separate small tubs shown above.
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.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability can change on Amazon UK.
Plan Details and Assumptions
Aldi Shopping Evidence Notes
These basket notes explain why this plan is shaped around certain ingredients and swaps before you open the shopping list.
- Batch-cook plans suit Aldi well because fewer niche products means fewer swaps when ranges change.
- Use the same protein across lunches or dinners if a pack size is larger than one meal needs.
The Assumptions Behind This Plan
Every plan is built on four decisions. If one of them does not match your week, that is the part to change - the swaps below cover the common cases.
| Decision | This plan uses | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Calorie target | Built around roughly 1,800 kcal per day | Moderate targets balance breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks without extreme restriction. |
| Supermarket | Aldi | Aldi pages lean on own-brand staples, simple proteins, frozen veg and budget-friendly repeats. |
| Budget | £35–60/week estimate | Very cheap plans repeat staples and avoid niche products. |
| Prep style | Minimal (under 10 min/day) | Minimal-prep plans use more assembly meals, ready-to-eat staples and short cooking steps. |
Shopping This Plan At Aldi
A limited-range discounter: fewer lines per category, but consistently among the cheapest UK baskets.
What Aldi is good for here
- Cheap frozen vegetables and fruit, which keep weekly costs stable.
- Own-brand dairy — Greek-style yogurt, cottage cheese, skyr — at discounter prices.
Worth knowing before you shop
- 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
- Buy dried pulses (lentils, chickpeas, black beans) and cook in bulk rather than tinned — cheaper per portion
- Swap fresh berries for frozen mixed berries (same nutrients, fraction of the cost)
- Add a couple of eggs or a portion of cottage cheese as a whole-food protein top-up
- Use 0% fat Greek yogurt or quark in place of standard yogurt — same volume, far more protein
💪 Increase protein
- Add frozen edamame to a rice or noodle dish for extra plant protein with no prep
- Add a couple of eggs or a portion of cottage cheese as a whole-food protein top-up
- Use 0% fat Greek yogurt or quark in place of standard yogurt — same volume, far more protein
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does this cheap student plan cost per week?
This plan is designed for Aldi and is estimated at £35–60 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 91g 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 1,800 kcal target — the difference here is that ingredients are chosen so a single shop keeps for the full week without a mid-week top-up.
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 1,800 kcal/day, the Aldi shopping list, and your chosen household portion sizes.
Is this plan suitable for meal prep?
Most recipes in this plan scale well and reheat easily. Soups, stews, and grain dishes are ideal for making in larger batches to save time midweek.
Is this plan suitable for vegetarian eaters?
Yes. Every meal in this plan is vegetarian, using ingredients readily available from Aldi.
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