Aldi Vegan Cook-Once Weekly Cheap Student Plan — 1,800 kcal
Students on a tight budget. This 7-day plan targets 1,800 kcal/day and averages 80g of protein, built around Aldi's Everyday Essentials for an estimated £25–45/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
1802 kcal per person75g protein · 295g carbs per person
Breakfast393 kcal · 9g protein · 47g carbs · 15 min
Quinoa and Coconut Milk Porridge with Mango
Made with quinoa, coconut milk light, mango chunks.
Recipe
Ingredients
50g quinoa
150ml light coconut milk
70g mango chunks
½ tsp cinnamon
¾ 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.
Lunch485 kcal · 27g protein · 83g carbs · 15 min
Red Lentil and Vegetable Soup with Wholemeal Roll
Made with red lentils, carrot, onion.
Recipe
Ingredients
80g red lentils
1 carrot
¾ onion
2 celery stalks
1 wholemeal roll
400ml 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.
Dinner718 kcal · 34g protein · 131g carbs · 25 min
Three-Bean Vegetable Chilli with Brown Rice
Made with mixed beans tinned, tinned tomatoes, onion.
Recipe
Ingredients
1¼ standard tins of mixed beans, drained
¾ of a standard tin of tomatoes
¾ onion
1 red pepper
¾ tsp chilli powder
¾ tsp cumin
70g brown rice (dry weight)
Method
Peel and chop onion and red pepper into even pieces. Drain and rinse mixed beans.
Heat a large pan over medium heat and soften onion and red pepper for 5-7 minutes.
Stir in chilli powder and cumin, then add mixed beans and tomatoes and simmer gently until tender and thickened.
Meanwhile, cook the rice according to its packet instructions, then drain and serve alongside.
Snack206 kcal · 5g protein · 34g carbs · 3 min
Banana and Peanut Butter on Rice Cakes
Made with banana, peanut butter, rice cakes.
Recipe
Ingredients
1 banana
¾ 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.
Estimated cost: £25–45/week for 1 person from Aldi. Calories and macros remain per person, while shopping quantities are scaled for the household.
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Protein
Carbs & Grains
Vegetables
Dairy & Eggs
Fruit
Herbs & Spices
Condiments & Oils
Tins & Jars
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.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability can change on Amazon UK.
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 Red Lentil and Vegetable Soup with Wholemeal Roll.
Batch cook Three-Bean Vegetable Chilli with Brown Rice and Teriyaki Tofu with Brown Rice and Broccoli as the main dinner bases, then alternate them Monday to Friday.
Portion snacks in advance: Banana and Peanut Butter on Rice Cakes, Dark Chocolate and Almonds, Oat Biscuits with Peanut Butter, Apple and Peanut Butter, and Banana and Almonds.
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.
A limited-range discounter: fewer lines per category, but consistently among the cheapest UK baskets.
Value rangeEveryday Essentials
What Aldi is good for here
Cheap frozen vegetables and fruit, which keep weekly costs stable.
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)
Stir a scoop of plant protein into porridge, oats or a smoothie for an easy 20g
Add extra firm tofu, tempeh or edamame to any bowl or stir-fry
💪 Increase protein
Add tinned beans or lentils to a batch-cooked chilli or curry for extra protein at low cost
Stir a scoop of plant protein into porridge, oats or a smoothie for an easy 20g
Add extra firm tofu, tempeh or edamame to any bowl or stir-fry
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does this cheap student plan cost per week?
This plan is designed for Aldi and is estimated at £25–45 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 80g 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 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 1,800 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 vegan eaters?
Yes. Every meal in this plan is vegan, using ingredients readily available from Aldi.
