A structured lower-calorie, higher-protein plan for active adults. This 7-day plan targets 1,600 kcal/day and averages 101g of protein, built around Aldi's Everyday Essentials for an estimated £30–50/week. Meals lean on lower-fat protein — chicken breast, white fish, egg whites, low-fat dairy — so each meal carries more protein for the calories it costs, leaving room to hit the day's target without relying on volume alone.
Adjust Household PortionsCurrently 1 person · 1 cook portions
Your 7-Day Meal Plan
Monday
1583 kcal per person106g protein · 203g carbs per person
Breakfast441 kcal · 17g protein · 75g carbs · 5 min
Overnight Oats with Banana
Made with rolled oats, semi-skimmed milk, banana.
Recipe
Ingredients
70g rolled oats
175ml semi-skimmed milk
1 banana
¾ tsp honey
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Milk. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Stir rolled oats and semi-skimmed 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 banana and honey. Loosen with a splash of semi-skimmed milk if needed.
Lunch550 kcal · 47g protein · 68g carbs · 20 min
Chicken, Broccoli and Brown Rice Prep Bowl
Made with chicken breast, broccoli, brown rice.
Recipe
Ingredients
150g chicken breast
½ small head of broccoli (about 175g)
70g brown rice (dry weight)
2 garlic cloves
¾ tbsp soy sauce
¾ tsp olive oil
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, 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.
Cook the chicken breast in a non-stick pan over medium heat until cooked through. Add garlic for the final minute and cook until fragrant. Rest briefly before slicing if needed.
Slice or chop a small head of broccoli.
Arrange chicken breast, a small head of broccoli and the cooked brown rice in a bowl and finish with soy sauce and olive oil.
Dinner592 kcal · 42g protein · 60g carbs · 35 min
Lean Pork Loin with Roasted Root Vegetables
Made with pork loin, parsnip, carrot.
Recipe
Ingredients
175g pork loin
1 medium parsnip
2 medium carrots
¾ medium sweet potato
¾ tbsp olive oil
¾ tsp rosemary
Method
Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan).
Cut the parsnips, carrots and sweet potato into even chunks, toss with the olive oil and rosemary, and roast for 30-35 minutes, turning halfway.
Meanwhile, brown the pork loin all over in a hot non-stick pan, then add it to the tray for the final 15-20 minutes, until cooked through with no pink juices.
Rest the pork for 5 minutes, then slice and serve with the roasted vegetables.
Estimated cost: £30–50/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
Fruit
Herbs & Spices
Condiments & Oils
Sponsored #ad - container setup
Container setup for this plan
This plan has about 21 prep-friendly meals. Start with 17 main containers, 5 small sauce or snack tubs, and 2 freezer tubs.
Use 2 10-container sets to provide at least 17 main meal spaces, then add the separate small tubs shown above.
RecommendedFull glass batch setup
Best when you already prep most weeks, cook lunches and dinners, or want a longer-term storage system.
Material
Glass or premium leak-resistant sets
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 Overnight Oats with Banana for quick breakfasts.
Cook and portion five lunches of Chicken, Broccoli and Brown Rice Prep Bowl.
Batch cook Lean Pork Loin with Roasted Root Vegetables and Turkey Mince Bolognese with Wholemeal Pasta as the main dinner bases, then alternate them Monday to Friday.
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
Add extra egg whites (3–4) to a breakfast instead of whole eggs — protein without the extra fat
Swap a carb portion for extra chicken breast or white fish on higher-hunger days
Use 0% fat Greek yogurt or quark instead of standard yogurt for the same volume, far more protein
🥦 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 cutting phase plan cost per week?
This plan is designed for Aldi and is estimated at £30–50 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 101g 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 cutting phase plan?
Plenty of cutting phase plans share the same 1,600 kcal target — the difference here is that the meal selection is biased toward lower-fat protein sources rather than just hitting a protein number however it can.
Can I print this cutting phase 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 1,600 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.
