Muscle building, at a higher daily calorie target. This 7-day plan targets 2,500 kcal/day and averages 176g of protein, built around Aldi's Everyday Essentials for an estimated £65–105/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
2510 kcal per person152g protein · 302g carbs per person
Breakfast471 kcal · 35g protein · 58g carbs · 5 min
Cottage Cheese on Wholemeal Toast with Tomato
Made with cottage cheese, wholemeal bread, cherry tomatoes.
Recipe
Ingredients
200g cottage cheese
3 slices of wholemeal bread
8 cherry tomatoes
black pepper, to taste
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Milk. Check the label for: Sesame, Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Toast or warm wholemeal bread.
Slice cherry tomatoes.
Layer cottage cheese, cherry tomatoes and black pepper, to taste evenly.
Lunch491 kcal · 22g protein · 81g carbs · 10 min
Hummus and Roasted Vegetable Pitta
Made with hummus, wholemeal pitta, courgette.
Recipe
Ingredients
100g hummus
1 wholemeal pitta
1 courgette, roasted
1 red pepper, roasted
1 generous handful spinach (about 40g)
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Sesame. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Toast or warm wholemeal pitta.
Slice roasted courgette and roasted red pepper.
Open the pitta into a pocket and fill it with hummus, roasted courgette, roasted red pepper and spinach and season to taste.
Dinner954 kcal · 79g protein · 103g carbs · 40 min
Roast Chicken Breast with Potatoes and Greens
Made with chicken breast, white potatoes, carrot.
Recipe
Ingredients
300g chicken breast
325g white potatoes
2 medium carrots
¾ small head of broccoli (about 200g)
1¼ tbsp olive oil
4 garlic cloves
Method
Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan).
Cut the white potatoes and carrots into even pieces, toss with the olive oil and crushed garlic, and roast for 35-40 minutes, turning halfway.
Add the chicken breast to the tray for the last 20-25 minutes, until cooked through.
Meanwhile, steam or boil the broccoli for 4-5 minutes, then serve everything together.
Snack312 kcal · 9g protein · 25g carbs · 1 min
Mixed Nuts and Dried Fruit
Made with mixed nuts, raisins.
Recipe
Ingredients
40g mixed nuts
30g raisins
Allergens in this meal: Tree nuts. Check the label for: Peanuts, Sulphur dioxide and sulphites. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Combine mixed nuts and raisins in a bowl or lidded container.
Snack282 kcal · 7g protein · 35g carbs · 1 min
Banana and Almonds
Made with banana, almonds.
Recipe
Ingredients
1 banana
30g almonds
Allergens in this meal: Tree nuts. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Slice or portion banana as needed.
Combine banana and almonds in a bowl or lidded container.
Estimated cost: £65–105/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
Extras
Sponsored #ad - container setup
Container setup for this plan
This plan has about 14 prep-friendly meals. Start with 8 main containers, 3 small sauce or snack tubs, and 2 freezer tubs.
Use 2 five-container glass packs to provide at least 8 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 Tool This Plan Assumes
The protein and calorie figures on this plan are calculated from weighed portions. Estimating by eye is where most high-protein plans quietly drift, so a set of digital scales is the difference between following this plan and approximating it. Any scale works — this is simply a cheap, accurate one.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability can change on Amazon UK.
Kitchen scaleBudget
Salter Arc Digital Kitchen Scale
A slim, add-and-weigh digital scale with a 3kg capacity, useful for portioning rice, protein and vegetables precisely rather than guessing by eye.
Best forWeighing portions accurately for calorie or macro tracking
Good to knowNo liquid measurement mode; for sauces and liquids, a scale with an Aquatronic function is more useful.
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 muscle gain plan cost per week?
This plan is designed for Aldi and is estimated at £65–105 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 176g of protein per day across the week, based on the meals actually selected — well above general UK guidance of roughly 0.8–1.6g per kg of bodyweight for active adults.
How is this different from a generic muscle gain plan?
Plenty of muscle gain plans share the same 2,500 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 muscle gain 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 2,500 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 beginners?
Yes. Recipes are rated Standard (20–30 min/day) and use ingredients available at Aldi — no specialist equipment or advanced technique is needed.