Muscle Gain Meal Plan — 2,000 kcal

Muscle building, at a higher daily calorie target. This 7-day plan targets 2,000 kcal/day and averages 117g of protein, built from ingredients stocked at any major UK supermarket for an estimated £50–80/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.

Your week at a glance

Plan summary

1 person
SupermarketGeneric UK supermarket
GoalMuscle Gain
Weekly cost£50–80/week estimate
Daily average across the 7 days
2,001 kcal117g protein249g carbs59g fat40g fibre

Individual days vary around these figures.

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Adjust Household PortionsCurrently 1 person · 1 cook portions

Your 7-Day Meal Plan

Monday

2000 kcal per person102g protein · 257g carbs per person
Breakfast338 kcal · 18g protein · 58g carbs · 5 min

Baked Beans on Wholemeal Toast

Made with reduced-sugar baked beans, wholemeal bread.

Recipe
Ingredients
  • 200g reduced-sugar baked beans
  • 2 slices of wholemeal bread

Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten. Check the label for: Celery, Sesame, Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.

Method
  1. Toast or warm wholemeal bread.
  2. Heat reduced-sugar baked beans through in a pan or the microwave.
  3. Layer reduced-sugar baked beans evenly and season to taste.
Lunch511 kcal · 26g protein · 80g carbs · 12 min

Edamame and Soba Noodle Salad

Made with soba noodles, edamame beans, cucumber.

Recipe
Ingredients
  • 80g soba noodles (dry weight)
  • 100g edamame beans
  • ½ cucumber
  • 1 red pepper
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp ginger

Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Sesame, Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.

Method
  1. Cook the noodles according to their packet instructions, then drain and cool slightly.
  2. Slice or chop cucumber and red pepper. Cook edamame beans in boiling water for 3-4 minutes, then drain.
  3. Arrange the cooked soba noodles, edamame beans, cucumber and red pepper in a bowl and finish with soy sauce, sesame oil and ginger.
Dinner707 kcal · 32g protein · 69g carbs · 20 min

Spinach and Ricotta Wholemeal Pasta

Made with ricotta, wholemeal pasta, baby spinach.

Recipe
Ingredients
  • 100g ricotta
  • 90g wholemeal pasta (dry weight)
  • 5 generous handfuls baby spinach (about 150g)
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 15g parmesan
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Milk. Check the label for: Eggs. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.

Method
  1. Cook the pasta according to its packet instructions, keeping a mug of the cooking water before you drain it.
  2. Meanwhile, gently cook the crushed garlic in the olive oil in a large pan for 1 minute, then add the baby spinach and stir until wilted.
  3. Stir in the ricotta with a splash of the pasta water to make a sauce, then toss through the drained pasta.
  4. Serve with the parmesan grated over.
Snack219 kcal · 5g protein · 19g carbs · 1 min

Almonds and Dried Cranberries

Made with almonds, dried cranberries.

Recipe
Ingredients
  • 30g 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
  1. Combine almonds and dried cranberries in a bowl or lidded container.
Snack225 kcal · 21g protein · 31g carbs · 3 min

Turkey Breast Slices with Rye Crackers

Made with turkey breast slices, rye crackers, mustard.

Recipe
Ingredients
  • 75g turkey breast slices
  • 4 rye crackers
  • 1 tsp mustard

Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Mustard. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.

Method
  1. Top rye crackers with turkey breast slices and mustard and serve.

Weekly Shopping List

Need containers for this batch? Compare meal prep containers →

Estimated cost: £50–80/week for 1 person from Generic UK supermarket. 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

Higher calorie meal prep containers with rice, pasta, oats, nuts and protein foods
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.

See Amazon price →
Plan Details and Assumptions

Generic UK Supermarket Shopping Evidence Notes

These basket notes explain why this plan is shaped around certain ingredients and swaps before you open the shopping list.

  • Use common UK staples first: oats, rice, potatoes, pasta, eggs, tins, frozen vegetables, yogurt and lean protein.
  • Keep branded products optional so the plan still works at Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Iceland, Waitrose, Ocado, M&S or Co-op.
  • Check cupboard items before shopping because sauces, oil, spices, oats and rice are often already at home.

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.

DecisionThis plan usesWhy it matters
Calorie targetBuilt around roughly 2,000 kcal per dayModerate targets balance breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks without extreme restriction.
SupermarketGeneric UK supermarketGeneric UK pages use widely available supermarket ingredients and average-price assumptions.
Budget£50–80/week estimateBudget plans keep variety while still prioritising own-brand and batch-friendly ingredients.
Prep styleStandard (20–30 min/day)Standard-prep plans balance variety, fresh meals and realistic weekday cooking.

Shopping This Plan At Generic UK supermarket

Built from ingredients stocked by every major UK supermarket, using average UK pricing rather than one retailer.

Value rangeOwn-brand equivalents at any major retailer

What Generic UK supermarket is good for here

  • Ingredients are chosen from staples that most UK supermarkets carry, so the plan should work wherever you shop, though ranges still vary by store.
  • Easy to swap to a specific retailer later without changing the meals.
  • Costs reflect a mid-market average rather than the cheapest or priciest store.

Worth knowing before you shop

  • Shopping entirely at a discounter will usually come in below the estimate; a premium store above it.
  • No loyalty-scheme pricing is assumed.

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 own-brand rolled oats, rice, pasta and tins — nutritionally identical to branded, at any supermarket
  • 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 a generic UK supermarket and is estimated at £50–80 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 117g 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 muscle gain plan?

Plenty of muscle gain plans share the same 2,000 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 2,000 kcal/day, the generic UK supermarket 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 a generic UK supermarket — no specialist equipment or advanced technique is needed.

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