Muscle building, at a higher daily calorie target. This 7-day plan targets 3,000 kcal/day and averages 182g of protein, built from ingredients stocked at any major UK supermarket for an estimated £80–135/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
2997 kcal per person159g protein · 445g carbs per person
Breakfast542 kcal · 23g protein · 92g carbs · 5 min
Bircher Muesli with Grated Apple and Cinnamon
Made with rolled oats, semi-skimmed milk, apple.
Recipe
Ingredients
80g rolled oats
200ml semi-skimmed milk
1 apple, grated
100g low-fat natural yogurt
¾ tsp cinnamon
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Milk. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Stir rolled oats, semi-skimmed milk and low-fat natural yogurt 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 grated apple and cinnamon. Loosen with a splash of semi-skimmed milk if needed.
Lunch640 kcal · 33g protein · 100g carbs · 12 min
Edamame and Soba Noodle Salad
Made with soba noodles, edamame beans, cucumber.
Recipe
Ingredients
100g soba noodles (dry weight)
125g edamame beans
¾ cucumber
1 red pepper
1¼ tbsp soy sauce
1¼ tsp sesame oil
1¼ tsp ginger
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Sesame, Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Cook the noodles according to their packet instructions, then drain and cool slightly.
Slice or chop cucumber and red pepper. Cook edamame beans in boiling water for 3-4 minutes, then drain.
Arrange the cooked soba noodles, edamame beans, cucumber and red pepper in a bowl and finish with soy sauce, sesame oil and ginger.
Dinner993 kcal · 49g protein · 172g carbs · 30 min
Butternut Squash and Lentil Soup with Bread
Made with butternut squash, red lentils, onion.
Recipe
Ingredients
¾ medium butternut squash (about 500g)
125g red lentils
1¼ onions
3 garlic cloves
900ml vegetable stock
1 wholemeal roll
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
Peel and chop onions, garlic and medium butternut squash into even pieces.
Heat a large pan over medium heat and soften onions, garlic and medium butternut squash 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.
Snack345 kcal · 33g protein · 36g carbs · 3 min
Turkey Breast and Cream Cheese Roll-Up
Made with turkey breast slices, light cream cheese, cucumber slices.
Recipe
Ingredients
100g turkey breast slices
40g light cream cheese
5 cucumber slices
Allergens in this meal: Milk. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Lay the turkey breast slices flat and spread each one with light cream cheese.
Put a cucumber slice at one end of each and roll up tightly.
Eat straight away, or pack into a lidded container and keep chilled.
Snack268 kcal · 4g protein · 28g carbs · 1 min
Apple with Walnuts
Made with apple, walnuts.
Recipe
Ingredients
1 apple
30g walnuts
Allergens in this meal: Tree nuts. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Slice or portion apple as needed.
Combine apple and walnuts in a bowl or lidded container.
Snack209 kcal · 17g protein · 17g carbs · 1 min
Lean Beef Jerky
Made with lean beef jerky.
Recipe
Ingredients
50g lean beef jerky
Check the label for: Cereals containing gluten, Sesame, Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Estimated cost: £80–135/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
Extras
Sponsored #ad - container setup
Container setup for this plan
This plan has about 14 prep-friendly meals. Start with 12 main containers, 3 small sauce or snack tubs, and 2 freezer tubs.
Use 3 five-container glass packs to provide at least 12 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.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability can change on Amazon UK.
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 Bircher Muesli with Grated Apple and Cinnamon for quick breakfasts.
Cook and portion five lunches of Edamame and Soba Noodle Salad.
Batch cook Butternut Squash and Lentil Soup with Bread and Slow-Cooked Lamb and Red Lentil Stew as the main dinner bases, then alternate them Monday to Friday.
Portion snacks in advance: Turkey Breast and Cream Cheese Roll-Up, Apple with Walnuts, Lean Beef Jerky, Turkey Breast Slices with Rye Crackers, Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese Crackers, Oat Biscuits with Peanut Butter, Prawn Cocktail in Lettuce Cups, Chocolate Protein Shake, Almond Butter with Celery Sticks, Carrot Sticks with Hummus, Tzatziki with Vegetable Dippers, Low-Fat Greek Yogurt with Berries, Light Mozzarella and Tomato, Mini Protein Overnight Oats, and Sliced Cooked Chicken Breast.
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.
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)
Switch to Generic UK supermarket's value range across the board rather than mid-tier lines
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 £80–135 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 182g 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 3,000 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 3,000 kcal/day, the generic UK supermarket 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 a generic UK supermarket — no specialist equipment or advanced technique is needed.
