Training Day Muscle Gain Plan — 3,500 kcal

Muscle building, at a higher daily calorie target. This 7-day plan targets 3,500 kcal/day and averages 235g of protein, built from ingredients stocked at any major UK supermarket for an estimated £90–145/week. Both protein and carbohydrate run high in this plan — it is built for training performance and recovery, not calorie restriction, so there is no need to trade one macro off against the other.

Your week at a glance

Plan summary

1 person
SupermarketGeneric UK supermarket
GoalMuscle Gain
Weekly cost£90–145/week estimate
Daily average across the 7 days
3,501 kcal235g protein373g carbs121g fat67g 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

3494 kcal per person258g protein · 299g carbs per person
Breakfast590 kcal · 51g protein · 20g carbs · 12 min

Tofu Scramble with Peppers

Made with firm tofu, mixed peppers, turmeric.

Recipe
Ingredients
  • 300g firm tofu
  • 1 pepper
  • ¾ tsp turmeric
  • ¾ tsp cumin
  • 1½ tsp olive oil

Allergens in this meal: Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.

Method
  1. Chop the mixed peppers. Heat the olive oil in a non-stick pan and cook the peppers for 3-4 minutes, until softening.
  2. Crumble the firm tofu into the pan, add the turmeric and cumin, and cook the tofu, stirring, for 5-6 minutes until hot through and lightly golden.
  3. Season to taste and serve.
Lunch442 kcal · 63g protein · 11g carbs · 15 min

Lean Beef Mince Lettuce Wraps

Made with lean beef mince, romaine lettuce leaves, spring onion.

Recipe
Ingredients
  • 275g lean beef mince
  • 6 romaine lettuce leaves
  • 3 spring onions
  • 1½ tbsp soy sauce
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1½ tsp ginger

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

Method
  1. Separate, rinse and dry the romaine lettuce leaves, keeping them whole so they can hold the filling.
  2. Cook the lean beef mince with garlic and ginger in a large non-stick pan, breaking it up, until browned.
  3. Stir in spring onions and soy sauce and cook for 2-3 minutes until hot through.
  4. Spoon the filling into the lettuce leaves and serve immediately.
Dinner759 kcal · 49g protein · 89g carbs · 10 min

Poached Eggs and Baked Beans on Wholemeal Toast

Made with eggs, reduced-sugar baked beans, wholemeal bread.

Recipe
Ingredients
  • 3 eggs
  • 300g reduced-sugar baked beans
  • 3 slices of wholemeal bread

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

Method
  1. Bring a small pan of water to a gentle simmer.
  2. Crack an egg directly into the water and poach for 3-4 minutes, until the white is set but the yolk stays soft.
  3. Toast wholemeal bread, then serve with the eggs and reduced-sugar baked beans.
Snack401 kcal · 29g protein · 47g carbs · 3 min

Protein Yogurt with Low-Sugar Granola

Made with low-fat greek yogurt, low-sugar granola, honey.

Recipe
Ingredients
  • 225g low-fat Greek yogurt
  • 50g low-sugar granola
  • 1½ tsp honey

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

Method
  1. Put low-fat Greek yogurt and low-sugar granola in a bowl.
  2. Top with honey.
  3. Eat straight away, or cover and chill for later the same day.
Snack320 kcal · 5g protein · 34g carbs · 1 min

Apple with Walnuts

Made with apple, walnuts.

Recipe
Ingredients
  • 2 apples
  • 30g walnuts

Allergens in this meal: Tree nuts. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.

Method
  1. Slice or portion apples as needed.
  2. Combine apples and walnuts in a bowl or lidded container.
Snack523 kcal · 26g protein · 52g carbs · 3 min

Reduced-Fat Cheddar on Oatcakes

Made with reduced-fat cheddar, oatcakes.

Recipe
Ingredients
  • 60g reduced-fat cheddar
  • 6 oatcakes

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

Method
  1. Top oatcakes with reduced-fat cheddar and serve.
Snack459 kcal · 35g protein · 46g carbs · 3 min

Sardines on Rye Crackers

Made with tinned sardines in spring water, rye crackers.

Recipe
Ingredients
  • 1 standard tin of sardines, drained
  • 6 rye crackers

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

Method
  1. Drain sardines.
  2. Top rye crackers with sardines and serve.

Weekly Shopping List

Need containers for this batch? Compare meal prep containers →

Estimated cost: £90–145/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 3,500 kcal per dayHigh-calorie days need snacks and carbohydrate portions rather than one oversized dinner.
SupermarketGeneric UK supermarketGeneric UK pages use widely available supermarket ingredients and average-price assumptions.
Budget£90–145/week estimateHigh-budget plans can use more varied proteins, higher-calorie extras and convenience foods.
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)
  • 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 a post-workout combination of fast carbs and protein (banana and whey, or chocolate milk) after harder sessions
  • Use an extra portion of chicken, fish or tofu on higher-training days rather than cutting carbs to make room
  • Greek yogurt with fruit and granola covers both protein and carb needs in one snack

🥦 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 £90–145 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 235g 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 3,500 kcal target — the difference here is that both protein and carbs are set high together, rather than trading one off against the other.

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 3,500 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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