Students on a tight budget. This 7-day plan targets 1,500 kcal/day and averages 95g of protein, built around Asda's Just Essentials (formerly Smartprice) for an estimated £35–50/week. Meals are chosen to hold up after a few days in the fridge or freezer — stews, chillies, tray bakes and grain bowls — rather than anything that goes soggy or dries out on reheating.
Adjust Household PortionsCurrently 1 person · 1 cook portions
Your 7-Day Meal Plan
Monday
1501 kcal per person122g protein · 177g carbs per person
Breakfast542 kcal · 34g protein · 66g carbs · 15 min
Wholemeal Pancakes with Low-Fat Yogurt
Made with wholemeal flour, eggs, semi-skimmed milk.
Recipe
Ingredients
80g wholemeal flour
2 eggs
150ml semi-skimmed milk
100g low-fat yogurt
50g blueberries
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Eggs, Milk. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Whisk wholemeal flour, eggs and semi-skimmed milk into a smooth batter and leave it to stand for 2 minutes.
Lightly grease a non-stick pan, then cook small pancakes for 1-2 minutes per side.
Serve with low-fat yogurt and blueberries.
Lunch443 kcal · 38g protein · 50g carbs · 25 min
Lean Beef and Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
Made with lean beef strips, sweet potato, mixed leaves.
Recipe
Ingredients
150g lean beef strips
1 medium sweet potato
3 generous handfuls mixed leaves (about 80g)
½ red onion
1 tbsp balsamic dressing
Check the label for: Mustard, Sulphur dioxide and sulphites. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Cut the medium sweet potato into even chunks and roast at 200°C (180°C fan) until tender and browned, then cool slightly.
Cook the lean beef strips in a non-stick pan over medium heat until cooked through. Add red onion for the final minute and cook until fragrant. Rest briefly before slicing if needed.
Rinse and dry mixed leaves.
Arrange lean beef strips, medium sweet potato and mixed leaves in a bowl and finish with balsamic dressing. Keep the dressing separate if packing ahead.
Dinner516 kcal · 50g protein · 61g carbs · 30 min
Chicken and Vegetable Broth with Bread
Made with chicken breast, carrot, celery.
Recipe
Ingredients
175g chicken breast
2 carrots
2 celery stalks
1 onion
650ml chicken stock
1 wholemeal roll
Allergens in this meal: Celery, Cereals containing gluten. Check the label for: Sesame, Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Peel and chop the carrots, celery and onion.
Put them in a large pan with the chicken stock, bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add the chicken breast and simmer gently for 12-15 minutes, until cooked through. Lift it out, shred it with two forks and return it to the pan.
Season to taste and serve with the wholemeal roll on the side.
Estimated cost: £35–50/week for 1 person from Asda. Calories and macros remain per person, while shopping quantities are scaled for the household.
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Protein
Carbs & Grains
Vegetables
Plant-Based Milks & Alternatives
Dairy & Eggs
Fruit
Herbs & Spices
Condiments & Oils
Extras
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.
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 Wholemeal Pancakes with Low-Fat Yogurt for quick breakfasts.
Cook and portion 3 portions of Lean Beef and Roasted Sweet Potato Salad and 2 portions of Baked Salmon and Quinoa Power Bowl.
Batch cook Chicken and Vegetable Broth with Bread and Chickpea and Spinach Coconut Curry 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.
Typically the cheapest of the big four on a like-for-like basket, with a genuinely low economy tier.
Value rangeJust Essentials (formerly Smartprice)
Loyalty pricingAsda Rewards (cashback to a wallet rather than instant discounts)
What Asda is good for here
Just Essentials is usually the lowest-priced option in its category, which suits very cheap weeks.
Large multipack meat and frozen ranges that suit bulk batch cooking.
Good value on rice, pasta, oats and tinned pulses — the backbone of a budget prep plan.
Worth knowing before you shop
Just Essentials lines sell out quickly and availability is inconsistent.
Rewards pays into a wallet rather than reducing the shop at the till, so it will not lower this week's bill.
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
Compare Asda's own-brand versions of the ingredients on this shopping list
Compare the price per 100g or 100ml when choosing pack sizes for this week’s quantities
Plan another use for any unused pack contents before buying extra ingredients
Compare dried pulses with the tinned pulses on this list if you have time to soak and cook them
Compare fresh and frozen salmon prices for the salmon meals in this plan
Compare fresh and frozen berries for the berry meals in this plan
Compare fresh and frozen chicken breast prices for the chicken meals in this plan
💪 Increase protein
Cook an extra portion of mince or beans into the weekly batch — cheap to add, keeps well
Add tinned beans or lentils to a batch-cooked chilli or curry for extra protein at low cost
Portion cooked chicken thighs into the freezer in 100g bags to add to any meal without extra cooking
🥦 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 cheap student plan cost per week?
This plan is designed for Asda and is estimated at £35–50 per week for one person at typical UK prices, depending on what you already have at home. Asda Rewards (cashback to a wallet rather than instant discounts) can reduce this further.
How much protein does this plan provide per day?
This plan averages 95g 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 cheap student plan?
Plenty of cheap student plans share the same 1,500 kcal target — the difference here is that meals are filtered for how well they hold up over several days, not just for taste on day one.
Can I print this cheap student 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 1,500 kcal/day, the Asda 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 Asda — no specialist equipment or advanced technique is needed.
