Muscle building, at a higher daily calorie target. This 7-day plan targets 2,500 kcal/day and averages 177g of protein, built around Asda's Just Essentials (formerly Smartprice) for an estimated £65–100/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
2501 kcal per person229g protein · 287g carbs per person
Breakfast549 kcal · 37g protein · 62g carbs · 3 min
Skyr with Walnuts, Honey and Banana
Made with skyr, walnuts, banana.
Recipe
Ingredients
275g skyr
30g walnuts
2 bananas
1½ tsp honey
Allergens in this meal: Milk, Tree nuts. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Slice or portion bananas as needed.
Combine skyr, walnuts, bananas and honey in a bowl or lidded container.
Lunch796 kcal · 61g protein · 101g carbs · 12 min
Tuna and Edamame Brown Rice Bowl
Made with tinned tuna in spring water, brown rice, edamame beans.
Recipe
Ingredients
1½ standard tins of tuna, drained
125g brown rice (dry weight)
125g edamame beans
1½ tbsp soy sauce
1½ tsp sesame oil
3 spring onions
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Fish, Sesame, Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Cook the rice according to its packet instructions, then drain and cool slightly.
Drain tuna.
Slice or chop spring onions. Cook edamame beans in boiling water for 3-4 minutes, then drain.
Arrange tuna, the cooked brown rice, edamame beans and spring onions in a bowl and finish with soy sauce and sesame oil.
Dinner790 kcal · 82g protein · 99g carbs · 25 min
Cod and Chickpea Stew
Made with cod fillet, tinned chickpeas, tinned tomatoes.
Recipe
Ingredients
275g cod fillet
1¼ standard tins of chickpeas, drained
1½ standard tins of tomatoes
1½ onions
4 garlic cloves
1½ tsp paprika
parsley fresh, to taste
Allergens in this meal: Fish. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Peel and chop the onion and garlic. Drain and rinse the chickpeas.
Soften the onion and garlic in a large pan over medium heat for 5 minutes, then stir in the paprika.
Add the tomatoes and chickpeas with a splash of water and simmer for 10 minutes, until thickened.
Nestle the cod fillet into the sauce, cover and simmer gently for 8-10 minutes, until it flakes easily. Break it into chunks, season to taste and scatter over the parsley.
Snack181 kcal · 17g protein · 22g carbs · 5 min
Tzatziki with Vegetable Dippers
Made with low-fat greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic clove.
Recipe
Ingredients
150g low-fat Greek yogurt
¼ cucumber, grated
1 garlic clove
2 carrot
3 celery sticks
1½ tsp dill
Allergens in this meal: Celery, Milk. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Squeeze the grated cucumber in a clean tea towel to remove the excess water.
Crush or finely grate the garlic, then stir it into the low-fat Greek yogurt with the cucumber and dill. Season to taste.
Cut the carrot and celery sticks into batons and serve them with the tzatziki for dipping.
Snack185 kcal · 32g protein · 3g carbs · 8 min
Prawn Cocktail in Lettuce Cups
Made with king prawns, light mayo, lemon juice, optional to taste (excluded from nutrition estimate).
Recipe
Ingredients
175g king prawns
1 tbsp plus 1 tsp light mayo
lemon juice, to taste
6 romaine lettuce leaves
Allergens in this meal: Crustaceans, Eggs. Check the label for: Mustard. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Separate, rinse and dry the romaine lettuce leaves, keeping them whole so they can hold the filling.
Cook the king prawns in a non-stick pan over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, turning, until pink and opaque.
Cool the king prawns slightly, then combine king prawns, light mayo and lemon juice to make the filling and season to taste.
Spoon the filling into the lettuce leaves and serve immediately.
Estimated cost: £65–100/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
Dairy & Eggs
Fruit
Herbs & Spices
Condiments & Oils
Tins & Jars
Extras
Sponsored #ad - container setup
Container setup for this plan
This plan has about 16 prep-friendly meals. Start with 9 main containers, 4 small sauce or snack tubs, and 2 freezer tubs.
Use 2 five-container glass packs to provide at least 9 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.
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
Buy Asda's Just Essentials (formerly Smartprice) 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 Asda and is estimated at £65–100 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 177g 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 Asda 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 Asda — no specialist equipment or advanced technique is needed.
