Asda Alternative Meal Prep Muscle Gain Plan — 2,500 kcal
Muscle building, at a higher daily calorie target. This 7-day plan targets 2,500 kcal/day and averages 171g of protein, built around Asda's Just Essentials (formerly Smartprice) for an estimated £65–100/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
2500 kcal per person199g protein · 297g carbs per person
Breakfast631 kcal · 58g protein · 56g carbs · 15 min
Protein Waffles with Greek Yogurt and Berries
Made with whey protein powder, wholemeal flour, eggs.
Recipe
Ingredients
30g whey protein powder
60g wholemeal flour
2 eggs
125ml oat milk
125g low-fat Greek yogurt
70g frozen berries
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Eggs, Milk. Check the label for: Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Whisk whey protein powder, wholemeal flour, eggs and oat milk into a smooth batter and leave it to stand for 2 minutes.
Cook in a preheated waffle iron until golden and crisp, in batches if needed. No waffle iron? Cook the batter as pancakes in a lightly greased non-stick pan, 1-2 minutes per side — they will not be crisp, but they taste the same.
Serve with low-fat Greek yogurt and frozen berries.
Lunch712 kcal · 61g protein · 87g carbs · 20 min
Chicken, Broccoli and Brown Rice Prep Bowl
Made with chicken breast, broccoli, brown rice.
Recipe
Ingredients
200g chicken breast
¾ small head of broccoli (about 225g)
90g brown rice (dry weight)
2 garlic cloves
1¼ tbsp soy sauce
1¼ tsp olive oil
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, 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.
Cook the chicken breast in a non-stick pan over medium heat until cooked through. Add garlic for the final minute and cook until fragrant. Rest briefly before slicing if needed.
Slice or chop a small head of broccoli.
Arrange chicken breast, a small head of broccoli and the cooked brown rice in a bowl and finish with soy sauce and olive oil.
Dinner692 kcal · 59g protein · 82g carbs · 35 min
Lean Turkey Mince Stuffed Peppers
Made with turkey mince lean, mixed peppers, brown rice.
Recipe
Ingredients
225g lean turkey mince
5 mixed peppers
90g cooked brown rice
½ of a standard tin of tomatoes
1¼ onions
2 garlic cloves
Method
Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Halve the mixed peppers lengthways, remove the seeds and core, and arrange cut-side up in an ovenproof dish.
Cook the lean turkey mince with onions and garlic in a non-stick pan over medium heat, breaking it up, until browned.
Stir in cooked brown rice and tomatoes and season to taste.
Spoon the filling into the pepper halves and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the peppers are tender.
Snack318 kcal · 8g protein · 54g carbs · 3 min
Banana and Peanut Butter on Rice Cakes
Made with banana, peanut butter, rice cakes.
Recipe
Ingredients
1 banana
1¼ tbsp peanut butter
2 rice cakes
Allergens in this meal: Peanuts. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Slice or portion banana as needed.
Top rice cakes with banana and peanut butter and serve.
Snack147 kcal · 13g protein · 18g carbs · 5 min
Tzatziki with Vegetable Dippers
Made with low-fat greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic clove.
Recipe
Ingredients
125g low-fat Greek yogurt
¼ cucumber, grated
1 garlic clove
1 carrot
2 celery sticks
1¼ 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.
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
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Plant-Based Milks & Alternatives
Dairy & Eggs
Fruit
Herbs & Spices
Condiments & Oils
Tins & Jars
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 Protein Waffles with Greek Yogurt and Berries for quick breakfasts.
Cook and portion 3 portions of Chicken, Broccoli and Brown Rice Prep Bowl and 2 portions of Mackerel and Brown Rice Salad.
Batch cook Lean Turkey Mince Stuffed Peppers and Tuna and Sweetcorn Pasta Bake as the main dinner bases, then alternate them Monday to Friday.
Portion snacks in advance: Banana and Peanut Butter on Rice Cakes, Tzatziki with Vegetable Dippers, Walnuts and Dried Blueberries, Frozen Greek Yogurt and Berry Bark, Turkey Breast and Cream Cheese Roll-Up, Smoked Salmon on Cucumber Slices, Tuna on Rye Crackers, Smoked Mackerel Pâté on Oatcakes, Light Mozzarella and Tomato, and Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese Crackers.
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
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
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 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 171g 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 meals are filtered for how well they hold up over several days, not just for taste on day one.
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?
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.
