Lidl Vegan Cheap Student Plan — 1,800 kcal
Students on a tight budget. This 7-day plan targets 1,800 kcal/day and averages 81g of protein, built around Lidl's Simply / own-brand core range for an estimated £30–50/week. Protein comes from whole foods — pulses, tofu, tempeh, nuts and seeds — rather than protein powders or bars, in line with the whole-food approach this plan takes throughout.
Plan summary
Individual days vary around these figures.
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Adjust Household PortionsCurrently 1 person · 1 cook portions
Your 7-Day Meal Plan
Monday
Banana and Oat Smoothie
Made with banana, rolled oats, oat milk.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 banana
- 60g rolled oats
- 275ml oat milk
- 1 tsp peanut butter
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Peanuts. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
- Put banana, rolled oats, oat milk and peanut butter in a blender, or in a jug if you are using a stick blender.
- Blend until completely smooth, adding a small splash of water or milk only if needed.
- Pour into a glass or shaker and serve cold.
Cannellini Bean and Tomato Soup
Made with cannellini beans tinned, tinned tomatoes, onion.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 standard tin of cannellini beans, drained
- 1 standard tin of tomatoes
- 1 onion
- 3 garlic cloves
- 225ml vegetable stock
- basil, to taste
Check the label for: Celery, Cereals containing gluten, Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
- Peel and chop onion and garlic into even pieces. Drain and rinse cannellini beans.
- Heat a large pan over medium heat and soften onion and garlic for 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in vegetable stock and basil, to taste, then add cannellini beans and tomatoes and simmer gently until tender and thickened.
- Taste, season and portion for serving.
Chickpea and Sweet Potato Stew
Made with tinned chickpeas, sweet potato, tinned tomatoes.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 standard tin of chickpeas, drained
- 2 medium sweet potatoes
- 1 standard tin of tomatoes
- 4 generous handfuls spinach (about 100g)
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
Method
- Peel and chop medium sweet potatoes into even pieces. Drain and rinse chickpeas.
- Heat a large pan over medium heat and soften medium sweet potatoes for 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in cumin and paprika, then add chickpeas, tomatoes and spinach and simmer gently until tender and thickened.
- Taste, season and portion for serving.
Pea Protein Green Smoothie
Made with pea protein powder, oat milk, spinach.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 30g pea protein powder
- 275ml oat milk
- 1 generous handful spinach (about 30g)
- 1 banana
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten. Check the label for: Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
- Put pea protein powder, oat milk, spinach and banana in a blender, or in a jug if you are using a stick blender.
- Blend until completely smooth, adding a small splash of water or milk only if needed.
- Pour into a glass or shaker and serve cold.
Weekly Shopping List
Need containers for this batch? Compare meal prep containers →
Estimated cost: £30–50/week for 1 person from Lidl. Calories and macros remain per person, while shopping quantities are scaled for the household.
Protein
Carbs & Grains
Vegetables
Dairy & Eggs
Fruit
Herbs & Spices
Condiments & Oils
Tins & Jars
Extras
Container setup for this plan
This plan has about 17 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.
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.
Plan Details and Assumptions
Lidl Shopping Evidence Notes
These basket notes explain why this plan is shaped around certain ingredients and swaps before you open the shopping list.
- Choose flexible recipes because some limited-time ranges can rotate quickly.
- For batch cooking, buy the core protein and carbohydrate first, then adapt vegetables to what is available.
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.
| Decision | This plan uses | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Calorie target | Built around roughly 1,800 kcal per day | Moderate targets balance breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks without extreme restriction. |
| Supermarket | Lidl | Lidl pages work best with simple staples, rotating offers and flexible protein swaps. |
| Budget | £30–50/week estimate | Very cheap plans repeat staples and avoid niche products. |
| Prep style | Low (10–20 min/day) | Low-effort plans keep daily cooking short while preserving enough variety. |
Shopping This Plan At Lidl
The other major discounter, closely matched with Aldi on basket price and similarly limited in range.
What Lidl is good for here
- Strong bakery and fresh produce for the price point.
- Vemondo plant-based range makes vegan and vegetarian weeks cheaper than at most mainstream stores.
Worth knowing before you shop
- Middle-aisle stock is not reliable for weekly planning — treat it as a bonus, not a staple.
- Store-to-store availability varies more than at the big four.
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 Lidl's Simply / own-brand core range range for rice, pasta, oats and tins — nutritionally identical to standard lines, at the lowest price point in store
- Buy dried pulses (lentils, chickpeas, black beans) and cook in bulk rather than tinned — cheaper per portion
- Swap fresh berries for frozen mixed berries (same nutrients, fraction of the cost)
- Stir a scoop of plant protein into porridge, oats or a smoothie for an easy 20g
- Add extra firm tofu, tempeh or edamame to any bowl or stir-fry
💪 Increase protein
- Stir a scoop of plant protein into porridge, oats or a smoothie for an easy 20g
- Add extra firm tofu, tempeh or edamame to any bowl or stir-fry
- Keep tinned lentils, chickpeas and black beans in to bulk out a meal at low cost
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does this cheap student plan cost per week?
This plan is designed for Lidl and is estimated at £30–50 per week for one person at typical UK prices, depending on what you already have at home. Lidl Plus (app coupons and spend rewards) can reduce this further.
How much protein does this plan provide per day?
This plan averages 81g 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 1,800 kcal target — the difference here is that protein comes from whole foods throughout, with no reliance on powders or bars.
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 1,800 kcal/day, the Lidl 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 vegan eaters?
Yes. Every meal in this plan is vegan, using ingredients readily available from Lidl.
Feedback
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