M&S Microwave-Friendly Low Effort Plan — 2,000 kcal
Simple meals with minimal cooking. This 7-day plan targets 2,000 kcal/day and averages 125g of protein, built around M&S's Remarksable Value (100+ everyday staples) for an estimated £50–80/week. Meals are built around ingredients that freeze well — frozen fish, frozen vegetables, freezer-friendly bases — so a weekly shop keeps for longer and less goes to waste.
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
Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Made with rolled oats, oat milk, peanut butter.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 90g rolled oats
- 225ml oat milk
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
- 1 banana
- 1 tsp chia seeds
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Peanuts. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
- Stir rolled oats, oat milk and chia seeds together in a lidded jar or container.
- Stir well, cover and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Stir again before eating, then add peanut butter and banana. Loosen with a splash of oat milk if needed.
Tiger Prawn and Mango Salad
Made with king prawns, mango, mixed leaves.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 175g king prawns
- ½ mango
- 3 generous handfuls mixed leaves (about 90g)
- ¼ red onion
- lime juice, to taste
- chilli flakes, to taste
- coriander fresh, to taste
Allergens in this meal: Crustaceans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
- Cook the king prawns in a non-stick pan over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, turning, until pink and opaque. Add red onion for the final minute and cook until fragrant.
- Rinse and dry mixed leaves.
- Arrange king prawns, mango and mixed leaves in a bowl and finish with lime juice, chilli flakes and coriander fresh, to taste.
Lamb Keema with Cauliflower Rice
Made with lean lamb mince, cauliflower, onion.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 225g lean lamb mince
- ½ medium cauliflower (about 325g)
- 1 onion
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp ginger
- 2¼ tsp garam masala
- 90g peas
Method
- Grate or pulse the medium cauliflower into rice-sized pieces and set aside.
- Soften onion, garlic and ginger in a large non-stick pan over medium heat for 4-5 minutes.
- Add the lean lamb mince and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Stir in garam masala and peas and cook until hot through.
- Cook the cauliflower rice in a separate dry pan for 4-5 minutes, stirring, then season and serve with the keema.
Rice Cakes with Cottage Cheese
Made with rice cakes, cottage cheese.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 rice cakes
- 100g cottage cheese
Allergens in this meal: Milk. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
- Top rice cakes with cottage cheese and serve.
Peanut Butter with Celery Sticks
Made with peanut butter, celery sticks.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 2¼ tbsp peanut butter
- 4 celery sticks
Allergens in this meal: Celery, Peanuts. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
- Slice or portion celery sticks as needed.
- Combine peanut butter and celery sticks in a bowl or lidded container.
Weekly Shopping List
Need containers for this batch? Compare meal prep containers →
Estimated cost: £50–80/week for 1 person from M&S. Calories and macros remain per person, while shopping quantities are scaled for the household.
Protein
Carbs & Grains
Vegetables
Plant-Based Milks & Alternatives
Dairy & Eggs
Fruit
Herbs & Spices
Condiments & Oils
Extras
Container setup for this plan
This plan has about 21 prep-friendly meals. Start with 11 main containers, 5 small sauce or snack tubs, and 2 freezer tubs.
Use 3 five-container glass packs to provide at least 11 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
M&S Shopping Evidence Notes
These basket notes explain why this plan is shaped around certain ingredients and swaps before you open the shopping list.
- Best for premium convenience, fresh prepared ingredients, quality proteins and smaller high-value baskets.
- Use M&S plans when the week needs quick assembly meals, salads, fish, cooked grains or prepared veg that save time.
- Balance the shop with simple staples so convenience items do not push the whole plan into a premium basket.
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 2,000 kcal per day | Moderate targets balance breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks without extreme restriction. |
| Supermarket | M&S | M&S pages lean on premium convenience, fresh prepared ingredients and high-quality smaller baskets. |
| Budget | £50–80/week estimate | Moderate plans allow more convenience items and variety without becoming premium-only. |
| Prep style | Minimal (under 10 min/day) | Minimal-prep plans use more assembly meals, ready-to-eat staples and short cooking steps. |
Shopping This Plan At M&S
Premium food retailer; Remarksable Value makes a weekly prep shop feasible, but it remains the priciest option here.
What M&S is good for here
- Remarksable Value covers the staples a prep plan leans on most.
- Prepared and part-prepared ingredients cut cooking time substantially on low-effort plans.
- Consistently high produce quality, which holds up better across several days of storage.
Worth knowing before you shop
- Outside Remarksable Value, costs rise sharply against every other retailer here.
- Smaller pack sizes suit one or two people better than bulk batch cooking.
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 M&S'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
- Keep a bag of frozen prawns or white fish fillets as a fast protein top-up on any meal
- Frozen chicken breast portions cost less than fresh and add protein without a special shop
- Add frozen edamame to a rice or noodle dish for extra plant protein with no prep
🥦 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 low effort plan cost per week?
This plan is designed for M&S and is estimated at £50–80 per week for one person at typical UK prices, depending on what you already have at home. Sparks can reduce this further.
How much protein does this plan provide per day?
This plan averages 125g 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 low effort plan?
Plenty of low effort plans share the same 2,000 kcal target — the difference here is that ingredients are chosen so a single shop keeps for the full week without a mid-week top-up.
Can I print this low effort 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 2,000 kcal/day, the M&S 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 Minimal (under 10 min/day) and use ingredients available at M&S — no specialist equipment or advanced technique is needed.
Feedback
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