Sainsbury's Higher-Protein Weekly Vegetarian Plan — 1,800 kcal
High-protein meat-free eating. This 7-day plan targets 1,800 kcal/day and averages 102g of protein, built around Sainsbury's's Stamford Street Co (consolidated value range since May 2023) for an estimated £35–60/week. Meals lean on lower-fat vegetarian protein — egg whites, low-fat dairy, tofu and pulses — 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
1802 kcal per person102g protein · 272g carbs per person
Breakfast503 kcal · 32g protein · 62g carbs · 15 min
Wholemeal Pancakes with Low-Fat Yogurt
Made with wholemeal flour, eggs, semi-skimmed milk.
Recipe
Ingredients
70g wholemeal flour
2 eggs
125ml semi-skimmed milk
90g 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.
Lunch485 kcal · 30g protein · 81g carbs · 15 min
Lentil and Roasted Vegetable Soup
Made with green lentils, courgette, red pepper.
Recipe
Ingredients
90g green lentils
1 courgette
1 red pepper
1 onion
450ml vegetable stock
1 tsp cumin
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, courgette and red pepper into even pieces.
Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan) and roast courgette and red pepper for 25-30 minutes, until tender and caramelised at the edges. Meanwhile soften onion in a large pan over medium heat.
Stir in vegetable stock and cumin, then add green lentils and simmer gently until tender and thickened.
Taste, season and portion for serving.
Dinner518 kcal · 25g protein · 100g carbs · 25 min
Chickpea and Sweet Potato Stew
Made with tinned chickpeas, sweet potato, tinned tomatoes.
Recipe
Ingredients
¾ of a standard tin of chickpeas, drained
1 medium sweet potato
1 standard tin of tomatoes
3 generous handfuls spinach (about 90g)
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp paprika
Method
Peel and chop medium sweet potato into even pieces. Drain and rinse chickpeas.
Heat a large pan over medium heat and soften medium sweet potato 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.
Snack296 kcal · 15g protein · 29g carbs · 3 min
Reduced-Fat Cheddar on Oatcakes
Made with reduced-fat cheddar, oatcakes.
Recipe
Ingredients
40g reduced-fat cheddar
4 oatcakes
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Milk. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Estimated cost: £35–60/week for 1 person from Sainsbury's. 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 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.
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.
Mid-market: pricier than Asda or the discounters at list price, but Nectar Prices close much of the gap.
Value rangeStamford Street Co (consolidated value range since May 2023)
Loyalty pricingNectar Prices
What Sainsbury's is good for here
Strong chilled ready-prepared vegetables, which cut prep time on low-effort plans.
Worth knowing before you shop
Without a Nectar card the effective basket cost is meaningfully higher.
The Stamford Street value range has been trimmed, so fewer economy lines than a couple of years ago.
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 Sainsbury's's Stamford Street Co (consolidated value range since May 2023) range for rice, pasta, oats and tins — nutritionally identical to standard lines, at the lowest price point in store
Switch to Sainsbury's's value range across the board rather than mid-tier lines
Swap fresh berries for frozen mixed berries (same nutrients, fraction of the cost)
Add a couple of eggs or a portion of cottage cheese as a whole-food protein top-up
Use 0% fat Greek yogurt or quark in place of standard yogurt — same volume, far more protein
💪 Increase protein
Add extra egg whites (3–4) to a breakfast instead of whole eggs — protein without the extra fat
Use 0% fat Greek yogurt or quark instead of standard yogurt for the same volume, far more protein
Add a couple of eggs or a portion of cottage cheese as a whole-food protein top-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does this high protein vegetarian plan cost per week?
This plan is designed for Sainsbury's and is estimated at £35–60 per week for one person at typical UK prices, depending on what you already have at home. Nectar Prices can reduce this further.
How much protein does this plan provide per day?
This plan averages 102g 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 high protein vegetarian plan?
Plenty of high protein vegetarian plans share the same 1,800 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 high protein vegetarian 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 Sainsbury'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 vegetarian eaters?
Yes. Every meal in this plan is vegetarian, using ingredients readily available from Sainsbury's.