Sainsbury's Muscle Gain Plan — 2,000 kcal

Muscle building, at a higher daily calorie target. This 7-day plan targets 2,000 kcal/day and averages 123g of protein, built around Sainsbury's's Stamford Street Co (consolidated value range since May 2023) for an estimated £50–80/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.

Your week at a glance

Plan summary

1 person
SupermarketSainsbury's
GoalMuscle Gain
Weekly cost£50–80/week estimate
Daily average across the 7 days
1,999 kcal123g protein264g carbs52g fat46g fibre

Individual days vary around these figures.

View mealsShopping list
Keep this plan

Email me this plan

The 7-day menu, shopping list and a printable link, sent once. No newsletter.

We'll send: Sainsbury's Muscle Gain Plan — 2,000 kcal

One email with the plan — not a newsletter. How we handle your address.

Want a new plan every week? Join the MealPrep+ waitlist.

Adjust Household PortionsCurrently 1 person · 1 cook portions

Your 7-Day Meal Plan

Monday

1993 kcal per person104g protein · 318g carbs per person
Breakfast469 kcal · 17g protein · 83g carbs · 5 min

Overnight Oats with Banana

Made with rolled oats, semi-skimmed milk, banana.

Recipe
Ingredients
  • 70g rolled oats
  • 175ml semi-skimmed milk
  • 1 banana
  • 1 tsp honey

Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Milk. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.

Method
  1. Stir rolled oats and semi-skimmed milk together in a lidded jar or container.
  2. Stir well, cover and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  3. Stir again before eating, then add banana and honey. Loosen with a splash of semi-skimmed milk if needed.
Lunch508 kcal · 21g protein · 96g carbs · 15 min

Black Bean Burrito Bowl

Made with black beans tinned, brown rice, sweetcorn.

Recipe
Ingredients
  • ¾ of a standard tin of black beans, drained
  • 70g brown rice (dry weight)
  • 50g sweetcorn
  • 40g salsa
  • coriander fresh, to taste
  • lime juice, to taste

Check the label for: Celery. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.

Method
  1. Cook the rice according to its packet instructions, then drain and cool slightly.
  2. Drain black beans; rinse the pulses under cold water.
  3. Arrange black beans, the cooked brown rice and sweetcorn in a bowl and finish with salsa, coriander fresh and lime juice, to taste.
Dinner605 kcal · 45g protein · 96g carbs · 25 min

Quorn Mince Bolognese with Wholemeal Pasta

Made with quorn mince, wholemeal pasta, tinned tomatoes.

Recipe
Ingredients
  • 175g Quorn mince
  • 80g wholemeal pasta (dry weight)
  • 1 standard tin of tomatoes
  • 1 onion
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 tsp mixed herbs

Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten. Check the label for: Eggs, Milk. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.

Method
  1. Cook the pasta according to its packet instructions, then drain if needed.
  2. Meanwhile, cook the quorn in a non-stick pan over medium heat until cooked through. Add tomatoes, onion and garlic and cook until tender.
  3. Fold the cooked pasta through the pan, stir in mixed herbs, and heat through before serving.
Snack186 kcal · 5g protein · 16g carbs · 1 min

Almonds and Dried Cranberries

Made with almonds, dried cranberries.

Recipe
Ingredients
  • 20g almonds
  • 20g dried cranberries

Allergens in this meal: Tree nuts. Check the label for: Sulphur dioxide and sulphites. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.

Method
  1. Combine almonds and dried cranberries in a bowl or lidded container.
Snack225 kcal · 16g protein · 27g carbs · 3 min

Protein Yogurt with Low-Sugar Granola

Made with low-fat greek yogurt, low-sugar granola, honey.

Recipe
Ingredients
  • 125g low-fat Greek yogurt
  • 30g low-sugar granola
  • 1 tsp honey

Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Milk. Check the label for: Tree nuts, Peanuts, Sesame, Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.

Method
  1. Put low-fat Greek yogurt and low-sugar granola in a bowl.
  2. Top with honey.
  3. Eat straight away, or cover and chill for later the same day.

Weekly Shopping List

Need containers for this batch? Compare meal prep containers →

Estimated cost: £50–80/week for 1 person from Sainsbury's. Calories and macros remain per person, while shopping quantities are scaled for the household.

0 of 89 items tickedSaved on this device

Protein

Carbs & Grains

Vegetables

Dairy & Eggs

Fruit

Herbs & Spices

Condiments & Oils

Tins & Jars

Extras

Higher calorie meal prep containers with rice, pasta, oats, nuts and protein foods
Sponsored #ad - container setup

Container setup for this plan

This plan has about 19 prep-friendly meals. Start with 10 main containers, 4 small sauce or snack tubs, and 2 freezer tubs.

Use 2 five-container glass packs to provide at least 10 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.

See Amazon price →
Plan Details and Assumptions

Sainsbury'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 wider premium and own-brand choice, vegetarian products, fresh produce and flexible swaps.
  • Useful when a plan needs quality-of-life convenience items without becoming takeaway-dependent.
  • Watch total basket cost and swap premium items back to own-brand staples when budget matters.

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.

DecisionThis plan usesWhy it matters
Calorie targetBuilt around roughly 2,000 kcal per dayModerate targets balance breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks without extreme restriction.
SupermarketSainsbury'sSainsbury's pages allow more prepared ingredients, vegetarian options and premium swaps where useful.
Budget£50–80/week estimateModerate plans allow more convenience items and variety without becoming premium-only.
Prep styleStandard (20–30 min/day)Standard-prep plans balance variety, fresh meals and realistic weekday cooking.

Shopping This Plan At Sainsbury's

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

  • Reliable fresh produce and fish counters for pescatarian and higher-quality prep.
  • Strong chilled ready-prepared vegetables, which cut prep time on low-effort plans.
  • Nectar Prices regularly apply to meat and dairy staples.

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
  • Replace fresh salmon with tinned mackerel or sardines in brine (saves ~£2–3/week)
  • Switch to Sainsbury's's value range across the board rather than mid-tier lines
  • 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 Sainsbury's and is estimated at £50–80 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 123g 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 muscle gain plan?

Plenty of muscle gain plans share the same 2,000 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 2,000 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 beginners?

Yes. Recipes are rated Standard (20–30 min/day) and use ingredients available at Sainsbury's — no specialist equipment or advanced technique is needed.

Feedback

Seen something off with this plan? Send a quick note and we will review it.