Sainsbury's Vegetarian High-Protein High-Carb Weekly 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 141g of protein, built around Sainsbury's's Stamford Street Co (consolidated value range since May 2023) for an estimated £55–100/week. Both protein and carbohydrate run high in this plan — it is built for training performance and recovery, not calorie restriction, so there is no need to trade one macro off against the other.
Adjust Household PortionsCurrently 1 person · 1 cook portions
Your 7-Day Meal Plan
Monday
2540 kcal per person151g protein · 274g carbs per person
Breakfast250 kcal · 33g protein · 22g carbs · 10 min
Egg White Omelette with Peppers
Made with egg whites, mixed peppers, onion.
Recipe
Ingredients
8 egg whites
1 pepper
¾ onion
olive oil spray, as needed
1½ tsp mixed herbs
Allergens in this meal: Eggs. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Slice or chop pepper and onion, then cook them in a non-stick pan over medium heat until softened.
Beat the eggs in a bowl with mixed herbs and season lightly, then pour into the pan and cook over medium heat until just set, folding it over to serve.
Season to taste and serve.
Lunch745 kcal · 37g protein · 28g carbs · 15 min
Grilled Halloumi and Roasted Vegetable Salad
Made with halloumi, courgette, red pepper.
Recipe
Ingredients
150g halloumi
2 courgettes
2 red peppers
3 generous handfuls mixed leaves (about 80g)
1½ tbsp olive oil
1½ tsp balsamic glaze
Allergens in this meal: Milk, Sulphur dioxide and sulphites. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Cook the halloumi under a hot grill or on a hot griddle pan for 2-3 minutes per side, until golden. Rest briefly before slicing if needed.
Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Cut courgettes and red peppers into even pieces and roast for 25-30 minutes, until tender and lightly browned, then leave to cool slightly.
Arrange halloumi, courgettes, red peppers and mixed leaves in a bowl and finish with olive oil and balsamic glaze.
Dinner1102 kcal · 53g protein · 191g carbs · 30 min
Butternut Squash and Lentil Soup with Bread
Made with butternut squash, red lentils, onion.
Recipe
Ingredients
¾ medium butternut squash (about 550g)
150g red lentils
1½ onions
3 garlic cloves
975ml vegetable stock
2 wholemeal roll
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten. Check the label for: Celery, Sesame, Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Peel and chop onions, garlic and medium butternut squash into even pieces.
Heat a large pan over medium heat and soften onions, garlic and medium butternut squash for 5-7 minutes.
Stir in vegetable stock, then add red lentils and simmer gently until tender and thickened.
Taste, season and serve with wholemeal roll on the side.
Snack313 kcal · 5g protein · 25g carbs · 1 min
Walnuts and Dried Blueberries
Made with walnuts, dried blueberries.
Recipe
Ingredients
30g walnuts
30g dried blueberries
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
Combine walnuts and dried blueberries in a bowl or lidded container.
Snack130 kcal · 23g protein · 8g carbs · 1 min
Skyr High-Protein Yogurt
Made with skyr.
Recipe
Ingredients
200g skyr
Allergens in this meal: Milk. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Put skyr in a bowl.
Stir gently and serve.
Eat straight away, or cover and chill for later the same day.
Estimated cost: £55–100/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 a post-workout combination of fast carbs and protein (banana and whey, or chocolate milk) after harder sessions
Greek yogurt with fruit and granola covers both protein and carb needs in one snack
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 muscle gain plan cost per week?
This plan is designed for Sainsbury's and is estimated at £55–100 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 141g 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 both protein and carbs are set high together, rather than trading one off against the other.
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 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.