Sainsbury's Whole-Food Vegetarian Low Calorie Plan — 1,800 kcal
Vegetarians cutting calories. This 7-day plan targets 1,800 kcal/day and averages 98g of protein, built around Sainsbury's's Stamford Street Co (consolidated value range since May 2023) for an estimated £40–70/week. Protein comes from whole foods — eggs, dairy, pulses and tofu — 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.
Email me this plan
The 7-day menu, shopping list and a printable link, sent once. No newsletter.
We'll send: Sainsbury's Whole-Food Vegetarian Low Calorie Plan — 1,800 kcal
Want a new plan every week? Join the MealPrep+ waitlist.
Adjust Household PortionsCurrently 1 person · 1 cook portions
Your 7-Day Meal Plan
Monday
Eggs, Spinach and Mushroom on Toast
Made with eggs, baby spinach, mushrooms.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1 generous handful baby spinach (about 40g)
- 90g mushrooms
- 2 slices of wholemeal bread
- ¾ tsp olive oil
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Eggs. Check the label for: Sesame, Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
- Slice or chop baby spinach and mushrooms, then cook them in olive oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat until softened.
- Beat the eggs in a bowl, then add them to the pan and cook over medium heat, stirring gently until softly set.
- Toast wholemeal bread, then serve with the eggs.
Baked Falafel and Salad Pitta
Made with falafel, wholemeal pitta, hummus.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 falafel, baked
- 1 wholemeal pitta
- 2 tbsp plus 1 tsp hummus
- 1 generous handful mixed leaves (about 30g)
- 1 tomato
- 4 cucumber slices
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Sesame. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
- Toast or warm wholemeal pitta.
- Warm the baked falafel through in a non-stick pan or oven until piping hot.
- Open the pitta into a pocket and fill it with baked falafel, hummus, mixed leaves, tomato and cucumber and season to taste.
Three-Bean Vegetable Chilli with Brown Rice
Made with mixed beans tinned, tinned tomatoes, onion.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1½ standard tins of mixed beans, drained
- ¾ of a standard tin of tomatoes
- ¾ onion
- 1 red pepper
- ¾ tsp chilli powder
- ¾ tsp cumin
- 70g brown rice (dry weight)
Method
- Peel and chop onion and red pepper into even pieces. Drain and rinse mixed beans.
- Heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat and soften onion and red pepper for 5-7 minutes, adding a splash of water if the pan starts to stick.
- Stir in chilli powder and cumin, then add mixed beans and tomatoes and simmer gently until tender and thickened.
- Meanwhile, cook the rice according to its packet instructions, then drain and serve alongside.
Tzatziki with Vegetable Dippers
Made with low-fat greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic clove.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 90g low-fat Greek yogurt
- ¼ cucumber, grated
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 carrot
- 2 celery sticks
- ¾ tsp dill
Allergens in this meal: Celery, Milk. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
- Squeeze the grated cucumber in a clean tea towel to remove the excess water.
- Crush or finely grate the garlic, then stir it into the low-fat Greek yogurt with the cucumber and dill. Season to taste.
- Cut the carrot and celery sticks into batons and serve them with the tzatziki for dipping.
Weekly Shopping List
Need containers for this batch? Compare meal prep containers →
Estimated cost: £40–70/week for 1 person from Sainsbury'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
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
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.
| 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 | Sainsbury's | Sainsbury's pages allow more prepared ingredients, vegetarian options and premium swaps where useful. |
| Budget | £40–70/week estimate | Moderate plans allow more convenience items and variety without becoming premium-only. |
| Prep style | Standard (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.
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
- Compare Sainsbury'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 berries for the berry meals in this plan
💪 Increase protein
- Use extra eggs or cottage cheese as a whole-food protein top-up between meals
- Swap a processed snack for a handful of nuts and a boiled egg to keep protein whole-food
- Add eggs, cottage cheese or Greek yogurt as a whole-food protein top-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does this vegetarian low calorie plan cost per week?
This plan is designed for Sainsbury's and is estimated at £40–70 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 98g 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 vegetarian low calorie plan?
Plenty of vegetarian low calorie 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 vegetarian low calorie 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.
Feedback
Seen something off with this plan? Send a quick note and we will review it.