Tesco Cook-Once Weekly Cheap Student Plan — 2,000 kcal

Free printable UK cheap student meal plan for Tesco: 7 days at ~2,000 kcal/day, £30–40/week estimate, macros and shopping list.

SupermarketTesco
Calorie target~2000 kcal/day
Weekly budget£30–40
Prep difficultyBatch cook (prep on Sunday)
Best forStudents on a tight budget
DietAll diets

Estimated daily macros

Protein
130g
Carbs
200g
Fats
60g
Fibre
35g

Plan Quick Facts

Best forStudents on a tight budget
Calories~2000 kcal/day
Budget£30–40/week estimate
Prep styleBatch cook (prep on Sunday)
Includes7 days, recipes, macros, PDF export and shopping list
DietAll diets

Export This Meal Plan as a PDF

Print this 7-day meal plan or save it as a PDF. The printable meal plan summary includes every meal, daily calories, protein totals and the full weekly shopping list.

7-day meal plan

Weekly shopping list

Your 7-Day Meal Plan

Monday

2000 kcal118g protein
Breakfast379 kcal · 14g protein · 2 min

Weetabix with Semi-Skimmed Milk and Banana

Made with weetabix, semi-skimmed milk, banana. Ready in 2 min — 379 kcal, 14g protein.

Recipe
  1. Add the base ingredients to a bowl: Weetabix 2 biscuits, Semi-skimmed milk 230ml, Banana 1, Honey 1.25 tsp.
  2. Top with the fruit, nuts, seeds, or honey listed.
  3. Eat straight away, or cover and chill for later the same day.
Lunch540 kcal · 46g protein · 12 min

Tuna and Edamame Brown Rice Bowl

Made with tinned tuna in spring water, brown rice, edamame beans. Ready in 12 min — 540 kcal, 46g protein.

Recipe
  1. Wash and chop the salad or vegetable ingredients: Tinned tuna in spring water 165g, Brown rice 90g dry, Edamame beans 90g, Soy sauce 1.25 tbsp, Sesame oil 1.25 tsp, Spring onion 2.
  2. Cook or warm any protein or grains listed, then let them cool slightly.
  3. Combine everything in a bowl, season, and pack dressing separately if meal prepping.
Dinner552 kcal · 30g protein · 20 min

Tofu Pad Thai

Made with firm tofu, rice noodles, beansprouts. Ready in 20 min — 552 kcal, 30g protein.

Recipe
  1. Prepare the ingredients: Firm tofu 230g, Rice noodles 90g dry, Beansprouts 115g, Spring onion 3, Tamari 2.25 tbsp, Lime juice, Peanuts 25g.
  2. Cook the main protein or vegetables in a pan over medium heat until cooked through.
  3. Add the remaining ingredients, heat until piping hot, season to taste, and serve.
Snack299 kcal · 7g protein · 1 min

Dark Chocolate and Almonds

Made with dark chocolate, almonds. Ready in 1 min — 299 kcal, 7g protein.

Recipe
  1. Lay out the ingredients: Dark chocolate 70% 35g, Almonds 25g.
  2. Drain, slice, or portion anything that needs preparing.
  3. Assemble in a bowl or container, season, and eat cold or microwave until hot if preferred.
Snack230 kcal · 21g protein · 5 min

Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese Crackers

Made with smoked salmon, light cream cheese, rye crackers. Ready in 5 min — 230 kcal, 21g protein.

Recipe
  1. Lay out the ingredients: Smoked salmon 70g, Light cream cheese 35g, Rye crackers 3.
  2. Drain, slice, or portion anything that needs preparing.
  3. Assemble in a bowl or container, season, and eat cold or microwave until hot if preferred.

Weekly Shopping List

Estimated cost: £30–40/week for one person from Tesco.

Protein

  • Tinned tuna in spring water 165g
  • Firm tofu 230g
  • Smoked salmon 70g
  • Chicken breast 175g
  • Lean stewing beef 235g
  • Beef stock 350ml
  • Turkey mince lean 230g
  • Eggs 1
  • King prawns 230g
  • Green lentils 115g dry
  • Tinned chickpeas 280g
  • Green lentils 130g

Carbs & Grains

  • Brown rice 90g dry
  • Rice noodles 90g dry
  • Wholemeal tortilla 1
  • Wholemeal pasta 105g dry
  • New potatoes 175g
  • Baking potato 280g
  • Wholemeal roll 1
  • Low-sugar granola 40g

Vegetables

  • Edamame beans 90g
  • Spring onion 2
  • Peanuts 25g
  • Romaine lettuce 70g
  • Sweet potato 290g
  • Tinned tomatoes 470g
  • Onion 1
  • Carrot 2
  • Baby spinach 70g
  • Cucumber half
  • Cherry tomatoes 9
  • Frozen peas 90g
  • Mushrooms 230g
  • Sweetcorn 85g
  • Spinach 140g
  • Cucumber 3/4
  • Courgette 1
  • Red pepper 1

Dairy & Eggs

  • Semi-skimmed milk 230ml
  • Light cream cheese 35g
  • Peanut butter 1.25 tbsp
  • Skyr 175g
  • Cottage cheese 170g
  • Low-fat Greek yogurt 40g

Extras & Condiments

  • Weetabix 2 biscuits
  • Banana 1
  • Honey 1.25 tsp
  • Soy sauce 1.25 tbsp
  • Sesame oil 1.25 tsp
  • Beansprouts 115g
  • Tamari 2.25 tbsp
  • Lime juice
  • Dark chocolate 70% 35g
  • Almonds 25g
  • Rye crackers 3
  • Light Caesar dressing 25g
  • Parmesan 10g
  • Garlic 3 cloves
  • Apple 1
  • Olive oil 1.25 tsp
  • Garlic powder 1.25 tsp
  • Mixed herbs 1.25 tsp
  • Walnuts 25g
  • Green beans 90g
  • Olives 12
  • Dried cranberries 25g
  • Tahini 25g
  • Lemon juice
  • Cumin 1.25 tsp
  • Low-fat crème fraîche 55g
  • Thyme 1.25 tsp
  • Pumpkin seeds 35g
  • Dark chocolate chips 15g
  • Plain kefir 280ml
  • Frozen mixed berries 140g
  • Chia seeds 1.5 tbsp
  • Paprika 1.5 tsp
  • Hummus 85g
  • Vegetable stock 650ml
  • Reduced-fat feta 75g

Swaps & Suggestions

💰 Make it cheaper

  • Replace fresh salmon with tinned mackerel or sardines in brine (saves ~£2–3/week)
  • Buy store-brand rolled oats, rice, and pasta — nutritionally identical to branded
  • 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)
  • Buy pulses (lentils, chickpeas, black beans) dried and cook in bulk

💪 Increase protein

  • Add a scoop of unflavoured whey or plant protein to porridge or smoothies
  • Replace rice or pasta with extra protein (an additional chicken breast or 2 boiled eggs)
  • Use Skyr or Quark instead of standard yogurt (roughly 2× the protein)
  • Add a hard-boiled egg as an afternoon snack on rest days
  • Swap rice cakes or crackers for a protein bar (aim for 20g+ protein, under 200 kcal)

🥦 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 cheap student plan cost per week?

This plan is designed for Tesco and typically costs £30–40 per week for one person, depending on what you already have at home. Buying in bulk, choosing own-brand items, and batch cooking can reduce the cost further.

How much protein does this plan provide per day?

Protein is balanced across the week. Most days provide 100–130g, which meets general UK dietary guidelines for active adults.

Can I swap meals I don't like?

Yes. Use the AI edit button on any meal to swap it out. Common requests include swapping chicken for turkey, replacing salmon with tinned tuna, or making a day vegetarian. The shopping list updates automatically.

Can I print this cheap student meal plan or save it as a PDF?

Yes. Use the export / print PDF button on the plan page. The printable version summarises the full 7-day meal plan and includes the weekly shopping list.

Is this plan suitable for meal prep?

Yes — this plan is specifically designed for batch cooking. Prep everything on Sunday in 60–90 minutes and portion into containers for the week ahead.

Is this plan suitable for beginners?

Yes. The meals use widely available ingredients and straightforward cooking methods. No specialist equipment or culinary experience is needed.

Feedback

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