Tesco Vegetarian Higher-Protein Weekly 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 113g of protein, built around Tesco's Stockwell & Co (cupboard staples: tins, cereals, tea, baking) for an estimated £40–70/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
2000 kcal per person116g protein · 192g carbs per person
Breakfast409 kcal · 26g protein · 32g carbs · 10 min
Scrambled Eggs on Wholemeal Toast
Made with eggs, wholemeal bread, butter.
Recipe
Ingredients
3 eggs
2 slices of wholemeal bread
4g butter
1 tbsp plus 2 tsp semi-skimmed milk
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Eggs, Milk. Check the label for: Sesame, Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Crack the eggs into a bowl, add semi-skimmed milk, season lightly and whisk with a fork. Heat butter in a non-stick pan, then cook the eggs over medium heat, stirring gently until softly set.
Toast wholemeal bread, then serve with the eggs.
Lunch545 kcal · 37g protein · 53g carbs · 20 min
Green Lentil and Halloumi Bowl
Made with green lentils, halloumi, cucumber.
Recipe
Ingredients
90g cooked green lentils
75g halloumi
50g cucumber
30g pomegranate seeds
1 tbsp lemon dressing
Allergens in this meal: Milk. Check the label for: Mustard. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Cook the halloumi in a dry non-stick pan for 2-3 minutes per side, until golden. Rest briefly before slicing if needed.
Slice or chop cucumber.
Arrange cooked green lentils, halloumi, cucumber and pomegranate seeds in a bowl and finish with lemon dressing. Keep the dressing separate if packing ahead.
Dinner585 kcal · 27g protein · 57g carbs · 20 min
Spinach and Ricotta Wholemeal Pasta
Made with ricotta, wholemeal pasta, baby spinach.
Recipe
Ingredients
90g ricotta
80g wholemeal pasta (dry weight)
4 generous handfuls baby spinach (about 125g)
2 garlic cloves
15g parmesan
¾ tbsp olive oil
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Milk. Check the label for: Eggs. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Cook the pasta according to its packet instructions, keeping a mug of the cooking water before you drain it.
Meanwhile, gently cook the crushed garlic in the olive oil in a large pan for 1 minute, then add the baby spinach and stir until wilted.
Stir in the ricotta with a splash of the pasta water to make a sauce, then toss through the drained pasta.
Serve with the parmesan grated over.
Snack170 kcal · 12g protein · 21g carbs · 3 min
Rice Cakes with Cottage Cheese
Made with rice cakes, cottage cheese.
Recipe
Ingredients
3 rice cakes
90g cottage cheese
Allergens in this meal: Milk. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Top rice cakes with cottage cheese and serve.
Snack291 kcal · 14g protein · 29g carbs · 3 min
Reduced-Fat Cheddar on Oatcakes
Made with reduced-fat cheddar, oatcakes.
Recipe
Ingredients
30g 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: £40–70/week for 1 person from Tesco. 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.
The largest UK grocer. Widest range of the mainstream stores, with Clubcard pricing doing much of the value work.
Value rangeStockwell & Co (cupboard staples: tins, cereals, tea, baking)
Loyalty pricingClubcard Prices
What Tesco is good for here
Deepest own-brand range across price tiers, so most recipes can be built up or down in cost.
Strong free-from and speciality shelves for gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan weeks.
Worth knowing before you shop
Non-Clubcard prices are noticeably higher; the card is effectively required to hit the budget estimate.
The Stockwell & Co economy tier has been shrinking, so some value lines have moved up a tier.
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 Tesco's Stockwell & Co (cupboard staples: tins, cereals, tea, baking) range for rice, pasta, oats and tins — nutritionally identical to standard lines, at the lowest price point in store
Buy dried pulses (lentils, chickpeas, black beans) and cook in bulk rather than tinned — cheaper per portion
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 muscle gain plan cost per week?
This plan is designed for Tesco and is estimated at £40–70 per week for one person at typical UK prices, depending on what you already have at home. Clubcard Prices can reduce this further.
How much protein does this plan provide per day?
This plan averages 113g 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 Tesco 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 Tesco.