Waitrose High-Variety Maintenance Plan — 2,000 kcal
Steady, balanced eating around a ~2,000 kcal/day target. This 7-day plan targets 2,000 kcal/day and averages 125g of protein, built around Waitrose's Waitrose Essential (700+ lines; introduced 2009, relaunched 2020) for an estimated £50–80/week. Meals deliberately rotate protein sources and formats across the week — this plan avoids repeating the same protein twice in one day so the week does not feel monotonous.
Plan summary
Individual days vary around these figures.
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We'll send: Waitrose High-Variety Maintenance Plan — 2,000 kcal
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Adjust Household PortionsCurrently 1 person · 1 cook portions
Your 7-Day Meal Plan
Monday
Chia and Oat Overnight Pot with Berries
Made with rolled oats, chia seeds, oat milk.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 70g rolled oats
- 2¼ tsp chia seeds
- 225ml oat milk
- 90g frozen mixed berries
- 1¼ tsp maple syrup
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
- Stir rolled oats, chia seeds and oat milk together in a lidded jar or container.
- Stir well, cover and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Stir again before eating, then add frozen mixed berries and maple syrup. Loosen with a splash of oat milk if needed.
Grilled Chicken and Chickpea Power Salad
Made with chicken breast, tinned chickpeas, mixed leaves.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 175g chicken breast
- ¾ of a standard tin of chickpeas, drained
- 3 generous handfuls mixed leaves (about 90g)
- 9 cherry tomatoes
- 60g cucumber
- 1 tbsp lemon dressing
Check the label for: Mustard. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
- Cook the chicken breast under a hot grill or on a hot griddle pan, turning once, until cooked through and lightly charred. Rest briefly before slicing if needed.
- Rinse mixed leaves, then slice or chop cherry tomatoes and cucumber.
- Arrange chicken breast, chickpeas, mixed leaves, cherry tomatoes and cucumber in a bowl and finish with lemon dressing. Keep the dressing separate if packing ahead.
Thai-Style Prawn and Noodle Stir-Fry
Made with king prawns, wholewheat noodles, pak choi.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 225g king prawns
- 100g wholewheat noodles (dry weight)
- 175g pak choi
- 1 tbsp plus 2 tsp sweet chilli sauce
- 1¼ tbsp soy sauce
- lime juice, to taste
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Crustaceans, Soybeans. Check the label for: Eggs, Fish. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
- Cook the noodles according to their packet instructions, then drain if needed.
- Heat a wok or large frying pan over high heat and stir-fry the king prawns for 3-4 minutes, until browned and cooked through.
- Add pak choi and stir-fry over high heat for 3-4 minutes, keeping everything moving so it stays crisp.
- Stir in sweet chilli sauce and soy sauce, toss to coat and serve with the noodles.
Sliced Cooked Chicken Breast
Made with chicken breast.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 150g cooked chicken breast
Method
- Have cooked chicken breast to hand.
- Warm the cooked chicken breast through in a non-stick pan or oven until piping hot.
- Season to taste and serve.
Cottage Cheese with Cucumber
Made with cottage cheese, cucumber.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 175g cottage cheese
- ½ cucumber
Allergens in this meal: Milk. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
- Slice or portion cucumber as needed.
- Put cucumber in a bowl or lidded container, adding cottage cheese just before eating.
Weekly Shopping List
Need containers for this batch? Compare meal prep containers →
Estimated cost: £50–80/week for 1 person from Waitrose. 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 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.
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
Waitrose 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 quality-focused shops using strong produce, higher-welfare proteins, fish, dairy and prepared vegetables.
- Use Waitrose own-label basics first, then reserve premium ingredients for meals where quality noticeably improves the week.
- Watch the basket total by keeping carbohydrates, tins, oats and freezer staples simple.
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 2,000 kcal per day | Moderate targets balance breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks without extreme restriction. |
| Supermarket | Waitrose | Waitrose pages suit quality-focused produce, fish, dairy, higher-welfare protein and premium but controlled shops. |
| Budget | £50–80/week estimate | Moderate plans allow more convenience items and variety without becoming premium-only. |
| Prep style | Higher variety | High-variety plans trade extra decisions for less repetition. |
Shopping This Plan At Waitrose
Premium positioning, but the Essential range is competitive on staples and keeps a plan viable without paying premium prices throughout.
What Waitrose is good for here
- Essential covers most core prep ingredients, so cost sits well below the headline Waitrose reputation.
- High produce and meat quality, which matters when food is cooked ahead and reheated later.
- Good free-from and speciality range for restrictive diets.
Worth knowing before you shop
- Straying outside Essential raises the weekly cost quickly.
- Fewer stores nationally, and a smaller convenience footprint than the big four.
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 Waitrose'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 salmon prices for the salmon meals in this plan
- Compare fresh and frozen berries for the berry meals in this plan
- Compare fresh and frozen chicken breast prices for the chicken meals in this plan
💪 Increase protein
- Rotate in a protein you have not used yet that week (turkey, tofu, prawns) rather than repeating the same one
- Add a handful of nuts or seeds to a salad or bowl for a different protein source and texture
- Swap one dairy-based snack for a plant-based one (edamame, hummus) to keep variety going
🥦 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 maintenance plan cost per week?
This plan is designed for Waitrose and is estimated at £50–80 per week for one person at typical UK prices, depending on what you already have at home. myWaitrose can reduce this further.
How much protein does this plan provide per day?
This plan averages 125g 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 maintenance plan?
Plenty of maintenance plans share the same 2,000 kcal target — the difference here is that the meal rotation actively avoids repeating the same protein twice in one day.
Can I print this maintenance 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 Waitrose 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 Higher variety and use ingredients available at Waitrose — no specialist equipment or advanced technique is needed.
Feedback
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