Waitrose Moderate Budget Standard Prep Weight Loss Plan — 1,500 kcal
Anyone aiming for a sustainable calorie deficit. This 7-day plan targets 1,500 kcal/day and averages 102g of protein, built around Waitrose's Waitrose Essential (700+ lines; introduced 2009, relaunched 2020) for an estimated £55–70/week. Every meal already carries at least one lower-calorie swap — egg whites instead of whole eggs, cauliflower rice, extra lean protein instead of extra carbs — to keep calories down without cutting protein.
Plan summary
Individual days vary around these figures.
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Adjust Household PortionsCurrently 1 person · 1 cook portions
Your 7-Day Meal Plan
Monday
Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Wholemeal Bagel
Made with wholemeal bagel, light cream cheese, smoked salmon.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 wholemeal bagel
- 30g light cream cheese
- 50g smoked salmon
- 3 cucumber slices
- ¾ tsp lemon juice
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Fish, Milk. Check the label for: Sesame, Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
- Toast or warm wholemeal bagel.
- Slice cucumber.
- Layer light cream cheese, smoked salmon, cucumber and lemon juice evenly and season to taste.
Lean Beef Stir-Fry with Brown Rice
Made with lean beef strips, brown rice, frozen stir-fry veg.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 125g lean beef strips
- 50g brown rice (dry weight)
- 100g frozen stir-fry veg
- 1¼ tbsp soy sauce
- ¾ tsp sesame oil
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Sesame, Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
- Cook the rice according to its packet instructions, then drain if needed.
- Heat the sesame oil in a wok or large frying pan over high heat and stir-fry the lean beef strips for 3-4 minutes, until browned and cooked through.
- Add frozen stir-fry veg and stir-fry over high heat for 3-4 minutes, keeping everything moving so it stays crisp.
- Stir in soy sauce, toss to coat and serve with the rice.
Chickpea and Spinach Coconut Curry
Made with tinned chickpeas, baby spinach, coconut milk light.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 standard tin of chickpeas, drained
- 3 generous handfuls baby spinach (about 100g)
- 125ml light coconut milk
- 125g tomatoes
- ¾ onion
- 1 tbsp plus 1 tsp curry paste
- 50g brown rice (dry weight)
Check the label for: Cereals containing gluten, Fish, Mustard, Tree nuts. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
- Peel and chop onion into even pieces. Drain and rinse chickpeas.
- Heat a large pan over medium heat and soften onion for 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in light coconut milk and curry paste, then add chickpeas, baby spinach and tomatoes and simmer gently until tender and thickened.
- Meanwhile, cook the rice according to its packet instructions, then drain and serve alongside.
Weekly Shopping List
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Estimated cost: £55–70/week for 1 person from Waitrose. Calories and macros remain per person, while shopping quantities are scaled for the household.
Protein
Carbs & Grains
Vegetables
Dairy & Eggs
Herbs & Spices
Condiments & Oils
Extras
Container setup for this plan
This plan has about 14 prep-friendly meals. Start with 8 main containers, 3 small sauce or snack tubs, and 2 freezer tubs.
Use 2 five-container glass packs to provide at least 8 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 1,500 kcal per day | Lower-calorie days need protein, fibre and vegetables so the plan still feels like meals. |
| Supermarket | Waitrose | Waitrose pages suit quality-focused produce, fish, dairy, higher-welfare protein and premium but controlled shops. |
| Budget | £55–70/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 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
- Buy Waitrose's Waitrose Essential (700+ lines; introduced 2009, relaunched 2020) range for rice, pasta, oats and tins — nutritionally identical to standard lines, at the lowest price point in store
- Replace fresh salmon with tinned mackerel or sardines in brine (saves ~£2–3/week)
- Switch to Waitrose's value range across the board rather than mid-tier lines
- 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)
💪 Increase protein
- Use 0% fat Greek yogurt or quark in place of standard yogurt for more protein at a similar calorie cost
- Add a hard-boiled egg or egg white as an afternoon snack instead of a higher-calorie option
- Swap a carb side for extra lean protein when a meal feels short on fullness
🥦 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 weight loss plan cost per week?
This plan is designed for Waitrose and is estimated at £55–70 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 102g 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 weight loss plan?
Plenty of weight loss plans share the same 1,500 kcal target — the difference here is that each meal already has a lower-calorie substitution built in, rather than leaving that to you.
Can I print this weight loss 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 1,500 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 Standard (20–30 min/day) and use ingredients available at Waitrose — no specialist equipment or advanced technique is needed.
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