Jump to: How to build a balanced meal | 7-day budget meal plan
There’s a common misconception that eating healthier is more expensive. However, in a previous article, we discussed how a healthy diet doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, it can be a way to cut down your food bill, reduce waste, and improve your health.
The difficulty comes with developing the daily habits that support our ability to achieve this. One that we advocate for on Second Nature is meal planning.
Meal planning can help you in many ways:
- Cuts down on food waste
- Avoids the stress of worrying about what to eat at every meal
- Helps you stick to a healthier, balanced diet
How to build a balanced budget meal
Many people on Second Nature, like Kaye, have achieved their health and weight loss goals while eating our budget-friendly meals for the whole family. If you want to join them, click here to take our free health quiz.
Our team of registered dietitians have put together this 7-day budget meal plan to give you an idea of what an affordable healthy diet looks like.
All the recipes in this weekly meal plan are low in refined carbs and sugars, made from whole foods, packed full of veg, and tailored to keep you fuller for longer. Many of them will cost you less than $1.50 per portion as a bonus.
If you’d like to join 150,000 other people who’ve joined the Second Nature programme, improved their health, and cut down on their food bills:
Now, onto the good stuff.
7-day budget meal plan
The following healthy meal plan shows how you could use Second Nature recipes to successfully begin your weight loss journey. Complete budget recipes and instruction videos of the example meals are available by clicking on the meal you want to make.
Not all these meals will suit your preferences, but we also have many more healthy recipes you could swap in for other dinner ideas. To get you started on Monday, prep your overnight oats on Sunday evening.
This meal planner includes an estimated cost of each portion (the cost will vary on where you live and shop) and some simple ‘quick meal prep’ sections throughout the week that shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes.
Making a shopping list ahead of time will save you time and money, and you’re less likely to give in to cravings in the shop and buy fewer unhealthy options. This healthy eating meal plan is printable; feel free to save the page as a PDF.
| BREAKFAST | LUNCH | DINNER | |
| MONDAY | Overnight oats
Estimated cost per portion: €1.72 Quick prep: double the portions so you’ve got two days ready |
Ham and mustard sandwich
Estimated cost per portion: €1.24 |
Coconut Lentil Dahl
Estimated cost per portion: €0.63 (Optional toppings: 2 tbsp Greek yoghurt and 2 tbsp roughly chopped parsley) Second Nature tip: Serve with a chickpea curry for a Friday night feast for the family. Quick prep: Put leftover dahl into a container in the fridge for dinner on Wednesday |
| TUESDAY | Pre-prepped overnight oats | Ploughman’s lunchbox
Estimated cost per portion: €3.18 Quick prep: double the portions and have a box ready for tomorrow. Shape the mince for the meatballs and leave it in the fridge. |
Meatballs in chilli tomato sauce
Estimated cost per portion: €1.07 (Optional toppings: grated hard cheese) Second Nature tip: Cook in a slow cooker for extra flavour. Quick prep: Put leftover meatballs into containers for dinner on Thursday |
| WEDNESDAY | Very berry smoothie
Estimated cost per portion: €1.30 |
Pre-prepped ploughman’s lunchbox | Leftover coconut dhal
Second Nature tip: Serve on top of baked sweet potato. Quick prep: make the tomato soup ready for tomorrows’s lunch |
| THURSDAY | Mango chia pudding
Estimated cost per portion: €1.30 Quick prep: double the portions so you’ve got two days ready |
Tomato soup
Estimated cost per portion: €1.07 Quick prep: double the portions so you’ve got two days ready (Optional: + sliced chicken or boiled eggs to increase protein) |
Leftover meatballs in chilli tomato sauce |
| FRIDAY | Pre-prepped chia pudding with mango
Quick prep: chop vegetables and portion cheese ready for dinner |
Leftover tomato soup
(Optional: + sliced chicken or boiled eggs to increase protein) |
Tortilla pizza
Estimated cost per portion: €2.02 Quick prep: prep yogurt bowl for morning |
| SATURDAY | Yogurt bowl
Estimated cost per portion: €1.42 Quick prep: marinade the chicken and chop the vegetables for dinner |
Egg salad sandwich
Estimated cost per portion: €1
|
Peri Peri chicken and vegetables
Estimated cost per portion: €1.09 Second Nature tip: Swap in boneless chicken thighs. Quick prep: put leftovers in the fridge |
| SUNDAY | Scrambled eggs (2-3 eggs) on multi-grain seeded toast
Estimated cost per portion: €0.92 (Optional: 1 grilled tomato, 1 handful baby spinach, 2 rashers of back bacon) Quick prep: prepare fish cakes and put them in the fridge for dinner |
Leftovers, takeaway, or lunch out for a family meal. | Thai fish cakes
Estimated cost per portion: €2.88 |
| OPTIONAL SNACKS
100g Yogurt with a handful of berries (v) Cold cut meats Tinned fish on wholegrain crackers Veggie sticks with 60g hummus (v) 1-2 hard-boiled eggs (v) Apple with peanut butter |
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