Lidl GB has launched a collection of £1 recipes designed to show shoppers that healthier and more sustainable meals do not have to cost more.

The discounter has partnered with celebrity chef Miguel Barclay, creator of the One Pound Meals series, to develop seven “Planet Plate” recipes using affordable ingredients available in Lidl stores.

The recipes include more vegetables, beans, pulses, lentils, wholegrains and plant-based proteins, in line with principles from the Planetary Health Diet.

Lidl said the meal ideas were intended to help households make small changes to their diets without increasing their grocery bills.

Cost remains barrier to healthier diets

Research commissioned by Lidl found that 69 per cent of UK consumers believe eating healthily is more expensive.

Almost half, at 48 per cent, said they had chosen a less healthy option during the past year because it was cheaper, while 45 per cent said cost made it more difficult to make healthier and more sustainable food choices.

However, 65 per cent of respondents said they were concerned about the effect of their diet on their long-term health, while 48 per cent worried about its environmental impact.

Almost two thirds, at 62 per cent, said they would be willing to make small changes to their weekly shop if doing so reduced their environmental impact without raising the cost.

Lidl said its recipes demonstrated how shoppers could improve the balance of familiar meals by adding extra vegetables, wholegrains or plant-based proteins.

Other suggested changes include choosing one wholegrain product each day and adding more fruit and vegetables to meals and snacks.

Lidl GB chief commercial officer Richard Bourns said: “Our research shows people want to make healthier and more sustainable choices for the planet, but often affordability stands in the way.

“At Lidl GB, we’re breaking down those barriers by proving that market-leading value can go hand in hand with making foods encouraged by the Planetary Health Diet more affordable and accessible.”

Lidl Plus launches Wellness Wednesdays

The recipe launch will be supported by a new weekly Lidl Plus promotion offering shoppers discounts on products from the supermarket’s Live Well range.

The “Wellness Wednesdays” initiative will give customers 10 per cent off one Live Well product every Wednesday from 30 July to 2 September 2026.

Lidl’s Live Well marker is used to identify products the retailer says can support personal and environmental health.

The discounter said it was also supporting healthier eating through price cuts, promotions, Lidl Plus rewards and weekly savings on fresh fruit and vegetables through its Pick of the Week offers.

Barclay said: “I’ve always believed that great food doesn’t have to come with a big price tag.

“The key is making the most of simple, affordable ingredients and knowing how to bring them together in a way that’s delicious and balanced.

“These £1 Planet Plate recipes show how little changes, such as adding more vegetables and beans, can be easy to create at home, without compromising on flavour or affordability.”

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