12 Foods to Buy in Dunnes Stores for High-Protein Meal Prep

Eating more protein or preparing balanced meals doesn't mean you need to shop at specialist fitness stores. Dunnes Stores offers many useful everyday ingredients, including lean meat, yoghurt, cottage cheese, eggs, whole grains, frozen fruit, and convenient cupboard staples.

The most useful products are often the simplest ones. You can combine them in different ways, use them for meal prep, and build meals around protein, vegetables, fibre, and sensible portions of carbohydrates.

This guide includes 12 foods that can be useful when preparing breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks. Product ranges, pack sizes and availability may vary between Dunnes Stores branches, so always check the current label and nutrition information before buying.

1. 0% Fat Greek-Style Yoghurt

Products such as FAGE Total 0% Greek Recipe Strained Yoghurt are useful to keep in the fridge when you want a convenient source of protein that works in both sweet and savoury recipes.

Depending on the product, 0% Greek-style yoghurt commonly provides around 10g of protein per 100g while remaining relatively low in calories and fat. Exact values can vary, so check the nutrition label when comparing brands.

Use it as the base for overnight oats, breakfast bowls or baked oats. You can also mix it with herbs, mustard, lemon juice, or spices to make a lighter dressing or sauce for wraps, salads, and savoury bowls.

For a sweeter breakfast, combine it with fruit, oats, nuts or protein powder. For a savoury option, use it instead of a heavier mayonnaise-based dressing.

2. Fat-Free Cottage Cheese

Glenisk Fat Free Natural Cottage Cheese is another versatile fridge staple you can use for breakfasts, snacks, sauces, and main meals.

Cottage cheese provides protein while also adding volume and a creamy texture. You can eat it as is, but blending it creates a smoother consistency for people who don't enjoy the traditional curds.

Blend it with fruit for a simple snack pot, mix it into overnight oats or use it to make a creamy pasta sauce. You can also add it to scrambled eggs, baked dishes, or potato fillings.

When using cottage cheese in a recipe, check whether the nutrition information is based on the full tub or a 100g serving, as pack sizes can vary.

3. Turkey Breast Mince and Lean Beef Mince

Lean minced meat is useful for preparing several portions of lunch or dinner without needing a complicated recipe.

Dunnes Stores Irish Turkey Breast Mince and lean beef mince can be used in pasta dishes, rice bowls, stuffed vegetables, wraps, chilli-style meals and traybakes. Choosing a lower-fat option can reduce total fat and calories while still providing a useful amount of protein.

Always compare the nutrition labels, as the fat content can differ considerably between products. Terms such as lean or reduced fat should only be used when they accurately describe the product.

Cook a larger batch with onions, garlic, herbs and spices, then divide it between meal-prep containers with rice, bulgur, potatoes or vegetables.

4. Tinned Tuna and Sardines

Tinned fish is one of the easiest cupboard staples to keep available for days when you need a quick meal.

Mix tuna in spring water or brine with Greek-style yoghurt, mustard, lemon juice, or a small amount of lighter mayonnaise. Use it for sandwiches, wraps, salads, pasta dishes or baked potatoes.

Sardines are another practical option for quick lunches and dinners. Add them directly to pasta, serve them on toast, or combine them with vegetables and grains.

When calculating nutrition, use the drained weight if you don't use the liquid. Products packed in oil will also have different nutrition values from products packed in spring water, brine or tomato sauce.

5. Basmati Rice and Wholegrain Bulgur

Rice and bulgur are simple, economical ingredients that make it easier to build balanced meal-prep bowls.

Buying dry grains lets you control portion size and prepare only what you need. Serve them with lean meat, fish, tofu, beans, vegetables, or yoghurt-based sauces.

Bulgur cooks relatively quickly and has a slightly nutty flavour. Basmati rice works with a wide range of dishes and can be prepared in larger batches for several meals.

For accurate recipe nutrition, weigh rice and bulgur dry unless the recipe specifically states that the weight is cooked. Keep the same method throughout the recipe so that the calculations remain consistent.

6. Eggs and Liquid Egg Whites

Whole eggs provide flavour and structure, while liquid egg whites can be used when you want to increase the volume and protein content of a meal without adding several extra whole eggs.

For a larger scramble or omelette, combine one or two whole eggs with liquid egg whites. Add vegetables such as spinach, mushrooms, peppers, spring onions or tomatoes to make the meal more filling.

You can also use eggs and egg whites in baked oats, breakfast bakes, pancakes, muffins, and savoury traybakes.

Check the carton instructions before using liquid egg whites, and measure accurately when calculating the nutrition for a recipe.

7. Wholemeal Wraps

Wholemeal wraps are useful for quick lunches, light dinners and simple snacks.

You can fill Fitzgeralds Family Bakery Wholemeal Wraps with chicken, turkey, tuna, eggs, beans, cheese, or vegetables. You can also fold them into quesadillas or bake them until crisp.

Wholemeal wraps usually provide more fibre than standard white wraps, although the exact nutrition and size can vary between brands. Some larger wraps may also contain more calories than expected, so check the information for one individual wrap rather than relying only on the values per 100g.

For a balanced filling, combine a protein source with vegetables and a lighter sauce made from Greek-style yoghurt.

8. Baby Spinach and Salad Greens

Fresh spinach and mixed salad leaves add vegetables and volume to meals without much prep.

Pre-washed baby spinach can be added to scrambled eggs, pasta, rice bowls, wraps, soups and sauces. It wilts quickly, so you can often stir it into a hot meal during the final few minutes of cooking.

For an easy meal-prep bowl, add fresh spinach to the container before adding cooked rice, meat, or vegetables. The heat from the food will soften it slightly.

Fresh leaves do not keep as long as frozen vegetables, so plan how you will use the bag before buying it. Check the leaves regularly and store them according to the pack instructions.

9. Mozzarella and High-Protein Cheese

You can still include cheese in balanced meals when you consider the type and amount as part of the full recipe. Dunnes Stores Mozzarella Cherries provide 17g of protein per 100g and work well in pasta bakes, wraps, stuffed vegetables and salads.

Protein, fat, and calorie content can vary considerably between cheeses, so compare nutrition labels when choosing a product. Portion size is also important, as cheese can be easy to add without measuring.

Use mozzarella as a topping or finishing ingredient rather than relying on a large amount to provide the main flavour of the meal.

10. Whole Rolled Oats

Whole rolled oats are one of the most useful ingredients for preparing breakfasts and snacks ahead of time.

Dunnes Stores may stock options such as Bunalun Organic Gluten Free Porridge Oats. Certified gluten-free oats can help people avoid gluten, but always check the packaging carefully.

Rolled oats work well in porridge, overnight oats, baked oats, breakfast bars and homemade snack recipes. You can leave them whole for more texture or blend them into oat flour for a smoother bake.

Oats provide carbohydrates and fibre, while you can increase protein by combining them with yoghurt, cottage cheese, eggs, milk, or protein powder.

11. Frozen Berries

Frozen blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and mixed berries are useful for breakfasts, baking and quick snacks.

Because they can be stored in the freezer, they often create less waste than fresh berries. You can stir them into porridge, baked oats, and yoghurt bowls, or cook them briefly to make a simple fruit topping.

Frozen berries release liquid as they defrost, which may affect the texture of cakes and breakfast bakes. Add them according to the recipe instructions and avoid defrosting them unless the recipe specifically requires it.

For a warm topping, heat a portion of berries until softened, then spoon them over yoghurt, oats or pancakes.

12. Chickpeas and Red Lentils

Chickpeas and red lentils are economical cupboard ingredients that provide a combination of carbohydrates, fibre and plant protein.

Tinned chickpeas can be drained, rinsed and added directly to salads, couscous, curries, traybakes and bowls. You can also roast them with spices for a firmer texture.

Dried red lentils work well in soups, stews, curries and tomato-based sauces. They soften during cooking and can help create a thicker consistency.

When using tinned chickpeas, calculate the nutrition from the drained weight if you discard the liquid. Dried lentils should normally be weighed before cooking unless the recipe states otherwise.

Also Worth Considering: Whey Protein Powder

Whey protein powder is an optional extra that we regularly use when we want to increase the protein content of a breakfast, snack or bake without making a full meal more complicated. It is especially useful for overnight oats, baked oats, yoghurt bowls, smoothies and protein pancakes.

Vanilla whey protein powder is one of the most versatile options, as it works well with oats, berries, Greek-style yoghurt, and cottage cheese. Chocolate whey can be a good choice for chocolate baked oats, smoothies or dessert-style recipes.

Protein powder is not essential for a high-protein diet, but it can be a convenient cupboard staple on busy days. Check the serving size, protein content and ingredients on the label, and choose a flavour you will genuinely use regularly. Availability can vary between Dunnes Stores branches.

Building a Practical Dunnes Stores Shopping List

A useful high-protein shopping list doesn't need to include only foods that are high in protein on their own. It should also include the ingredients you need to turn those protein sources into complete, satisfying meals.

Start with one or two main protein options, such as yoghurt, cottage cheese, eggs, turkey mince, tuna or lentils. Add a carbohydrate source such as oats, rice, bulgur or wholemeal wraps. Finish the shop with vegetables, frozen fruit, and a small selection of ingredients that add flavour.

Choose products that you already know how to use rather than buying several specialist items without a plan. A smaller selection of versatile ingredients can often produce more useful meals than a trolley filled with products marketed specifically for fitness.

Planning a few recipes before shopping can also reduce food waste and make meal prep easier during the week.

Product information checked in July 2026. Product ranges, pack sizes, recipes and nutrition information may change.