diff --git a/app/api/endpoints/meal_plans.py b/app/api/endpoints/meal_plans.py
index e1d6cbc..ad647e4 100644
--- a/app/api/endpoints/meal_plans.py
+++ b/app/api/endpoints/meal_plans.py
@@ -81,13 +81,21 @@ async def create_plan(
     session: CloudUser = Depends(get_session),
     store: Store = Depends(get_store),
 ) -> PlanSummary:
+    import sqlite3
+
     # Free tier is locked to dinner-only; paid+ may configure meal types
     if can_use("meal_plan_config", session.tier):
         meal_types = [t for t in req.meal_types if t in VALID_MEAL_TYPES] or ["dinner"]
     else:
         meal_types = ["dinner"]
 
-    plan = await asyncio.to_thread(store.create_meal_plan, str(req.week_start), meal_types)
+    try:
+        plan = await asyncio.to_thread(store.create_meal_plan, str(req.week_start), meal_types)
+    except sqlite3.IntegrityError:
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=409,
+            detail=f"A meal plan for the week of {req.week_start} already exists.",
+        )
     slots = await asyncio.to_thread(store.get_plan_slots, plan["id"])
     return _plan_summary(plan, slots)
 
diff --git a/app/db/migrations/032_meal_plan_unique_week.sql b/app/db/migrations/032_meal_plan_unique_week.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f5399ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/db/migrations/032_meal_plan_unique_week.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+-- 032_meal_plan_unique_week.sql
+-- Prevent duplicate plans for the same week.
+-- Existing duplicates must be resolved before applying (keep MIN(id) per week_start).
+CREATE UNIQUE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_meal_plans_week_start ON meal_plans (week_start);
diff --git a/app/db/store.py b/app/db/store.py
index 49f94ba..7bc7cca 100644
--- a/app/db/store.py
+++ b/app/db/store.py
@@ -1149,7 +1149,7 @@ class Store:
 
     def get_plan_slots(self, plan_id: int) -> list[dict]:
         return self._fetch_all(
-            """SELECT s.*, r.name AS recipe_title
+            """SELECT s.*, r.title AS recipe_title
                FROM meal_plan_slots s
                LEFT JOIN recipes r ON r.id = s.recipe_id
                WHERE s.plan_id = ?
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/MealPlanView.vue b/frontend/src/components/MealPlanView.vue
index 70fbe46..d69de44 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/MealPlanView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/MealPlanView.vue
@@ -14,8 +14,11 @@
           Week of {{ p.week_start }}
         </option>
       </select>
-      <button class="new-plan-btn" @click="onNewPlan">+ New week</button>
+      <button class="new-plan-btn" @click="onNewPlan" :disabled="planCreating">
+        {{ planCreating ? 'Creating…' : '+ New week' }}
+      </button>
     </div>
+    <p v-if="planError" class="plan-error">{{ planError }}</p>
 
     <template v-if="activePlan">
       <!-- Compact expandable week grid (always visible) -->
@@ -64,7 +67,9 @@
 
     <div v-else-if="!loading" class="empty-plan-state">
       <p>No meal plan yet for this week.</p>
-      <button class="new-plan-btn" @click="onNewPlan">Start planning</button>
+      <button class="new-plan-btn" @click="onNewPlan" :disabled="planCreating">
+        {{ planCreating ? 'Creating…' : 'Start planning' }}
+      </button>
     </div>
   </div>
 </template>
@@ -88,6 +93,8 @@ const store = useMealPlanStore()
 const { plans, activePlan, loading } = storeToRefs(store)
 
 const activeTab = ref<TabId>('shopping')
+const planError = ref<string | null>(null)
+const planCreating = ref(false)
 
 // canAddMealType is a UI hint — backend enforces the paid gate authoritatively
 const canAddMealType = computed(() =>
@@ -96,14 +103,31 @@ const canAddMealType = computed(() =>
 
 onMounted(() => store.loadPlans())
 
-async function onNewPlan() {
+function mondayOfCurrentWeek(): string {
   const today = new Date()
-  const day = today.getDay()
-  // Compute Monday of current week (getDay: 0=Sun, 1=Mon...)
-  const monday = new Date(today)
-  monday.setDate(today.getDate() - ((day + 6) % 7))
-  const weekStart = monday.toISOString().split('T')[0] ?? monday.toISOString().slice(0, 10)
-  await store.createPlan(weekStart, ['dinner'])
+  const day = today.getDay() // 0=Sun, 1=Mon...
+  // Build date string from local parts to avoid UTC-offset day drift
+  const d = new Date(today)
+  d.setDate(today.getDate() - ((day + 6) % 7))
+  const pad = (n: number) => String(n).padStart(2, '0')
+  return `${d.getFullYear()}-${pad(d.getMonth() + 1)}-${pad(d.getDate())}`
+}
+
+async function onNewPlan() {
+  planError.value = null
+  planCreating.value = true
+  try {
+    const weekStart = mondayOfCurrentWeek()
+    await store.createPlan(weekStart, ['dinner'])
+  } catch (err: unknown) {
+    const msg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err)
+    // 409 means a plan for this week already exists — surface it helpfully
+    planError.value = msg.includes('409') || msg.toLowerCase().includes('already exists')
+      ? 'A plan for this week already exists. Select it from the dropdown above.'
+      : `Couldn't create plan: ${msg}`
+  } finally {
+    planCreating.value = false
+  }
 }
 
 async function onSelectPlan(planId: number) {
@@ -150,4 +174,11 @@ function onAddMealType() {
 .tab-panel { padding-top: 0.75rem; }
 
 .empty-plan-state { text-align: center; padding: 2rem 0; opacity: 0.6; font-size: 0.9rem; }
+
+.plan-error {
+  font-size: 0.82rem; color: var(--color-error, #e05252);
+  background: var(--color-error-subtle, #fef2f2);
+  border: 1px solid var(--color-error, #e05252); border-radius: 6px;
+  padding: 0.4rem 0.75rem; margin: 0;
+}
 </style>