Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 25.03
It’s Friday and we’re back with a whole new pick of tasty bits to brighten up your shopping basket! It’s time for the Weekly Pinch of Shopping…
We’ve been on the hunt for flavour-filled snacky bits this week. How does a nibble on some spicy Chorizo Pringles sound? They’ll go down a treat with a nice, cool beverage in the sun (how AMAZING is this weather we’re having?).
And, if that’s not enough crunch for you, we’ve found some crispy garlic and rosemary waffle fries that’ll instantly make your dinner a 10 out of 10.
Also, did you know WHAM ice lollies are a thing now? Yep! We couldn’t resist popping that blast from the past in the basket for you…
Don’t forget to let us know if you’ve tried any of the recipes from Pinch of Nom Comfort Food! We’d LOVE to know which dishes are your favourites! If you haven’t picked up a copy yet, you can order yours right here.
You can share your recipes and photos by posting over in our Facebook group, where you’ll also find our members having a good old chat about lots of these shopping items too. You can join the group by clicking here. Make sure to let us know if you spot any yummy looking, slimming friendly new products on the supermarket shelves – we might just feature them in our next article!
Our Weekly Pinch of Shopping list aims to show you slimming friendly products that you can find online or in one of your local supermarkets. We try to make it as easy as possible for you to pick up these items as part of your usual weekly shop, and we’ll always include the calorie information and the RRP for you.
Please remember that, although all prices are correct at the time of writing, supermarkets can change their prices often, so this should be used as a guide only.
Speaking of doing your weekly shopping, did you know our Quick & Easy food planner includes handy pull-out shopping list pages? It’s ideal for planning your meals and organising what you need to buy (plus there are 26 exclusive recipes inside!).
Along with our favourite new finds from the supermarket shelves, each week we include details of the Aldi Super 6. Every fortnight Aldi discounts a selection of 6 fruits and veggies that you can pick up for a fraction of the price. There’s a fresh selection this week, so scroll down to find out what’s included, along with some ideas on how to make the most of the ingredients.
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**A note on our shopping list: we do not take payment, promotion or gifts for including any of the items mentioned in these articles. We bring them to you because we love them and hope you will too!**
KP Nut-Tastic Unsalted Nut Mix Multipack – 186 calories per pack
These KP Nut-Tastic mixed nuts would be a snack-tastic edition to your on-the-go snack regime. High in plant-based proteins, magnesium, fibre and vitamins, these nutty nibbles combat midday tiredness, so you can stay at the top of your game for only 186 calories per bagful. You get four snack-sized packets in a box, so they’re not too shabby for your budget either!
If nutty flavours are your thing, you’ll love waking up to a steaming hot bowl of comfort with our Nutella Baked Oats recipe. Fluffy oats paired with Nutella deliciousness, they’re perfect for brekkie or even for dessert. Why not batch cook them in advance and say ‘hello’ to a hassle-free morning?
KP Nut-Tastic Unsalted Nut Mix Multipack are available from ASDA, priced at £3.00 for 4 30g packs.
Garlic Croutons, Inspired to Cook – 108 calories per serving
Who can say no to a garlicky crunch? These Garlic Croutons from the Inspired to Cook range at Sainsbury’s are a quick and easy way to add a crunchy finish to homemade salads or soups. There’s no prep required, so you can go right ahead and sprinkle a handful onto your Caesar salad for a baked, garlic buttery bread topping.
These are an especially good option if you want to take a portion of our Cream of Tomato Soup and Croutons recipe out and about. Settle down with a piping hot bowlful and sprinkle these readymade garlicky bread cubes on top, straight from the packet. Delish!
Garlic Croutons (Inspired to Cook) are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £1.35 for a pack.
Sainsbury’s My Goodness! Piri Piri Chicken & Rice – 399 calories per pot
Easy peasy lunch alert! Get 1 of your 5-a-day in an instant with this tasty Piri Piri Chicken and Rice pot from Sainsbury’s My Goodness! range. Not for the faint of heart, this tasty pot is loaded with Cajun-style chicken and spiced peppers that are hot, hot, hot. With plenty of veggies and long-grain brown rice, it’ll fill you up and sustain you for the day ahead.
If you can’t get enough of Cajun-inspired flavours, you need to try one of the most popular recipes from our very first cookbook – Cajun Dirty Rice. Full of colourful, crunchy veggies that’ll brighten up the dinner table, this beef dish is oh-so-tasty and filling for an unbelievably light 369 calories per serving.
My Goodness! Piri Piri Chicken & Rice is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £3.50 per pot.
Müller Banana Split Flavour Yoghurt Light – 99 calories per pot
Love trying out limited edition flavours for a change? Müller has just added a limited edition Banana Split Flavour Yoghurt to the shelves in Iceland. With almost no fat content and plenty of protein, these creamy, banana-flavoured pots are well worth keeping in the fridge for when you’re feeling peckish. You’ll open the lid to a covering of real chocolate sprinkles, so they’ll curb chocolate cravings too!
Speaking of bananas, have you ever tried Banana Ketchup? Be prepared to leave ordinary ketchup collecting dust in the cupboard – this slimming friendly sauce is SO good! Enjoy it as a sweet yet spicy, chutney-like condiment, or use it to whip up a batch of zingy Banana Ketchup Curry. That’s dinner tonight sorted!
Müller Banana Split Flavour Yoghurt Light is available from Iceland, priced at 77p per pot.
Pringles Sizzl’n Spicy Chorizo Crisps – 156 calories per serving
We love a new take on a classic snack, and there’s no mistaking the signature crunch you get with Pringles! Their all-new enticing flavours caught our eye this week, and we’ve put Sizzl’n Spicy Chorizo in the basket (there’s also sweet chilli, kickin’ sour cream and extra hot cheese to choose from!). They’re perfect for popping in a bowl to share – or don’t, we won’t tell anyone…
If fiery paprika flavours get the family around the dinner table, you’ll definitely impress with a midweek Paprika Chicken spread. The best part? The whole dish can be cooked in just one pot, so there’ll be hardly any washing up left to do! Serve with rice, mash or potatoes – it’s delicious with almost anything…
Pringles Sizzl’n Spicy Chorizo Crisps are available from Tesco, priced at £2.00 per tube.
Nature’s Glen Scotch 12 Skinny Beef Meatballs – 96 calories per 3 meatballs (cooked)
These skinny Scotch meatballs from Nature’s Glen caught our eye with their low fat content and reasonable price – only £2.49 for a pack of 12! A nice change from cooking with mince, we love that meatballs are so versatile – enjoy them in a variety of sauces with pasta, rice or mash. We’ve got lots more meatball dish inspiration for you here.
Move over meatballs and spaghetti, we’ve got a new chilli-based dish that’ll leave your taste buds wanting more: Chilli Meatball Orzo. And it’s SO easy to make! While it may look similar, orzo pasta is much lower maintenance than risotto rice, so you can leave this one to simmer (with the occasional stir!) for 20-25 minutes until tender.
We’ve kept the heat nice and mild so that the whole family can tuck in, but you can always double up on the chilli powder if you’re all about fiery flavour!
Nature’s Glen Scotch 12 Skinny Beef Meatballs are available from Aldi, priced at £2.49 for a pack of 12 meatballs.
Rana Filled Pan Fry Gnocchi Carbonara – 238 calories per 100g
It’s time for an Italian flavour fest! You might love gnocchi and you might love carbonara, but have you tried gnocchi carbonara? This brand-new Pan Fry Gnocchi Carbonara from Rana is a super quick way to make the best of two classic Italian-inspired dinners. Because the fluffy, cheesy gnocchi are pan-fried, they’ll be crispy on the outside with a creamy middle by the time they’re ready to eat. Yum!
Our Carbonara Risotto is an indulgent recipe that also makes the best of two different Italian-inspired dishes. To keep our risotto rich and creamy, we’ve combined low fat cream cheese with a sprinkling of lean gammon pieces to get all the carbonara flavours for fewer calories (only 431 per serving!).
Rana Filled Pan Fry Gnocchi Carbonara is available from Morrisons, priced at £2.00 per bag (serves 2).
Leon Waffle Fries Garlic Aioli & Rosemary – 335 calories per serving
Garlic Aioli and Rosemary Waffle Fries… Need we say more? We had to put these crunchy criss-cross chips straight in the basket. LEON are a fast-food chain you may have seen around that rustle up Mediterranean-inspired fresh snacks and lunches. These pre-seasoned waffle fries are just one of a handful of the restaurant-favourite orders they’re putting into supermarkets. You’ll find these ready and waiting to be baked at home in the freezer aisle at Sainsbury’s!
You can create a full Leon-inspired spread at home by pairing these waffle fries with a vibrant recipe like our Harissa and Honey Chicken. Harissa can pack a bit of a punch, so be careful how much paste you use if you’re trying to make a milder version of this dish! Just look at all those colours…
Leon Waffle Fries Garlic Aioli & Rosemary are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £1.70 per bag.
Wao Cheesecake Mochi Ice Cream – 90 calories per mochi
When you’re after something cool, sweet and easy to nibble on as the evenings get lighter, why not put your feet up in the garden with a Wao Mochi Ice Cream? The Aldi alternative to Little Moons, these cheesecake or caramel flavoured mochis are lower in price without compromising on creamy indulgence. It’ll be tough to stop after just one, so it’s lucky they’re only 90 calories per bite!
Fancy making something sweet with a cheesecake filling for yourself? Our Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries are one of the quickest and easiest treats you can make. With tangy strawberry, crunchy biscuit and sweetened cream cheese, this light dessert (or snack) will satisfy all kinds of cravings in one mouthful.
Wao Cheesecake Mochi Ice Cream are available from Aldi, priced at £3.49 per pack.
Barratt Wham Bars Ice Lollies – 95 calories per lolly
These Wham Bar Ice Lollies from Iceland are a blast from the past we couldn’t resist. Bursting with nostalgic raspberry ice cream flavours, your sweet tooth will thank you for keeping these handy in the freezer. At only 95 calories per ice cold pop, this trip down memory lane doesn’t spend much of your calorie budget at all!
In the mood for a fruity, ice cold dessert? Our Mango and Raspberry Ice Cream recipe takes less than 10 minutes of prep before it’s good to go in the freezer. So much lower in calories than a shop-bought tub of ice cream (and just as tasty!), you need to try a scoop or two with a sprinkling of fresh raspberries on top…
Barratt Wham Bars Ice Lollies are available from Iceland, priced at £2.25 for a pack of 4 lollies.
NEW Aldi Super 6 Fruit and Veg Selection
We love Aldi’s Super 6 selection of fresh fruit and veggies! Each fortnight they choose six different items for a special offer where you can pick them up for much less than the normal price.
Here’s our rundown of this week’s NEW Super 6 selection:
Royal Gala Apples – 52 calories per 100g
Ready to help you keep the doctor away, Aldi have included a 6 pack of juicy Royal Gala apples in this week’s super 6. Full of fibre and good for the heart, it’s always worth sneaking apples into your cooking or snacking on them during the day.
It’s impossible to wake up on the wrong side of the bed when you’ve got the sweet caramelised apple, cinnamon and nutmeg flavours in our Apple Pie Porridge waiting for you. Trust us, this one’s always just right!
Romaine Lettuce – 17 calories per 100g
You can’t beat a crisp, crunchy salad when the sun’s shining, so we’d say it’s worth having a romaine lettuce in the fridge this week. High in vitamin C and good for fighting off bugs, this nutritious, leafy green is as good for you as it tastes.
Why not add a few romaine lettuce leaves to our BLT Pasta Salad recipe? The pop of green adds a nice bit of colour, as well as additional goodness. Plus, it’s nice and quick to make – so you won’t miss a single ray of sunshine cooped up in the kitchen!
Tenderstem Broccoli – 40 calories per 100g
Another leafy, fibrous green veggie, tenderstem broccoli is full of the vitamins and minerals your body needs. It’s especially good for keeping your skin happy and healthy too! Boiled, steamed, sautéd or fried, you’ve got a wide range of options with this versatile green veg.
We think it’s especially good served as part of our Baked Garlic Salmon recipe. Bundle it up in tinfoil with the salmon and homemade garlic mixture until it’s softened and ready to enjoy!
Closed Cup Mushrooms – 22 calories per 100g
Sliced mushrooms are a quick and easy way to get an instant burst of nutrition into a variety of dishes. From pasta sauces to risottos to stews to omelettes (and more!), they’re a budget-friendly buy you’ll definitely be able to use up.
For a really deep flavour without the bacon or ham, we’ve put mushrooms at centre stage for our Mushroom Carbonara recipe. Just as creamy and satisfying as the traditional dish, you don’t want to knock this one until you’ve tried it!
**Remember: we do not take payment, promotion or gift for any of the items mentioned in these articles. We bring them to you because we love them and hope you will too!**
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