Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 09.02.24
The weekend is just around the corner, AND we’ve got a brand-new Weekly Pinch of Shopping for you! Do Fridays get any better?
This week we’ve skipped all the high-calorie Valentine’s day meal deals on the shelves and searched for dinner ideas for two that are both slimming friendly and delicious. The cheesy Mushroom Risotto Crispbakes that we’ve found in Iceland taste special and indulgent, but they’re only 213 calories each (and they’re budget-friendly too!).
If you’re cooking a romantic dinner from scratch, this Tesco Soy, Garlic and Chilli Paste will speed up the preparation – plus it’ll come in handy for a whole host of everyday meals.
Pinch of Nom: Express is out NOW! Thank you SO MUCH for all the love you’ve been showing our brand-new book. It made our year to see how many of you tried and loved the recipes…and we never get bored, so keep those photos coming!
If you’ve made any of the new dishes, we’d love you to share photos with us in our Gallery, on our Facebook group or over on instagram @pinchofnom.
You can order a copy here if you still need to grab one!
You can always 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.
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!**
Sainsbury’s Thai Green Vegetable Soup – 92 calories per 1/2 can
You’ll look forward to lunchtime all morning when you know this Sainsbury’s Thai Green Vegetable Soup is on the menu. Creamy and comforting, it’s a coconutty blend of fragrant, Thai-inspired flavours, including zingy lemongrass and Kaffir lime.
At 92 calories for half a can, it’s ideal when you need something light that you can heat and eat, before carrying on with whatever your day holds in store.
If you have time to make a big batch, our own Thai-Style Green Curry Soup will fill your bowl with similar (and even tastier) flavours. A twist on a classic chicken noodle soup, you’ll find rice noodles in our aromatic broth, so it’s even more filling. Ready in less than an hour, it’s just 116 calories per portion – and it freezes and reheats really well.
Sainsbury’s Thai Green Vegetable Soup is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £1.60 per can.
The Health Menu by ASDA 10 Seeds, Pulses & Grains Wholemeal Loaf – 99 calories per slice
With a little extra protein and more fibre than a typical slice, this new 10 Seeds, Pulses and Grains Wholemeal Loaf from Asda’s The Health Menu range is worth a try.
Approved by nutritionists, the wholemeal bread has plenty of plant goodness baked into it – thanks to a variety of mixed seeds. Each slice comes in at 99 calories, but you’ll get 5.3g of protein too.
For a high protein breakfast or lunch, you could use this loaf to rustle up our easy BLT Sandwich. With bacon, eggs and Asda’s protein-loaded bread, you’ll be feeling full and fueled for hours! Just bear in mind that you might need to adjust the calories if you’re using this bread.
The Health Menu by ASDA 10 Seeds, Pulses & Grains Wholemeal Loaf is available from Asda, priced at £1.00 per loaf.
Tex Mex Feast Fajita Chicken Breasts – 160 calories per 1/2 pack
If you’re planning a fakeaway night for two this weekend, the Tex Mex Feast range at Tesco is full of options that’ll bring restaurant flavours to the table, for less money than a meal out.
We’ve picked up a pack of these Fajita Chicken Breasts, which come ready-marinated, with a sachet of spicy tomato sauce to add towards the end of the cooking time. Handy for wrapping in tortillas or serving with rice, they’re flavourful and convenient, for just 160 calories per serving.
If Mexican-inspired flavour is what you’re after, we’ve added your dream brunch recipe to our website this week! This Tex Mex Toast starts with breakfast classics such as avocado and poached egg, then takes everything to the next level with a punchy salsa of juicy tomatoes, spring onions, fragrant coriander and fresh red chillies.
Tex Mex Feast Fajita Chicken Breasts are available from Tesco, priced at £4.00.
Tesco Soy, Garlic & Chilli Paste – 20 calories per 1/4 jar
The ingredient base of many different recipes, a jar of this Tesco Soy, Garlic and Chilli Paste will never go to waste. A handy time-saver if you’d rather skip the fiddly preparation of fresh garlic and chillies, the savoury blend has a warming kick to it.
Add a spoonful to stir-fries, sauces, stews and soups to build up flavour in an instant, then pop the rest of the jar back in the fridge until you need it next.
These flavours are often used in Asian-style cooking, and it’s Chinese New Year this weekend! We can’t think of a better way to celebrate than tucking into our slimming-friendly Crispy Duck recipe. Give it a try and pop over to our Facebook group to let us know what you think!
Tesco Soy, Garlic & Chilli Paste is available from Tesco, priced at £1.80 for a 90g jar.
The Tofoo Co. Marinated Smoky BBQ Strips – 248 calories per 1/2 pack
Already marinated and ready to cook, The Tofoo Co has taken all the hard work out of making tofu for dinner. These Marinated Smoky BBQ Strips balance sweetness and smokiness, so they’re a vegan-friendly meat alternative with bags of flavour.
Suitable for pan-frying, air-frying or oven-baking, they can be cooked in as little as 3 minutes. Packed with protein, you only need to pair them with rice, salad or pitta bread to turn them into a quick and easy meal.
Even if you’re not a pro when it comes to tofu, the steps of our Crispy Tofu Nuggets recipe are simple to follow. It’s well worth perfecting the knack to get these golden, crunchy meat-free nuggs (and there’s even a spicy ketchup for dunking).
You’ll need a copy of Pinch of Nom: Enjoy to get your hands on the full recipe.
The Tofoo Co. Marinated Smoky BBQ Strips are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £2.85.
Tesco Free From Chunky Cod Fish Fingers – 100 calories per chunky fish finger
Sometimes you just need a comforting, familiar dinner that reminds you of your childhood. Stash a box of these Tesco Free From Chunky Cod Fish Fingers in the freezer for a rainy day, ready to be dished up with Homemade Oven Chips and mushy peas.
Made with gluten-free breadcrumbs, these fish fingers from Tesco’s own-brand range work out cheaper than free-from versions from the big brands. At 100 calories for each chunky portion, they’re easy to fit into your weekly meal plan too!
Next time you feel nostalgic, our Fish Finger Pie needs to go on your menu. You could use these Tesco fish fingers if you want to make it gluten-free – just bear in mind that it might change the nutritional info, so you’ll need to work out any additional calories if you’re keeping track.
Tesco Free From Chunky Cod Fish Fingers are available from Tesco, priced at £2.75 for a pack of 6.
Ufit Protein Pudding Strawberries & Cream – 183 calories per pot
How good does this Strawberries and Cream flavoured Ufit Protein Pudding sound? For 183 calories per pot, you get a whopping 25g of protein, all wrapped up in a creamy, fruity snack that you can throw into your packed lunch.
Low in fat and with no added sugar, these handy protein puddings could be spooned onto your breakfast, or saved for an after-dinner treat. It’s well worth having a couple in the fridge, especially if you’re trying to reach a daily protein goal.
The thought of strawberries and cream is making us wish summer would hurry up! While we wait for sunnier days, pop the kettle on and treat yourself to these Cream Tea Scones. Loaded up with strawberry jam and our lighter-than-cream sweet yoghurt topping, they’re just 93 calories each.
Ufit Protein Pudding Strawberries & Cream is available from Morrisons, priced at £1.25 per pot.
The Happy Snack Company Crunchy Roasted Fava Beans Red Pepper & Chilli Flavour – 105 calories per pack
It’s snack time! When you need a savoury nibble, these Crunchy Roasted Fava Beans Red Pepper and Chilli Flavour from The Happy Snack Company are just the thing.
Vegan-friendly and high in protein, the roasted fava beans are pre-packaged into perfectly portioned 105-calorie snack packs. With a little kick of chilli powder in the mix, they’re a tasty bite for whenever you feel peckish during the day.
Also flavoured with roasted red peppers, this snack has reminded us of one of our favourite easy dinners – Roasted Red Pepper and Cherry Tomato Pasta. On the table in 25 minutes, you’ll get really big, taste bud-tingling flavours from just a few simple ingredients.
The Happy Snack Company Crunchy Roasted Fava Beans Red Pepper & Chilli Flavour are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £2.90 for a bag of 4 individual 25g packs.
Oreo Fresh Milk Snack – 140 calories per snack
Cookies and milk is a tried and tested combination, so it’s no surprise that these Oreo Fresh Milk Snacks are completely delicious! Sold in a pack of 4, nip to Iceland if you want to grab some to try.
Each snack is made up of a thin layer of cocoa sponge cake, topped with a generous amount of vanilla-infused milk cream. The whole thing is encased in crunchy Oreo cookie crumbs, adding a moreish texture to every bite.
We’re big fans of Oreos, which is exactly why we put this Cookies and Cream Cheesecake recipe in Pinch of Nom: Express. With a base of crushed-up biscuits and an oh-so creamy topping, it feels incredibly indulgent (even though it’s only 266 calories per slice!).
Oreo Fresh Milk Snack is available from Iceland, priced at £2.40 for a pack of 4.
Iceland Mushroom Risotto Crispbakes – 213 calories per crispbake
Imagine biting into these golden, crunchy-coated Mushroom Risotto Crispbakes that we’ve spotted this week. Each meat-free bake is a blend of seasoned mushrooms, cooked white rice, cheese, spinach, cauliflower and potato, coated in crispy breadcrumbs.
Ready to cook in the oven or air fryer, you’ll have a quick, easy, vegetarian dinner on the table in no time. Keep an eye out for the cauliflower cheese crispbakes in the same range – they’re only a little bit higher in calories at 221 each.
You might not expect an ultra-creamy risotto to be slimming friendly, but we’ve cracked it with this Cheesy Leek Risotto. Best of all, we’ve kept the stirring to a minimum, so it’s far easier than most risotto recipes!
Iceland Mushroom Risotto Crispbakes are available from Iceland, priced at £2.00 for a pack of 2.
NEW Aldi Super 6 Fruit and Veg Selection
We love Aldi’s fortnightly selection of fresh fruit and veggies! They choose different items for a special offer where you can pick them up for much less than the normal price.
Here’s the rundown of this week’s Super 6 offering, along with some recipe ideas for you.
Lemons – 17 calories per 100g
We’ll always grab a bag of lemons when they’re in the Super 6. Handy for sweet and savoury recipes alike, they’ll never go to waste.
If you’re cooking up a Valentine’s Day feast, our zesty Lemon Chicken will go down a treat. One of our favourite fakeaways, the sticky-sweet lemon sauce is a thing of beauty (and so easy to recreate!).
Bananas – 89 calories per 100g
As a grab-and-go snack, breakfast ingredient or sweet treat, you can’t go wrong with a bunch of bananas in the house. With Pancake Day around the corner, they’re perfect for slicing and sprinkling on top.
These Banana and Chocolate Pancakes are the only recipe you’ll be needing – in fact, they’re so delicious that you’ll be making them on repeat for a weekend breakfast treat.
Ginger – 44 calories per 100g
We don’t often see fresh ginger included in the Super 6! Useful for so many different dishes, it’s well worth stocking up while it’s on offer.
With a fiery flavour, ginger adds a warming heat that’s especially delicious in Asian-style or Indian-inspired cooking. This Chicken with Ginger and Spring Onion recipe really allows the ginger flavour to shine, and it tastes even better than a takeaway.
Lychees – 81 calories per 100g
Another one that we don’t often see in the Super 6, lychees are a fruit with delicate, floral flavours. They’re perfect for light desserts like sorbets and ice creams, or for freshening up cold beverages.
We’ve used fresh, juicy mango and baked pineapple to fill our crunchy-topped Tropical Crumble, but there’s nothing to stop you adding sliced lychee to enhance the flavours.
White Mushrooms – 22 calories per 100g
Love them or hate them, mushrooms are a handy, versatile ingredient that can be added to lots of different dishes. Super low in calories, they bulk out recipes, making them more filling while keeping things slimming friendly.
While it’s still so chilly, we’ll be adding this Chicken and Mushroom Pie to our weekly meal plan. Despite the crunchy pastry topping, our recipe is just 247 calories per serving!
Blueberries – 57 calories per 100g
Hello antioxidants! Full of vitamin C and other good stuff, we love to see blueberries in the Super 6. Blend them into smoothies, bake them into puddings or add a handful to breakfast – they’ll always be useful to have in the fridge.
If you want to make someone feel special for Valentine’s Day, a batch of these Lemon and Blueberry Tarts will do the trick nicely.
**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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