Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 02.08.24
We’re back with the first Weekly Pinch of Shopping of AUGUST! You’re going to love the tasty, slimming-friendly summer picks we’ve spotted for the week ahead.
For an easy lunch, would you rather get stuck into Pad Thai Stir Fried Noodles or a bowl of Moroccan Style Grains and Pulses? Whichever you pick, you’ll have a delicious, low-calorie midday meal on the table in a matter of minutes. Scroll down to discover where to find them!
Plus, we’re always thinking about our next fakeaway night, so we’ll be shopping the shelves at Aldi to grab the new Nando-inspired bits while they’re in stock. The Roosters Lemon and Herb Half Chicken tastes just as good as the real deal…
Thank you, thank you, thank you for ALL the amazing photos you’ve been sharing from PINCH OF NOM: AIR FRYER! There are SO many delicious-looking dishes over in our Facebook group, and we’re just over the moon that you’re all loving the book as much as we do.
If you don’t have your own copy yet, or you can’t decide what to make first, go to our blog to see what everyone else has been making!
You can join the air-frying fun by picking up a copy just 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! The members in our incredible Facebook group are always happy to have a good old chat about lots of these shopping items. You can join the group by clicking here.
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. This week we’ve given you a reminder of the current selection, so hurry down to Aldi to pick up some bargains before a fresh selection goes on offer next week!
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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!**
ASDA Fragrant & Crisp Red Spring Onion – 23 calories per 100g
Have you ever tried a RED spring onion? The eye-catching colour of these crisp, fresh and fragrant onions will brighten up your summer salads and stir-fries. They have a subtle flavour, and can be used anywhere you’d add the classic green version.
Raw or cooked, spring onions are great when you want a slightly sweeter taste (compared to the stronger flavour of white or brown onions).
We love turning them into a dreamy quick stir-fry like our Chicken with Ginger and Spring Onion. It’s on the table in half an hour, so there’s no reason to reach for that takeaway menu!
ASDA Fragrant & Crisp Red Spring Onions are available from Asda, priced at 95p.
Noodle Head Pad Thai Stir Fried Noodles – 246 calories per pack
If you’ve got a busy few days ahead, you might want to pop into Tesco over the weekend to look for a couple of pouches from this new ‘Noodle Head’ range. They’ve got all kinds of Asian-inspired flavours on the shelves, but it’s these Pad Thai Stir Fried Noodles that we’ve picked to try first!
At just 246 calories per pack, they’re perfect for lunchtimes, especially since they microwave in 60 seconds. They’re loaded with tamarind, sweet chilli sauce and spring onions, but who’s to say you couldn’t mix in some leftover chicken for a boost of protein?
One of our favourite things to do with leftover chicken is rustle up this Chopped Thai-Style Chicken Salad. Using peanut butter powder instead of the real stuff helps to keep the calories down, while still giving you a lip-smackingly delicious nutty sauce.
Noodle Head Pad Thai Stir Fried Noodles are available from Tesco, priced at £2.00.
Exceptional by ASDA Piña Colada Mocktail – 85 calories per 150ml
Sunshine and Piña Coladas go hand in hand, thanks to the tropical flavour combo of pineapple and coconut. If you prefer to skip the rum, grab a bottle of this Exceptional by ASDA Piña Colada Mocktail and chill it in the fridge until you fancy something fruity and sweet to sip on.
Made with creamy coconut milk and fresh pineapple juice, with a squeeze of lemon for good measure, you won’t miss the alcohol one bit!
Cocktail for breakfast anyone? Fill your plate with a little taste of holiday by serving a stack of our Piña Colada Pancakes. Topped with sticky-sweet syrupy pineapple, they feel like a treat (but really they’re only 289 calories per serving!).
Exceptional by ASDA Piña Colada Mocktail is available from Asda, priced at £2.20.
Ben’s Original Lunch Bowl Moroccan Style Grains and Pulses – 288 calories per pack
Looking to liven up lunchtimes? The new Lunch Bowl pouches from Ben’s will do the trick nicely! There’s a few flavours available, but it’s this Ben’s Original Lunch Bowl Moroccan Style Grains and Pulses that’s caught our eye.
It can be enjoyed hot or cold, straight out of the packet, for just 288 calories. There’s no shortage of flavour either, thanks to a hearty mixture of bulgur wheat and wheat berries with chickpeas, raisins, carrots, red pepper and spices.
We’re betting it’d be delicious dished up on the side of our Ras el Hanout Chicken Traybake. Bursting with Moroccan-inspired flavours, the sweet apricots bring out the best of the aromatic spice blend.
Ben’s Original Lunch Bowl Moroccan Style Grains and Pulses is available from Tesco, priced at £3.00 (or £2.50 with a Clubcard).
M&S Colin the Caterpillar Greatest Bits – 131 calories per 1/5 pack
M&S have cut out the cake and packaged up all the tastiest bits of its famous caterpillar-shaped treat! These bags of Colin the Caterpillar Greatest Bits include his chocolate face and feet, along with little candy-coated chocolate beans.
There’s no need to wait for a birthday celebration to enjoy a nibble, since it’s just 131 calories per serving.
If you’re missing the chocolate cake, why not have a go at making your own lower-calorie version? Our Tiramisu Swiss Roll is a coffee lover’s dream, with rich, chocolatey sponge and a creamy mascarpone filling.
M&S Colin the Caterpillar Greatest Bits are available from Ocado and M&S stores, priced at £2.75.
Tesco Finest Watermelon, Feta & Sweet Babyleaf Salad – 115 calories per 1/2 pack
When it comes to fresh, summery flavours, it’s hard to beat watermelon. You might not think to pair it with peppery leaves and salty feta cheese, but this Tesco Finest Watermelon, Feta & Sweet Babyleaf Salad will show you what you’re missing!
The mix of cooked grains and cucumber is coated in mint-infused oil and topped with cubes of watermelon and feta, ready to be drizzled with a pot of balsamic dressing.
Another fruit that goes well with feta is strawberries! They’re in season right now, so there’s never been a better time to pop our Strawberry and Feta Salad recipe on your meal plan. It can be a light lunch, or a side served with your favourite chicken dish.
Tesco Finest Watermelon, Feta & Sweet Babyleaf Salad is available from Tesco, priced at £3.00.
GetPro Mango High Protein Yoghurt Drink – 177 calories per bottle (25g protein)
Whether you’re focusing on your gym goals, or simply trying to add a little more protein into your day, you’ll want to try this new on-the-go snack. We’ve spotted this GetPro Mango High Protein Yoghurt Drink in Sainsbury’s, and it’s only 177 calories per bottle.
You’ll get a whopping 25g of protein in each fruity drink, and it’ll stay fresh outside of the fridge for up to 4 hours. That’s good news if you need something in your bag to fuel you throughout the day!
We love the tropical sweetness of mango, so we’ve mixed it into our homemade patties for these Chicken and Mango Burgers. Another great high-protein dinner, our burger buns are piled high with the juicy burgers, a refreshing, chilli-infused mango salsa, mildly-spicy Sriracha mayo and crunchy salad.
GetPro Mango High Protein Yoghurt Drink is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £2.00 per bottle (or £1.50 with a Nectar card).
Best Cereal Caramel Gold – 113 calories per 30g serving
Start the day off with something sweet and crunchy – this Best Cereal Caramel Gold is low in fat and high in fibre. The crispy wheat puffs have a gorgeous caramel flavour, and they’re fortified with extra vitamins and minerals to boost your morning meal.
A 30g serving is only 113 calories, so you can pour in some milk and crunch through a bowlful before you head out the door.
If you’re all about sweet breakfasts, you need to try our new Peanut Butter and Jelly Baked Oats. Inspired by the American-style flavour combo, you can use any flavour of jam you like in the middle of your creamy, hearty oats.
Best Cereal Caramel Gold is available from Iceland, priced at £2.50.
Jammie Dodgers Really Fruity Strawberry Flavour Biscuits – 78 calories per biscuit
Next time you put your feet up with a cuppa, imagine having one of these Jammie Dodgers Really Fruity Strawberry Flavour Biscuits to nibble on. A fruitier twist on the classic heart-centred biscuits, they’ve doubled-up on strawberry sweetness.
You’ve got strawberry in the biscuits themselves, with an apple jam in the middle that’s – you guessed it – also strawberry flavoured!
You can’t say no to a slice of our Strawberry Cream Pie, especially when you see how pretty and pink it is. There’s no baking involved, all you need is a little patience to hang on while it sets…remember good things come to those who wait!
Jammie Dodgers Really Fruity Strawberry Flavour Biscuits are available from Tesco, priced at 85p (or 65p with a Clubcard).
Roosters Lemon & Herb Half Chicken – 231 calories per 1/3 pack
Recreating the flavours of a certain chicken restaurant just got easier! Aldi has added more bits into its Nando’s inspired range this week, including this Roosters Lemon and Herb Half Chicken.
Smothered in the aromatic marinade, this is the perfect option for anyone who’s not a fan of spicy flavours. There are various sides available in Aldi too, but we’d recommend making your own portion of our Nando’s Spicy Rice.
We’re confident it tastes just like the real thing – and if you don’t like it spicy, you can tweak it to suit you!
Roosters Lemon & Herb Half Chicken is available from Aldi, priced at £3.99.
REMINDER 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 our reminder of this week’s Super 6 selection:
- Little Gem Lettuce – 16 calories per 100g
- Celery Sticks – 14 calories per 100g
- Cucumber – 15 calories per 100g
- Bananas – 89 calories per 100g
- Large Vine Tomatoes – 18 calories per 100g
- Blueberries – 57 calories per 100g
**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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