Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 23.08.24
Say hello to your Bank Holiday edition of the Weekly Pinch of Shopping! We’re here to help you choose some tasty goodies for the long weekend, no matter what the weather is doing.
Imagine relaxing with a scoop (or two!) of brand-new NUTELLA ICE CREAM! The much-loved nutty spread is now available as an ultra-creamy, frozen treat, and we’re so excited to stock up our freezer! We reckon the calories might surprise you…
Plus, look no further when it comes to fakeaway inspiration. We’ve found two crispy bites in one: Battered Onion Bhaji Rings. It’s tough to know whether to serve them with curry or a spicy burger. Either way, they’ll be delicious!
We’ve also picked up a shareable bag of Propercorn’s newest ‘Tangy Chilli’ flavour. A handful is all you need to take family film night up a notch.
Did you miss our BREAKING NEWS? Last week, our website members were the first to find out a secret we’ve been keeping…we’re releasing PINCH OF NOM: THE MAGAZINE on the 4th of September!
It’s a must-have if you’re a member of our Facebook group, because we’ve got a whole section dedicated to our incredible community. We wouldn’t be where we are without you, and it’s our way of saying a HUGE thank you.
Plus, there’s plenty of tasty recipes, a cooking advice Q&A with Kay and Kate (with questions from YOU!), gadget reviews, and so much more inside!
You can wait to grab your copy when it hits shop shelves on September 4th, or get yours before anybody else by pre-ordering at this link.
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. 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!**
Califia Farms Extra Creamy Oat Milk Alternative – 46 calories per 100ml
Take a break from dairy with Califia Farms Extra Creamy Oat Milk Alternative. This thicker, creamier blend is absolutely gorgeous poured into your morning coffee, or a warming bowl of Apple Pie Porridge.
It’s also high in lots of different lovely vitamins and minerals (including plenty of vitamins A and D), making it a velvety, nutritious swap wherever you’d normally use dairy milk.
Oat milk can also offer a great alternative to full-fat cream in our gorgeous and green Cream of Spinach Soup recipe. We love to make it extra peppery by going heavy on the rocket side of things, or you can make it a little milder by adding extra spinach.
Pop it in your soup flask for a lunch that’s light, silky and full of leafy goodness!
Califia Farms Extra Creamy Oat Milk Alternative is available from Waitrose, priced at £1.65 per 750ml bottle.
Canderel 650 Tablets – 0 calories per tablet
With a handy tube of Canderel 650 Tablets, you can sweeten up teas, coffees and other hot drinks in an instant. While sweetener tablets and dispensers aren’t new, we’re buzzing to see one from a brand we use all the time (we’d be lost without Canderel Sugarly when it comes to making slimming-friendly sweet treats).
While one teaspoon of sugar comes to roughly 16 calories, you can stir in a Canderel tablet for 0 calories – and we promise, your brew will taste just as good!
Our Berry Toastie is one of those breakfast recipes that’s even better with a hot cup of tea. Think about a juicy medley of your favourite berries squished between two golden slices of toast, topped with maple syrup and icing sugar – all for less than 300 calories…
Canderel 650 Tablets are available from Morrisons, priced at £2.99 per tube.
Harvest Morn Protein Granola, Berry – 202 calories per 45g serving
Put a spring in your step for the day ahead with Harvest Morn Protein Granola! One bowl has roughly 18g of protein, whether you pick up the fruity berry box, or the chocolate version from the same range.
The thing about granola is it can be sneakily high in sugar (and calories!). We usually crunch on a smaller portion with a dollop of yoghurt and fruit, for a light, summery brekkie or snack.
To make our slimming-friendly Raspberry Mocha Granola Pots, we’ve made our own coffee flavoured granola-style mixture using sticky, syrup-covered rolled oats.
With layers of chocolate yoghurt, juicy berries and reduced-fat cream, it’s like starting your day with a dessert!
Harvest Morn Protein Granola – Berry is available from Aldi, priced at £2.09 per box.
Ambrosia Plant Based Custard – 122 calories per 1/3 can
Everybody loves custard! Pick up a tin of Ambrosia Plant Based Custard and you can make any dairy-free pudding you’re serving heartier, with just a dollop or two.
From cakes and tarts to tinned peaches, custard pairs like a dream with so many tasty options. The plant-based version is just as silky and smooth as you’d expect, and you don’t make any compromise on flavour or calories either.
You can always pour a glug over our Crustless Apple Pie to really ramp up the comfort. The ingredients list is so simple, everything is prepped and ready to bake in a matter of minutes.
Wait half an hour and you’ll be left with a gorgeous, golden, apple-infused pud to take out of the oven – and it’s only 158 calories per serving!
yAmbrosia Plant Based Custard is available from Morrisons, priced at £1.95 per can.
Ainsley Harriot Caribbean Coconut Rice – 240 calories per 125g serving
When you’re in a time pinch, a pouch of readymade rice (that you love the taste of!) will always come in handy. Ainsley Harriot Caribbean Coconut Rice is infused with just the right balance of fresh, nutty flavours to make it really versatile.
Scoop a fluffy portion next to curries, stews, grilled meats, fish or spiced veggies for an easy-peasy meal.
There’s no doubt that the coconutty flavours would go nicely with a bowl of Red Thai Curry. Inspired by our go-to Thai takeaway order, we’ve used slimming-friendly swaps to bring the calories down, without losing zesty, aromatic deliciousness.
Rather than a heavy cream or coconut milk, we use Alpro Coconut Drink to give our sauce its irresistible silkiness.
Ainsley Harriot Caribbean Coconut Rice is available from Tesco, priced at £1.50 per pack.
Sacla’ Tomato & Ricotta Pesto – 141 calories per 50g serving
Stop scrolling if you love pesto! Give pasta, meatballs or chicken an instant upgrade with a spoonful of Sacla’ Tomato and Ricotta Pesto.
A blend of tomatoes, ricotta cheese, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino, peppers and carrots, it’s absolutely bursting with the flavours of Southern Italy.
You’d only need three tablespoons to make the zesty, garlicky dressing we’ve tossed into our Red Pesto Chicken Salad. We’ve also marinated our chicken pieces in the dressing, so the flavours are even more intense.
It’s all served on a bed of fresh, colourful veggies, with more dressing drizzled on top for good measure.
Sacla’ Tomato & Ricotta Pesto is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £3.35 per jar.
Tesco Biryani Flavour Kit – 67 calories per 1/2 pack
When ‘effort’ isn’t the order of the day, this Tesco Biryani Flavour Kit will do the thinking for you. Once you’ve gathered the accompanying ingredients from the list on the packet (chicken thighs, yoghurt, onion, butter and rice), you can have your Biryani ready in just 5 simple steps.
There are more flavour kits in the same range if you’re in the mood for a different fakeaway: Tandoori Chicken Naan, Chicken Chorizo Pasta and Greek-style Gyros should be in the same aisle at Tesco.
This feels like such a throwback now, but we actually have a Vegetable Biryani recipe in our first-ever cookbook! We’ve made sure to throw in lots and lots of beautiful vegetables, so that it’s super filling.
For an extra layer of texture and a bit of added protein, crack an egg and stir it through. Turn to pages 62-63 in your copy to try it tonight.
Tesco Biryani Flavour Kit is available from Tesco, priced at £1.85 per box.
Propercorn Tangy Chilli Popcorn – 90 calories per serving
Next time you’ve got a hankering for a savoury snack with a crunch, grab a handful of Propercorn Tangy Chilli Popcorn. A sweet yet tangy chilli-coated bite with oodles of fibre, these moreish, fiery kernels are ideal to graze on until dinnertime.
This is your sign to get creative with popcorn you’ve got at home and rustle up a batch of our Salted Caramel and Chocolate Popcorn Bites. You’ll find the full recipe on pages 186-189 of our Enjoy cookbook.
Bound together with sticky caramel, our chocolate-covered popcorn mix is extra delicious with a sprinkling of sea salt on top. At 69 calories a pop, they’re far lighter than the tubs you can buy from the supermarket, and so much better for your budget.
Propercorn Tangy Chilli Popcorn is available from Waitrose, priced at £1.50 for a shareable bag.
Nutella Ice Cream Tub – 168 calories per portion
We can’t tell you how excited we were when we spotted this Nutella Ice Cream Tub at Morrisons! It’s all the nutty flavours you know and love, swirled into an ultra-creamy, scrumptious frozen treat.
Grab your tub from the freezer and wait 10 minutes (if you can resist), so it’s nice and soft when you’re ready to serve.
It’s no surprise that we’re big fans of the world-famous hazelnut spread, and the proof is in our rich and chocolatey Nutella Baked Oats.
You can tuck into them for a warming hug in the morning, or serve them with a squirt of cream for an indulgent-tasting pud. We tend to freeze a batch or two ready for when we need something effortless, sweet and filling in a hurry.
Nutella Ice Cream Tub is available from Morrisons, priced at £5.50 per tub.
Four Seasons Battered Onion Bhaji Rings – 292 calories per 100g portion
Get two treats in one mouthful with a freezer-friendly bag of Four Seasons Battered Onion Bhaji Rings. Rather thayyyyyn a traditional coating of deep-fried breadcrumbs, a lightly-spiced, curried bhaji-inspired batter is wrapped around each onion centre.
We’ll let you in on a secret…we turned our Chicken Madras recipe into a fakeaway feast earlier this week with a side of Pilau Rice, and a crunchy portion of bhaji-battered rings. It was heavenly!
Madras curries are known for being on the spicier end of the scale, but the beauty of making your own from scratch is that you get to be in control of how much chilli goes into the mix. To cool things down, reduce the amount of fresh chillies, or serve with a dollop of fat-free yoghurt.
Four Seasons Battered Onion Bhaji Rings are available from Aldi, priced at £1.79 per bag.
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.
Romaine Lettuce – 17 calories per 100g
Fresh and crunchy, romaine lettuce is great for salads, and it’ll add a nice bite layered inside a sandwich too. Since it’s so low in calories, it’s an ideal ingredient for high volume, low-calorie eating.
There’s no such thing as a boring salad with our Chicken and Mango Salad on the menu. Full of colour and flavour, it’s all brought together with creamy avocado and a juicy-sweet mango dressing.
Large Flat Mushrooms – 16 calories per 100g
We’re kind of obsessed with the versatility of mushrooms! Flat mushrooms are just as low in calories as their smaller cousins, and they can be chopped into lots of different dishes to bulk them out.
Try slicing them into our vegetarian Mushroom and Spinach Lasagne, helping to make it hearty and filling, without the need to add meat.
Baby Potatoes – 75 calories per 100g
Baby potatoes hold their shape after cooking, giving them a delicious bite that makes fresh salads and side dishes more satisfying. Why not take some home to make up a portion of our Garlic and Parmesan Potatoes?
Inspired by Italian flavours, these crispy, mouthwatering roasties come tossed in fresh garlic, Parmesan and herbs.
Radishes – 16 calories per 100g
Mild and peppery in flavour, radishes are so easy to prep and throw into salads or stir-fries. They’ll add a scrummy crunchy texture to your lunch, for the bargain price of 39p per bag in this week’s Super 6 – don’t mind if we do!
You can try them as part of the rainbow-coloured salad that’s piled high on our Katsu Curry Burgers.
Red Onions – 41 calories per 100g
With more antioxidants than their white and brown counterparts, red onions are a super versatile veggie that you can enjoy raw or cooked. It’s always handy to have a few in your kitchen, especially if you’re looking to sauté the base for a rich, homemade sauce.
You’ll find red onion finely chopped and simmered until sweet for our Caramelised Onion Quiche. Delicious hot or cold, we never get bored of this recipe!
Beef Tomato – 20 calories per 100g
You know barbecue season has properly arrived when beef tomatoes are out to play. Easy to slice and the perfect size for a burger-loaded bite, we love having these in the fridge ready for when we’re having dinner in the garden.
Why not use a slice to add a juicy burst of tomatoey goodness to Turkey Burgers? They’re packed full of delicious flavour for only 176 calories per bun.
**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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