Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 19.03
In this week’s Weekly Pinch of Shopping, we’ve got some amazing low calorie snack options, including a sweet caramel bar with a whopping 10g of protein per bar to keep you fuller for longer, and soft and chewy digestive slices with a surprising twist.
Easter is also firmly back in focus with some brand new Easter themed products, including some super cute Easter bunny crumpets and hot cross buns in flavours that you’d never have expected.
We’ll take one of each, please!
We’re also showcasing a super sweet, zesty hybrid fruit that’s back just in time for the warmer weather.
It’s reminding us that summer isn’t far away, and we can’t wait!
We’ve got the chocolate lovers covered this week too, with a 2-ingredient chocolate spread that’s good for bees as well as our bellies, and a silky smooth hot chocolate drink for unwinding after a busy day.
Top it all off with some convenient vegetarian spicy bites and ready-to-use ham hock, we can’t wait for you to see this week’s selection!
We’ve also got a reminder of the Aldi Super 6 this week!
For those that don’t know, Aldi discounts a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables every fortnight, so we give you the rundown and inspiration to make the most of these budget ingredients.
Please remember that all prices are correct at the time of us writing this article and so they should be used as a guide only.
Make sure that you make a note of your favourite products so that you can pick them up with your weekly shopping. Our second food planner is perfect for this as it will really help you to plan out your meals and keep track of exactly what you’re eating or need to buy.
Lots of these products have been talked about over on our Facebook Group, so if you’re not a member then make sure that you click here to join now so that you don’t miss out (and don’t forget to share any delicious new products that you come across).
Our Weekly Pinch of Shopping list aims to show you slimming friendly products that are available in a wide range of stores so that you can pick them up during your weekly shop, and to make things really convenient we’ve also listed any relevant nutritional info and the RRP.
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**A note on our shopping list: 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!**
Tesco Shredded Ham Hock – 144 calories per half pack
Cured, cooked and ready to go!
This Tesco Shredded Ham Hock is salty and savoury, and comes pre-shredded for ultimate convenience.
It’s so versatile so you can add it to a cold sandwich packed with salad for an easy lunch, or even pile hot onto a jacket potato with your favourite sauce.
It also adds extra texture and flavour to soups like our Ham Leek and Potato Soup.
One of our favourite ways to eat shredded ham is on top of a pizza, but there’s no need to reach for the takeaway menu just yet!
Our Ham and Mushroom Pizza Calzone is great for using up leftovers into a tasty dinner.
A 180g pack of Tesco Shredded Ham Hock costs £2.50
Galaxy Vegan Instant Silky & Smooth Hot Chocolate Drink – 103 calories per portion
Who doesn’t love a delicious, smooth hot chocolate on a chilly evening?
We find this Galaxy Vegan Instant Silky & Smooth Hot Chocolate Drink really hits the spot if you’re craving a chocolate fix but don’t want to splurge on calories!
At only 103 calories, this hot chocolate is so simple to make: just add hot water for an indulgent, warming drink in as little as it takes the kettle to boil.
It’s suitable for vegans too, which means even more people can enjoy the rich taste of Galaxy chocolate while settling down on the sofa before bed.
If you’re finding yourself looking for an extra chocolate hit, try serving with a slice of Chocolate Cake with Salted Caramel Cream.
Galaxy Vegan Instant Silky & Smooth Hot Chocolate Drink can be found in Sainsbury’s for £3 per tub.
Asda Easter Bunny Crumpets – 103 calories per crumpet
These Asda Easter Bunny Crumpets are SO cute, they get us in the mood for spring straight away!
With cute bunny ears and a smiling face, these irresistible crumpets are also light, fluffy and ready to be toasted with a slick of low fat spread (or Marmite, if you like!).
These Asda Easter Bunny Crumpets are a sure fire way to make you smile in the morning, especially when they’re only 103 calories each!
Serve with your favourite fresh fruit and a hot cup of tea or coffee in your favourite mug.
If you’re after something a little more substantial, our Marmite Mushrooms on Toast recipe caused a stir when it was published and can really wake you up with a bang!
Pick up a 4-pack of Asda Easter Bunny Crumpets for £1.
Rowse ChocoBee Chocolate Spread – 322 calories per 100g
Sweet and sticky, this Rowse ChocoBee Chocolate Spread is the perfect combination of honey and chocolate!
It’s hard to believe this delectable spread contains just two ingredients: 100% pure and natural honey and sustainable cocoa with zero palm oil.
Rowse are also part of initiatives to protect honeybees and support beekeepers around the world.
As an added bonus, the packaging is fully recyclable too.
Try it spread on a crumpet or hot cross bun, or add a dollop to porridge for a burst of deep cocoa flavour for breakfast.
You could even swap out the Nutella in our Nutella Baked Oats.
We’ve spotted Rowse ChocoBee Chocolate Spread in most supermarkets priced around £2.49
Aldi Specially Selected Easter Hot Cross Buns – around 250 calories per bun
Nothing says Easter quite like a sweet and sticky hot cross bun, and these Aldi Specially Selected Easter Hot Cross Buns take the traditional baked treat and elevate it to a whole new level!
From the traditional dried fruit version to Salted Caramel and Belgian Chocolate, there are a whopping 10 varieties to choose from. Prefer something fruitier?
Try Rhubarb and Custard or Triple Berry flavour. If you’re looking for more of a kick, Chilli and Cheese flavour is the one for you.
With so many options, you’re sure to find a delicious hot cross bun variety for everyone to enjoy over Easter.
Simply toast until golden brown and serve for breakfast or brunch.
Try alongside a couple of hearty Breakfast Muffins for a more substantial meal.
Aldi Specially Selected Easter Hot Cross Buns can be found for between 99p and £1.09 depending on flavour.
Quorn Hot & Spicy Bites – 183 calories per 3 bites
Quorn Hot & Spicy Bites are a tasty alternative to standard spicy chicken nuggets.
Meat free and coated in a spicy sriracha breadcrumb, these are a slimming essential worth keeping in the freezer for those days where you don’t have the motivation to start from scratch!
These bites are high in protein and fibre while still low in fat, so are ideal when you’re following a slimming plan for an easy dinner straight from frozen.
We love the extra flavour from the sriracha too; it adds extra heat and spice to the crispy coating.
Perfect served with a dollop of ketchup alongside Homemade Oven Chips and a fresh mixed salad,
Quorn Hot & Spicy Bites can be found in Sainsbury’s for £2.60 per 465g bag.
McVitie’s Hot Cross Bun Flavour Slices – 124 calories per slice
We’re not the only ones excited about the flavour of hot cross buns at this time of year; these McVitie’s Hot Cross Bun Flavour Slices combine two of our absolute favourite flavours: hot cross buns and soft digestive slices!
They’re soft and chewy, and full of fibre to keep you feeling satisfied, so we think they’re a great slimming essential to keep on hand in the cupboard.
They’re individually wrapped too, so you can keep a couple in your handbag or lunchbox for on-the-go snacking.
If you like digestive biscuits, you’ll love our Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries.
Each 5-pack of McVitie’s Hot Cross Bun Flavour Slices costs £1 and can be found at the Co-Op.
Wall’s Happy Rainbow Yoghurt, Strawberry & Lime Ice Cream – 86 calories per 100g
Not only do these Wall’s Happy Rainbow Yoghurt, Strawberry & Lime Ice Cream taste good, they do good too!
Every penny of profit from these ice cream goes to NHS charities, so you can tuck in knowing that it’s making a difference.
Made with yoghurt, strawberry ice cream and tangy lemon-lime ice cream, these colourful ice lollies are full of fresh summery flavours, without any artificial colours or flavourings.
Yoghurt adds a special creaminess to these ice creams while keeping the calories low at only 86 per bar!
For homemade fruity ice cream with only a handful of fresh ingredients, try our Winter Berry Ice Cream.
We’ve spotted Wall’s Happy Rainbow Yoghurt, Strawberry & Lime Ice Cream at Sainsbury’s and Ocado for £2 per pack of 5.
Limelon – 34 calories per 100g
Never heard of a Limelon before?
They’re a brand new fruit hybrid, that’s why! Created by M&S, these Limelons have recently returned to stores after huge success last spring, and we’re so happy they’re back!
This incredible limited edition hybrid fruit tastes like a sweet, juicy melon with a hint of lime.
They’re refreshing and zesty, perfect for summer-inspired dishes.
They’re tasty enough to eat as they are, but we think they’re even better when used in savoury dishes for a burst of flavour.
Try thinly slicing and tossing in a Duck Salad instead of apple, or to decorate a Strawberry Daiquiri as the weather brightens!
Limelons are exclusively found at M&S for a limited time, priced at £3 each.
Fibre One Protein Bars Caramel & Nuts – 90 calories per bar
We are always on the lookout for easy, simple snacking options, especially during busy days or those moments where you only have a few minutes to spare!
These Fibre One Protein Bars Caramel & Nuts are just the ticket and at only 90 calories each!
They’re low in sugar and high in fibre to keep you feeling fuller for longer than a sugary, higher calorie snack and taste simply irresistible!
With a whopping 10g of protein per bar, you’ll be surprised at how this bar can keep you going until lunchtime.
With a layer of chewy crisps with a caramel flavoured sauce and all covered in a chocolate flavoured coating, these bars taste indulgent without compromising on calories.
We’ve also seen them in Cookies & Cream flavour, which sounds SO good!
If you find yourself with a little more time to prepare, our sweet and light Marshmallow Bars are ideal for keeping within reach for when the sweet craving hits.
Grab a box of 3 Fibre One Protein Bars Caramel & Nuts from Tesco from £2.50.
REMINDER Aldi Super 6 Fruit and Veg Selection
We love Aldi’s selection of fresh fruit and veggies, and each fortnight they choose six of them for a special offer where you can pick them up for much less than the normal price.
Here’s our refresher of this fortnight’s selection. For some meal inspiration to give you some ideas on how to make the most of the Super 6, take a look at last week’s article!
- Mini Easy Peelers – 35 calories per fruit
- Spring Onions – 32 calories per 100g
- Limes – 30 calories per 100g
- Mangetout – 33 calories per 100g
- Baby Potatoes – 75 calories per 100g
- Courgettes – 17 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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