Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 01.07

It’s July and summer’s officially well underway! We’re not sure how that happened (time seems to be flying!), but we do have a whole Weekly Pinch of Shopping that’s worth slowing down for. So pop your feet up, grab an ice cold drink and have a scroll through…

The sun has been coming out quite a bit lately, so we’ve made sure to stock up on tasty, freezer-friendly treats. If you love the nostalgia of a refreshing ice pop, you need to try the sour flavours in Mr Freeze Ice Lollies (we can’t get enough of sour cola!).

Plus, we feel fresher just looking at the Gin & Tonic Sorbet we spotted in M&S. Zesty and boozy, it’s safe to say it’s only for the adults in the household – what a shame, eh?

Speaking of doing your weekly shopping, we’re so excited that our brand new food planner is OUT NOW! The Pinch of Nom Family Meal Planner is our most family-friendly food planner yet – it’s ideal for planning your meals and organising what you need to buy (plus there are 26 exclusive new recipes inside!). You can still be one of the first to grab one by ordering a copy here.

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. 

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. 

Want to make sure you never miss a Weekly Pinch of Shopping? You can sign up to receive the Weekly Pinch of Shopping in your inbox here, so you’ll always be the first to read the new articles. 

**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!**

Ben’s Original Plant Powered Chilli Non Carne – 145 calories per 1/2 pack

Who doesn’t love Chilli con Carne? A much loved home-cooking staple, our weekly routine wouldn’t be the same without at least one chilli con carne dinner in the mix. If you’re after chilli con carne flavours but you’re looking to take a break from the ‘carne’ side of things, this Plant Powered Chilli Non Carne from Ben’s Original is just the ticket. Using a tasty combination of beans, sweetcorn and red pepper in a tomato-based sauce, each sachet is packed with just the right amount of fibre and protein to leave you full and satisfied. The best part? It’s ready in 90 seconds – you can’t argue with that level of convenience!

We love the versatility of chilli con carne. Once you’ve prepared a batch, there are so many ways you can use it to rustle up a fresh-feeling dish. Whether you’ve got meat-based or veggie chilli to spare, why not use it to fill our Chilli Stuffed Sweet Potato Skins? They’re as melty and delicious as they look…

Ben’s Original Plant Powered Chilli Non Carne is available from Ocado, priced at £2.00 for a 285g pack. 

Sainsbury’s Red Pickled Slaw – 42 calories per 1/2 pack

Ditch the creamy coleslaw and spice up your buffet table with this Red Pickled Slaw from Sainsbury’s. You get crunchy shredded cabbage, carrot and spring onion, all tossed in a vinegar and chilli dressing. 

This really delivers big, punchy flavours, with plenty of heat, as well as all the tang you expect from your pickled veggies. At 42 calories for half of the tub, side dishes don’t come much more slimming friendly than this! Will you spoon some into a sandwich, load some onto a burger or add a scoop on a summery salad?

If you prefer a more traditional slaw but still fancy a fiery twist, our Buffalo Coleslaw recipe is the best of both worlds. Made with fat-free Greek yoghurt instead of high-calorie mayonnaise, it gets creaminess from blue cheese and a kick from a little hot sauce.  

Sainsbury’s Red Pickled Slaw is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £1.40 for a 200g tub

Sainsbury’s Chilli Lime & Coriander Dusted Basa – 197 calories per fillet

Pop this pack of Sainsbury’s Chilli Lime & Coriander Dusted Basa in your freezer and a delicious fish dinner will only ever be 25 minutes away. We always say ‘if it swims, it slims’ and these frozen fillets prove our point – they’re just 197 calories each. 

Instead of a heavy, breaded coating, the basa is dusted with an aromatic blend of chilli, lime and coriander, infusing the fish with all those lovely, fragrant flavours. Whether you dish them up with chips, rice or loads of vegetables, these make for a seriously satisfying meal. 

Why not bring out the chilli flavour by serving with these Salt and Pepper Chips? We think they’re every bit as good as the ones you can get from the takeaway (only with far fewer calories!). 

Sainsbury’s Chilli Lime & Coriander Dusted Basa is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £2.50 for a pack of 2 fillets. 

ASDA Extra Special Sugarloaf Pineapple – 50 calories per 100g

In the mood to sit down, relax and nibble on a refreshingly cool snack? These Extra Special Sugarloaf Pineapple chunks from Asda are a fruity grab-and-go treat. With 1 of your 5-a-day in a third of a pack, the heaps of juicy sweetness here will curb your afternoon cravings without taking you off track – ideal!

You can’t beat the refreshing zestiness of pineapple on a summer’s day. Why not cosy up in the garden with a bowlful of our punchy Pineapple Salsa? A tropical treat for your taste buds (and your eyes!), it’s just as flavourful as it is colourful. If you’re a spice lover, don’t be shy with the chopped chillies – you can always add more so that the sweet pineapple pieces really pop. Time to get dipping!

ASDA Extra Special Sugarloaf Pineapple is available from Asda, priced at £2.00 per pack.

Morrisons The Best Summer Tabbouleh Salad – 138 calories per 100g

The vibrant, zesty flavours in Morrisons The Best Summer Tabbouleh Salad will give any summer time spread a lift. We’re talking pickled red onion, tomatoes, mint, parsley, lemon zest and sumac dressing, all without any prep whatsoever! Serve it at your next picnic or barbecue, or add a serving to your tupperware and instantly level up your lunch. The yummy tanginess is the perfect midday pick-me-up!

If it’s a no-cook light lunch you’re looking for, our slimming-friendly Tabbouleh recipe bursts with colour and flavour for minimum effort. Complete with all the zesty, minty Middle Eastern inspired flavours you’d expect, we’ve added just the right amount of bulgar wheat to leave you full and satisfied for the rest of your day. 

With bulgar wheat, there’s no need to turn on your stove top – simply leave it to soak for 20 minutes whilst you chop and season your Tabbouleh-bound veggies. Easy peasy! 

Morrisons The Best Summer Tabbouleh Salad is available from Morrisons, priced at £2.25 per pack.

Rude Health Chickpea & Lentil Crackers – 21 calories per cracker

A savoury snack with a crunch to it is always a winner in our book. We love that these Rude Health Chickpea & Lentil Crackers are packed with soya bean and lentil deliciousness, for only 21 calories per moreish serving. Enjoy them plain or snack on them coupled with a low-fat sweet or savoury spread – whichever takes your fancy!

If you’re looking to go meat-free without compromising on filling satisfaction, chickpeas are the way to go. High in protein, low in fat and flavoured by a creamy curry dressing, no one at the table will be able to taste that our Coronation Chickpeas are slimming friendly. By swapping out calorie-laden mayonnaise for fat-free Greek yoghurt, we’ve kept the calories nice and low without losing out on signature coronation goodness. Why not serve a spoonful or two over your lentil crackers? 

Rude Health Chickpea & Lentil Crackers are available from Ocado, priced at £1.80 per pack.

Shloer Pink Bubbly – 23 calories per 100ml

Whether there’s something to celebrate or not, we don’t need an excuse to pop the cork on this Shloer Pink Bubbly! This sparkling tipple makes any occasion feel extra-special, without a drop of alcohol in sight. Fizzy and fruity in a fun pink shade, dust off the champagne flutes and pour for only 23 calories a glass. We’ll say cheers to that!

We can’t talk about fun-time tipples without mentioning the cocktail of the summer: our fruity, slushy Strawberry Daiquiri. Strawberries are the staple fruity treat of Wimbledon season, and for good reason! Nothing cools us down quite like a berry-flavoured beverage, and our daiquiri is bursting with sweet strawberry goodness. 

Don’t fancy cracking out the martini glasses? Use our freezer-friendly recipe to make daiquiri ice lollies instead! Just be sure the kids can’t find them. 

Shloer Pink Bubbly is available from Morrisons, priced at £3.00 for a 750ml bottle.

ASDA Turkish Inspired 6 Courgette & Sweetcorn Fritters – 67 calories per serving (1 fritter and 1/6 dip)

Hot or cold, these Turkish Inspired Courgette and Sweetcorn Fritters from Asda are a dreamy picnic treat. Each veggie-friendly fritter is filled with a tasty courgette and sweetcorn filling, and coated in a crunchy, moreish coating. Don’t be shy with the accompanying minty yoghurt dip! It’s a match made in heaven with the Turkish-inspired fritter seasoning.

Rain or shine, the flavours in our crunchy Broccoli and Sweetcorn Fritters will liven up any meal. From breakfast through to lunch or even as a snack, you’ll never regret having these irresistible bites on your plate. In the unlikely event of leftovers, they’ll keep really nicely in the fridge for when you’re in need of an easy grab-and-go fix. 

ASDA Turkish Inspired 6 Courgette & Sweetcorn Fritters are available from Asda, priced at £2.50 for a pack of 6.

M&S Gin & Tonic Sorbet – 72 calories per tub

Spoons at the ready! We had to add these tipple-inspired Gin & Tonic Sorbets from M&S to our shopping list. Flavoured with tonic, gin and hints of lime, they’ll go down a treat with some added pieces of fruit or an extra-special drizzle of syrup on a sunny evening. At only 72 calories per tub, it would be rude not to.

No need to scoop! With our Elderflower Gin Fizz you can enjoy a glassful of gin flavours the old-fashioned way. Our recipe combines prosecco, gin and the floral freshness of elderflower to make the perfect fizz for your next garden party. Cocktail umbrella season, we’re ready for you!

M&S Gin & Tonic Sorbet is available from Ocado, priced at £4.50 for a pack of 4 tubs.

Mr Freeze Sour Freezepops – 15 calories per pop

Who else loves a mouth-wateringly sour treat? You can pull these Mr Freeze Sour Freezepops straight from the freezer for a frozen burst of tangy deliciousness. Available as a 20 pack with a variety of sour flavours, including apple, cherry and cola, there’s bound to be something for everyone in each pack. Make sure you move quickly to grab your favourite – our money’s on sour cola disappearing first!

If tart flavours are your bag, you need to try the tang in our Lemon and Blueberry Tarts. The flavour combination of lemon juice and blueberry curd, served in a delicately crisp filo pastry casing, tastes too good to be as light as 49 calories per tart. Why not whip them up for your next summer shindig?

Mr Freeze Sour Freezepops are available from Morrisons, priced at £1.55 for a pack of 20.

NEW Aldi Super 6 Fruit and Veg Selection – TBC

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:

Jersey Royal Potatoes – 75 calories per 100g

We’re kicking things off with everyone’s favourite root veg! Whether they’re the centre of attention, or treated as a side dish, you can always count on filling, carby potatoes to make your dish. Jersey Royals are a wonder for throwing into the pan with the skin on, so there’s no need to fuss around chopping them! 

Since they’re waxy, they’ll hold their shape nicely for quick, summer recipes like our Potato Salad. You need to try their creamy chive dressing alongside the meaty options at your next barbecue.

Looking for more ideas on how to make your potatoes barbecue ready? Take a look at our guide on different types of potatoes and how to cook them.

Spring Onions – 32 calories per 100g

When it comes to fresh stir-fries, soups or salads, spring onions are a must-add ingredient. Vitamin-filled and so easy to prepare, they’ll freshen up any dish in an instant with  a satisfying onion crunch. Our Chicken with Ginger and Spring Onion recipe combines fragrant ginger with marinated chicken to make a Chinese-inspired dish at home. This dish is at its best with a little bite to it, so don’t keep your veggies in the pan too long – we don’t want them losing their crunch!

Closed Cup Mushrooms – 17 calories per 100g

Getting plenty of nutrition doesn’t have to be tricky with mushrooms on the menu. Filled with vitamins and easy to cook, they’re a versatile veggie you can always count on. From risottos to pasta dishes to stews, they’ll add a deeper, satisfying flavour to so many dishes. With mushrooms in the mix, our Mushroom Carbonara doesn’t leave you missing bacon or ham at all! It’s just as creamy and delicious as the original Italian inspiration. Trust us, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!

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. That definitely leaves room in your calorie budget for a side slaw too…

Red Pepper – 31 calories per 100g

It’s difficult to miss the enticing brightness of red bell peppers in the fruit and veg aisle! A versatile veggie that’s nice and easy to prepare, they’ll add a boost of vitamins and antioxidants to your dishes too. Peppers are often found in our favourite Fakeaways, including our irresistible Salt and Pepper Pork recipe. Ready in under 20 minutes (including prep) for less than 320 calories, it definitely beats a trip to the takeaway!

Peaches – 39 calories per 100g 

Juicy, plump peaches are a summer essential in our house. Packed with vitamins and good for digestion, snacking on a peach is always a good idea when you’re in a mid-afternoon lull. Peach slices on toast, anyone? Our Peaches and Cream French Toast is a fruit-tastic way to finish the day. Sharp peaches with creamy Greek-style yoghurt on crunchy sweet toast is a dreamy combination. 

You can find the full recipe in our second cookbook, Pinch of Nom: Everyday Light.

**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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