Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 03.01.25
Happy first Friday of 2025! Your Weekly Pinch of Shopping is ready and filled with delicious sweet and savoury goodies that’ll start your year off right.
If you’re giving Veganuary a go, keep an eye out for This Isn’t Chicken Plant-Based Kyivs. They’re properly tasty with a crunchy coating and an oozy garlic centre – you might forget they’re not meat!
Even if the festive season is over, there’s always room for a little treat. We spotted some new Mr Kipling Birthday Cake Tarts that go brilliantly with a cup of tea. Perfect for brightening up a dreary January afternoon!
This weekend is the perfect chance to get ahead of New Year meal planning! With the first-ever official Pinch of Nom calendar on your wall, you’ll be inspired and motivated to smash your slimming goals in 2025. The dishes we’ve hand-picked to go inside bring all the Nom flavours you know and love, month by month.
We’ve added large date panels to each page, giving you plenty of space to jot down notes, keep on top of appointments, birthdays, and plan meals as you go.
Tap the image below to grab yours from Amazon ready for the New Year, or order directly from Danilo by tapping here.
Spotted any yummy-looking, slimming-friendly new products at the supermarket lately? Share them with us – they might feature in our next article! You can also join the discussion in our Facebook group here.
Our Weekly Pinch of Shopping highlights budget-friendly, slimming-friendly products available in local supermarkets and online. We include calorie information and RRP, though prices may vary.
Each week, we also feature Aldi’s Super 6 deals – a fortnightly selection of discounted fruits and vegetables – along with recipe ideas to help you make the most of them. 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!**
Brain Food Oat of the Blue Drink – 123 calories per bottle
Pick up this new Brain Food Oat of the Blue Drink from M&S when you’re in need of a grab-and-go boost! A velvety blend of creamy oats and coconut, it’s stamped with a bright yellow ‘Eat Well’ flower that makes it nice and easy to spot.
It’s high in iodine and vitamin B12 so every sip isn’t just refreshing – it’s revitalising and nourishing too.
Our warming Coconut, Banana and Maple Porridge wouldn’t be the same without non-dairy coconut milk. It doesn’t just keep the calories down, it adds extra flavour too.
We top it all off with sliced bananas and desiccated coconut for a little crunch. There’s no better way to start your day!
Brain Food Oat of the Blue Drink is available from M&S, priced at £2.75 per bottle.
Brooklea Seeded Granola Protein Yoghurt – 197 calories per pot
This pot of Brooklea Seeded Granola Protein Yoghurt makes groggy January mornings feel easier. As well as 22g of swirled-in protein to fuel you for the day ahead, you’ll also get a lid full of crunchy granola to scatter on top when you’re ready to eat.
It’s up to you whether you tuck in first thing, or take the creamy strawberry flavours with you – either way, you won’t have to worry about prep!
Granola can be sneakily high in calories, but that’s not the case with our luscious Raspberry Mocha Granola Pots. We’ve baked oats into a coffee flavoured granola-style mixture instead!
That’s all before you’ve added a layer of chocolatey yoghurt, juicy raspberries, reduced-fat aerosol cream and an extra drizzle of Choc Shot on top…
Brooklea Seeded Granola Protein Yoghurt is available from Aldi, priced at £1.29.
The Tofoo Co. Sweet Chilli Cubes – 183 calories per 1/2 pack
If you’ve set a goal to eat less meat this year, or you’re following a plant-based diet fulltime, you’ll want to pick up The Tofoo Co. Sweet Chilli Cubes. To save you time, the high-protein tofu chunks are ready-coated in a sticky sweet chilli marinade.
Pan-fried or baked in your air fryer, they’re so tasty (and easy!) served with a portion of fluffy basmati rice, or tossed into salads and stir-fries.
Our Air Fryer Mini Tofu Kyivs might just be our favourite tofu recipe ever! You’ll know it’s ready to eat when the breadcrumb coating is crispy, golden, and your kitchen smells amazing from that garlicky filling.
Try them with a simple, fresh salad or steamed greens for a flavourful midweek dinner.
The Tofoo Co. Sweet Chilli Cubes are available from Asda, priced at £2.85 per pack.
M&S It’s Cheese Clouds & Marmite – 112 calories per bag
The festive cheeseboards might be gone for another year, but that doesn’t mean cheesy treats have to go anywhere! These M&S Marmite Cheese Clouds are cracking to snack on when you’ve got a hankering for a savoury nibble.
There’s also a decent amount of protein packed into each bag, leaving you fuller for longer.
Everyone loves to hate Marmite, but we can’t get enough of it! Our Cheese and Marmite Swirls are further proof that the controversial condiment was made to be paired with cheese.
You only need four ingredients to rustle up this low-calorie flaky pastry wonder! Grab your copy of Pinch of Nom: Enjoy from your bookshelf to try the full recipe – it’s on pages 210-211.
For even more slimming-friendly Marmite inspiration, you can visit our blog here.
M&S It’s Cheese Clouds & Marmite is available from M&S and Ocado, priced at £1.25 per bag.
This Isn’t Chicken Plant Based Kyiv – 382 calories per Kyiv
Meat-free Monday is always a winner with a This Isn’t Chicken Plant Based Kyiv on your plate. Swapping chicken breast for soya and wheat protein, it’s also stuffed with a vegan garlic melt that oozes from the middle.
Don’t worry, the crispy coating is still there too – both vegan Kyivs are wrapped in a layer of gorgeously golden sourdough breadcrumbs. Spot on for a slimming-friendly Veganuary!
You can never have too much garlic on one plate, if you ask us! A leafy side of Creamy Garlic Sprouts would go down a treat with Kyivs.
They’re fuss-free to begin with, but they’re even easier to make if you use a sprinkle of seasoning from our Flava It! Creamy Garlic Chicken sachet.
This Isn’t Chicken Plant Based Kyiv is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £4.95 for a pack of 2.
Vivera Texmex Protein Bites – 200 calories per 1/2 pack
We can’t get enough of how versatile these Vivera Texmex Plant-based Protein Bites are. Handy for when you want to mix up your Veganuary menu, these protein-rich patties can be eaten as a snack, or cooked into lunches and dinners.
They’re filled with a Mexican-inspired combination of herbs and spices, meaning they’re scrummy bundled into a low-calorie tortilla wrap with fresh, mixed salad veggies.
For a burst of colour and flavour, a side of Mexican-Style Corn on the Cob always delivers. We coat our cobs with lime-infused yogurt, a touch of hot chili powder and crumbled feta cheese.
Our top tip? Take everything to the next level with a squeeze of lime right before serving.
Vivera Texmex Protein Bites are available from Aldi, priced at £2.85.
MyProtein Brunch Bowl – 267 calories per portion (microwaved)
You can have this hearty MyProtein Brunch Bowl microwaved and ready to enjoy in minutes! A medley of finely chopped chicken sausages, potatoes and beans in a mildly spiced tomato sauce, there’s no shortage of high-protein goodness to warm you up.
We can’t think of a more effortless cooked breakfast than this easy-breezy Breakfast Traybake. It’s loaded with all the best bits of a full English brekkie, without any of the faff!
Sausages, bacon, eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes and bread are all baked together until the ‘soldiers’ are toasted, browned and ready for dipping. Will you squeeze red or brown sauce on yours?
You can never have too many warm breakfast ideas for January – our blog is full of them here.
MyProtein Brunch Bowl is available from Tesco, priced at £4.00 per pack.
Hartley’s Fruity Fibre Cherries & Berries Flavour Jelly Pots – 41 calories per pot
These Hartley’s Fruity Fibre Jelly Pots are perfect for curbing your sweet cravings, at only 41 calories per fruity-flavoured pot. High in fibre with plenty of real fruit puree, they’re worth picking up next time you’re at Sainsbury’s.
You can also pick up a 4-pack of Blackberry & Apple Flavour Jelly pots from the same range, if you’d prefer.
You can never beat a homemade wibbly-wobbly creation! It takes time to layer our eye-catching Rainbow Jellies, but the final result is so worth it. Every level of fruity, sugar-free jelly is paired with real fruit, to make sure every spoonful has a gorgeous, juicy bite.
Hartley’s Fruity Fibre Cherries & Berries Flavour Jelly Pots are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £2.95 for a pack of 4.
Kinder Bueno Classic Ice Cream – 219 calories per ice cream
Stop scrolling now if you love Kinder Bueno! These Kinder Bueno Classic Ice Cream cones are well worth stashing in the freezer. Topped with a chocolatey, nutty scoop of ice cream, you’ll work your way through the crispy wafer cone to find a core of crunchy hazelnut inside.
As if that wasn’t enough, it’s all topped off with shavings of Kinder Bueno chocolate – don’t mind if we do!
It’s delightfully easy to make our Ninja Creami Custard Cream Ice Cream at home. While the crunchy-biscuit centre might seem indulgent, our recipe uses low-calorie swaps to keep things nice and light at just 127 per bowlful.
Kinder Bueno Classic Ice Creams are available from Morrisons, priced at £4.95 for a pack of 4.
Mr Kipling Birthday Cake Tarts – 184 calories per tart
Everybody deserves a sweet treat here and there! These brand-new Mr Kipling Birthday Cake Tarts are splendid paired with a hot cup of tea or coffee.
Sprinkled with colourful hundreds and thousands, the fluffy vanilla sponge is also topped with icing, filled with a sticky jam centre and encased in pastry. What’s not to love?
Our very own Sprinkle Sponge recipe brings back so much nostalgia from our school dinner days! Rather than smothering the whole cake in icing, a small drizzle goes a long way for this slimming-friendly version.
You can find the full recipe by turning to pages 196-197 in our Budget cookbook.
Mr Kipling Birthday Cake Tarts are available from Morrisons, priced at £2.00 for a pack of 4.
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.
Salad Potatoes – 75 calories per 100g
You can’t beat the versatility of potatoes! While they might look similar to baby potatoes, these ones are a little more dense and hold their shape nicely, even after being cooked.
Why not make a refreshing portion of our Potato Salad to pair with your lunchtime protein? You can chop in pickles or boiled eggs for even more flavour!
Grapefruit – 42 calories per 100g
Grapefruit doesn’t appear on the Super 6 very often, and so we love to snap it up while stocks last! Add one or two to your basket and you’ll be left with a fresh, juicy ingredient you can chop into fruit salads, use as a porridge topper or bake into tarts.
Our gorgeous Sunshine Waffles never fail to make mornings brighter and tastier!
Red Peppers – 31 calories per 100g
It’s difficult to miss the eye-catching red peppers in the Super 6 section! A versatile veggie that’s nice and easy to prepare, they’ll add a boost of vitamins and antioxidants to your dishes without a fuss.
They’re particularly tasty when they’re wok-fried for fakeaways like our hugely popular Crispy Chilli Beef.
Sweet Gem Lettuce – 14 calories per 100g
Crisp and fresh, sweet gem lettuce is a versatile, leafy ingredient. Slice it, grill it, pan-fry it or use it to scoop up other tasty ingredients – it holds its shape really well, so it works as a ‘cup’ or even as a ‘spoon’!
Drizzled in sauce and layered with salad, transform sweet gem lettuce into a feast with our Katsu Curry Burgers recipe. You’ll be obsessed with our homemade katsu sauce.
Celery – 14 calories per 100g
Celery is a versatile vegetable that’s well worth picking up each week! Not only is it great in base sauces, stews and soups, it’s also great to nibble on (especially dunked into a homemade dip!).
Celery cooks down nicely to boost the flavours cooking sauces for lots of wholesome dishes, like our Creamy Tomato Pasta.
Mini Apples – 53 calories per 100g
You’ve got to love a crunchy mini apple. An easy way to give your day a sweet boost (and for only 53 calories), we love to keep them handy to snack on.
They’re also scrummy chopped into fruit salads, baked into warming sweet treats, or as a wintery porridge topper. Don’t believe us? Get cosy with our cinnamon-infused Apple Pie Porridge.
**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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