Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 03.05.24
May is here, it’s a bank holiday weekend AND we’ve got a brand-new Weekly Pinch of Shopping for you! Fridays don’t get much better than this….
Before you nip to the shops to finish grabbing bits to make the most of the long weekend, make sure you scroll through these BBQ, buffet bites and bank holiday snacks that we’ve spotted this week.
If you’re braving the first barbecue of the year, we reckon these Spiced Salmon and Prawn Tikka Burgers from Asda will go down well with friends and family. Stock up on burger buns and cross your fingers for sunshine!
Oooh and if you know us, you know we can’t resist a nostalgic sweet treat, which is exactly why you’ll find Swizzels Rainbow Drops Fruit Flavour Ice Lollies on our shopping list! Was anyone else obsessed with the bags of colourful little rice pops?
We’re counting down the days until our most-requested cookbook ever, PINCH OF NOM: AIR FRYER hits the shelves on June 20th! Eeeek…that’s NEXT MONTH!!
A few weeks ago we were FINALLY allowed to tell you a few of the recipes you’ll find inside! We filmed a little video in the office to let the PON team tell you their favourites. You can either watch it below, or on our Instagram here.
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We want to say a huge THANK YOU SO MUCH if you’ve already pre-ordered your copy. You are the best!
We can’t wait for all 75 scrummy, slimming-friendly air fryer recipes to be with you so very soon (pre-order a copy 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. 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!**
The Vegetarian Butcher Battered Fish Fillet Alternative Cod Almighty – 189 calories per serving
No one at the table has to miss out on a chippy tea fakeaway thanks to this Battered Fish Fillet Alternative Cod Almighty from The Vegetarian Butcher. Spotted in Sainsbury’s, the plant-based fillets are made from protein-rich rice flakes that are high in omega 3, iron, and vitamin B12.
With a lemony flavour and a crunchy, golden batter, this versatile vegan fish alternative is ready in a flash. You can pan-fry, air-fry or oven-bake the fillets in under 10 minutes.
Treat yourself to at-home fish and chips (without the fish!) this weekend by adding a handful of crispy Homemade Oven Chips and some mushy peas on the side. Don’t forget you can make your chips in the air fryer if you prefer – just take a look at the conversion chart in this handy article.
The Vegetarian Butcher Battered Fish Fillet Alternative Cod Almighty is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £3.50 for a pack of 2 (or £2.00 with a Nectar Card).
Tesco Korma Roast Chicken Breast Chunks – 126 calories per 1/2 pack
Hot or cold, these ready-to-eat Korma Roast Chicken Breast Chunks from Tesco make for a perfect high-protein snack or sandwich filler. Marinated in mild and fragrant Indian-inspired spices, it’s ideal when you don’t have time to hang around.
You can dive in straight from the pack, or pop the pieces in the microwave for a minute or two to heat them through before serving.
If you fancy a proper homemade curry that’s low on effort and big on flavour, you couldn’t ask for anything easier than our All in One Baked Korma recipe. The curry and the rice are all cooked in the same pot, meaning far less fuss, and less mess too!
Tesco Korma Roast Chicken Breast Chunks are available from Tesco, priced at £3.00.
ASDA Spiced Salmon & Prawn Tikka Burgers – 189 calories per burger
There’s a hint of sunshine on the horizon, so you might be planning to crack out the BBQ for the first time this year over the weekend! If you fancy a change from the usual kebabs and beef burgers, pop down to Asda and pick up these Spiced Salmon and Prawn Tikka Burgers.
Deliciously fragrant and packed with protein, each patty is only 189 calories. Suitable for cooking in a pan, in the oven or on a barbecue, they’ll be ready to load into a burger bun in less than 20 minutes.
We love to make our own Salmon Burgers from scratch, infusing the patties with lots of lovely fresh lemon zest. You won’t want to miss the creamy dill and pickle sauce that we layer onto the burger bun either – it’s the perfect flavour pairing for the juicy salmon.
ASDA Spiced Salmon & Prawn Tikka Burgers are available from Asda, priced at £3.00 for a pack of 2.
Cadbury Brunch Light Honey & Oat – 93 calories per bar
These new Cadbury Brunch Light Honey and Oat bars have a whopping 45% less sugar than the original versions! Full of wholegrain oats and bran flakes, they’re drizzled with honey and dipped in chocolate for good measure.
Whether you enjoy them as an on-the-go breakfast or pop one in your bag to snack on during the day, there’s just 93 calories in each wholesome bar.
Talking of hearty oat snacks that you can nibble on whenever you’re feeling a little peckish, you can’t go wrong with a tub full of our Strawberry Oat Muffins. Each batch makes 6 fruity muffins that work out at 102 calories a pop.
Cadbury Brunch Light Honey & Oat are available from Asda, priced at £1.25 for a pack of 5.
Sainsbury’s Smoked Paprika & Aioli Flavour – 155 calories per 30g serving
We’re soooo ready for buffets, BBQs and sunny bank holidays! Part of Sainsbury’s Summer Edition, these Smoked Paprika and Aioli Flavour crisps are a tasty new nibble for picnics and garden parties, and they’re perfect for sharing with friends and family.
The garlicky seasoning has a hint of smoky sweetness from the paprika, so this crunchy snack is delicious on its own, or dunked into a pot of homemade dip.
We’ll be making our super-quick Spinach and Pesto Dip to serve with a bag of these. It’s creamy, tangy and garlicky, with protein-rich chickpeas and plenty of green goodness!
Sainsbury’s Smoked Paprika & Aioli Flavour crisps are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £1.50.
Alpro Coconut Salted Caramel Dairy Free Yoghurt Alternative – 108 calories per 100g
A combination of sweet and salty flavours is always a treat for the taste buds, which is why this Alpro Coconut Salted Caramel Dairy Free Yoghurt Alternative caught our eye this week. Thick, creamy and made from plant-based ingredients, it’s a luxurious snack that anyone can enjoy.
Alpro says it’s reworked the recipe for this one, so that the coconut is mild and the caramelised sugar and sea salt flavours steal the show.
Psst…if you can’t resist glorious, gooey caramel, you need to rustle up a batch of Millionaire’s Shortbread this weekend. Shop-bought versions are sadly chock-full of calories, but a few nifty ingredient swaps means our recipe works out at 127 calories per square.
Alpro Coconut Salted Caramel Dairy Free Yoghurt Alternative is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £3.00.
Milky Way Ice Cream Cones – 181 calories per cone
Rain or shine over the bank holiday weekend, we’re sure you’ll find an excuse to sit back and enjoy one of these Milky Way Ice Cream Cones. Pinching the flavours from the popular kids’ treat, the swirls of malt and cocoa ice cream are topped with white chocolate stars and milk chocolate drops.
You can crunch through a cone for 181 calories, so they’re ideal for saving as a decadent after-dinner sweetener.
If the sun’s shining and you fancy really getting the party started, make sure you have a tub of our Piña Colada Ice Cream chilling in the freezer. You don’t even need an ice cream maker for this one…just remember it’s only for the grown-ups!
Milky Way Ice Cream Cones are available from Iceland, priced at £3.75 for a pack of 4.
Morrisons Dual Pack Buffalo & Salt & Pepper Wings – 217 calories per 100g
Anyone planning to bring out the barbecue no matter what this weekend? If that’s you, Morrisons has got you covered with these Dual Pack Buffalo and Salt and Pepper Wings. They’re great if you’d rather skip the prepping and marinating and get straight into cooking up a BBQ feast!
Half of the wings have a fiery buffalo-inspired coating, and the other half have a milder seasoning of salt and pepper. Even if the weather doesn’t play along, these will crisp up a treat in the oven or air fryer!
How about a side of Buffalo Coleslaw to go with your wings? It’s a tasty twist on a classic coleslaw, with mellow blue cheese and just a hint of hot sauce in the mix!
Morrisons Dual Pack Buffalo & Salt & Pepper Wings are available from Morrisons, priced at £5.00.
ASDA Mexican-Inspired Beef Mince Kit – 261 calories per 1/4 pack
Whether you fancy a quick chilli con carne, tacos or enchiladas, this Mexican-Inspired Beef Mince Kit will save you time on busy days. The seasoned beef mince mixture is already packed with tomatoes, kidney beans, red peppers and sweetcorn, so all you have to do is cook it and serve it however you like!
It only needs 8 minutes in a hot pan, and then you’re ready to spoon it into a taco or a wrap with all of your favourite Mexican-style toppings. We’ll have sour cream and guacamole please!
You could even use it instead of making the chilli filling for these Chilli Stuffed Sweet Potato Skins. Topped with melty cheese and baked until everything’s golden, they make a nice change from rice or a standard jacket spud.
ASDA Mexican-Inspired Beef Mince Kit is available from Asda, priced at £4.75.
Swizzels Rainbow Drops Fruit Flavour Ice Lollies – 51 calories per lolly
Remember Rainbow Drops? We can’t help ourselves when we see a new treat that reminds us of when we were kids! New at Iceland, these Swizzels Rainbow Drops Fruit Flavour Ice Lollies are worth popping on your shopping list if you fancy a trip down memory lane.
Free from artificial colours, and just 51 calories each, imagine sitting out in the sunshine with one of these fruity and refreshing lollies.
If you’d rather make your own ice pops, so you know there’s no nasties in them, these Strawberry and Kiwi Ice Lollies are just what you’re after. We’ve even used real kiwi fruits to create the green layer!
Swizzels Rainbow Drops Fruit Flavour Ice Lollies are available from Iceland, priced at £2.50 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.
Chillies – 26 calories per 100g
We don’t often see chilli peppers in the Super 6, so it’s a nice surprise to find them on the list this week! Pick up a few while they’re at a bargain price, and you’ll find they come in handy for all kinds of recipes. Even if you don’t like your food super spicy, you can use them to add a subtle heat – just be sure to scrape out the seeds if you want a milder flavour.
Put them to good use and rustle up one of our favourite fakeaways from Pinch of Nom: Express. This Beef with Chilli and Garlic recipe packs in so much flavour in just 20 minutes.
Little Gem Lettuce – 16 calories per 100g
Crunchy leaves of Little Gem lettuce make for a tasty salad base or sandwich filler. Refreshing and low in calories, it’s always worth your while to have some in the fridge crisper drawer.
To keep things slimming friendly, we nestle the filling for these Pork Carnitas with Pineapple and Mango Salsa inside cups of Little Gem lettuce. They add the perfect crunch to every bite, without ramping up the calories!
Chestnut Mushrooms – 17 calories per 100g
A staple of slimming-friendly cooking, mushrooms of any kind are ideal for adding extra goodness (and very few calories!) to just about any recipe.
We’ve given them their time to shine in this Mushroom Carbonara dish, mixed into a creamy sauce that tastes way more indulgent than it really is. On the table in 45 minutes, it feels like a treat to rustle up in the middle of the week.
Extra Fine Beans – 31 calories per 100g
These fancy fine beans are just good old green beans at heart! One of the most versatile veggies around, you can add a handful on the side of your main meal whenever you need a boost of green goodness.
We love to cook them in the air fryer with a sprinkle of breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese – you end up with these gorgeous Air Fryer Green Beans.
Oranges – 47 calories per 100g
Say hello to summery flavours, a citrusy zing and plenty of vitamin C! A 5-pack of oranges is only 79p while they’re included in the Super 6, so now’s the time to stock up your fruit bowl.
You can peel them, slice them or squeeze them to make the most of their zesty goodness, but we highly recommend using them to marinate these Ginger and Orange Chicken Kebabs (especially if you are cracking out the BBQ!).
Piccolato Tomatoes – 17 calories per 100g
Similar to Piccolo tomatoes, these Piccolatoes are a little more intense in flavour, with more of a rich, juicy sweetness than your bog standard cherry tomatoes. Balanced between sharp and sweet, they’re delicious hot or cold, as snacks, or part of a main meal.
We reckon they’d go down a storm in any of our Tuscan-inspired recipes. Roast them until they start to caramelise and then add them into this unmissable Tuscan Chicken Macaroni.
**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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