Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 05.03
In this week’s Weekly Pinch of Shopping, we’ve got some amazing fakeaway favourites that are so good, you won’t be reaching for the takeaway menu anytime soon.
We’ve found some great savoury snack options, from flavoured rice cake cakes to simple, extra crispy water biscuits ready to add your favourite toppings.
Some of them are individually wrapped too, so you can keep them in the car or lunchbox for snacking emergencies!
Looking for something more substantial?
How does a bag of chow mein flavoured chicken wings sound?
Not only that, they’re ready from freezer to table in 35 minutes, that’s faster than calling the takeaway. YES PLEASE!
Wash it down with a fiery, refreshing and fairtrade ginger ale that’s SO pretty too.
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, we’ve got you covered: rich and indulgent chocolate pots of joy and cheesecake flavoured biscuits both make an appearance alongside tasty bite-size cake balls that are great for a fruity hit in a pinch.
Love it or hate it, you’ll definitely want to try the limited edition Marmite we’ve featured but be warned: the spice level is not for the faint hearted!
If convenience is just what you’re looking for, make sure you try the curry paste pots to save time and effort for those days you need it the most.
If you do find yourself with a little more time, our Chicken Tikka Masala is a fab option for fakeaway night!
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!**
Iceland Chow Mein Chicken Wings – 199 calories per ¼ pack
Chicken wings are simple and easy crowd pleasers, and these Iceland Chow Mein Chicken Wings are full of flavour, ready to pop straight in the oven!
With a deep, savoury chow mein flavour with ginger, garlic and five spice, these wings are the ideal choice when you don’t have time to marinate your own wings or prepare a sauce from scratch.
We think they would work well with a simple Fakeaway Fried Rice and extra steamed veggies.
You could even try tossing them through Chicken Chow Mein!
You can find a 750g bag of Iceland Chow Mein Chicken Wings for £3.
Karma Drinks Gingerella Ginger Ale – 35 calories per 100ml
How beautiful is this packaging?!
Not only does this Karma Drinks Gingerella Ginger Ale look and taste good, it does good too: it’s fully organic and certified fair trade!
With a refreshing fiery ginger kick and a hint of zesty lemon, this can of fizz is perfect for quenching your thirst when you are craving a strong flavour.
We’ve also spotted a cola, lemonade and orangeade in this range so if ginger isn’t your cup of tea you’re spoilt for choice.
Try chilled on a weekend evening, or as part of a spring BBQ.
If you like ginger flavours, try our Ginger Sponge for a warming pud with a touch of spice!
A 4x250ml pack of Karma Drinks Gingerella Ginger Ale is available from Ocado for £2.50, or £1.75 per 300ml bottle.
Cadbury Darkmilk Pots Of Joy – 110 calories per pot
The ultimate choice for chocolate lovers!
These Cadbury Darkmilk Pots Of Joy are one of our favourite slimming essentials because they’re rich and creamy and full of dark chocolatey flavour!
They’re thicker than a standard yoghurt texture which makes them feel really indulgent, while the distinctive Cadbury’s Darkmilk flavour is present in every mouthful.
These pots go a long way, especially as a dessert or for a mid-afternoon chocolate fix.
Although they’re delicious alone, we think you could try a dollop alongside our Chocolate Cake with Salted Caramel Cream for a delicious, slimming friendly pud!
You can find Cadbury Darkmilk Pots of Joy at most supermarkets for £2 per pack of 4.
Marmite Yeast Extract Dynamite Chilli – 22 calories per portion
The clue is in the name of this Marmite Yeast Extract Dynamite Chilli, and this one is NOT for the faint-hearted!
The recognisable flavour of Marmite is combined with a surge of chilli in this versatile spread, making it a slimming essential for those that enjoy the classic umami flavour.
You could try a sliver on wholemeal toast or on your usual breakfast bagel for a spicy upgrade, but we think the possibilities are endless!
Our Marmite Mushrooms on Toast recipe caused a stir when we released it, but why not try turning up the heat and substituting the standard Marmite for this one?
For only 22 calories, this Marmite really packs a punch: you could even substitute for Bovril in our Bovril Spaghetti recipe.
Marmite Yeast Extract Dynamite Chilli is available exclusively at Sainsbury’s for a limited time, priced at £4 per jar.
McVitie’s Digestives Strawberry Cheesecake Flavour – 81 calories per biscuit
Strawberry Cheesecake is one of our favourite flavours, and not something you’d expect to see on a list of slimming essentials!
These McVitie’s Digestives Strawberry Cheesecake Flavour combine the classic, simple digestive with a sweet and creamy strawberry cheesecake flavour, topped with milk chocolate.
They still give you the crumbly, biscuity texture of a digestive but with a twist, and we think they’ll make a great addition to your biscuit tin.
Ideal for dunking into your favourite cuppa, you get a lot of flavours for just 81 calories per biscuit, and we find them filling and substantial.
Want a lighter snack? Our Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries are just the ticket.
McVitie’s Digestives Strawberry Cheesecake Flavour are available at most supermarkets, and are currently on offer at £1.49 per pack at Asda.
Patak’s Tikka Masala Paste Pots – 189 calories per pot
Nothing is quite as comforting as a hearty curry on a chilly evening!
For those days where you don’t have the time or motivation to start a curry paste from scratch, look out for Patak’s Tikka Masala Paste Pots!
Full of fragrant spices, these pots are the ultimate “fast food”!
Simply add a tin of chopped tomatoes, onion and garlic and you have a tomato-based curry that’s as versatile as you need it to be.
Leftover chicken in the fridge or a lonely tin of chickpeas left in the cupboard?
Transform them into a tasty dinner in next to no time. Naturally vegan and gluten free, we love these pots as a curry base and always have some in the cupboard.
Serve with your favourite Fakeaway sides. Sweet Potato Pakora or Onion Bhaji, anyone?
We’ve spotted these Patak’s Tikka Masala Paste Pots in most supermarkets priced at around £1.
Bounty Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate – 183 calories per serving
Chocolate is one of the ultimate treats, especially when you’re following a slimming plan.
If you follow a gluten free or vegan diet, your options are usually limited when it comes to chocolate.
Introducing Bounty Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate!
With the unmistakable coconut flavour and just as creamy as the original version, this chocolate uses almond paste and rich cocoa to ensure a deep flavour.
A little really does go a long way.
One of our top tips is to use a fine grater if you’re using chocolate in cooking: it makes a small amount go so much further, and you can use the grater for cheese and citrus zest too.
Add a chunk over Chocolate Waffles and let it melt for a delicious coconutty breakfast!
A 100g bar of Bounty Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate is available at most supermarkets.
Tesco High Baked Water Biscuits – 22 calories per biscuit
Water biscuits are so often underrated, and these Tesco High Baked Water Biscuits are a great snack or accompaniment choice at only 22 calories each!
Perfect with pate or a simple sandwich filler topping, these savoury water biscuits are extra crispy and light.
They’re filling enough to keep you going until lunchtime or for leaving on the table for picking during dinner and at only 65p are a great budget-friendly pick.
You could serve alongside our Pate with Port for a special occasion, or spread a layer of low fat cream cheese and cucumber for a refreshing, easy lunch.
A 200g pack of Tesco High Baked Water Biscuits costs 65p.
Go Ahead Raspberry & Strawberry Fruity Cake Bites – 97 calories per pack
These Go Ahead Raspberry & Strawberry Fruity Cake Bites are delicious little bite-sized balls of berry deliciousness!
With soft, light cake and a sweet filling, it’s hard to believe that each pack comes in at under 100 calories.
They’re individually wrapped for popping into packed lunches or a portable handbag snack, and free from artificial colours and flavours.
They’re also high in fibre, which is essential for feeling fuller for longer and maintaining a healthy gut.
Enjoy as they are, or dip into hot Custard for a more substantial pud.
Go Ahead Raspberry & Strawberry Fruity Cake Bites are available in Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrison’s for £2 per pack of 5.
Snack a Jacks Multigrain Sundried Tomato & Herbs Rice Cakes – 31 calories per rice cake
It can be hard to find tasty, nutritious lunch ideas when you’re following a slimming plan, and these Snack a Jacks Multigrain Sundried Tomato & Herbs Rice Cakes might be just what you’re looking for!
Individually wrapped in portions of two cakes, these work well alongside a steaming bowl of soup or a savoury snack.
You can crunch into pieces to enjoy in place of croutons or add your favourite toppings for a lighter sandwich alternative.
Try with a scoop of Coronation Chickpeas for a protein-packed snack or light lunch that’s satisfying and tasty.
Ocado stock a 4-pack of these Snack a Jacks Multigrain Sundried Tomato & Herbs Rice Cakes for £1.79
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!
- Oranges – 51 calories per 100g
- Mini apples – 53 calories per 100g
- Mini pears – 42 calories per 100g
- Snack pack grapes – 67 calories per 100g
- Salad tomatoes – 20 calories per 100g
- Pineapple – 50 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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