Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 05.04.24

Six of the products from the Weekly Pinch of Shopping in a rectangle grid format. The top row features Heck Pesto Chicken Sausage Bombs, BirdsEye Steamfresh Pasta and nakd fruit and fibre bars. The bottom row features Salted Caramel Pick Ups, Asda Hot and Spicy Zig Zag Fries and After Eight Peppermint Mousses. There is a logo at the centre of the image with The Weekly Pinch of Shopping in bold letters.

Say hello to your very first Weekly Pinch of Shopping for APRIL! If your snack cupboard is looking a bit empty, you’ll love all the new treats and light bites we’ve spotted in the aisles this week.

With Easter out of the way, if you’re ready to get back on track with meal planning, it’s always a good idea to have low-calorie snacks on hand. We’re really excited to try the new Pick Up Salted Caramel biscuits – they’re just 141 calories each, and the perfect combination of crunchy biscuit and smooth chocolate, with a gooey salted caramel filling. 

If you need ideas for midweek meals we’ve got that sorted too. How incredible do Chicken Italia and Pesto Sausage Bombs sound? The Heck sausage parcels are quick to cook, and you can serve them with mash, pasta or just about anything else you fancy!

There are NO WORDS for how excited we are that our most-requested cookbook ever, PINCH OF NOM: AIR FRYER, is finally happening!! We’re still overwhelmed by your reaction on Instagram and in our Facebook group and we just have to say THANK YOU SO MUCH if you’ve already pre-ordered your copy.

Your lovely comments are the reason we do what we do! We can’t wait for all 75 scrummy, slimming-friendly air fryer recipes to be with you on the 20th of June (pre-order a copy here!). 

You can learn more about our first-ever air fryer cookbook by clicking here.

A banner advertising that Pinch of Nom: Air Fryer is available to pre-order, with text that reads 'AIR-FRYING JUST GOT TASTIER WITH PINCH OF NOM' and 'OUT JUNE 20TH!'.

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.

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!**

Birds Eye Steam Fresh Spinach & Ricotta Tortelloni with Veg & Pesto – 304 calories per bag 

Birds Eye Steam Fresh Spinach & Ricotta Tortelloni with Veg & Pesto, featured in Pinch of Nom's Weekly Pinch of Shopping with the calorie count printed above (304 calories per bag).

Ready in 8 minutes, and packing in 2 of your 5-a-day, this handy meal for one can be stashed away in the freezer for your busiest days. Birds Eye has added a few different flavours of these Steam Fresh Pastas into Asda, and this Spinach & Ricotta Tortelloni with Veg and Pesto is the lowest-calorie option, at just 304 per bag. 

The mess-free meal can be microwaved in the bag, straight from the freezer. That’s no chopping, no stirring and no pans to wash-up afterwards! 

When we fancy a low-effort pasta dinner, we always rustle up our one-pot Pesto Chicken Orzo. The fuss-free recipe lets your oven do all the hard work, rewarding your patience with gorgeous, family-friendly flavours. 

On a white woven place mat, a blue casserole dish of Pinch of Nom's Pesto Chicken Orzo is ready to serve. Red salt and pepper shakers and a large red serving spoon are place on the table nearby. Inside the casserole dish, the juicy chicken is golden brown and coated in the herby green pesto. Green beans and cherry tomatoes add a pop of colour, and the orzo pasta is mixed with the other ingredients. Parmesan cheese has been scattered over the top.

Birds Eye Steam Fresh Spinach & Ricotta Tortelloni with Veg & Pesto is available from Asda. priced at £2.60 per bag. 

Smug Dairy Blended Oat & Dairy Cheddar – 128 calories per 40g serving

Smug Dairy Blended Oat & Dairy Cheddar, featured in Pinch of Nom's Weekly Pinch of Shopping with the calorie count printed above (128 calories per 40g serving).

If you’ve been thinking about cutting down on dairy, but can’t give up cheese completely, this new Smug Dairy Blended Oat and Dairy Cheddar might be the answer! By using a blend of half dairy and half plant-based ingredients, it’s lower in fat than traditional Cheddar, and a little kinder to the environment too. 

Creamier and smoother than lots of 100% plant-based cheeses, it’s the ideal middle ground – and it’s only 128 calories per 40g serving too. Keep an eye out for the blended oat and dairy milk in the same range!

Use a super fine grater and sprinkle some of this Cheddar on top of our Cheesy Garlic Bread to serve on the side of your fakeaway this weekend. Just remember to adjust the calories, if you’re counting!

Four pieces of Pinch of Nom's Cheesy Garlic Bread served on a blue tabletop sprinkled with extra tomato chunks, cheese and chopped parsley.

Smug Dairy Blended Oat & Dairy Cheddar is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £4.00 for 320g. 

After Eight Chocolate Peppermint Flavoured Mousse – 122 calories per mousse

After Eight Chocolate Peppermint Flavoured Mousse, featured in Pinch of Nom's Weekly Pinch of Shopping with the calorie count printed above (122 calories per mousse).

Calling all mint chocolate lovers…this minty mousse needs a spot in your basket the next time you pop to Asda! Peppermint bubbles are layered up with discs of crackly milk chocolate, to make these After Eight Chocolate Peppermint Flavoured Mousses – and they’re just 122 calories each. 

Some might say they should be enjoyed as a scrumptious little after-dinner pud, but we say there’s never a bad time to treat yourself!

If you love the airy lightness of a mousse, you’ll be pleased to hear it’s super simple to whip one up at home! We’re (still) obsessed with Biscoff, so it’s no surprise this Biscoff Mousse is often on the menu at our house…

4 glass ramekins are filled with Pinch of Nom's Biscoff Mousse recipe. The creamy mousse is golden-coloured, topped with a sprinkling of crushed Lotus Biscoff biscuits. Two of the ramekins sit on blue place settings, and 3 golden spoons are arranged on the surface.

After Eight Chocolate Peppermint Flavoured Mousse is available from Asda, priced at £2.50 for a pack of 4. 

Popchips Sweet & Salty Popcorn – 114 calories per 24g serving

Popchips Sweet & Salty Popcorn, featured in Pinch of Nom's Weekly Pinch of Shopping with the calorie count printed above (114 calories per 24g serving).

You might have tried Popchips crisps before, but now they’ve brought out this Sweet and Salty Popcorn, and it’s perfect when you need a light, crunchy bite. 

The tastiest balance of sweet and savoury, the sugar and salt combination is a game changer when it comes to snacktime. At 114 calories per serving, you can pack up a portion to take on the go, or settle down in front of the TV in the evening with a bag to share. 

We’ve popped our own kernels to make these Salted Caramel and Chocolate Popcorn Bites, but you could use 50g of this ready-to-eat popcorn instead (just be sure to work out any additional calories!). 

This recipe can only be found in Pinch of Nom: Enjoy. You can pick up a copy here, if you don’t already have one in your collection. 

A table is set with a white striped tablecloth and two blue plates, filled with Pinch of Nom's Salted Caramel and Chocolate Popcorn Bites. The chocolate and popcorn mixture has been cut into squares, and each one os drizzled with salted caramel.

Popchips Sweet & Salty Popcorn is available from Asda, priced at £1.25 for a 75g bag. 

My Protein Chocolate Protein Pancakes – 412 calories per 4 pancakes (26g protein)

My Protein Chocolate Protein Pancakes featured in Pinch of Nom's Weekly Pinch of Shopping with the calorie count printed above (412 calories per 4 pancakes).

More and more high-protein items keep on popping up at the supermarket, and it’s good news for anyone on a weight loss journey! Protein keeps us feeling fuller for longer, so these My Protein Chocolate Protein Pancakes are a great way to start the day as you mean to go on. 

The stack of 4 pancakes works out at 412 calories, with a decent 26g of protein. A dollop of fat-free Greek yoghurt will add even more protein, and a handful of fresh berries will get some goodness into your morning too. 

You can always get your protein in with a savoury breakfast if that’s more your style! This Poached Egg with Crispy Parma Ham recipe from Pinch of Nom: Express is ready in just 10 minutes. There’s 22g of protein per serving, and just 259 calories!

On a wooden table, a plate, knife and fork are laid out, next to a cup of coffee. On the plate, Pinch of Nom's Poached Egg with Crispy Parma Ham is served for breakfast. A slice of toast is spread with cream cheese, on top of which are two pieces of crispy Parma ham, and a perfectly poached egg. A dusting of cracked black pepper is sprinkled over the top.

My Protein Chocolate Protein Pancakes are available from Morrisons, priced at £2.00. 

Nakd Fruit & Fibre Bar Strawberry & Raspberry – 171 calories per bar

Nakd Fruit & Fibre Bar Strawberry & Raspberry featured in Pinch of Nom's Weekly Pinch of Shopping with the calorie count printed above (171 calories per bar).

We’re always happy to spot new snacks on the supermarket shelves, and these fruity, fibre-packed bars are exactly what we like to see! The Strawberry and Raspberry flavoured Nakd Fruit and Fibre Bars count as 1 of your 5-a-day, squished into a chewy oat and seed snack that you can take out and about with you. 

Great for keeping those pesky sweet cravings at bay, they also come in a tasty apple and cinnamon flavour, if you prefer. 

Now that spring is here, we’re ready to start making our favourite sweet treat: Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries! A dreamy little dessert or snack, it’s so much fun to mix up the flavours simply by using different biscuits. 

Pinch of Nom's Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries are scatted on a turquoise surface, dusted with biscuit crumbs. A small pink pot is nearby, filled with crushed biscuit. The tops of the strawberries have been cut off, and a cheesecake-style filling has been piped into each berry.

Nakd Fruit & Fibre Bar Strawberry & Raspberry is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £3.00 for a pack of 3 (or £2.00 with a Nectar card). 

Ísey Skyr Air Cherry Chocolate – 105 calories per pot

Ísey Skyr Air Cherry Chocolate featured in Pinch of Nom's Weekly Pinch of Shopping with the calorie count printed above (105 calories per pot).

There are so many new snacks around this week! We couldn’t walk past these Ísey Skyr Air Cherry Chocolate pots in Asda. Skyr is a great slimming-friendly treat, since it’s low in fat and high in protein. 

This whipped skyr is especially light and fluffy, with the irresistible flavour of cherries and chocolate. Whether you tuck in as part of your breakfast, for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, or grab one for dessert, these little pots are well worth adding to your shopping list. 

We’ll be trying a dollop with our Chocolate Waffles for a weekend breakfast treat! They’re easier to make than you might think, and they turn out deliciously crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. 

Four plates are arranged on a table top. Each one contains one of Pinch of Nom's low-calorie Chocolate Waffles, topped with creamy quark and slices of fresh strawberries. They have been dusted with cocoa powder, and forks are set on the plates, ready to dig in.

Ísey Skyr Air Cherry Chocolate is available from Asda, priced at £1.45 per pot. 

ASDA Hot & Spicy Zig Zag Fries – 222 calories per 1/6 pack

ASDA Hot & Spicy Zig Zag Fries featured in Pinch of Nom's Weekly Pinch of Shopping with the calorie count printed above (222 calories per 1/6 pack)

Add a fiery twist to fakeaway night with these Hot and Spicy Zig Zag Fries that we’ve found in the freezers at Asda. The deep-cut crinkle chips are coated in spicy chilli seasoning, ready to be oven-baked or air-fried until golden and crispy. 

Perfect for burger night or a Mexican-inspired feast, these fries are a great side for all kinds of different main meals. 

How about adding a handful on the side of our KFC Zinger Burger Fakeaway? You don’t need a secret blend of herbs and spices to make the crunchy coating – all you need is a pack of Chilli Heatwave Doritos!

Two Pinch of Nom KFC Zinger Burgers piled high with mayo, lettuce and tomato in burger buns. Tomato ketchup is served in a small bowl to the side.

ASDA Hot & Spicy Zig Zag Fries are available from Asda, priced at £2.25 for a 750g bag. 

What the Heck Chicken Italia & Pesto Sausage Bombs – 191 calories per sausage bomb

What the Heck Chicken Italia & Pesto Sausage Bombs featured in Pinch of Nom's Weekly Pinch of Shopping with the calorie count printed above (191 calories per sausage bomb).

For anyone who’s already a big fan of Heck sausages, these What the Heck Chicken Italia and Pesto Sausage Bombs will make a fun new addition to your midweek menu! 

Made from Heck’s classic Italia sausage recipe, the bombs have an oozy pesto sauce centre that pairs especially well with pasta, Creamy Mashed Potatoes or Mediterranean roasted veggies. 

These Lemon and Mint Courgettes are a simple side dish that goes with everything. The zesty lemon and fresh mint bring the green veggies to life, and they’re super quick to rustle up too!

A table is covered with a green and white striped tablecloth. A large white plate with a green rim is filled with Pinch of Nom's Lemon and Mint Courgettes. A large serving spoon is nearby. The golden brown courgettes are sliced into round discs and garnished with fresh mint and lemon slices.

What the Heck Chicken Italia & Pesto Sausage Bombs are available from Tesco, priced at £3.00 for a pack of 2 (or £2.50 with a Clubcard).

Pick Up Salted Caramel – 141 calories per biscuit

Pick Up Salted Caramel featured in Pinch of Nom's Weekly Pinch of Shopping with the calorie count printed above (141 calories per biscuit)

Another sweet and salty snack to add into your trolley, we can’t wait to give this new flavour of Pick Up biscuits a try! The chocolate filling has a salted caramel centre, sandwiched between two crunchy biscuits. 

At 141 calories each, it’s always a good time to pop the kettle on and put your feet up for 10 minutes with something sweet. 

We like to batch cook our Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips and hide slices in the freezer so we always have a slimming-friendly treat when we fancy it! It’s only 67 calories per serving, and a great way to use up any bananas that are looking a little past their best. 

A loaf of Pinch of Nom's Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips is served on a cooling tray and baking paper, with two slices already cut. The slices have fallen to reveal the sponge and chocolate chips inside. A small dish of extra chocolate chips waits to the side, and a knife is ready to cut more slices.

Pick Up Salted Caramel is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £1.25 for a pack of 5. 

NEW Aldi Super 6 Fruit and Veg Selection

The fruit and veg selection from Aldi's Super 6, alongside their prices, featured in Pinch of Nom's Weekly Pinch of Shopping.

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.

Chestnut Mushrooms – 17 calories per 100g

Chestnut Mushrooms from Aldi's Super 6 selection, featured in Pinch of Nom's Weekly Pinch of Shopping with calories above (17 calories per 100g).

A super source of vitamins and minerals, chestnut mushrooms are really versatile, mild in flavour and great for bulking out all kinds of dishes. 

Mushrooms can be like Marmite – some people love them and some people hate them! We say, put mushrooms and Marmite together! Marmite Mushrooms on Toast is still one of our favourite ever breakfast recipes. 

Pinch of Nom's Marmite Mushrooms on Toast is plated up on a blue and white striped tabletop with a hot cup of tea to the side. There is a side bowl of chopped chives to the side waiting to be sprinkled over the creamy portion of mushrooms.

Golden Delicious Apples – 49 calories per 100g 

Golden Delicious Apples from Aldi's Super 6 selection, featured in Pinch of Nom's Weekly Pinch of Shopping with calories above (49 calories per 100g).

Mild and naturally sweet, Golden Delicious apples are one of the most popular snacking varieties! Less tangy than other green apples, they’re nice and juicy, perfect for slicing up or biting straight into!

Try adding a few slices to get some of your 5-a-day with your breakfast. They’d be tasty with the cherry flavours in our Bakewell Baked Oats.

Bakewell Baked Oats - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

Sweet Pears – 47 calories per 100g

Sweet Pears from Aldi's Super 6 selection, featured in Pinch of Nom's Weekly Pinch of Shopping with calories above (47 calories per 100g).

These sweet pears are the perfect answer to your mid-afternoon sugar cravings. Juicy and soft, bite into them as a snack, slice them up for breakfast or throw them into a side salad.

Seeing pears makes us want to crack out the custard and pour a glug over our crunchy-topped Pear and Ginger Crumble. Ready in only 30 minutes, pears have never tasted so good!

Four portions of Pinch of Nom's Pear and Ginger Crumble served in individual ramekin dishes on a yellow tabletop, with a jug of custard to the side waiting to pour over.

Sugar Snap Peas – 34 calories per 100g

Sugar Snap Peas from Aldi's Super 6 selection, featured in Pinch of Nom's Weekly Pinch of Shopping with calories above (34 calories per 100g).

Crunchy and ever so slightly sweet, sugar snap peas are an unexpectedly tasty on-the-go snack. We love to eat them raw on their own, or dunk them into a Hummus-Style Dip.

Chop them up and mix them into salads, or throw a handful into a quick and easy stir-fry – they’re more versatile than you might imagine!

Pinch of Nom's Hummus-Style Dip in a small brown bowl garnished with chopped spring onions and seasoning; a sliced wholemeal pitta bread and cucumber wedges are waiting to be dipped on the side.

Baby Corn –  26 calories per 100g

Baby corn from Aldi's Super 6 selection, featured in Pinch of Nom's Weekly Pinch of Shopping with calories above (26 calories per 100g).

A fresh, crunchy handful of baby corn always goes down a treat in fried rice dishes, stir-fries and curries. You can also dunk it into a tasty dip, or try it sliced into a fresh salad. We think it adds the perfect bite to our much-loved Diet Coke/Pepsi Max Chicken recipe. You’ll never get bored of the homemade, takeaway-inspired sweet and sour sauce!

Pinch of Nom's Diet Coke / Pepsi Max Chicken is served on a blue tabletop in a serving dish with chopsticks waiting to tuck in, and a fluffy side portion of basmati rice in a bamboo basket.

Oranges – 47 calories per 100g

Oranges from Aldi's Super 6 selection, featured in Pinch of Nom's Weekly Pinch of Shopping with calories above (47 calories per 100g).

If you need a boost of vitamin C, grab a bag of oranges while they’re included in the Super 6. Juicy, sweet and packed with goodness, they can be sliced, squeezed or simply peeled to make the most of their fruity freshness. 

We’ve already picked some up this week, and they’ll be getting turned into these Air Fryer Ginger and Orange Chicken Kebabs. They’re so quick to cook, and full of mouthwateringly zesty flavours. 

On a kitchen counter a plate of Pinch of Nom's Ginger and Orange Chicken Kebabs are served. Threaded onto wooden skewers are chunks of marinated chicken, cherry tomatoes and red pepper. Thin strips of spring onion have been used as garnish and a salad sits nearby, ready to serve.

**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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