Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 06.10.23
It’s a brand-new month and the latest edition of the Weekly Pinch of Shopping is here to help you stock your fridge, freezer and cupboards for October. This week we’ve spotted lots of veggie-friendly bits, as well as the first festive finds of the year (too soon?).
If you’re planning on putting classic comfort food on your meal plan next week, the Cottage Pie Meal Kit we’ve grabbed from Iceland will make life much easier! Add some water, let it simmer and then top it with creamy mash for an effortless dreamy dinner.
And anyone who’s looking to restock their snack drawer will be pleased to know that there are a few new flavours available in Alpen Delight’s range of low-calorie cereal bars – we think our favourite is going to be the Chocolate Caramel Shortbread…
Don’t forget, our newest cookbook, Pinch of Nom: Express, is now available to pre-order! It’ll be with you on the 7th of December and it’s bursting with recipes that prioritise your time, without compromising on flavour.
When you fancy something you can prepare in minutes and leave to simmer, or a tasty dish that cooks before you know it, Express has you covered with 100 NEW slimming-friendly recipes.
Split into ‘Quick Cook’ and ‘Quick Prep’ sections, it’s so easy to find the perfect dish to suit your schedule. Now’s the time to make some room on your bookshelf; place a pre-order and your copy will be with you before Christmas!
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. This week we’ve given you a reminder of the current selection, so hurry down to Aldi to pick up some bargains before a fresh selection goes on offer next week!
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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!**
Asda Filled Breakfast Biscuits Yoghurt & Red Berry – 98 calories per biscuit
If you like to start your day with something sweet, these Filled Breakfast Biscuits Yoghurt and Red Berry from Asda will be handy to have in the cupboard. The strawberry, blackcurrant and raspberry infused biscuits are sandwiched together with a creamy yoghurt filling, all for 98 calories each.
You might have tried a branded version of these biscuits before, but Asda’s own version comes in much cheaper, at just £1.50 for a pack of 5.
Talking of sweet breakfasts, now that it’s autumn, there’s nothing better than a bowl of oats in a morning. We’re adding this Biscoff and Banana Porridge to our meal plan next week – it’s so quick and easy to make, and only 260 calories per warming bowlful.
Asda Filled Breakfast Biscuits Yoghurt & Red Berry is available from Asda, priced at £1.50 for a pack of 5.
Inspired Cuisine Thai Green Curry Protein Meal – 385 calories per meal
Grabbing a convenient ready meal doesn’t have to mean compromising on your slimming goals, especially with the new Protein Meals we’ve spotted at Aldi. Along with a Beef Ragu, we’ve spotted this Inspired Cuisine Thai Green Curry Protein Meal.
It works out at 385 calories per pack, with 28g of protein in each portion. Ready to be microwaved straight from the freezer, you’ll get chicken breast chunks in a delicious Thai green sauce, with long grain rice on the side.
If you like the sound of a Thai-inspired dinner, but you don’t eat meat, we’ve got your vegetarian fakeaway night covered. Our Vegetarian Thai-Style Green Curry brings creamy, fragrant, coconut-infused flavour to the table, for very few calories and no chicken in sight.
Inspired Cuisine Thai Green Curry Protein Meal is available from Aldi, priced at £1.99.
Crackd Plant-Based Cheeze & Broccoli Quiche – 394 calories per quiche
Typically a feast of cheese and eggs, quiche is usually off the menu for anyone following a vegan diet. This Crackd Plant-Based Cheeze and Broccoli Quiche is a gamechanger, made with Crackd’s ‘No-Egg Egg’ and a vegan smoked Applewood cheese.
Loaded with red pepper and broccoli florets, and set inside a crumbly pastry crust, this quiche is a delicious treat for brunch or lunch.
Spice up your plate by adding this Salsa Salad on the side of your quiche. A medley of tomatoes, peppers, avocado, onion and coriander, we’ve livened up the flavours with fresh chillies and zingy lime.
Crackd Plant-Based Cheeze & Broccoli Quiche is available from Tesco, priced at £2.80 per quiche.
Iceland Luxury Italian Chicken Breast Fillets – 304 calories per 1/2 pack
Looking to stock your freezer with effortless dinner staples for busy days? You’ll always have something tasty to put on your meal plan if you pick up these Luxury Italian Chicken Breast Fillets from Iceland.
The tender chicken is coated in crunchy, golden breadcrumbs, with cheese, tomato powder and parsley mixed in for a burst of Italian-inspired flavours. Easy to cook from frozen, they’re slimming friendly too, at just 304 calories per fillet.
We’d pair them with these Garlic and Parmesan Potatoes and some steamed veggies for a hearty, filling midweek meal. These upgraded roasties are tossed in crushed garlic and salty Parmesan, before being baked in the oven until crispy on the outside, and fluffy in the middle.
Iceland Luxury Italian Chicken Breast Fillets are available from Iceland, priced at £6.00 for a pack of 2.
Oddly Good Plant Based Dreamy Gingerbread Dessert – 240 calories per dessert
There’s something so comforting about the warming taste of gingerbread, especially on a chilly autumnal evening. Get comfy and cosy up with this Oddly Good Plant Based Dreamy Gingerbread Dessert – it’s so creamy you’ll never miss the dairy.
The vegan-friendly pud is just 240 calories per pot, making it ideal for an after-dinner treat. Made from fermented oats, fortified with vitamins and minerals, keep an eye out for caramel and lemon flavours in the same range.
If you prefer your ginger flavours in cake form, you need to give our Ginger Sponge a whirl. You can make it in the oven, or pop it in the microwave when you need a dessert in a matter of minutes. Either way, you’ll never regret topping it off with some Custard…
Oddly Good Plant Based Dreamy Gingerbread Dessert is available from Tesco, priced at £1.50 per pot.
Old El Paso Bean Chilli – 117 calories per 1/2 pack
Bursting with vegetarian goodness, this microwavable Old El Paso Bean Chilli will save time in the middle of the week. Each pack of red kidney beans and black turtle beans in spicy tomato sauce serves 2 people, so all you need to do is add your favourite Mexican-inspired side dishes.
Medium-spicy and just 117 calories per portion, there are lots of different ways you could serve this veggie chilli. Why not turn it into our Chilli Stuffed Sweet Potato Skins?
Skip the step of making your own chilli and jump ahead to step 6 to scoop out the filling of your baked sweet potatoes. Pack in the chilli, add the scooped-out mash on top and cover with cheese before finishing in the oven. So easy and delicious!
Old El Paso Bean Chilli is available from Tesco, priced at £2.25.
Alpen Delight Chocolate Caramel & Shortbread Bars – 91 calories per bar
This week we’ve spotted lots of new flavours of Alpen Delights bars – but it’s these Alpen Delight Chocolate Caramel and Shortbread Bars that we couldn’t resist popping in our trolley!
Along with Rocky Road and Chocolate Honeycomb, the low-calorie cereal bars are a tasty snack that you can take out and about with you. At less than 100 calories per bar, they’ll help you stay on track, no matter where you are.
Thinking about chocolate, caramel and shortbread inevitably reminds us of our unmissable Millionaire’s Shortbread. A Comfort Food classic, the indulgent-tasting squares are more slimming friendly than you’d think possible – just 127 calories each!
Alpen Delight Chocolate Caramel & Shortbread Bars are available from most supermarkets, priced at £1.25 for a pack of 5.
Tesco Green Jalapeno Peppers Bites – 66 calories per bite
It might only be early October but the supermarkets are already getting ahead for the festive season! This week we’ve seen the start of party nibbles and celebration bites appearing on the shelves, including these Tesco Green Jalapeno Peppers Bites.
With their gooey, cheesy centres and crunchy breadcrumb coating, you never need an excuse to tuck into these bite-sized snacks. At 66 calories per bite, they’re perfect for sharing while you watch a cosy film, or serving as a starter on burger night.
Another thing your burger night needs is our Onion Rings With Garlic and Chive Dip. They’re nice and easy to make, and you’ll love the creamy, garlicky dip that’s included in the recipe.
Tesco Green Jalapeno Peppers Bites are available from Tesco, priced at £1.75 for a pack of 8.
Iceland Cottage Pie Meal Kit – 292 calories per 1/2 pack
It’s the time of year when nothing beats a home-cooked, potato-topped pie. Making a hearty family favourite easier than ever to rustle up, it’s worth nipping to Iceland for this Cottage Pie Meal Kit.
In every bag you’ll find minced beef, white onion, peas, carrots and beef gravy mix, so all you need to do is empty it into a pan, add some boiling water and leave it to simmer. Add your own mashed potato topping and that’s dinner sorted!
When you fancy a change from cottage pie, grab a pack of sausages and have a go at our Bangers and Mash Pie. You’ll love the simplicity of the ingredients and the method – plus it’s easy to switch out chicken chipolatas for any kind of sausage you’d prefer (just bear in mind this might add extra calories, if you’re counting!).
Iceland Cottage Pie Meal Kit is available from Iceland, priced at £4.00.
Tesco Finest Gunpowder Potato & Lentil Dhal Soup – 238 calories per 1/2 pot
A cold, rainy day calls for a quick, warming lunch. This Tesco Finest Gunpowder Potato and Lentil Dhal Soup is just the ticket, brimming with hearty vegetarian ingredients and fragrant spices.
With lentils, beans, chickpeas and potatoes in the mix, there’s no chance you’ll be left feeling hungry by the time you’ve slurped up every last drop. At a slimming-friendly 238 calories per serving, there’s room to add a crusty bread roll on the side if you want to make it even more filling.
Lovely and comforting, homemade soups don’t come much better than our Curried Creamy Carrot Soup. You’ll be surprised how delicious the blend of carrots, potatoes and curry spices are, especially when blended with silky cream cheese. It’s great for making big batches and stashing in the freezer!
Tesco Finest Gunpowder Potato & Lentil Dhal Soup is available from Tesco, priced at £3.00.
REMINDER 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 our reminder of this week’s Super 6 selection:
- Chestnut Mushrooms – 17 calories per 100g
- Celery – 14 calories per 100g
- Red Potatoes – 82 calories per 100g
- Extra Fine Beans – 31 calories per 100g
- Baby Corn – 26 calories per 100g
- Conference Pears – 64 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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