Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 07.01
It’s time to bring in the new year with the very first Weekly Pinch of Shopping of 2022! We’ve found plenty of grab-and-go lunch and snack ideas to get you through the work day.
If you’re challenging yourself to Veganuary, keep scrolling for our pick of tasty plant-based treats!
We’ve also found some chocolatey, instant mocha sachets that are just as tasty (and way cheaper) than heading to a coffee shop.
Creamy vanilla ice cream, anyone? Ambrosia’s custard-like ice cream is sooo deliciously smooth – we think you’ll be obsessed…
Pssst… did you know that our Quick & Easy Food Planner is the PERFECT companion to start the New Year with. It’ll help you to plan out your meals and keep track of exactly what you’re eating or need to buy. It also includes 26 exclusive recipes, with space to celebrate your wins along the way and (most importantly) lots of fun stickers!
We’ve also dropped in the details of the brand new Super 6. Every fortnight Aldi discounts a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, so we’re giving you the rundown of this week’s selection.
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.
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 NEW cookbook Pinch of Nom Comfort Food is out NOW! If you haven’t got your hands on a copy yet, it’s FULL of hearty, wholesome, home-cooked dishes. Get your copy here or pick one up in your nearest supermarket.
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!**
Indie Bay Snacks Spelt Pretzel Bites Easy Cheesy – 99 calories per pack
When it’s back to work time, it’s more important than ever to have a stash of reliable, slimming friendly snacks at the ready. These Easy Cheesy Pretzel Bites from Indie Bay Snacks will curb any midday cravings for just 99 calories per bag.
While you’re getting back into your work routine, having plenty of fuss-free lunch inspiration is the key to staying on track. Our Cheesy Chilli Toastie is a super quick lunch that’ll give you a seriously cheesy, spicy kick for only 285 calories. Ready to go in less than 10 minutes – it’s perfect for a busy working day!
Indie Bay Snacks Spelt Pretzel Bites Easy Cheesy are available from Ocado, priced at £1.00 per pack.
New Covent Garden Tomato & Basil Soup – 112 calories per 1/2 pack
Looking for a vegan-friendly soup to enjoy at your desk? This Tomato & Basil Soup from Covent Garden is made up of classic tomato and basil flavours, and counts towards one of your 5-a-day. This’ll cover your lunch for two days, as you can keep the other half of the carton in the fridge for tomorrow.
Fancy preparing a homemade vegan soup recipe? Our Carrot Orange and Thyme Soup is full of fresh veggies that’ll give you a midday boost. The carrot, onion and zesty orange flavours never get boring, so it’s well worth batch cooking a few portions so that you’re set for the week.
New Covent Garden Tomato & Basil Soup is available from Waitrose, priced at £1.40 per carton.
Bol Italian Roasted Tomato Pasta Pot – 327 calories per pot
Veganuary alert! We’ve got another plant-based lunch option for you with this Italian Roasted Tomato Pasta Pot from Bol. With beans, olives, courgettes, roasted tomatoes and pasta, it’s full of enough veggie goodness to scratch off 2 of your 5-a-day. This one is just as tasty hot or cold, so it’s still convenient even if you don’t have a microwave handy!
Speaking of vegan Italian-inspired dishes, our Vegan Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe is so rich and tomatoey, it’ll still satisfy any non-veggies at the table. When the meatballs are cooked, we add a drizzle of olive oil to boost the flavours. You won’t believe they’re so light at 396 calories per serving…
Bol Italian Roasted Tomato Pasta Pot is available from Tesco, priced at £3.00 per pot.
The Snack Organisation Sweet Chilli Rice Crackers – 106 calories per 1/4 pack
We absolutely LOVE sweet chilli! These Sweet Chilli Rice Crackers from The Snack Organisation are perfect to nibble on when you’ve got a craving for exciting flavours. They’re already divided into portions, so it’s nice and easy to keep track of the calories if you’re watching what you eat.
If you like the sound of these rice crackers, chances are you’ll love our Sticky Chilli Chicken with Noodles recipe. We’ve cooked skinless chicken drumsticks in an aromatic, home-made sticky sauce that’ll have your mouth watering as you cook it.
It’s a guaranteed winner for family Fakeaway night!
The Snack Organisation Sweet Chilli Rice Crackers are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £1.00 per pack.
Future Farm Plant Based Tuna – 208 calories per serving
Perfect for a fresh lunchtime sandwich or salad, this plant-based tuna from Future Farm has the flakey texture you’d expect without any fish at all! Made from soy and chickpeas, these fishy flakes are rich in Omega 3 and ready to eat straight from the packet.
We think they’d be ideal in a portion of our Tuna Nicoise Pasta Salad recipe. With filling pasta, tuna (or plant-based tuna!) and crispy veggies, you’ll be looking forward to cracking open your tupperware at lunchtime. If you don’t fancy pasta, you could even replace the spirals with baby new potatoes!
Future Farm Plant Based Tuna is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £2.40.
Plantlife: 4 Bean Burgers – 274 calories per burger
Fancy burgers for dinner tonight? These Bean Burgers from Plantlife are jam-packed with delicious, nutritious flavours and they’ll keep you on track if you’re following a vegan diet. With a mixture of veggies, kidney beans and jalapeno peppers in a breadcrumb coating, you NEED to try them in a bun with your choice of burger toppings.
While our vegetarian homemade Halloumi Cous Cous Burgers take a little bit of patience, they’re so worth it! The key is to keep them on a low heat and not touch them until they’re crusty and golden, that way they won’t fall apart. Every crisp, halloumi bite is well fit!
Plantlife: 4 Bean Burgers are available from Waitrose, priced at £2.00 per pack.
YO! Korean Sweet Chilli Stir Fry Sauce – 101 calories per portion
We love that this Korean Sweet Chili Stir Fry Sauce from YO! gives you the flavours of a restaurant meal, for only 101 calories per portion. The fiery cayenne pepper sauce is delicious poured over chicken or fish, or stirred into a veggie-packed stir-fry dinner.
Why not try YO! Sweet Chilli as an alternative marinade with our Chilli and Lime Baked Salmon recipe? We’re drooling already at the thought of the zingy lime and chilli combo! You can have it ready and on the table in under 30 minutes.
YO! Korean Sweet Chilli Stir Fry Sauce is available from Ocado, priced at £1.00 per pack.
Cauldron Korean Bites – 84 calories per 2 bites
Can’t get enough of Korean-inspired flavours? These Cauldron Korean Bites will satisfy your craving whether you’re following a vegan diet or not. So crispy on the outside with a chilli-spiced veggie filling, you can enjoy 2 bites for just 84 calories.
Did you know you can make a light and crispy vegan bite of your own at home? Our Air Fryer Vegan Nuggets are super simple to make and bursting with fresh veg! It’s the perfect recipe to sneak more veggies into any fussy eaters you might have at home.
Don’t worry if you don’t have an air fryer – you can make these crispy bites in the oven too!
Cauldron Korean Bites are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £2.00.
STARBUCKS Mocha Instant Coffee Sachets – 90 calories per mug
We love a good hot beverage to give us a boost on busy days. These Mocha Instant Coffee Sachets from Starbucks will take you really close to the flavour of nipping to the coffee shop, without paying coffee shop prices!
Fancy a bite to go with your brew? Since mocha is so sweet, we think the salty hints of peanut butter in our Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars would be the perfect accompaniment.
Not only are they irresistible, they’re also super quick to make (they take less than 15 minutes!) and they’re only 130 calories per bar.
STARBUCKS Mocha Instant Coffee Sachets are available from Ocado, priced at £2.50 per pack.
Ambrosia Ice Cream Vanilla – 194 calories per portion
Do you struggle to choose between custard and ice cream? Never again! Ambrosia have released their very own vanilla ice cream in Iceland, and it’s just as creamy and silky smooth as Devon Custard. The familiar flavours are bound to be an instant hit with the whole family!
Why not try a scoop with our super sweet Apple Crumble recipe? The method is versatile, so you can swap out apples for an alternative fruity filling if you’d prefer.
Ambrosia Ice Cream Vanilla is available from Iceland, priced at £3.50 per tub.
NEW Aldi Super 6 Fruit and Veg Selection
We love Aldi’s Super 6 selection of fresh fruit and veggies. Each fortnight they choose six different items for a special offer where you can pick them up for much less than the normal price.
Here’s our rundown of this fortnight’s selection, plus a little inspiration for how you could use each ingredient:
Red pepper – 31 calories per 100g
Whether you think of them as a fruit or a vegetable, red peppers are a stir-fry staple. Full of healthy vitamins A and C, they’re also a rich source of potassium and fibre. So it’s well worth deseeding, chopping and throwing them into dishes at every chance.
Why not try them in our Salt and Pepper Pork recipe? They don’t need long in the pan. Toss them with the pork and the rest of the veggies until they’re crisp and good to go.
Miniature potatoes – 71 calories per 100g
From fluffy mashed potatoes to thin or thick-cut fries, potatoes are one of the most versatile veggies out there! Full of filling fibre that’ll keep you satisfied for longer, they’re always good to have on your plate.
How about making miniature Chipotle Hasselback Potatoes? Simply chop them, season them and bake them in the oven until they’re nice and crispy. They’re even better served alongside a warming bowlful of chilli!
Royal Gala apples (6 pack) – 52 calories per 100g
We love how sweet and satisfying Royal Gala apples are! Good for your gut and full of flavour, they’re perfect to take on the go as a light snack.
Apples are also a lot of fun to cook with, especially if you’re making a sweet treat. Our Apple Strudel recipe is delicious all-year-round, but we love it even more when there’s a chill in the air. Why not bake this sweet-filled pastry for dessert tonight? It’s only 287 calories!
Celery – 14 calories per 100g
Known as something of a superfood, celery is full of calcium, potassium and vitamins. It can be enjoyed raw or chopped and cooked in a hearty soup or stew, among many other dishes.
We use celery to make the home-made sauce in our Lasagne recipe. Alongside onions, carrots and garlic, the softened veggies coat our rich mince filling and keep the calories low. You’ll love every layer of it!
Spring onions – 32 calories per 100g
Spring onions are so easy, flavoursome and vitamin-filled, we love having them ready to throw into stir-fries, soups or salads.
In the mood for an aromatic dinner? Our Chicken with Ginger and Spring Onion recipe combines fragrant ginger with marinated chicken to make a Chinese-inspired dish you can enjoy at home. Don’t overcook the veggies – they taste best with a little crunch!
Grapefruit – 42 calories per 100g
Getting plenty of citrus into your diet has known health benefits, especially in winter bug season! Grapefruits are a sweet member of the citrus family that’s high in nutrients and low in calories, so you can enjoy their satisfying sweetness without having to worry.
Don’t pack away your serving bowls just yet! Even if the festive season is over, our sweet and colourful Festive Fruit Salad recipe is just as tasty (and impressive to look at) all-year-round.
**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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