Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 07.07.23
Hey hey everyone! It’s the FIRST Weekly Pinch of Shopping of July and it’s a cracking list full of sweet and savoury summer bits. All we need is sunshine now…
No matter the weather, you can bring barbecue flavours to the table with the BBQ Pork Schnitzel we’ve spotted at Morrisons. It’s coated in a light, buttermilk-style batter, with a BBQ crumb for a satisfying crunch.
Plus, ice cream’s back on the menu, with added protein thrown in the mix! You won’t want to miss the salted caramel flavoured frozen treat we’ve found. Especially when it has 30g of protein, and less than 320 calories per tub…
Don’t forget that our new cookbook Pinch of Nom: Budget, is finally out there in the world. Has your copy arrived yet? We’re absolutely loving seeing everybody’s photos and posts. Don’t forget to tag us when you’re sharing them, we don’t want to miss a single one!
From Meatball Mash Bake to Veggie Quesadillas, there is something for everyone in our first-ever paperback cookbook (if you’ve not got yours yet, you can order here!).
You’ll get 50 brand-new recipes and 25 fan-favourites dishes that cut down on costs, without compromising on the Nom flavours you know and love.
Split into two chapters, dinners and desserts, ‘Budget’ is all about turning affordable ingredients and store cupboard staples into food that the whole family will love.
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. 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!**
Morrisons Nourish Blue Juice – 66 calories per 150ml serving
Coming in at less than half the price of the branded version, Morrisons Nourish Blue Juice is a budget-friendly way to boost your vitamin C. A blend of grapes, passion fruit, apple, guava and a dash of lime, it’s no surprise that there’s 1 of your 5-a-day in each serving.
Enjoy a glass with your breakfast to kick-start your day – there’s plenty of vitamin B-6 in the mix to fight fatigue.
Why not serve it alongside this Avocado Salsa Eggs Florentine? It’s a fiesta of Mexican-inspired flavours, combining a perfectly poached egg with chilli-infused avocado and a chipotle cheese sauce. Trust us, it’s too good to miss!
Morrisons Nourish Blue Juice is available from Morrisons, priced at £2.00 for a 750ml bottle.
Harvest Morn Caramelised Biscuit Cereal – 172 calories per 40g serving
If you’re obsessed with Biscoff (just like we are!), this Harvest Morn Caramelised Biscuit Cereal is bound to be right up your street. We spotted this breakfast treat in Aldi this week, and it went straight on our shopping list!
The crunchy cereal balls have that familiar biscuit-y, caramel flavour, so they’re hard to resist if you’re a fan of a sweet breakfast option. At 172 calories per serving, they’re less indulgent than you might expect too!
If you’d rather save Biscoff for dessert, you should give our heavenly Biscoff Lava Cakes a try. You’ll only need a handful of ingredients to whip them up, and if you can’t wait to dig into the melty centre, you can make them in the microwave in a matter of seconds.
Harvest Morn Caramelised Biscuit Cereal is available from Aldi, priced at £2.19.
Waitrose Summer Chocolate Strawberries – 331 calories per mousse
These Waitrose Summer Chocolate Strawberries are hiding a surprise! Inside you’ll find a rich, silky mousse and a layer of fruity strawberry compote, with crunchy biscuit balls on the base.
If you fancy splurging on something special to enjoy while you’re watching Wimbledon, they’re just the ticket. Rather save a few pennies and make your own snacks at home? No problem! We’ve got you covered with our Wimbledon Afternoon Tea Ideas article.
It’s full of delicious, delicate sweet treats like these Creamy Strawberry Mini Meringues. At just 33 calories each, they’re light enough to go back for seconds (or thirds).
Waitrose Summer Chocolate Strawberries are available from Waitrose, priced at £4.00 for a pack of 2.
Morrisons BBQ Pork Schnitzel – 281 calories per schnitzel
Keep the barbecue vibes going – even when the weather isn’t playing along – with this BBQ Pork Schnitzel that we’ve spied at Morrisons. Coated in buttermilk-style batter and a BBQ crumb, these pork leg steaks bring delicious, smokey flavour whether they’re fried or oven-baked.
We reckon they’d be delicious served with a salad, or paired with Creamy Mashed Potatoes and steamed veggies if it’s feeling a bit chilly.
Next time you crack out the barbecue, we can’t recommend these Parmesan Pork Skewers enough. Easy to make and satisfyingly cheesy, the pork is marinated in a garlicky, herby sauce that locks in so much flavour and juiciness.
If you can’t wait for sunshine, you can make them in the oven, plus there’s an air fryer method for you here.
Morrisons BBQ Pork Schnitzel is available from Morrisons, priced at £4.29 for a pack of 2.
M&S Vegetable Chilli – 206 calories per 1/2 pack
When you’ve got a busy week ahead, sometimes having something easy in the fridge can be the difference between staying on track and falling off the wagon. Thankfully, this M&S Vegetable Chilli is only 206 calories per serving, it cooks in 5 minutes, and it’s cheaper than a takeaway.
Packed with nutritious vegetables, it’s a medium-spicy mix of black beans, red kidney beans and black-eyed beans, topped with sweet potato, red peppers and coriander.
Imagine pairing it with our Nando’s Spicy Rice for a hearty dinner with a fiery twist. So much more flavourful than a simple scoop of boiled rice, just remember to use a vegetable stock cube if you want this recipe to be veggie-friendly.
M&S Vegetable Chilli is available from Ocado, priced at £4.00 for a pack that serves 2.
Tesco Fire Pit Maple BBQ Chicken Kebabs – 111 calories per 2 kebabs
We’re holding out hope for more stunning sunshine on the horizon, so we couldn’t help but add these Tesco Fire Pit Maple BBQ Chicken Kebabs to our shopping list this week. Sweet, smokey and tender, the ready-to-cook skewers are perfect when you fancy skipping the dicing and marinating.
Since it’s only 111 calories for 2 of the skewers, you can afford to be generous with the sides! We’ll be heaping a good scoop of Coleslaw and some Air Fryer Rustic Potato Wedges onto our plates.
We’re not exaggerating when we say that our crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-in-the-middle potato wedges give the restaurant version a run for their money! We adapted our ever-popular oven version of the same recipe to get these extra crisp spuds just right in the air fryer. You’ll find the oven version here if you prefer!
Tesco Fire Pit Maple BBQ Chicken Kebabs are available from Tesco, priced at £4.50 for a pack of 4.
Trevijano Mediterranean Couscous – 270 calories per serving
If you’re on the hunt for a flavourful side dish that’s easy to prepare, ready in minutes and made with only natural ingredients, look no further. This Trevijano Mediterranean Couscous ticks every box, and it’s vegan too.
It’s a tasty mixture of couscous, tomatoes, olives and courgettes, seasoned with garlic and herbs. With just a drop of oil, a pinch of salt and a splash of boiling water, it quickly transforms into a fluffy side that’ll go with anything.
Our Vegetable Couscous recipe always goes down a storm at buffets and barbecues. It’s on the table in just over 10 minutes and it’s super versatile – try it with meat, fish or double up the portion as a complete meal on its own!
Trevijano Mediterranean Couscous is available from Morrisons, priced at £3.49 for 300g.
Schweppes Melon Watermelon Soda Mixer – 40 calories per 250ml serving
For anyone who likes a tipple now and again, this Schweppes Melon Watermelon Soda Mixer will liven up your weekend beverage. There are few fruity flavours as refreshing as watermelon, and this low-calorie soda is especially tasty paired with gin or white vermouth.
We’d recommend serving over lots and lots of ice and sipping it in the garden the next time the sun has its hat on!
On the topic of icy drinks that are fun in the sun, it’s hard to beat this Strawberry Daiquiri. Basically a grown-up slushy, it’s an ice-cold combination of blended strawberries, lime juice and lemonade, with an all-important glug of Barcardi.
Schweppes Melon Watermelon Soda Mixer is available from Tesco, priced at £1.75 for 1 litre.
Walkers Limited Edition Monster Munch Pickled Onion Flavour Multipack Crisps – 113 calories per pack
These may look like typical Walkers crisps, but they taste just like Pickled Onion flavour Monster Munch! Part of a limited edition range, you can also find Wotsits and Chilli Heatwave Doritos flavours on the shelves.
The unexpected flavour will add a twist to your packed lunch or evening snacking, for a slimming-friendly 113 calories per pack.
If you enjoy the tang of pickled flavours, try these Chicken and Pickled Veg Baguettes and thank us later! Inspired by a Vietnamese Banh Mi, we’ve stuffed a crusty baguette with tender chicken and a quick pickle of crunchy vegetables. This is guaranteed to have you looking forward to lunchtime!
Walkers Limited Edition Monster Munch Pickled Onion Flavour Multipack Crisps are available from Asda, priced at £1.65 for a pack of 5.
MyProtein Salted Caramel Ice Cream – 106 calories per 1/3 pot
There are lots of good reasons to add more protein into your diet, from keeping you fuller for longer, to hitting your protein goals. With 30g of protein in the whole tub (and only 318 calories) this MyProtein Salted Caramel Ice Cream is a treat that will help you along on your slimming journey.
We spotted vanilla and chocolate versions in the freezer at Iceland, but it’s this salted caramel that we’re most excited about! Whether you treat yourself to a scoop or the whole tub, it’s the ultimate way to cool down this summer!
We’re betting this would make a dreamy addition to a slice of our Norwegian-Style Apple Cake. Served warm with a scoop of melty ice cream…it doesn’t get better than that!
This recipe is just one of the pocket-friendly dishes that you’ll find in our brand-new cookbook Pinch of Nom: Budget. Turn to page 172, or order your copy here if you don’t already have one!
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.
As an added extra this week, Aldi have included Little Gem lettuce in the Super 6, making it a Super 7! In partnership with the Teenage Cancer Trust, they’re donating 7p from every Little Gem purchase to the charity.
Here’s the rundown of this week’s Super 7 offering, along with some recipe ideas for you.
Little Gem Lettuce – 16 calories per 100g
Crisp and fresh, little gem lettuce is a versatile, leafy ingredient. Slice it, grill it, pan-fry it or use it to scoop up other tasty ingredients –it holds its shape really well, so it works as a ‘cup’ or even as a ‘spoon’!
Drizzled in sauce and layered with salad, transform little gem lettuce into a feast with our Katsu Curry Burgers recipe. You’ll be obsessed with our homemade katsu sauce.
Mango – 60 calories per 100g
Juicy and sweet, we love to see mangoes included in the Super 6 (or 7). They’re full of vitamins and more versatile than you might expect – try snacking on them, adding them into salads or even cooking them into savoury recipes.
The mango flavour shines when you pair it with spicy chilli, which is why the mango salsa in our Chicken and Mango Burgers is so vibrant and flavourful.
Baby Cucumbers – 14 calories per 100g
A teeny tiny version of the popular salad vegetable, these baby cucumbers are seedless and great for snacking. Because they don’t need peeling, and they’re perfectly pocket-sized, they’re ideal for packing up for picnics.
Crunch them on their own or add a dip like this herby green Spinach and Pesto Dip. It’s lighter and even tastier than a shop-bought version, and so quick to make!
Bananas – 89 calories per 100g
It’s always handy to have a bunch of bananas in the kitchen. From grab and go breakfasts to portable snacks, they’re a ready-to-eat sweet treat that’s full of goodness.
Don’t worry if you don’t get through the whole bunch before they start to turn brown – overripe bananas are the best excuse for a bit of baking! You won’t regret turning the leftovers into these delectable Banana Bread Brownies.
Blueberries – 57 calories per 100g
Blueberries are a superfood, and it’s easy to see why! The sweet little berries pack a punch when it comes to vitamin C and antioxidants. Sprinkle a few on your breakfast, pair them with yoghurt or bake them into these Lemon and Blueberry Baked Oats.
Hearty and filling, these are guaranteed to keep you going all the way through until lunchtime!
Vine Tomatoes – 17 calories per 100g
Often sweeter and more tender than off-the-vine tomatoes, it’s well worth picking up some of these vine tomatoes while they’re on special offer. Whether you slice them up for a sandwich or salad, or cook them into a dish, they’ll bring rich flavour to your plate.
We love to roast them to really enhance their sweetness. Try using them to top this unmissable Tuscan Chicken Pasta Bake.
Pink Lady Apples – 52 calories per 100g
Pink Lady Apples are famously oh-so-sweet with a delightful crunch, so it’s no surprise when they’re first to disappear from the fruit bowl. A refreshing snack on a hot summer’s day, they also hold their shape well in heat, so they’re ideal for cooking and baking.
No matter the time of year, Apple Crumble is always one of our favourite puddings. We can’t say no to that tart yet sweet apple centre, or that satisfying crunchy crumble topping. Why not make the fruitiness in this pud even more refreshing with a scoop of ice cream?
**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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