Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 08.09.23
Pen and paper at the ready! Your new Weekly Pinch of Shopping has arrived, and it’s chock-full of slimming-friendly bits and bobs to add to next week’s shopping list.
There’s a bit of everything in the trolley this week, from vegetarian meat alternatives, all the way through to snacks that’ll keep your sweet tooth satisfied.
If you’re trying to eat more protein, but can’t resist a cheesy treat, we’ve spotted the perfect nibble to stock up on! You’ll want to head to Iceland to pick up a bag of these MyProtein Cheesy Mozzarella Sticks.
Plus, how good does this sound: Deluxe Salted Caramel Rice Pudding? The newest dessert pot from Ambrosia has hit the shelves and we can’t stop thinking about it. (Psst…they’re just 130 calories per pot!).
Our new cookbook Pinch of Nom: Budget, is out now! 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. 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!**
The Vegetarian Butcher Mexi-Hen Fiesta Vegan Chicken Chunks – 92 calories per 80g portion
Next time you’re planning a veggie-friendly fakeaway feast, pick up some of these The Vegetarian Butcher Mexi-Hen Fiesta Vegan Chicken Chunks from Morrisons. With just 92 calories and 15g of protein in each serving, you won’t miss meat one bit.
The fibre-rich, soy-based chunks come pre-seasoned with a mixture of fiery herbs and spices, so you won’t need to raid the cupboard for extra flavour. Simply stir-fry them and turn them into your favourite Mexican-style dish; fajitas, enchiladas, tacos – anything goes.
Use these chunks instead of chicken to make a meat-free version of our Mexican-Style Chicken Bake. Topped with crunchy tortilla chips and glorious melted cheese, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
The Vegetarian Butcher Mexi-Hen Fiesta Vegan Chicken Chunks are available from Morrisons, priced at £3.00.
McCain Baby Hasselbacks Sea Salt & Cracked Black Pepper – 119 calories per 100g (oven baked)
Like the sound of crispy potatoes without all the prep? Then you’ll love these McCain Baby Hasselbacks with Sea Salt and Cracked Black Pepper that we’ve spotted at Iceland. They come sliced and seasoned, so you only have to decide if you want to pop them in the oven or ping them in the microwave.
They’ve been slow cooked before they were frozen, for extra crispiness when they’re fully heated up.
We like our hasselback potatoes fully loaded with flavour – that’s why this Hasselback Potato and Bacon Bake is one of our favourite recipes! Feast your eyes on all that cheesy deliciousness (you’d never think it was just 153 calories per serving, but it is!).
McCain Baby Hasselbacks Sea Salt & Cracked Black Pepper are available from Iceland, priced at £3.50.
M&S Pineapple, Coconut & Lime Fruit Lollies – 81 calories per lolly
Made with coconut milk, pineapple and freshly squeezed lime juice, these new ice lollies from M&S are a tropical treat to help you make the most of the last of the summer sunshine.
Lovely and refreshing, reaching for a fruit lolly when you’re craving something sweet is a great way to stay on track. These juicy ice lollies are only 81 calories each, which means they’re super-easy to fit into your weekly meal plan.
If pineapple and coconut is a flavour combo that you can’t say no to, make sure you give our Piña Colada Ice Cream recipe a try! With a splash of rum poured into the fruity, creamy mixture, this is a summery treat that’s just for the grown-ups.
M&S Pineapple, Coconut & Lime Fruit Lollies are available from Ocado, priced at £4.50 for a pack of 6 lollies.
Cadbury Brunch Nuts Red Berry Almond & Peanut Bars – 171 calories per bar
Stocking up on healthy snacks is always a good idea, especially if it stops you craving sugary, calorie-laden treats. These Cadbury Brunch Nuts Red Berry Almond and Peanut Bars are chocolatey enough to satisfy your sweet tooth – and they’re packed with nutritious fruit and nuts.
High in fibre, these hearty bars are perfect for mid-morning snacking. They’ll give you just the boost you need to power through until lunchtime.
When you get peckish after breakfast you’ll be glad it only takes 25 minutes to make a batch of these Banana and Peanut Muffins. They’re fluffy and filling in equal measure and – best of all – they’re just 53 calories each.
Cadbury Brunch Nuts Red Berry Almond & Peanut Bars are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £2.00 for a pack of 3.
Miami Foods Miami Mince – 138 calories per 100g
This value pack of Miami Foods Miami Mince opens up the possibilities for a whole host of plant-based recipes. From bolognese to tacos, the high-protein, low-calorie, meat-free mince is ready to be cooked straight from the freezer.
Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or simply trying to cut down on meat, you can’t go wrong here! Use it in any recipe where we’ve used beef mince, to make a veggie-friendly version.
There’s nothing more comforting than this Minced Beef Hotpot – and it would be just as satisfying made with meat-free mince. Just make sure you also use vegetarian stock cubes and Henderson’s relish, rather than Worcestershire Sauce.
Miami Foods Miami Mince is available from Ocado, priced at £4.00 for a 400g bag.
Harry Ramsdens Battered Cod Fillet Burgers – 230 calories per burger (oven baked)
Skip the queue for the chip shop and make your own chippy tea with these Harry Ramsdens Battered Cod Fillet Burgers. A tasty change for burger night, each one is golden and crispy on the outside, with white flaky fish on the inside.
The frozen burgers can be oven baked or air-fried, then served with your choice of side dishes – would you add Homemade Oven Chips and mushy peas, or squish it into a soft wholemeal burger bun?
We’d push the boat out and treat ourselves to these Chips and Curry Sauce for the full chip shop experience. You’d never know the lightly-spiced sauce is made from blended vegetables!
Harry Ramsdens Battered Cod Fillet Burgers are available from Iceland, priced at £3.50 for a pack of 2.
Wholecreations Gluten Free Cauliflower Gnocchi – 97 calories per 100g
With 74% cauliflower, it’s no surprise that this Wholecreations Gluten Free Cauliflower Gnocchi is far lower in calories than traditional potato-based gnocchi.
Shallow fry or oven cook the cauli gnocchi until it’s golden brown, then toss it in your favourite sauce or pesto to add some flavour. Midweek meals don’t come much quicker or easier!
We love using cauliflower to make slimming-friendly versions of our favourite carby dishes. This Cauliflower and Chicken Fried Rice is just as tasty as the takeaway, for a fraction of the calories. The cauliflower rice soaks up all the flavours of the other ingredients, so that you’d never know the difference.
Wholecreations Gluten Free Cauliflower Gnocchi is available from Ocado, priced at £3.00 for a 340g bag.
Ambrosia Deluxe Rice Salted Caramel – 130 calories per pot
Velvety, thick and creamy, this Ambrosia Deluxe Rice Salted Caramel feels like a luxurious little treat. Delicious hot or cold, the good news is that each indulgent-tasting pot comes in at just 130 calories.
Also available in a Madagascan Vanilla flavour, we’re making room on our shopping list for both options this week!
Did you know you can make rice pudding in your slow cooker? Our creamy Chai Rice Pudding has a delicately spiced, warming flavour that comes from infusing unsweetened almond milk with real chai tea. At 136 calories per serving, it’s too good to miss.
Ambrosia Deluxe Rice Salted Caramel is available from Asda, priced at £1.60 for a pack of 2 pots.
MyProtein Cheesy Mozzarella Sticks – 104 calories per stick
Gooey, cheesy and irresistible, a melty mozzarella stick is a thing of beauty. As a starter, side or snack, the deep-fried versions aren’t known for being slimming friendly, so you’ll want to plan a trip to Iceland for these MyProtein Cheesy Mozzarella Sticks.
Coated in crispy breadcrumbs with flax and poppy seeds, you’ll get a super-satisfying melted cheese centre, for only 104 calories per stick (and that’s including a decent 7.4g of protein).
If high protein, cheesy recipes are up your street, you’ll want to add this Caprese Baked Chicken to your dinner rotation. With 203 calories and 37g of protein, you’ll be obsessed with every mozzarella-loaded bite.
MyProtein Cheesy Mozzarella Sticks are available from Iceland, priced at £4.00 for a bag containing approx. 8 sticks.
ASDA Milk Chocolate Coated Cookies & Cream – 107 calories per biscuit
Put the kettle on and treat yourself to one of these new Milk Chocolate Coated Cookies and Cream biscuits from Asda. Similar to chocolate coated Oreos (but better value), the cocoa biscuits are filled with vanilla cream, and covered in silky milk chocolate.
Also available in a white chocolate version, these extra-chocolatey cookies are just what your afternoon tea break has been missing!
If you love an Oreo, flick to pages 180-181 of Pinch of Nom: Budget to find the full recipe for these Raspberry Cookie Brownies. Along with fresh raspberries and chocolate chips, we’ve crumbled mini Oreos into our brownie batter, for the most unmissable crunch.
ASDA Milk Chocolate Coated Cookies & Cream are available from Asda, priced at £2.00 for a pack of 12.
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:
- Snack Pack Grapes – 67 calories per 100g
- Mini Pears – 42 calories per 100g
- Mini Easy Peelers – 35 calories per 100g
- Mini Apples – 53 calories per 100g
- Baby Plum Tomatoes – 18 calories per 100g
- Celery Sticks – 14 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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