Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 09.06.2023
Happy Friday everyone! The sun is shining, the barbecue is coming out and there’s a whole new Weekly Pinch of Shopping to read. What a dream!
Plenty of summery goodies have caught our eye this week, and we’ve rounded up a few of the best BBQ bits and new slimming-friendly snacks to fill your fridge and cupboards.
Who likes the sound of Succulent Caramelised Red Onion Beef Burgers that you can load up with all your favourite toppings (including the stunning onion relish we’ve found in Morrisons)?
If that’s already set your taste buds tingling, just wait until you scroll down to read about the creamy, oat milk, chocolate-covered vegan ice creams we’ve spotted…
There’s less than TWO WEEKS to go until Pinch of Nom: Budget is out! Eeek…we’re so excited to share our first ever paperback cookbook with you all. It’s filled with 75 recipes (50 brand-new dishes and 25 fan-favourites!) that cut down on costs, without compromising on the Nom flavours you know and love.
Split into two chapters, dinners and desserts, this book is all about turning budget-friendly ingredients and store cupboard staples into food that the whole family will love.
Pre-order your copy today and you won’t pay a penny until it’s dispatched. Pinch of Nom Budget is out on the 22nd of June…we’re counting down the days already!
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!**
Bahlsen Pick Up! Hazelnut Milk Chocolate Biscuit Bars – 138 calories per bar
When your sweet tooth is calling out for a mid-afternoon treat, do you pick chocolate or biscuits? With these Bahlsen Pick Up! Hazelnut Milk Chocolate Biscuit Bars you’ll never have to choose between your two favourite snacks.
A milk chocolate bar with a hazelnut filling, sandwiched in-between two crispy biscuits, you might not think these sound all that slimming friendly. The good news is that there are just 138 calories in each nutty bar!
If you love hazelnut and chocolate together, grab a jar of nutty chocolate spread and rustle up this Chocolate French Toast for breakfast this weekend. It’s super quick to make, and well worth it for that gooey, melted chocolate centre.
Bahlsen Pick Up! Hazelnut Milk Chocolate Biscuit Bars are available from Asda, priced at £1.25 for a pack of 5.
Chicken Grills Original Chicken Chargrills – 127 calories per chargrill
These frozen Chicken Grills Original Chicken Chargrills are great to have on standby for those nights when you’re not sure what you fancy. The lean chicken steaks have a slightly sweet, smoked-style glaze, and they cook straight from the freezer drawer in around 20 minutes.
You could chop them up to add them to a sandwich, or dish them up with steamed veggies or a crisp side salad.
We’d pair them with our Pesto Potato Salad for a summer-inspired dinner with bags of flavour. Perfect for sunshine-y barbecues and picnics, it’s zesty, pesto-ey perfection.
Chicken Grills Original Chicken Chargrills are available from Asda, priced at £4.50 for a pack of 6.
Morrisons No Prawn Toast Baguette – 48 calories per prawn toast
Proving that eating a plant-based diet doesn’t need to mean missing out on the good stuff, this Morrisons No Prawn Toast Baguette is perfect for a vegan-friendly fakeaway.
Instead of prawns, the crunchy slices of baguette are topped with tender jackfruit, sprinkled with sesame seeds. Bake them until they’re golden and enjoy a delicious 48-calorie toast alongside your favourite Chinese-inspired dishes.
We’d plate them up with our Salt and Pepper Tofu. This is a great recipe to try if you’re not all that familiar with cooking tofu – it’s nice and easy, with plenty of fiery flavour! Just remember to drain and press your tofu well for best results.
Morrisons No Prawn Toast Baguette is available from Morrisons, priced at £4.00 for a pack of 10.
Dolmio Intensify Fiery Sun Ripened Tomato & Chilli Pasta Sauce – 89 calories per portion
A jar of pasta sauce is a time-strapped cook’s best friend! We spotted this new Dolmio Intensify Fiery Sun Ripened Tomato and Chilli Pasta Sauce on the shelves at Sainsbury’s this week, and we think it’ll come in handy on busy days.
Intensely tomatoey, you’ll get 1 of your 5-a-day from each serving of this spicy sauce. Heat it up and stir in some cooked pasta for a fiery, flavourful dinner in minutes.
If you prefer a mild pasta dish, you can’t go wrong with our Creamy Tomato Pasta recipe. It’s super quick and easy to make, plus it’s jam-packed with glorious veggies!
Dolmio Intensify Fiery Sun Ripened Tomato & Chilli Pasta Sauce is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £2.50.
M&S Plant Kitchen Chocolate Almond Sticks – 245 calories per ice cream
Whether you’re vegan or not, these new Plant Kitchen Chocolate Almond Sticks from M&S are a creamy, nutty, chocolatey indulgence for everyone.
The silky oat milk ice cream is encased within a chocolate-flavoured shell, finished with almond pieces for the perfect crunch. At 245 calories each, they’re well worth working into your meal plan while the hot weather is still here!
Our favourite low-calorie way to stay cool all summer long is to make sure we have some of this Strawberry Cheesecake Frozen Yoghurt in the freezer. Sweet and refreshing, it never fails to impress when you have guests round to enjoy the sunshine!
M&S Plant Kitchen Chocolate Almond Sticks are available from Ocado, priced at £3.00 for a pack of 3.
ASDA Succulent Caramelised Red Onion Beef Burgers – 214 calories per burger
It’s peak barbecue season so we’re constantly on the lookout for new grill-friendly bits and bobs! We’ve spotted these Succulent Caramelised Red Onion Beef Burgers in Asda, and they sound like a tasty twist on a classic patty.
Each gluten-free beef burger works out at 214 calories – leaving plenty of room to add all your favourite toppings and BBQ side dishes.
We recently revamped one of our best-ever sides to create these Air Fryer Rustic Potato Wedges. The original recipe was around waaaaay before air fryers became popular, and this new method gives them the ultimate crunchy outside and fluffy middle!
ASDA Succulent Caramelised Red Onion Beef Burgers are available from Asda, priced at £3.30 for a pack of 4.
Morrisons Onion Relish – 15 calories per 15g serving
While we’re on the subject of burgers, it’s always nice to have a good selection of sauces and relishes in the middle of the table. This Onion Relish from Morrisons will give burgers, sandwiches and even salads a flavour boost for just 15 calories a squeeze.
Veggie-friendly and slightly sweet, it’s deserving of a spot next to the ketchup and the mustard!
If you’re looking for vegetarian BBQ ideas, grab some halloumi as a great alternative to meat. We love using it to make these Spiced Halloumi Burgers – they’re so tasty that even the non-veggies around the table will be happy they’re on the menu.
Morrisons Onion Relish is available from Morrisons, priced at £1.79.
Sainsbury’s Pea Shoot & Mint Salad Kit – 136 calories per 1/2 pack
It’s easier than ever to eat your greens with this speedy salad from Sainsbury’s. Open up the new Pea Shoot and Mint Salad Kit, pour on the dressing, sprinkle over the croutons and get stuck in!
Herby and refreshing, it’s an instant side dish for picnics, buffets, garden parties and barbecues.
Nothing beats a good salad on a balmy summer’s day, and we think this Chicken and Mango Salad is one of the best (if we do say so ourselves). Fruit in a salad is such a game changer – sweet, vibrant and juicy, the mango brings this whole recipe to life!
Sainsbury’s Pea Shoot & Mint Salad Kit is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £1.40 for a pack that serves 2.
Perkier Cocoa 98Cals Bars – 98 calories per bar
Next time you need a little boost while you’re out and about, make sure you have one of these Perkier Cocoa 98Cals Bars stashed in your bag.
With 60% less sugar than other, similar fruit and nut bars, they’re vegan, gluten free and high in fibre. On top of all that, they taste great and they’re under 100 calories a pop!
Prefer to make your own snacks? We’ve got you covered! These Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars are a dreamy flavour combo, and so little effort to make. Sweet, slightly salty and perfectly crunchy, we recommend making a big batch (you’ll definitely be tempted to go in for a second…or third helping!).
Perkier Cocoa 98Cals Bars are available from Morrisons, priced at £1.99 for a pack of 3.
Bisto Limited Edition for Chicken with Garden Herbs Gravy Granules – 13 calories per 50ml
It may be summer, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a time and a place for a classic roast chicken dinner. Bisto has released this limited edition Chicken with Garden Herbs Gravy Granules just in time for the sunshine.
Low sugar and low in fat, this summery take on the traditional recipe is just 13 calories per prepared portion. Pour it over chicken and gorgeous green vegetables!
Switch up your Sunday roast and try this BBQ Roast Chicken this weekend. There’s no need to fire up the barbecue to get those lovely smoky flavours – the magic is all in our marinade of spices, sauces and seasonings.
Bisto Limited Edition for Chicken with Garden Herbs Gravy Granules is available from Asda, priced at £2.00.
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.
Here’s the rundown of this week’s Super 6 offering, along with some recipe ideas for you.
Radishes – 16 calories per 100g
These crunchy little root vegetables are perfect for adding into salads and stir-fries. They have a mild, slightly peppery taste and a firm texture that has a lovely crunch when you slice them up.
You can cook them, or serve them raw on top of a dish like our Turkey Bun Cha – they add the perfect crisp freshness!
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.
Mushrooms – 17 calories per 100g
Getting plenty of nutrition isn’t tricky with mushrooms on the menu. Filled with vitamins and easy to cook, they’re a versatile veggie you can always count on. From risottos to pasta dishes to stews, they’ll add a deeper, satisfying flavour to so many dishes.
With mushrooms in the mix, our Mushroom Carbonara doesn’t leave you missing bacon or ham at all.
Pineapple – 50 calories per 100g
Bursting with vitamin C, pineapple is perfect for adding extra goodness into your meals and snacks. Whether you slice it up to munch on throughout the day or add it to salads and other recipes, it’ll bring freshness and intense sweetness to your plate (we won’t even judge you if you like it on pizza!).
Trust us, you haven’t lived until you’ve tried the refreshing pineapple salsa that’s an essential part of this Pork Carnitas with Pineapple and Mango Salsa.
Oranges – 47 calories per 100g
Whether you’re on-the-go or just after a picky treat you can enjoy straight from the fridge, oranges are an energy-boosting snack you can count on. High in fibre and immune-boosting vitamin C, they’ll satisfy your sweet tooth with a burst of juicy citrus.
Turn your oranges into a slimming-friendly dinner by using them to make the moreish marinade for our Ginger and Orange Chicken Kebabs. The zesty juice is the perfect balance to the heat from the ginger.
Salad Tomatoes – 20 calories per 100g
True to their namesake, salad tomatoes are the perfect addition to freshen up any salad. With minimum prep required, they’re a quick and easy way to add vitamins to a side dish or light lunch.
You can try them in our super filling BLT Pasta Salad – it’s a tasty option for your packed lunch that’ll have you looking forward to lunch all day!
**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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