Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 10.09
Friday is finally here and we’re back brightening up your week with the Weekly Pinch of Shopping!
There’s something for everyone in our latest roundup of supermarket must-haves. We’ve found some quick wins for dinnertime, including some frozen chicken skewers that are ready to eat as soon as they’re defrosted.
And if that isn’t enough, how about a delicious Mediterranean pepper and feta quiche that has a pastry case packed with hidden veg?
We’ve also spied some chilli infused honey that can dial up the flavour of your food with just a little drizzle. Sweet, spicy and so delicious.
Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten a sweet treat or two! This week we’ve spotted some exciting new flavours of Hartley’s 10 Cal Jelly, including yummy raspberry jam doughnut. Yes please!
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. Our new Quick & Easy food planner is perfect for this as it will really help you to plan out your meals and keep track of exactly what you’re eating or need to buy.
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 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!**
Iceland BBQ Chicken Skewers – 105 calories per skewer
We love handy bits that you can throw in the freezer and pull out when you need a quick, easy meal.
These Iceland BBQ Chicken Skewers are super versatile, and they last ages because they’re frozen, so you can just grab one or two when you need them.
Best of all, you can eat them hot or cold – simply leave them to defrost overnight in the fridge and you can serve them in sandwiches, wraps or on a salad the next day.
Prefer them hot? They can be reheated in the oven or on the barbecue too!
Why not serve a couple on the side of this Nando’s Spicy Rice for a super easy yet delicious midweek dinner?
Iceland BBQ Chicken Skewers are available from Iceland, priced at £3.00 for a 340g bag.
Patak’s Mild Curry Spice Paste – 46 calories per serving
Cooking a homemade curry is so satisfying – building up all that flavour and adding the perfect amount of spice.
Give the takeaway a miss this week and use Patak’s Mild Curry Spice Paste to make yourself a slimming friendly curry.
Patak’s have done all the hard work for you, blending together a spice mix that means you won’t need to have a cupboard full of herbs and spices before you can get started.
Squeeze in as much or as little of this paste as you like, add some tinned tomatoes to the rest of your ingredients and you’ll have an easy, delicious curry in no time, with no faffing.
Fancy a naan with your curry? Our Keema Naan is a healthier alternative, but every bit as tasty as your local curry house.
Also available in medium and hot varieties, Patak’s Mild Curry Spice Paste is available from Asda, priced at £1.99.
Carr’s Ciabatta Sundried Tomato & Basil Crackers – 41 calories per cracker
Looking for simple snacks or light lunch ideas? These Carr’s Ciabatta Sundried Tomato and Basil Crackers are a delight!
Ideal if you’re looking for a change from bread, these are irresistibly crunchy and come in handy individual packs of three crackers.
You can add toppings or serve with a crisp salad for a lovely, refreshing lunch. The subtle tomato and basil flavour goes so well with cream cheese, hummus and lots of other dips and spreads.
We think they’d be great served on the side of a bowl of fresh soup. How about trying them with this fragrant Mulligatawny Soup?
Carr’s Ciabatta Sundried Tomato & Basil Crackers are available from Morrisons, priced at £1.60 for 5 packs of 3 crackers.
M&S Lightly Salted Seaweed Multipack – 33 calories per pack
Bored of the same old snacks but still want to keep it healthy? If the usual choices aren’t cutting it anymore, why not up your snack game with this M&S Lightly Salted Seaweed?
Crunchy and deliciously savoury, these sheets of salty seaweed might sound a little odd but they’ll get your taste buds tingling, and they’re super low in calories.
Oven roasted to bring out the delicate flavours, the seaweed is seasoned with just the right amount of sea salt so it’s moreish but not overwhelming.
Why not reach for a pack of these instead of the usual crisps or nuts? If you can’t resist savoury snacks, you’ll love this lighter, healthier option.
If you’re already a big fan of seaweed, have you tried our Honey Soy Salmon with Seaweed Salad?
M&S Lightly Salted Seaweed Multipack is available from Ocado, priced at £2.00 for a pack of 3.
Ocean Spray Hello Berry Fibre Blueberry Smoothie – 37 calories per 100ml
Deliciously refreshing, packed with fibre and high in vitamin C, this Ocean Spray Hello Berry Fibre Blueberry Smoothie is our new favourite drink.
Made from apples, blueberries and cranberries, a 200ml serving is one of your five a day.
Ocean Spray makes sure to add in every bit of the berry – seeds and all – which is how they retain so much of the fruit’s natural fibre, flavour and sweetness. Perfect for the mornings, a glass of this with your breakfast will start your day with a healthy boost of vitamins.
Why not serve this smoothie alongside these Strawberry and Vanilla Waffles for a fruity breakfast the whole family will love?
Ocean Spray Hello Berry Fibre Blueberry Smoothie is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £4.00 for an 850ml bottle.
Hilltop Hot Honey Infused with Chilli – 307 calories per 100g
Sweet and spicy – sounds like an odd combination but it’s oh-so-delicious!
This Hilltop Hot Honey is infused with chilli, giving a real kick of heat along with that golden sweetness.
If you like to be a little adventurous, you can add a squeeze of this onto just about anything!
Try a drizzle over a pizza, add a little into a stir-fry or use it to marinade meat. If you’re feeling brave, add a dash onto some ice cream to get your taste buds tingling!
In fact, a squeeze of this would go perfectly with our Mango and Raspberry Ice Cream. Mango and chilli is a great partnership, with sweet and spicy working together to become a taste sensation!
Hilltop Hot Honey Infused with Chilli is available from Waitrose, priced at £2.80.
Higgidy Mediterranean Pepper & Feta Quiche – 230 calories per 1/4 quiche
It’s no secret that we love a crustless quiche – getting rid of the pastry keeps the calories low, without losing flavour.
But if you can’t resist the texture of a crumbly pastry case, this Higgidy Mediterranean Pepper & Feta Quiche is a great choice – the pastry is made from 30% veg!
Along with all of the veggies tucked away inside the delicious free range egg filling, they’ve packed the pastry with extra sweet potatoes, butternut squash and carrots.
With so much veg inside and out, this isn’t just any old quiche! Serve up a slice for a lovely lunch that’s bursting with goodness – and tastes great too.
If you’d rather ditch the crust, you need to try our Caramelised Onion Quiche. It’s been a big hit over on our Facebook Group and it’s incredibly easy to make, and just 164 calories per slice.
Higgidy Mediterranean Pepper & Feta Quiche is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £4.21.
Bio&Me Granola Low Sugar, Naturally Gut-Loving Prebiotic – 281 calories per serving
A whopping 15 fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, legumes, nuts and seeds go into this low sugar granola.
Packed with goodness, Bio&Me Granola Low Sugar, Naturally Gut-Loving Prebiotic is a breakfast that will make your tummy happy.
Totally plant based, it promotes good bacteria in your gut, which can boost immunity and help to keep you healthy.
Sprinkle some over your favourite yoghurt or simply enjoy with a splash of milk to get your day started in the best way possible.
If you prefer something warm for breakfast, give these Carrot Cake Baked Oats a try. They taste like dessert, are super filling and can even be turned into muffins if you need a grab and go brekkie.
Bio&Me Granola Low Sugar, Naturally Gut-Loving Prebiotic is available from Ocado, priced at £3.69 for a 360g pack.
Lindahls Protein Chocolate Pudding – 104 calories per pot
A rich, chocolatey pudding that’s just 104 calories and has 14g of protein? It might sound too good to be true but it’s real!
Lindahls Protein Chocolate Pudding is new to the supermarket shelves but we predict it’s going to be popular.
Whether as a snack or as a dessert, it’s sure to satisfy that craving for something sweet.
And, because it’s so high in protein, it’ll fill you up too – ideal if you need something to keep you going in-between meals.
If you’re already a fan of Lindahls protein-rich yoghurts, you won’t want to miss these pudding pots. There’s even a vanilla flavour if chocolate isn’t your cup of tea.
Fancy a go at making your own chocolate pudding? Our Chocolate Mousse is super easy, and only 114 calories per serving!
Lindahls Protein Chocolate Pudding is available from Asda, priced at 75p per 140g pot.
Hartley’s 10 Cal Jelly Raspberry Jam Doughnut – 10 calories per pot
When you’re trying to eat a little healthier, a raspberry jam doughnut may not be the best choice.
The good news is that Hartley’s 10 Cal Jellies now have a new selection of pudding inspired flavours – including raspberry jam doughnut!
It might not be quite the same as sinking your teeth into a sugary, squishy, golden doughnut, but this jelly is perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth who’s trying to watch their weight.
At just 10 calories, you can say yes to pudding – or bring this out at snack time when you need a little mid-afternoon sweet treat.
Why not scoop out the jelly and enjoy it with some fresh raspberries? Or try topping with some light squirty cream for a low calorie pud that’s a little like trifle?
In fact, if you love trifles, you should try out our Trifle recipe. You can use pretty much any flavour of jelly and any fruit that you like!
Also available in blueberry muffin and rhubarb and custard flavours, Hartley’s 10 Cal Jelly Raspberry Jam Doughnut is available from most supermarkets, priced at 75p for a 175g pot.
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:
Iceberg Lettuce – 14 calories per 100g
Crisp and refreshing, iceberg lettuce is always handy to have in the fridge to bulk out salads or to add some crunch into sandwiches and burgers.
You can even use the large leaves instead of wraps if you fancy trying out some new low calorie lunch ideas.
How about filling them with our Coronation Chickpeas for a veggie lunch that’s packed with flavour and so good for you?
Green Beans – 31 calories per 100g
Such a versatile veggie, green beans can be served on the side of your favourite fish dishes, on your roast dinner or even in soups and stews.
With a delicious crunch, they add some texture as well as colour to your plate.
Why not dish some up alongside this Admiral’s Fish Pie for a super filling, healthy dinner that the whole family will want to get stuck into?
Cauliflower – 25 calories per 100g
One of our favourite veggies, cauliflower is great for adding into so many recipes – and it’s easy to hide so fussy eaters won’t know it’s there!
You can steam it, roast it, turn it into cauliflower rice – there are loads of options!
We like it best smothered in cheese (who doesn’t?) just like in this Cauliflower Parmigiana. It’s vegetarian friendly and just 275 calories. A winner all round!
Sweetcorn – 86 calories per 100g
Serving up some corn on the cob is a surefire way to brighten up your mealtimes.
You can boil it or roast it, and serve it on the side of a delicious homemade burger or as part of a fresh summery salad.
Instead of smothering it in high calorie butter, why not try our Mexican Corn on the Cob? It’s rich and spicy, with crumbled Feta cheese.
Salad Potatoes – 75 calories per 100g
Who said salad potatoes are only for salads? These little potatoes can be packed with flavour, depending on how you cook them.
Boil them and turn them into a creamy potato salad, or why not try them roasted or cooked in the air fryer to get really crispy?
You could try making these Chipotle Hassleback Potatoes – they’re soft and fluffy on the inside, with an irresistible crunch on the outside!
Pink Lady Apples – 52 calories per 100g
Pink Ladies are usually one of the most expensive types of apples you can find in the supermarket so they’re a bargain as part of this week’s Super 6!
They have a super sweet, honey-like taste and a delicious crisp texture.
Chop one up and serve the slices with a little peanut butter for a healthy afternoon snack.
You could also use them to have a go at these yummy Apple Pie Cookies – they’re just 95 calories each!
**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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