Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 10.12

Weekly Pinch of Shopping - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

With only a couple of Fridays left before the big day, today’s Weekly Pinch of Shopping is a very festive edition! We’ve searched the supermarket shelves high and low for some slimming friendly Christmas treats that’ll help you celebrate the season in style. 

Who’s had their first mince pie already? If you’ve been waiting for the perfect buttery pastry and mincemeat filling…we found it! You’ll want to pop a pack of these mini treats in your basket this week. 

Plus, scroll down to hear about our new favourite festive tipple. It’s fruity, fizzy and only 84 calories a glass – we’ll say cheers to that!

Pssst…did you know that 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 including Sweet Potato Chilli, Stuffed Pasta Bolognese and Millionaire’s Shortbread. Do we need to say any more?! Get your copy here

How to Make the Most Out of Your Comfort Food Cookbook - Pinch of Nom Comfort Food

We’ve also dropped in a reminder of this fortnight’s Super 6. Every fortnight Aldi discounts a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, so we’re giving you the rundown of last 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!**

ASDA Pigs in Blanket Slices – 61 calories per slice

Weekly Pinch of Shopping - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

If you’re ready for some festive flavour that won’t spoil the magic of your Christmas dinner, these Pigs in Blanket Slices from Asda are just the ticket. 

Pick up a pack of these slices of sausage meat wrapped in bacon and use them for seasonal sandwiches and snacks. They’ll give you a nod to Christmas flavours, and you’ll still be excited to load up your plate with bacon-wrapped-sausages when December 25th rolls around. 

If you’ve already got pigs in blankets on the brain, why not serve some as a snack or a starter at a festive gathering in the run-up to Christmas? These Pigs in Blankets in Puff Pastry are a fancier version of your traditional sausage roll. They’re easy, quick and you only need four ingredients. 

Pigs in Blankets in Puff Pastry - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

Asda Pigs in Blankets Slices are available from Asda, priced at £1.50 for a pack of 6 slices. 

Quorn Vegetarian Ham Roast – 109 calories per 1/4 pack

Weekly Pinch of Shopping - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

This Quorn Vegetarian Ham Roast proves that going meat-free doesn’t have to mean missing out on a roast with all the trimmings. Whether you’re veggie yourself, or have a few vegetarian guests popping in over the festive season, this roast makes dinnertime fuss free and delicious. 

High in protein and low in fat, it’s a slimming friendly choice that adds plenty of flavour to your plate. Heap on some roast potatoes, plenty of vegetables and some veggie-friendly stuffing. 

If you’d rather have a go at making your own vegetarian alternative, how about trying your hand at this Chestnut Roast? Our recipe uses ready-cooked chestnuts to minimise faff and save time on the day. 

Chestnut Roast - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

Quorn Vegetarian Ham Roast is available from  Tesco, priced at £3.00. 

Viennetta Chocolate Yule Log Ice Cream – 247 calories per serving

Weekly Pinch of Shopping - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

Get Christmas day dessert all wrapped up with this festive spin on a classic treat. The Viennetta Chocolate Yule Log Ice Cream has everything you want from a pudding – layers of ice cream, crisp chocolate and Christmassy star sprinkles. 

Easy to slice and serve, you’ll get seven portions out of this, so it’s ideal if you’re hosting for Christmas. At 247 calories per serving, it’s fairly light for a pudding too, while still being big on chocolatey indulgence. 

If you prefer homemade puds, our lighter version of a Christmas Chocolate Log brings all that Yuletide joy, for just 133 calories a slice. It’s not too tricky to make and it tastes so decadent – your guests won’t be able to resist. 

Christmas Chocolate Log - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

Viennetta Chocolate Yule Log Ice Cream is available from most supermarkets, priced at £1.65. 

Let’s Party 10 Mini Steak Bakes – 74 calories per steak bake

Weekly Pinch of Shopping - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

Are you planning picky bits for Christmas Eve or buffet goodies for Boxing Day? Your spread wouldn’t be complete without these Let’s Party Mini Steak Bakes from Aldi.

Budget friendly and so tasty, they’ll even help you stay on plan if you don’t want to go totally off track over the festive season. Each mini bake is just 74 calories!

They cook from frozen, so you can stock up the freezer in advance to save getting caught up in the pre-Christmas shopping frenzy!

Why not set out a platter of these Pizza Twists with Pizza Dip for your guests to nibble on too? They’re crunchy little bites of cheesy goodness, with a tomato dip that we can never get enough of!

Pizza Twists with Pizza Dip - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

Let’s Party 10 Mini Steak Bakes are available from Aldi, priced at £1.65. 

M&S Blackcurrant Sundaes – 205 calories per sundae

Weekly Pinch of Shopping - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

With all butter pastry, rich vanilla buttercream and a silky blackcurrant filling, these M&S Blackcurrant Sundaes look and sound far from slimming friendly. In fact, each one comes in at just 205 calories, which is a lot lighter than you might expect for such an indulgent treat!  

Even if you’re still watching what you eat over the festive season, enjoying one of these with a cup of tea (or a glass of something stronger) won’t break the bank when it comes to calories, Points or whichever diet plan you’re following. A little bit of what you fancy does you good, and these are too delicious to miss out on. 

If you’re looking for an even lighter pudding with a fruity flavour, these Blackcurrant Mousses are so simple and just 92 calories per serving. Refreshing and sweet, they’re the perfect end to any meal. 

Blackcurrant Mousse - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

M&S Blackcurrant Sundaes are available from Ocado, priced at £2.00 for a pack of 4. 

ASDA Peppered Beef with Peppercorn Sauce – 254 calories per 1/2 pack

Weekly Pinch of Shopping - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

Imagine this – slow cooked flavour without having to wait for hours. That’s what you get from this ASDA Peppered Beef with Peppercorn Sauce. Tender and flavourful, it’s been cooked for five hours so that you can pop it into the oven for just 40 minutes. 

It comes with a punchy peppercorn sauce that you can heat through right before serving, and then drizzle over slices of the succulent beef. Despite being so rich, half of this pack is just 254 calories, so you can add some mashed potatoes and veg to make it into a hearty meal that’s still slimming friendly. 

If you can’t get enough of the peppery, creamy sauce, you NEED to try our easy homemade version. We love this Creamy Pepper Sauce with steak but it goes with almost anything – it’s exactly what you need to jazz up a weekday meal. 

Creamy Pepper Sauce - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

ASDA Peppered Beef with Peppercorn Sauce is available from Asda, priced at £4.00. 

Tesco Cream Liqueur Flavour Popcorn – 104 calories per serving

Weekly Pinch of Shopping - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

It’s no secret that we LOVE finding a new flavour of popcorn on the shelves – crunchy popped corn is one of our favourite go-to snacks! This festive flavour is no exception, so we’ll be stocking up on Tesco Cream Liqueur Flavour Popcorn to munch on while we watch all the Christmas classics on TV this year. 

The super sweet toffee coated popcorn has the subtlest flavour of cream liqueur, so even if it’s not your favourite tipple, you’ll enjoy the taste. Perfect for sharing, there are eight servings in this bag, at just 104 calories a portion. 

If you fancy a snack that’s even more festive than this, these fruity New York Cheesecake Santas are both delicious and adorable. One to make with the kids, there’s so much fun to be had turning strawberries into little Santa hats. 

New York Cheesecake Santas - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

Tesco Cream Liqueur Flavour Popcorn is available from Tesco, priced at £1.50 for a 200g bag. 

Specially Selected Cod Loin Wrapped In Bacon – 143 calories per serving

Weekly Pinch of Shopping - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

If you’re planning an alternative Christmas dinner, this Specially Selected Cod Loin Wrapped In Bacon will make an impressive centrepiece for your festive feast. 

The skinless, boneless, flaky cod is frozen at sea to seal in freshness, and wrapped in a generous layer of streaky bacon. It cooks from frozen in under an hour, so it’s ideal for buying in advance if you want to get organised ahead of time. 

This loin will serve four people, with each portion just 143 calories. It might be a lighter choice, but that doesn’t mean it lacks flavour – crisp, salty bacon and flaky white cod are a match made in heaven. 

We’d serve it up with these Crispy Green Beans on the side. Topped with panko breadcrumbs and a sprinkle of Parmesan, they’re everything you never knew green beans could be! Crispy, cheesy and deliciously salty…we serve them with everything!

Crispy Green Beans - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

Specially Selected Cod Loin Wrapped In Bacon is available from Aldi, priced at £7.99. 

Sainsbury’s Winterberry Bucks Fizz – 84 calories per 125ml

Weekly Pinch of Shopping - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

Whether served as part of your Christmas morning breakfast, alongside your turkey dinner or poured out to toast the New Year, this is THE drink to try this festive season. Sainsbury’s Winterberry Bucks Fizz is a fruity twist on the classic celebration drink, mixing sparkling white wine with mulled flavours, a hint of clementines and the juice of winter berries. 

It’s fruity and fizzy with just the slightest spice to it – this tipple really tastes like Christmas. Serve it chilled, straight from the fridge and raise a glass to a very merry Christmas. 

Alcohol can be packed with hidden calories, but if you know the best choices to make, you can enjoy a few slimming friendly festive beverages. Why not have a go at shaking up this Firework Fizz cocktail? Each glass is just 74 calories. 

Firework Fizz - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

Sainsbury’s Winterberry Bucks Fizz is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £3.50 per bottle. 

Tesco Finest Mini Mince Pies – 85 calories per mini mince pie

Weekly Pinch of Shopping - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

Is it really Christmas until you’ve had a mince pie? If you’re trying not to go overboard on the Christmas calories, you might think the festive favourites are off the menu, but these Tesco Finest Mini Mince Pies are only 85 calories each. 

The mini versions of the classic Christmas treat have all the flavour of their full size counterparts, with luxurious, all butter pastry and a rich mincemeat made with plump vine fruits, glace cherries, brandy, port and lemon zest. 

If you fancy offering guests an alternative to mince pies, how about baking a batch of our Mini Spiced Christmas Apple Pies? They’re filled with sweetened, sharp apples that are cooked down with warming spices including cinnamon and nutmeg. Delicious with a cup of tea! 

Mini Spiced Christmas Apple Pies - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

Tesco Finest Mini Mince Pies are available at Tesco, priced at £2.00 for a pack of 12. 

REMINDER Aldi Super 6 Fruit and Veg Selection

Weekly Pinch of Shopping - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

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 reminder of this fortnight’s Super 6 selection:

  • Conference Pears – 64 calories per 100g
  • Unwaxed Lemons – 17 calories per 100g
  • Easy Peelers – 35 calories per 100g
  • Mini Roasting Potatoes – 68 calories per 100g
  • Broccoli – 35 calories per 100g
  • Savoy Cabbage – 27 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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And if you’re not already part of our Facebook Group then make sure you join as we love seeing all of the new products that you find – not to mention all of the amazing support and motivation! 

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