Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 11.12
Struggling to get more fish into the kids’ diet? We’ve got the perfect solution in this week’s Weekly Pinch of Shopping!
We’ve also found plenty of inspiration for quick meals which are ideal if you’ve got a busy week coming up and don’t want to spend ages in the kitchen.
If you’re looking for more recipes that are quick and easy to cook then check out our Quick Meals category here, and don’t forget that you can get your copy of our brand new cookbook, Pinch of Nom: Quick and Easy here.
If you’re starting to plan ahead for Christmas then we’ve also got a range of festive treats including a duck parfait that will be a real showstopper and some brussel sprouts that are full of flavour and can be cooked from frozen.
If you’re looking for Christmas inspiration and festive recipes then you make sure that you check out our Christmas category here.
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.
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.
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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!**
Ribena White Peach and Hibiscus Cordial – 25 calories per 250ml
It’s not all about the food when we’re talking of delicious slimming essentials… enter Ribena White Peach and Hibiscus Cordial!
We love this cordial because it’s made from real fruit, rich in vitamin C and contains no artificial colours, sweeteners or flavours. It’s great for adults and children alike.
In fact, it’s so refreshing that we think it would make a wonderfully sweet alternative to alcohol over Christmas, or for those that fancy a touch of luxury without the extra calories from alcohol.
Try it mixed with sparkling water over ice for a refreshing, fruity drink. If you’d prefer to hydrate with something more grown-up friendly, will yours be a Woo Woo or a Strawberry Daiquiri?
You can find this Ribena White Peach and Hibiscus Cordial in Asda and Sainsbury’s. If you pick it up from Sainsbury’s it’s currently on offer for £2 rather than £3.
Strong Roots Asian Style Greens – 84 calories per serving
Although you’ll find it in the frozen veg aisle, this bag of Strong Roots Asian Style Greens is far from your typical vegetable side!
Bright, crunchy and full of flavour, you’ll find spinach, savoy cabbage, parsnip and kale in this mix.
You’ll also find a coating of garlic and chilli vegan butter that melts into the veggies for extra oomph, without being too overpowering.
This side dish is full of fibre, non-GMO and low sugar, so it’s the perfect side dish to Asian and Western dishes too!
Try it alongside a Katsu Chicken Curry for an extra burst of goodness that can be on the table in only a few minutes.
We’ve seen these Strong Roots Asian Style Greens in Tesco for £2.95 a bag, but you’ll find their wider range of healthy vegan food in most supermarkets.
ASDA Ready to Cook Rainbow Veg Rice – 44 calories per ½ pack
If you’re looking for an easy way to help get more vegetables into your diet, then this ASDA Ready to Cook Rainbow Veg Rice is the perfect choice.
It’s a tasty mix of carrots, cauliflower, butternut squash, broccoli and chives, and adds a vibrant pop of colour to any dinner plate.
Suitable for gluten free and vegan diets, each ½ pack serving counts as 1 of your 5 a day and has 44 calories.
Serve alongside our Vegan Campfire Stew or our Imam Bayildi for a super hearty, filling vegan dinner.
Or, serve in place of rice alongside pretty much any meal in order to mix things up a bit!
You can grab this ASDA Ready to Cook Rainbow Veg Rice at Asda for £2 per pack.
Tesco Gammon Steak with Maple & Bourbon Sauce – 197 calories per ½ pack
Sometimes we just want something really quick and easy for dinner that takes no effort to cook, but isn’t full of additional calories or nasty extras.
These Tesco Gammon Steaks with Maple & Bourbon Sauce are a great choice as they only take 10-12 minutes to pay fry and have 197 calories per steak.
The maple and bourbon sauce drizzled over the top works really well with the gammon and contrasts the flavours perfectly.
You can serve these Tesco Gammon Steaks with Maple & Bourbon Sauce alongside pretty much any side dish, but we especially love them when served with our Garlic Green Beans or Creamy Mashed Potatoes.
Pick up these Tesco Gammon Steaks with Maple & Bourbon Sauce in Tesco for £3 for a pack of 2 steaks.
Sainsbury’s Roasted Potatoes Seasoning – 9 calories per teaspoon
It’s no secret that a good roastie is the superstar of any roast dinner! Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, this Sainsbury’s Roasted Potatoes Seasoning makes light work of a savoury coating without rummaging in the spice rack.
If you’ve got a family of sprout avoiders, try the Sprout Sprinkle seasoning (it’s a great way of adding flavour to sprouts in next to no time).
You could also try on other green veggies too, like green beans or even on top of mashed potato!
It’s also vegan, and super easy to use – simply sprinkle on before popping in the oven or air fryer to roast.
We love serving Roast Potatoes with a glug of Gravy, and our slimming friendly versions will hit the spot while still being low in calories and Points.
You can pick up a 62g pot of this Sainsbury’s Roasted Potatoes Seasoning for £2.10, and a little goes a long way.
John West Kids Tuna Bites Bitesize Tuna Meatballs – 193 calories per pot
If you’re looking for a way to get more fish into your kids’ diets, these John West Kids Tuna Bites Bitesize Tuna Meatballs are absolutely perfect!
Served in a tomato sauce with penne pasta, these tuna meatballs are low in saturated fat and sugar, and a natural source of protein.
The fish ‘meatballs’ look just like normal, beef meatballs, but they’re actually made from tuna and kids will never know the difference.
For those kids that want to feel like they’re eating the same as their parents, John West also makes an adult version of these meatballs, the John West Tuna Bowl Chilli & Garlic Tomato Sauce & Pasta.
While the adult version is slightly higher in calories than the John West Kids Tuna Bites Bitesize Tuna Meatballs (325 calories vs 193 calories), it’s still more than slimming friendly which is an absolute result.
Microwaveable in 1 minutes, these John West Kids Tuna Bites Bitesize Tuna Meatballs are also great for a quick meal on a busy weekday evening!
The John West Kids Tuna Bites Bitesize Tuna Meatballs are available in Asda for £1.79. The adult version – the John West Tuna Bowl Chilli & Garlic Tomato Sauce & Pasta – is also available in Asda for £2.49.
Sainsbury’s Brussel Sprouts with Bacon & Thyme Butter – 82 calories per serving
Brussel sprouts can have a bad reputation, but that’s mostly when they are boiled to death, soggy and bland!
Cooked and prepared properly, sprouts are actually really tasty and they may just be your new favourite veg!
These Sainsbury’s Brussel Sprouts with Bacon & Thyme Butter are guaranteed to change your opinion on sprouts and they can be cooked from frozen too which makes them super convenient.
They’re also suitable for gluten free diets, count as 1 of your 5 a day and – despite the fact they come with butter and bacon – they’re suitable for slimming friendly diets as well at 82 calories per serving.
If you love brussel sprouts, then make sure that you check out our Marmite Sprouts or our Balsamic Roasted Sprouts. Even the biggest sprout hater will love them!
These Brussel Sprouts with Bacon & Thyme Butter are available in Sainsbury’s for £2 per bag.
Taste Original Chicken Satay Snack – 87 calories per snack pack
If you’re finding yourself reaching for the unhealthy snacks in the fridge too often, these Taste Original Chicken Satay Snack Pack are a slimming essential for you! Thanks to Sonia B who shared these over in our Facebook Group.
Satay flavoured chicken is formed onto handy toothpicks and individually packaged for the ultimate grab and go snack, perfect for popping in lunchboxes.
Packed full of protein and coming in at only 87 calories for the pack, this is a great choice that’s lower in Points than some of the other flavoured chicken snack packs that are often bread crumbed and fried!
If you love the nutty satay flavour but would prefer something more budget-friendly, you could always whip up a batch of our slimming friendly Chicken Satay Skewers for fridge picking!
Tesco stock these Taste Original Chicken Satay Snack Packs for £1 per pack of five skewers. You can get larger 12-packs for £2.10 in Waitrose and Sainsbury’s too.
No.1 Duck Parfait with Mushroom & Truffle Centre – 90 calories per serving
It doesn’t get much more indulgent than some delicious pate on Christmas Day morning and following a slimming diet shouldn’t mean that you have to miss out.
This No.1 Duck Parfait with Mushroom & Truffle Centre has just 90 calories per serving and is absolutely delicious when served with some crusty bread or crisp crackers.
The core of oven roasted mushroom and truffles is hidden inside a smooth duck parfait which is glazed with sweet Madeira wine.
Not only does it taste amazing, but it looks really impressive as well and is guaranteed to be the centrepiece of any Christmas table.
If you have the time, then you could also give our Pate with Port a go. It packs a festive flavour punch and takes less than 30 minutes to prepare!
You can find this No.1 Duck Parfait with Mushroom & Truffle Centre in Waitrose for £7.50 – each pack contains 5 servings.
Maryland Choc Orange Jaffanator Cookies – 100 calories per 2 cookies
You may have spotted Maryland on a recent slimming essentials list. They’ve brought out some really fun flavours and sugar free options lately, and Maryland Choc Orange Jaffanator Cookies are no exception!
The festive period is full of chocolate orange; whether it’s an indulgent pud or a slimming friendly Mini Spiced Orange Mince Pie Crumbles, we can’t get enough of this zesty flavour combination.
These cookies are free from artificial flavourings and preservatives, and suitable for vegetarians too, so you can pop them in the biscuit tin for everyone to enjoy!
At only 50 calories per cookie, they’re a great option alongside a cuppa or a warming Eggnog Latte.
Grab a pack of these Maryland Choc Orange Jaffanator Cookies at Asda where they’re currently on offer at 70p (usually £1.30).
REMINDER: Aldi Super 6 Fruit and Veg Selection
Aldi will be switching out their Super 6 on Thursday, so here’s your refresher of what’s available! For meal inspiration, take a look at last week’s full roundup here.
- Mini Easy Peelers – 35 calories per fruit
- 4-Pack Unwaxed Lemons – 17 calories per fruit
- Mushrooms – 22 cals per mushroom
- Conference pears – 64 calories per fruit
- Granny Smith apples – 63 calories per fruit
- Mango – 60 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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