Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 12.02
This week’s Weekly Pinch of Shopping features some of our favourite new snacks and treats including 99 calorie chocolate bars and chocolate coated pretzels that are the perfect combo of sweet and salty. Does anybody else have a 4pm slump after sitting at your desk all day? These are the BEST pick-me-up!
We’ve also found a slimming friendly wine seltzer, a creamy vegan spread and a handheld version of the classic Vienetta dessert (that isn’t full of extra calories). We know that ice cream in winter doesn’t always go…but TRUST US…these are so worth it!
Plus, we’ve got some products that are perfect for anyone missing their favourite restaurant at the moment, including some crisps that taste exactly like KFC and a katsu curry sauce that will transport you straight to YO! Sushi!
It’s also Aldi Super 6 update week! For those that don’t know, Aldi discount a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables every fortnight, so we give you the rundown and inspiration to make the most of these budget ingredients!
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 second 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!**
Twix 99K Cal Chocolate Biscuit Bars – 99 calories per bar
Caramel, biscuit and chocolate for under 100 calories?! These Twix 99K Cal Chocolate Biscuit Bars are perfect for when you’re craving a sweet treat.
Each bar contains just 99 calories which means that they’re ideal for enjoying alongside an afternoon cuppa!
Suitable for vegetarians, these Twix 99K Cal Chocolate Biscuit Bars are also available in Snickers and Mars so there’s something for everyone and to suit every mood.
They make a fab addition to any dessert and we especially love them served with our Trifle as a twist on the traditional flake.
Or why not serve them alongside our Blackcurrant Mousse? The combination of tart blackcurrant and smooth milk chocolate is a match made in heaven.
You can find these Twix 99K Cal Chocolate Biscuit Bars in most supermarkets for around £2 for a pack of 10.
YO! Katsu Hot & Spicy – 89 calories per portion
Katsu is one of our favourite curries because it’s tangy, spicy and aromatic, and this YO! Katsu Hot & Spicy Curry Sauce makes it even simpler!
Just like the YO! restaurant katsu, this easy to use sauce is delicious but with an extra kick of heat from added red chillies.
It’s free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives and suitable for vegetarians. And that’s not even the best bit: pop this fragrant sauce in the microwave and it’s ready to serve in only 3 minutes!
Not only that, because it’s in a handy pour over pouch you have complete control over the portion size! Why not mix in some cooked chicken for a cheat’s version of our Katsu Chicken Curry? Or try a pot alongside a pile of homemade Oven Chips for dipping?
Tesco and Ocado stock this YO! Katsu Hot & Spicy Curry Sauce for £1 per 100g bag
Olly’s Pretzel Thins – Dark Chocolate – 121 calories per serving
These Olly’s Pretzel Thins – Dark Chocolate are definitely our new favourite snack!
Oven baked, lightly salted pretzels coated in sweet (100% Belgian!) chocolate, these thins have 121 calories per serving and as an added bonus they’re vegan friendly as well.
Sweet and salty is one of our all time favourite flavour combinations and although it might sound a bit strange, we promise that it works so well.
If you’re not a dark chocolate fan, then these Olly’s Pretzel Thins are also available coated in milk chocolate as well.
Perfect for a mid morning or afternoon snack, or scattered over one of our delicious desserts like our White Chocolate Mousse with Raspberry Coulis or our Unicorn Eton Mess.
These Olly’s Pretzel Thins – Dark Chocolate are available at Ocado for £2.50 per pack.
Oatly Creamy Oat Spread Garlic & Cucumber – 213 calories per 100g
Did you know you can get creamy, soft cheese, without any actual cheese?! This Oatly Creamy Oat Spread Garlic & Cucumber is rich and thick, but you may be surprised to learn it’s entirely plant based! This spread is made with filling oats and we love that the entire packaging is fully recyclable.
With fresh cucumber and garlic flavours, it’s a little taste of summer even when it’s snowing outside! We’ve also spotted this spread in Tomato and Basil flavour, which we think would be perfect for melting into pasta dishes.
Try in place of Quark in our Creamy Tomato Vodka Pasta, or simply spread on crackers and serve with a crisp Greek Salad for a nutritious lunch in a pinch!
Oatly Creamy Oat Spread Garlic & Cucumber is available from Tesco and Sainsbury’s in 150g pots for £1.80.
Cook With M&S Green Harissa Paste – 136 calories per ½ jar
If you’ve never had harissa before then prepare for your mind to be blown! This Cook With M&S Green Harissa Paste is packed full of flavour and has a really nice warming kick too.
Perfect for using as a marinade for meat or fish, incorporating into a dressing or even just as a condiment, harissa is a hot chilli paste originally from Tunisia.
It’s such a quick and easy way to spice up pretty much any dish and we love it so much that we even use it for a recipe in our third cookbook, Pinch of Nom: Quick and Easy.
Try serving it with our Chicken Shawarma or our Chicken Kebab as the flavours really complement each other – once you’ve tried it you’ll never go back!
Harissa paste is available in both red and green varieties and although each colour has a different flavour, they’re both delish.
You can find this Cook With M&S Green Harissa Paste at Ocado for £1.50 a jar and a red paste is also available.
Barefoot Wine Seltzer Pineapple & Passionfruit – 70 calories per can
This Barefoot Wine Seltzer Pineapple & Passionfruit brings a taste of the tropical to your living room with fruity pineapple and passionfruit flavours.
Sparkling water and white wine are combined with natural fruit flavourings for a refreshing alcoholic tipple that comes in at only 70 calories.
Gluten free and suitable for vegetarians, this 4% alcohol seltzer is ideal for winter BBQs and relaxing in front of the TV after a busy day. We’ve seen a Strawberry & Guava flavour too, if you’d prefer a different flavour!
Serve alongside Chicken Gyros Kebabs for an indoor BBQ-style feast.
Gianni’s Mini Viennese Ice Creams – Mint Flavour – 87 calories each
These Gianni’s Mini Viennese Ice Creams not only look super cute, but they also taste amazing and are slimming friendly too.
Each ice cream has layers of mint and chocolate ice creams, stacked up with layers of crunchy chocolate in between.
They’re basically a handheld, portable version of the classic Vienetta dessert and are perfect for helping to curb any sweet cravings.
If mint isn’t your favourite flavour then these ice creams are also available in vanilla and strawberry too, so there’s something to suit every taste.
Or, if you fancy a bowl of ice cream instead of just a bar, our Winter Berry Ice Cream is full of fruity flavours and super quick and easy to make.
You can grab these Gianni’s Mini Viennese Ice Creams from Aldi for £1.49 for a box of 5.
Walkers Max KFC Double Crunch Zinger Sharing Crisps – 144 calories per serving
Our KFC Zinger Burger Fakeaway caused a stir when it was first published, and it’s still one of our Facebook Group’s favourite recipes. We use Doritos in the recipe for the perfect crispiness, and if you liked that recipe, we think you’ll love these Walkers Max KFC Double Crunch Zinger Sharing Crisps!
With the distinctive KFC Zinger taste, these crisps really do pack a punch: ideal for movie night snacking or grabbing a handful to keep you going until dinner time.
Because they’re spicier than your typical potato chip, we think you could enjoy them with a dip as a change to crudites and wraps. Try them dipped into a pot of cooling Hummus for a more substantial snack.
A 140g bag of Walkers Max KFC Double Crunch Zinger Sharing Crisps is available from most supermarkets for around £1.85.
Heinz Five Beanz Snap Pots – 166 calories per pot
Perfect for when you’re short on time, these Heinz Five Beanz Snap Pots are ready after just 1 minute in the microwave.
A tasty blend of haricot, pinto, cannellini, borlotti and red kidney beans, they’re high in protein, low in fat and suitable for vegetarian diets.
Each pot has 166 calories and counts as one of your 5 a day so they’re not only slimming friendly but a great way to get some extra veg into your diet too.
Serve with a jacket potato or on toast for a super speedy lunch, or even alongside your dinner – we love them served with our Toad In the Hole or our Turkey Meatloaf.
These Heinz Five Beanz Snap Pots are available in most supermarkets for around £2.90, although they’re currently on offer at Ocado for £2.
Morrisons Cream Cheese & Chilli Chickpea Biscuits – 43 calories each
If you fancy a change from rice cakes and plain crackers, these Morrisons Cream Cheese & Chilli Chickpea Biscuits are one to pop in your basket of slimming essentials! With a subtle chilli flavour, they’re really versatile when you don’t have the motivation to start cooking a big lunch from scratch!
They’re high in protein and fibre to keep you fuller for longer, and made with chickpeas, lentils and corn. They’re deliciously light, with just the right amount of satisfying crunch.
We like to top them with a simple tuna and light mayo mix or serve alongside a bowl of warming Spicy Tomato Soup!
A pack of 13 Morrisons Cream Cheese & Chilli Chickpea Biscuits costs £1.40.
NEW Aldi Super 6 Fruit and Veg Selection
We love Aldi’s selection of fresh fruit and veggies, and each fortnight they choose six of them for a special offer where you can pick them up for much less than the normal price.
Here’s our roundup of this fortnight’s selection, alongside some meal inspiration to give you some ideas on how to make the most of the Super 6!
Unwaxed Lemons – 17 calories per fruit
Lemon adds a fresh, zesty flavour for minimal cost and effort, so we always have a few in the fridge or fruit bowl.
Don’t be put off by the term ‘unwaxed lemons’: they’re a little less shiny because they don’t have the added wax layer to keep the lemons brighter, but make a much better zest!
Rustle up a Lemon and Garlic Chicken Traybake for an easy dinner, full of flavour and nutritious vegetables and follow with a slice of our Lemon Drizzle Cake!
Blueberries – 57 calories per 100g
Packed with antioxidants and brightly coloured, blueberries are not only a breakfast staple but also great for fridge snacking!
Blueberries are the star of the show in our Lemon and Blueberry Waffles for a fruity, filling breakfast.
Asparagus tips – 25 calories per 100g
Full of nutrients and low in calories, asparagus is perfect for dipping in boiled eggs for breakfast, or chopping up in our Avocado, Asparagus, Soya Bean and Bacon Salad!
These asparagus tips take all of the prep work too, by already having their woody stalks removed for ultimate convenience.
Baking potatoes – 63 calories per medium potato
Potatoes are a great choice when you’re watching calories as they’re cheap, filling and really versatile!
Top with your favourite fillings, there’s not much that doesn’t work! Our Mexican Chilli Beef can be batch cooked, so keep a portion in the freezer to defrost for an easy lunch over a jacket spud.
Vine-ripened sweet tomatoes – 17 calories per 100g
Sweet tomatoes add a burst of flavour to so many dishes. You could simply roast them as they are to bring out the sweetness, toss in a salad or add as a garnish to finished dishes.
They work well in our Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Salad.
Chestnut Mushrooms – 22 calories per 100g
Earthy and filling, mushrooms are the centrepiece to so many of our recipes, for good reason!
They’re budget friendly, full of nutrients and easy to chop up small to hide from fussy eaters. Try them in Steak and Mushroom Pie or a fakeaway favourite Ham and Mushroom Calzone.
**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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