Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 12.05.23
Who’s ready for a brand new Weekly Pinch of Shopping? This week we’ve spotted some slimming-friendly summery treats on the supermarket shelves that we think you’re going to love.
Look no further if you need slimming-friendly sausages for your next barbecue – we’ve spotted some Peri Chicken Dogs that will spice things up for just 122 calories each.
Round off your plate with a serving of the BBQ Ranch Salad Kit we’ve found at Sainsbury’s and don’t forget to pour yourself some of the new Strawberry and Rhubarb Lemonade from Aldi.
We’ve got dessert covered too, but you’ll have to scroll down to find out what low-calorie sweet treats made the shopping list today!
Our upcoming paperback cookbook, Pinch of Nom: Budget, is available to pre-order NOW! 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!**
ASDA Extra Special Whipped Feta Dip Topped with Peppadew Piquanté Peppers – 90 calories per 1/3 pot
Whether you’re planning a picnic, Eurovision party or simply looking for new snack ideas, it’s well worth popping this delicious dip in your basket. Asda’s Extra Special Whipped Feta Dip Topped with Peppadew Piquanté Peppers is a surprisingly slimming-friendly addition to your buffet table.
The airy whipped cheese is made more indulgent with double cream, then topped with sweet piquanté peppers that pair perfectly with the salty feta. Dunk in breadsticks, pitta, chopped vegetables – it’ll be tasty no matter what you choose!
One recipe that’s sure to get you dunking is our Onion Rings With Garlic and Chive Dip. Crispy, golden onion rings and a light yet creamy dip: what’s not to like?
ASDA Extra Special Whipped Feta Dip Topped with Peppadew Piquanté Peppers is available from Asda, priced at £2.70.
Sainsbury’s Pepperoni & Tomato Bites – 58 calories per bite
You can’t go wrong with a few tasty picky bits stocked in your fridge for sunny days, buffets and barbecues. These Pepperoni and Tomato Bites from Sainsbury’s are made from sausage meat mixed with pepperoni, filled with marinara sauce and coated in breadcrumbs.
You can serve them hot or cold, and at 58 calories a pop, they’ll be snapped up in no time! Why not offer them up alongside a few of our golden Pizza Swirls?
Easy to adapt, you can leave out the ham and use a veggie-friendly Italian hard cheese if you’re catering for any vegetarians. They’re delicious fresh from the oven, and they only take half an hour to make from scratch.
Sainsbury’s Pepperoni & Tomato Bites are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £2.25 for a pack of 8 bites.
Milkybar Gold White Chocolate Caramel Dessert – 91 calories per pot
If white chocolate with a hint of caramel doesn’t sound like something that could be slimming friendly, we’ve got big news for you. These Milkybar Gold White Chocolate Caramel Dessert pots are just 91 calories each.
Super sweet and silky smooth, they’re ideal for a light dessert or a boost of energy mid-afternoon. For anyone that can’t resist the creaminess and sweetness of white chocolate, we’ve got just the recipe for you!
Our White Chocolate Mousse with Raspberry Coulis is the perfect balance of airy mousse and sharp, fruity flavours. Best of all, you only need 5 ingredients to whip this up!
Milkybar Gold White Chocolate Caramel Desserts are available from Tesco, priced at £1.75 for a pack of 2.
The Juice Company Strawberry & Rhubarb Lemonade – 5 calories per 150ml
Zesty and refreshing, this Strawberry and Rhubarb Lemonade from The Juice Company has recently hit the shelves at Aldi. A still lemonade, you get all the fruity freshness, with none of the fizz.
While we think this pink-themed flavour sounds delicious, there is also a cloudy lemonade and a tropical fruit version in the same range. At 5 calories per 150ml, this is perfect for sipping all summer long!
Have you ever made your own lemonade? It’s so much easier (and more rewarding) than you might think! Once you’ve made yourself a batch of this Pink Lemonade, you’ll be making it time and time again.
Trust us, there’s nothing better than enjoying this fruity homemade drink in the sunshine.
The Juice Company Strawberry & Rhubarb Lemonade is available from Aldi, priced at £1.29 for a 1 litre bottle.
Sainsbury’s BBQ Ranch Salad Kit – 164 calories per 1/2 pack
We love a salad kit when we need a fuss-free side dish. Inside this BBQ Ranch Salad Kit from Sainsbury’s you’ll find a mix of green butterhead lettuce, red butterhead lettuce, shredded carrot and baby spinach.
Alongside this, there are also two sauce sachets – a BBQ dressing and some ranch – to add plenty of flavour to the greens. Top it all off with the crispy onions and you’re onto a winner!
This would be the ideal salad to serve up with our BBQ Chicken Steaks. A great excuse to crack out the barbecue, our recipe includes a choice of seasonings – choose between garlic and herb, Cajun-style spices or fragrant chicken tikka.
Sainsbury’s BBQ Ranch Salad Kit is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £2.40.
Iceland Trifle Gateau Bar – 210 calories per slice (1/5 bar)
You don’t have to choose between trifle and gateau when you’ve got this Iceland Trifle Gateau Bar in the freezer. Leave it to defrost at room temperature for around 3 hours, then tuck into the layers of soft sponge cake, creamy vanilla mousse and strawberry sauce.
Delicious paired with a cup of tea or coffee, the bar divides into 5 generous slices that work out at 210 calories each.
If you like the idea of a 2-in-1 pudding, don’t miss our Chocolate Brownie Trifle. It’s got everything you want from a trifle, with the added bonus of chunks of low-calorie, homemade brownies on the top. All that, and it’s still only 239 calories per portion!
Iceland Trifle Gateau Bar is available from Iceland, priced at £2.50.
ASDA Creamy Smoked Salmon Dip & Spread – 109 calories per 1/2 pack
Try this ASDA Creamy Smoked Salmon Dip and Spread smeared onto toast, crackers, bagels or sandwiches. Just as creamy as the name suggests, it’s a luxurious blend of full-fat soft cheese, smoked salmon, honey roast smoked salmon, half fat crème fraîche, gherkins and capers.
Despite being rich and velvety, there are only 109 calories in half of the pack.
High in omega 3 and protein, salmon is a tasty addition to your weekly menu. We love to make our twist on a classic Italian-inspired dish and rustle up this Smoked Salmon Spaghetti Carbonara for a quick midweek dinner.
On the table in 15 minutes, it’s hearty and filling, with a flavour that never disappoints.
ASDA Creamy Smoked Salmon Dip & Spread is available from Asda, priced at £2.00.
ASDA Tasty Chicken Breast Thins – 109 calories per 1/2 pack
As an on-the-go snack, sandwich filler or salad topper, these ASDA Tasty Chicken Breast Thins are a handy slimming staple. There are just 109 calories in half of the pack, with plenty of protein to fill you up.
Seasoned with garlic, onion and parsley, and flame-seared for extra flavour, they’re ready to eat straight from the pack (although you can heat them up if you prefer).
We reckon they’d be perfect served with our Very Green Zingy Kale Salad for a sunny-day lunch with bags of flavour. With apples, grapes and lime juice in the mix, this salad is far from boring – it brings a balance of sweet and sour freshness in every bite.
ASDA Tasty Chicken Breast Thins are available from Asda, priced at £2.95.
Crosta & Mollica Pomegranate Shells – 138 calories per 100g
If you don’t mind splurging a few extra pennies on a juicy, fruity, frozen treat, these Crosta and Mollica Pomegranate Shells make for a special addition to your freezer drawer. The fruit shells are filled with an icy sorbetto, made from real pomegranate juice.
Light and super refreshing, there’s no better end to a summery dinner, or simply enjoy them sitting out in the garden the next time the sun is shining. If pomegranate’s not your flavour, keep an eye out for the Lemon version that’s also available at Waitrose.
A grown-up frozen treat, our Pimms Lolly Ice are fun to make and even more fun to eat. With fresh fruit and mint, they’re a 43-calorie delight that won’t break the bank.
Crosta & Mollica Pomegranate Shells are available from Waitrose, priced at £5.50 for a pack of 2.
M&S Peri Chicken Dogs – 122 calories per chicken dog
Proving that barbecue season doesn’t have to mean falling off the slimming wagon, these M&S Peri Chicken Dogs are just 122 calories each. With red peppers and a spicy Peri-style seasoning, the lighter version of hot dogs won’t let you down on flavour.
Grilled or cooked on the barbecue, they’ll be delicious served on their own or in a hot dog bun topped with your favourite sauce.
It’s no secret that we love the fiery heat of peri-style spices. Let them shine in this easy one-pot Piri Piri Chicken Orzo recipe and you’ll end up with a medium-spicy midweek meal that the whole family will enjoy.
M&S Peri Chicken Dogs are available from Ocado, priced at £5.00 for a pack of 4.
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.
Chestnut Mushrooms – 17 calories per 100g
We love to see mushrooms in the Super 6! One of the most versatile ingredients out there, you can add them to your breakfast, sneak some into lunch or use them to add some extra vitamins into your dinner.
For an easy-peasy midweek meal, chop them up and throw them in this Broccoli and Mushroom Stir-fry. It’s on the table in under 30 minutes, with all the flavour of a takeaway, without the calories. Find more ideas on how to make the most of mushrooms here.
Piccolo Tomatoes – 26 calories per 100g
Sometimes called the ultimate cherry tomato, Piccolo tomatoes are a little more intense in flavour, with a rich, juicy sweetness. Balanced between sharp and sweet, they’re delicious hot or cold, as snacks or part of a main meal.
We reckon they’d go down a storm in any of our Tuscan-inspired recipes. Roast them until they start to caramelise and then add them into this unmissable Tuscan Chicken Macaroni.
Mangoes – 60 calories per 100g
Fresh and delicious, mangoes come jam-packed with satisfying sweetness, and loads of vitamins and minerals. As well as slicing it up for snacking, it can also be cooked into savoury dishes like our Turkey and Mango Curry (trust us, it works!).
Or leave it raw and add a fruity twist to lunchtime with our Chicken and Mango Salad. As packed with colour as it is with flavour, you’ll find juicy mango, zingy lime and lots of other fresh veggies in this snazzy salad.
Mini Bananas – 89 calories per 100g
How cute are these mini bananas? Whether you need to pick up some fruit for the kids’ lunches, or you just prefer a smaller snack, these little bananas have all the familiar flavour you’d expect.
Grab a few extra bananas while they’re cheaper and don’t worry if you don’t get through them before they start to spoil – overripe bananas are just what you need for this Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips recipe.
Garlic – 5 calories per clove
When it comes to flavour, all you need is a few cloves of garlic on your side. The base of so many delicious recipes, across so many different cuisines, it’s well worth stocking up while it’s in the Super 6.
You can chop, mince or grate your garlic into just about any recipe, but if you really love it, pick a dish where it can really shine. This Creamy Garlic Chicken is one of our most popular recipes ever, and it calls for 3 cloves to be simmered in that velvety sauce.
Asparagus Tips – 25 calories per 100g
Low in calories and full of nutrients, asparagus is a handy veggie that adds flavour and crunch to your meals. It has a subtle taste and can be cooked in a variety of ways – steam it, grill it or roast it to bring out the nutty flavour.
We love it in this Cajun Baked Cod with Asparagus and Cherry Tomatoes recipe. You bake the ingredients together in a foil parcel so all the flavours mix and mingle. It’s a lovely light lunch or dinner, or you can enjoy it with a jacket potato when you fancy something more hearty.
**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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