Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 13.09.24
Pen and paper at the ready! The latest Weekly Pinch of Shopping has arrived, and we’ve spotted lots of exciting goodies you’ll want to add to your shopping trolley.
There are plenty of bits to keep your sweet tooth happy this week, including a brand-new flavour of Little Moons Mochi Ice Cream that’s perfect as we switch from summer to autumn. At 70 calories each, they’re lovely and light too!
Speaking of the autumnal weather we’ve been having, nothing says ‘cosy’ quite like a bowlful of this Soreen Sticky Toffee Loaf, smothered in our own slimming-friendly Custard. Scroll to the bottom of the article to find out where it’s stocked!
You’ll want to keep your eyes peeled in the supermarkets because our FIRST-EVER magazine hit the shelves last week. Along with 30 full recipes, you find loads of other good stuff squeezed into the pages, including community stories, kitchen kit recommendations, and an ‘Ask Kay & Kate’ feature!
Check where to find an issue near you, or order a copy online!
DID YOU SEE OUR BIG BOOK NEWS? Pinch of Nom: All in One is available to pre-order right now! It’s jam-packed with the easiest, breeziest recipes that you can think of, and every single one can be cooked all in one pan, pot or tray. That’s all the flavour, now with less washing-up!
We just hope you lot know that it’s completely down to you that Kate and Kay still get to bring you new books. Thank you, thank you, thank you a million times over!
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! The members in our incredible Facebook group are always happy to have a good old chat about lots of these shopping items. You can join the group by clicking here.
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!**
Morrisons Free From Seeded Sandwich Thins – 148 calories per sandwich thin
You can now make all of our sandwich thin recipes completely gluten-free! These Morrisons Free From Seeded Sandwich Thins will come in handy if you (or someone you know) has food allergies. As well as being gluten-free, they’re also made without milk.
Sliced and ready to fill, the tops are sprinkled with mixed seeds to add a little extra crunch to every bite. Pop in your favourite fillings for a quick and easy lunch!
These Cheesy Baked Bean Bakes are ready in a flash, and they’re super pocket friendly too. A handful of simple ingredients will rustle up a bakery-style batch for the whole family.
Morrisons Free From Seeded Sandwich Thins are available from Morrisons, priced at £2.40 for a pack of 4.
Sainsbury’s Bourbon Twists with a Black Forest Flavour Cream Filling – 65 calories per biscuit
It’s only the second week of September, yet there are already a few festive goodies sneaking out onto the supermarket shelves! We say it’s not too early to enjoy these Sainsbury’s Bourbon Twists with a Black Forest Flavour Cream Filling, alongside a warming cuppa.
If chocolate and cherry isn’t up your street, there’s also a pack of gingerbread-filled custard creams in the same range. They’re just what you need as we head into autumn!
Flick to page 81 of your copy of Pinch of Nom: Express if you fancy having a go at making these dreamy Black Forest Bakewells. They’re a 2-for-1 sweet treat that combines rich chocolate sponge with the satisfying crunch of filo pastry.
Sainsbury’s Bourbon Twists with a Black Forest Flavour Cream Filling are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at 65p.
Ainsley Harriott Jamaican Rice & Peas – 206 calories per 1/2 pack
Spice up your midweek menu with a taste of the Caribbean! This Ainsley Harriott Jamaican Rice and Peas is a taste bud tingling medley of long grain rice with red peppers, red beans, coconut and jerk seasoning.
Ready after just 2 minutes in the microwave, it’s a speedy side dish for everything from chicken or fish, to veggie alternatives like the ‘This Isn’t Chicken Thighs’ you’ll spot further down this list.
We’ll be testing it out with our own Jerk Seasoned Chicken – it’s sticky, spicy, sweet and savoury all at once. Trust us, it’s well worth using chicken thighs rather than breasts for this one; they’ll bring bags more flavour to the finished dish.
Ainsley Harriott Jamaican Rice & Peas is available from Morrisons, priced at £1.50.
Crown Farms Black Tiger Prawns – 95 calories per 100g
Calling all seafood lovers! We’ve spotted these new Crown Farms Black Tiger Prawns in the freezer aisle at Tesco, and they look like they’ll come in handy for loads of different recipes.
The plump, juicy prawns are peeled and raw, ready to defrost and cook however you fancy! Throw them into currys or stir-fries, or toss a few into our unmissable Singapore-Style Noodles recipe.
The flavours are fiery and aromatic, and – even with noodles included – each serving works out at just 515 calories. We can’t think of a better reason to plan a fakeaway night next week!
Crown Farms Black Tiger Prawns are available from Tesco, priced at £4.00.
Little Moons Mochi Ice Cream Cinnamon Bun – 70 calories per mochi
We’re always excited to spot a new flavour of mochi in the freezers! These Little Moons Mochi Ice Cream Cinnamon Bun are perfect for autumn – it’s never too chilly for ice cream, especially when it comes with a comforting cinnamon twist.
To enjoy them at their best you’ll need to let them sit out of the freezer for a few minutes before tucking in. Biting through the chewy mochi dough is much more satisfying when the ice cream filling is soft and melty!
Warm yourself up on grey mornings by adding our Cinnamon Roll Baked Oats to your breakfast menu. A cosy bowlful that’ll keep you going right through to lunchtime, they’re only 382 calories per portion.
Little Moons Mochi Ice Cream Cinnamon Bun is available from Asda, priced at £3.50 for a pack of 6.
Starbucks Chocolate Mocha Flavour Protein Drink with Coffee – 172 calories per bottle (20g protein)
Imagine getting your caffeine fix, 20g of protein AND a chocolatey treat all in one! Shake up a bottle of this Starbucks Chocolate Mocha Flavour Protein Drink with Coffee anytime you need a boost.
Made with low-fat milk, this creamy drink is cheaper and lower in calories than most of the options at the local coffee shop. Plus, with all that protein in the mix, it’s perfect for helping to keep you feeling full between meals.
Speaking of coffee, is it too soon to talk about the ultimate seasonal beverage? We’re just about ready to make our first Pumpkin Spiced Latte of the year! Our recipe is hard to beat, thanks to a homemade pumpkin puree that makes the flavour so much better…
Starbucks Chocolate Mocha Flavour Protein Drink with Coffee is available from Asda, priced at £2.75.
Cheez-It Snap’D Double Cheese – 150 calories per 30g serving
Baked (not fried) and made with real cheese, these Cheez-It Snap’D Double Cheese are bound to be a hit with savoury snackers! The extra-crunchy, extra-cheesy crackers are a lovely little nibble instead of your usual crisps or popcorn.
The 150g bag is perfect for sharing, and you can help yourself to a 30g serving for just 150 calories. That’s your next film night snack sorted!
If it’s cheesy bites you’re after, grab some ready-rolled pastry and reduced-fat Cheddar to make a batch of Cheese and Pickle Twists. They’ll give you a proper satisfying crunch for 41 calories each.
Cheez-It Snap’D Double Cheese are available from Morrisons and Asda, priced at £2.00.
Mrs Elswood Crunchy Vegetables – 35 calories per 100g
Inside this jar of Mrs Elswood Crunchy Vegetables you’ll find cucumber, carrots, cauliflower, onions and red pepper, fermented for a tangy flavour. Pickled veggies are one of our favourite low-calorie snacks at PON HQ, and we’re always happy to try something new!
These ones are particularly delicious served on wraps or with a selection of other mezze-style dishes.
We make our own quick pickle for these slimming-friendly Chicken and Pickled Veg Baguettes, but these jarred vegetables would work just as well. This recipe is inspired by a Vietnamese dish called Banh Mi, and it’s delicious for a midweek lunch!
Mrs Elswood Crunchy Vegetables are available from Morrisons, priced at £3.00.
This Isn’t Chicken Thighs – 224 calories per 1/2 pack
You’ll notice we often cook with chicken thighs instead of breast – they’re fattier and higher in calories, but it’s worth it for the tender meat and richer flavour. We’ve spotted these new This Isn’t Chicken Thighs on the shelves, and they’ll make sure the vegetarians around the table don’t miss out!
Suitable for pan-frying or roasting in the oven, you can use them in any recipe that would call for real chicken. They’re high in protein, and even suitable for vegans!
If we were cooking them for dinner tonight, we’d coat them in the punchy spice mix from our Chilli Sumac Chicken Thighs recipe. It’s citrusy and tangy, with a lovely warming heat of chilli.
This Isn’t Chicken Thighs are available from Asda, priced at £3.95.
Soreen Sticky Toffee Loaf – 153 calories per 52g portion
This Soreen Sticky Toffee Loaf has popped up on the supermarket shelves at precisely the right time…we’re ready for comforting desserts! Known for the fruity malt loaf snack, this lighter take on sticky toffee pudding is the only after-dinner treat we want on a grey rainy day.
It could be eaten cold, but it’s best enjoyed after it’s been warmed up in the microwave and topped with your choice of sauce, ice cream or custard.
Drizzle over our homemade Toffee Sauce and thank us later. You only need 2 ingredients and 5 minutes to make it, so you can be melting the toffees on the hob as your slice of loaf is warming up. Light a candle, grab a blanket and get cosy!
Soreen Sticky Toffee Loaf is available from Tesco, priced at £1.60.
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.
Green Beans – 31 calories per 100g
Crunchy green beans go with everything, so we’re always pleased to see them in the Super 6! Whether you chop them up to add them into stews, soups and casseroles, or leave them whole to serve on the side of your Sunday roast, they’ll come in handy.
We think they’re best when they’re covered in garlic and Parmesan, and cooked in the air fryer until crispy and moreish. Trust us, we can eat a bowl of these Air Fryer Crispy Green Beans on their own (and we have!).
Figs – 74 calories per 100g
We can’t say no to figs! A lovely dessert fruit, their sweetness really pops when they’re paired with fat-free yoghurt and reduced-fat cheeses.
Add them to a pan with maple syrup and cinnamon to rustle up our autumnal Syrupy Cinnamon Figs with Greek Yoghurt. A flavoursome, sticky dish, it’s ready in a matter of minutes for an after-dinner treat.
Sweetcorn – 86 calories per 100g
Boiled, grilled, barbecued or roasted, there are so many ways to enjoy sweetcorn’s signature crunchiness. If you’re a fan of bright and colourful corn on the cob, you’re in luck – it’s only 99p for a pack of 2 at Aldi this week.
There’s only one recipe we ever want to make when we spot sweetcorn in the Super 6. It’s all about the sweet, savoury and spicy flavours of our Mexican-Style Corn on the Cob…
Cox Apples – 47 calories per 100g
Grab yourself a bag of Cox apples this week! Often thought of as the classic British apple, they’re a dessert apple with a crisp, juicy bite. We don’t often see these in the Super 6!
Delicious for eating on their own, they’re a handy lunchbox snack. You could also turn them into a warming after-dinner treat if you pick up some filo pastry and the other bits you need to make these autumnal Toffee Apple Pies.
Cauliflower – 25 calories per 100g
No matter what meals you plan for dinner next week, we can guarantee you’ll be able to throw some cauliflower in the mix. Mild-flavoured and low in calories, it’s perfect for adding extra goodness into meals, especially if you’re trying to hide the veggies.
Our favourite way to enjoy this versatile vegetable is by smothering it in cheese, of course! In our house, no roast dinner is complete without a scoop of Cauliflower Cheese on the plate (and we’ve just refreshed this recipe to make sure it’s more delicious than ever!).
Conference Pears – 64 calories per 100g
When they’re nice and ripe, conference pears are juicy and soft with a gorgeous, syrupy sweetness, and they’re great for snacking on or cooking with.
Pears work really well in homely oven bakes like our slimming-friendly Pear and Ginger Crumble. Just the ticket to warm you up when it’s chilly outside, you can always ramp up the cosiness with a glug of Custard!
**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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