Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 14.01
Happy Friday everyone! We’re back to brighten up January with a brand new Weekly Pinch of Shopping. This week, we’ve rounded up some slimming friendly swaps and snacks to stock up on if you’re determined to smash your goals in 2022.
Has anyone spotted the new flavour of Fibre One brownies? We can’t wait to sit down with a cuppa and try one of these!
Or how about a yummy dessert pot that tastes like marshmallows? We’ve found Flump flavoured yoghurts and they’re seriously good!
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.
We’ve also dropped in the details of the brand new Super 6. Every fortnight Aldi discounts a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, so we’re giving you the rundown of this 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!**
Morrisons Stir Fry Fajita Vegetable Mix – 47 calories per 100g
When you need an easy, quick dinner in the middle of the week, it’s so handy to be able to grab this Morrisons Stir Fry Fajita Vegetable Mix from the freezer.
It includes a ready-chopped mixture of onions and peppers, coated in a fajita inspired seasoning. These veggies cook from frozen in just 14 minutes – no need to let them defrost first.
As long as you have some chicken in the fridge and a well-stocked spice rack, you can whip up our Chicken Fajitas in no time. We think our homemade fajita seasoning is so much nicer than a supermarket packet mix! It’s deliciously smoky and just the right level of spicy.
Morrisons Stir Fry Fajita Vegetable Mix is available from Morrisons, priced at £2.00 for a 500g bag.
Quorn Creamy Korma Bites – 166 calories per 3 bites
Looking for a veggie-friendly snack that’s packed with flavour? These Quorn Creamy Korma Bites make a great addition to packed lunches and are ideal for keeping peckishness at bay between meals.
Each little bite has a creamy centre that’s filled with a mild, nutty korma curry sauce. Finished with a crunchy breadcrumb coating, these bitesize nibbles are lighter than you might expect – just 166 calories for 3 of them!
If a korma is always your first choice from the restaurant menu, how about making your own version at home? We love this All in One Baked Korma for a lazy Fakeaway night – chuck everything into one pot (even the rice) and there’s far less washing up to do after dinner!
Quorn Creamy Korma Bites are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £2.25.
Soreen Fruit & Veg-Mmms Berry & Beetroot Bakes – 96 calories per loaf
Stocking up on slimming friendly snacks just got easier! These Soreen Fruit & Veg-Mmms Berry & Beetroot Bakes are a twist on the classic mini malt loaves. Packed with extra fruit and veggies, they’re a healthier choice for a mid-morning nibble.
A treat that the whole family will love, these are individually wrapped, making them perfect for packed lunches or for stashing in your desk drawer. They taste so yummy, you’d never know they’re loaded with berries and beetroot.
If you love to start your morning with something fruity and filling, these Strawberry Oat Muffins are ideal. You can whip up a batch in just 40 minutes and have breakfast sorted for the next few days! Packed with oaty goodness and fresh strawberries, they’ll brighten up any morning!
Soreen Fruit & Veg-Mmms Berry & Beetroot Bakes are available from Morrisons, priced at £1.75 for a pack of 5.
Arla BOB Mature Cheddar – 96 calories per 30g
It’ll come as no surprise that we’re big fans of cheesy dishes. Whether melted into a sauce or baked into a topping, who can resist that gooey cheesy goodness? With 30% less fat, this Arla BOB Mature Cheddar delivers full flavour, with fewer calories.
It’s made in Arla’s award winning creamery in Devon, using lower fat British milk to create a slimming friendly yet smooth, mature Cheddar. Grate it into sandwiches, sprinkle it on a salad or mix it into mashed potatoes – you can enjoy 30g for just 96 calories.
A little bit of cheese goes a long way in this Chilli Cheesy Nachos recipe – just look at all that golden brown, melty deliciousness! Don’t forget to check out the list of our favourite cheesy recipes for even more inspiration.
Arla BOB Mature Cheddar is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £3.00 for 300g.
Options Vegan Belgian Choc – 46 calories per serving
Taking part in Veganuary? Eating plant-based doesn’t have to mean giving up your favourite foods. If you’re looking for a vegan-friendly way to satisfy those chocolate cravings, you’re going to love what we’ve found at Waitrose!
This Options Vegan Belgian Choc is a plant-based hot chocolate drink that’s every bit as indulgent and delicious as the original version. Sweet and rich, it’s just what you need on a chilly afternoon – it’ll warm you up and give you a boost to get you through the day. Best of all, there’s just 46 calories in each serving.
If you’re after another vegan treat, how good does Chai Rice Pudding sound? Infused with chai tea bags and served with a dusting of cinnamon, it’s total comfort food.
Options Vegan Belgian Choc is available from Waitrose, priced at £2.25.
Little Moons Raspberry Mochi Ice Cream – 70 calories per mochi
If you’re ready for it to be summer already, these little fruity frozen bites will tide you over until the weather starts to heat up. Bursting with fresh raspberry flavours, Little Moons Raspberry Mochi Ice Cream tastes just like sunshine.
The little bitesize mochi balls might look small but they pack a flavour punch. The gelato inside is so creamy, with an intense raspberry flavour – all for 70 calories per mochi. Leave one to soften for 5 minutes and then pop it into your mouth for an evening sweet treat.
For a fruity pud you can make at home, how about this Mango and Raspberry Ice Cream? You only need four ingredients and it tastes so fresh and delicious. Far too good to save for the summer months!
Little Moons Raspberry Mochi Ice Cream is available from Ocado, priced at £5.00 for a pack of 6.
Blue Dragon Plant Based Spinach Noodles – 214 calories per serving
These Blue Dragon Plant Based Spinach Noodles will add a vibrant splash of green onto your dinner plate! Infused with spinach concentrate, these noodles are made of wheat and don’t contain any egg, making them suitable for vegans.
They cook in minutes, perfect for a midweek stir-fry. Just add your favourite veggies and any stir-fry sauce for an easy, healthy family dinner.
Why not try this Broccoli and Mushroom Stir-fry recipe? Swap the egg noodles for these ones, and make sure to use an alternative to oyster sauce if you want the recipe to be completely vegan. In less than half an hour you can have a plateful of veggie goodness. Delish!
Blue Dragon Plant Based Spinach Noodles are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at 80p for a pack of 2 nests.
Heck Family Favourite – 196 calories per 2 chipolatas
Need something for an easy dinner that even the fussiest eaters won’t complain about? These pork chipolatas from Heck are called Family Favourite for a reason – they’re always a crowd pleaser.
Made from the best British pork shoulder, these sausages are free from dairy and gluten, and they’re low in sugar too. You’ll find these in the freezer section at Iceland, and they cook straight from frozen, which makes life so much easier on busy days! Grill or oven cook them for a quick and tasty meal that the whole family will love.
You can’t beat bangers and mash so why not whip up a bowl of these Creamy Mashed Potatoes to serve on the side? Trust us when we say you don’t need to add any butter or cream to get your mash smooth and luxurious!
Fibre One 90 Chocolate Mint Brownie – 84 calories each
Has anyone already spotted this brand new flavour of the popular 90 calorie brownies? If you’re a big fan of anything mint chocolate, you’re going to want to head straight to Tesco! These Fibre One 90 Chocolate Mint Brownies are a dreamy treat – soft-baked chocolatey goodness with a minty twist.
Rather than reaching for cake or biscuits with your afternoon cuppa, one of these individually wrapped brownies will help to curb the cravings. They’re high in fibre and low in calories, the perfect combination for a grab-and-go snack.
If you prefer chocolate orange to mint chocolate, you might fancy grabbing your apron and baking a batch of these Chocolate Orange Brownies at home. They’re squidgy, sweet and so tasty – you’ll be surprised to find out there’s only 72 calories in each little square.
Fibre One 90 Chocolate Mint Brownies are available from Tesco, priced at £2.89 for a pack of 5 (or £1.25 with a Clubcard).
Barratt® Flumps Dessert Pots – 162 calories per pot
A sweet treat with a hint of nostalgia, these Barratt Flumps Dessert Pots taste just like everyone’s favourite marshmallows. Thick, creamy and vanilla flavoured, these aren’t your usual yoghurts!
Whether as an afternoon snack or an after dinner pudding, these are a treat! With no artificial colours or flavourings, and just 162 calories in each pot, they’re a slimming friendly way to enjoy some light, marshmallow-y deliciousness.
While we’re on the subject, have you tried making our Marshmallow Bars yet? You only need two ingredients to make these chewy cereal bars – they’re ideal for on-the-go snacking!
Barratt Flumps Dessert Pots are available from Iceland, priced at £4.00 for a pack of 4.
REMINDER Aldi Super 6 Fruit and Veg Selection
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 rundown of this fortnight’s selection, plus a little inspiration for how you could use each ingredient:
White Mushrooms – 22 calories per 100g
Low in calories and full of goodness, we love adding mushrooms to so many different recipes. They can bulk out your breakfast, add flavour to your lunch or bring some extra nutrition to dinner.
Why not bake them into this Chicken and Mushroom Pie? Topped with crunchy filo pastry, the filling is so rich and creamy – perfect for chilly January evenings.
Leeks – 61 calories per 100g
Leeks are onion-like root vegetables that are great in soups and stews as they can be cooked low and slow without losing their flavour or consistency.
They add a delicious, mild oniony taste to this vegetarian Homity Pie. It turns basic, simple ingredients into a tasty, hearty dinner that’s perfect for a midweek pick-me-up.
Salad Potatoes – 75 calories per 100g
Who said salad potatoes are only for salads? These little potatoes can be packed with flavour, depending on how you cook them.
Boil them and turn them into a creamy potato salad, or why not try them roasted or cooked in the air fryer to get really crispy?
You could try making these Chipotle Hassleback Potatoes – they’re soft and fluffy on the inside, with an irresistible crunch on the outside!
Braeburn Apples – 51 calories per 100g
Crunchy and sweet, Braeburn apples are perfect for snacking on during the day. Halfway between green and red, these apples are known for being juicy and refreshing, with a delicious bite to them.
Chop one into this Chicken Waldorf Salad for a light lunch that’s surprisingly filling and packed with flavour.
Cherries – 50 calories per 100g
Juicy, plump cherries are great in desserts or kept in the fridge for a snack. They’re usually expensive, so make the most of these budget friendly fruits while they’re included in the Super 6!
Why not try them at breakfast, sprinkled on top of these Bakewell Baked Oats? They’ll bring out the flavour of the sweet cherry jam.
Oranges – 47 calories per 100g
Well known for being high in vitamin C, oranges are always a sweet, refreshing treat. Whether you peel them, slice them or juice them, they’re a handy fruit to have around the house, especially during winter.
Our Carrot, Orange and Thyme Soup recipe calls for fresh orange juice – and we can’t imagine anything better than the juice from freshly squeezed oranges in your own kitchen!
**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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