Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 14.10
Happy Friday everyone! It’s time to start planning next week’s meals, and the Weekly Pinch of Shopping is here to help. We’ve spotted lots of tasty dinner ideas this week, along with plenty of slimming-friendly snacks to keep you on track.
If you like the peppery, crunchy bite of popcorn chicken, you’ll enjoy the veggie-friendly Southern Fried Popcorn Cauliflower we’ve found at Iceland. Keep it in the freezer to spice up a rainy day!
And you won’t want to miss the new bitesize treats fresh from Asda’s bakery – we LOVE the sound of chewy caramel rocky road.
We’re so excited that our NEW cookbook, Pinch of Nom: Enjoy, is available to pre-order NOW! Enjoy is all about turning mealtimes into memories, and it’s brimming with 100 brand-new recipes that you’ll be excited to make, share and eat with family and friends, time and time again.
From fakeaway favourites to midweek wonders, every dish comes big on flavour without taking you off track. Put the food you love back on the menu by ordering your copy here.
If you can’t wait until December 8th for some new Pinch of Nom recipes, you can try 26 exclusive new recipes in our Family Meal Planner right now! It’s our most family-friendly food planner yet – plan meals and organise what you need to buy with our game-changing freezer tracker! You can order your copy here.
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. This week we’ve given you a reminder of the current selection, so hurry down to Aldi to pick up some bargains before a fresh selection goes on offer next week!
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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!**
Sainsbury’s Mushroom Brie & Truffle Rolls, Autumn Edition – 143 calories per roll
It might be getting chillier, but autumn flavours are something to be celebrated. These pastry-wrapped Mushroom Brie & Truffle Rolls from Sainsbury’s Autumn Edition are exactly what you want to nibble on this season.
Inside you’ll find a fragrant mix of chestnut mushroom, brie and pumpkin seeds, with a hint of porcini mushroom and truffle. The outside is just as delicious, with flaky, buttery pastry that’s topped with a crunchy, herby breadcrumb. We’ll have one warmed up for a mid-morning snack please!
If it’s a golden pastry you’re after, how good do these Cheese and Ham Pastries look? The crunch you get when you bite into them is every bit as satisfying as a bakery snack – you’d never guess we’ve made them using baked tortilla wraps!
Sainsbury’s Mushroom Brie & Truffle Rolls, Autumn Edition are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £2.65 for a pack of 4.
Iceland Crispy Battered Chicken Balls – 186 calories per 100g
Made with 100% chicken breast, you’ll want to stash a bag of these Crispy Battered Chicken Balls from Iceland in your freezer. Easier and far less expensive than nipping to the takeaway, they cook from frozen in under half an hour – you can even crisp them up in your air fryer!
At just 186 calories per 100g, they make a great nibble for your fakeaway night. Why not try serving them with some Sweet Chilli dipping sauce as a Chinese-style starter?
For your main course, you can’t go wrong with our Crispy Chilli Beef. It’s one of our most popular recipes, and once you try it, you’ll understand why! Don’t be put off by the long ingredient list, it’s well worth it and you’ll be stocked up for the next time you make it.
Iceland Crispy Battered Chicken Balls are available from Iceland, priced at £3.50 for a 490g bag.
Morrisons The Best Sriracha Halloumi Fries – 316 calories per 1/2 pack
Calling all cheese lovers! You’re going to want to get yourself to Morrisons for a pack of these The Best Sriracha Halloumi Fries. We’re talking mild Cypriot halloumi, coated in a chilli-infused sriracha marinade – just imagine all those salty, spicy flavours melting in your mouth!
Bake these ‘fries’ in the oven for 11 minutes until they’re all golden and starting to caramelise. Delicious on their own, they’ll be even better served alongside a kebab or simple Greek Salad.
For a lighter take on halloumi fries, give our Hallloumi Fries Salad a whirl. We’ve cut a few calories by using reduced fat cheese – we promise you won’t even be able to tell the difference.
Morrisons The Best Sriracha Halloumi Fries are available from Morrisons, priced at £3.50 per pack.
BEAR Carrot Cake Bars – 89 calories per bar
A healthy snack that tastes like a treat, these BEAR Carrot Cake Bars are ideal to have in the cupboard when the mid-afternoon craving for cake kicks in. Made from 100% natural ingredients, each bar contains dates, oats, cashews, carrots and sultanas, so it’s full of goodness that’ll keep you going in-between meals.
Flavoured with cinnamon and nutmeg, these handy little bars give you a taste of your favourite dessert for just 89 calories. They’re perfect for handbags, lunchboxes and snack drawers!
If you’d rather munch on the real thing, grab your wooden spoon and mix up a batch of our slimming-friendly Carrot Cakes with Cream Cheese Frosting. Delightfully light, each fluffy cake is perfectly spiced and just 57 calories.
BEAR Carrot Cake Bars are available from Asda, priced at £1.50 for a pack of 4.
Tesco Beautifully Balanced Chilli Chicken Chow Mein – 312 calories per pack
When you’re hungry and in a time pinch, you’ll be pleased to find this Tesco Beautifully Balanced Chilli Chicken Chow Mein tucked away in your freezer. Whether you pop it in the oven or in the microwave, it’ll be on the table so much faster than ordering a delivery from the takeaway.
At just 312 calories for the whole meal, it’s ideal if you’re counting calories or following a diet plan like Weight Watchers. This is just one of lots of new ‘Beautifully Balanced’ frozen meals from Tesco – we’ve got our eye on the Beef and Broccoli Stroganoff too!
Make your own ready meals by cooking big batches and freezing your leftovers. This Chicken and Vegetable Traybake freezes and reheats really well. Our recipe makes 6 servings, at only 265 calories per portion.
Tesco Beautifully Balanced Chilli Chicken Chow Mein is available from Tesco, priced at £1.75.
Mash Direct Salt & Chilli Wedges – 256 calories per 1/2 pack
There’s nothing wrong with taking a couple of shortcuts in the kitchen, and we promise not to tell if you pop some of these Mash Direct Salt & Chilli Wedges in your shopping trolley this week.
Skip all the peeling, par-boiling and preparing, and instead, simply pop these ready-seasoned potato wedges straight into the oven. Tossed in chilli and salt, they’ll bake until they’re crispy on the outside and perfectly fluffy in the middle. Such an easy, dreamy snack or side dish.
We think these slightly spicy wedges would be delicious served alongside our hearty, warming Campfire Stew. Leave this to simmer away all day in your slow cooker and come home to a piping hot bowl of comfort food.
Mash Direct Salt & Chilli Wedges are available from Morrisons, priced at £2.15.
The Curators High Protein Veggie Puffs Cheese Flavour – 125 calories per bag
When you’re a savoury snacker it can be tricky to find healthy options that give you flavour and crunch without the calories. We’ve spotted these cheese flavoured The Curators High Protein Veggie Puffs on the shelves at Morrisons this week, and they’re ideal for a slimming-friendly snack.
Made from peas, they’re higher in protein and lower in carbs than other potato-based crisps. For just 125 calories per pack, you get 10.3g of protein to help fill you up and fuel you during the day.
If it’s cheesy snacks you’re after, make sure you try these Cheese and Pickle Twists. Made with creamy cheese, sharp pickle and buttery pastry, they’re crunchy and so moreish. It’s a good job they’re only 41 calories each!
The Curators High Protein Veggie Puffs Cheese Flavour are available from Morrisons, priced at £1.25 per 30g pack.
Belvita Fruit Crunch Apple & Pear Multigrain – 138 calories per serving
Sometimes you just need a breakfast that you can grab and eat on-the-go. Instead of reaching for a sugary pastry, we’ve found these new Belvita Fruit Crunch Apple & Pear Multigrain for you.
Each crunchy slice contains fruit puree, wholegrains, vitamin B6 and iron, so they’re ideal for setting your day off on the right foot. At 138 calories per serving, they’re a super light brekkie, so why not add some fresh fruit or a yoghurt to see you through to lunch?
When the weekend rolls around, it’s time to slow down and make yourself these Breakfast Sliders. Even though they’re loaded with cheese, tomatoes, mushrooms, bacon and sausage, they’re only 280 calories! How could you say no?
Belvita Fruit Crunch Apple & Pear Multigrain are available from Tesco, priced at £2.25 for 6 packs of 2 slices.
Iceland Southern Fried Cauliflower Popcorn – 200 calories per 1/2 pack
If you’re trying to eat less meat, you might want to swing by Iceland to pick up some of this Southern Fried Cauliflower Popcorn. Just like the crispy chicken bites you can get from your favourite fast food shop, these florets are covered in a seasoned coating that adds flavour and crunch.
Baked in the oven or cooked in your air fryer, these will come out golden brown and full of flavour. Ideal as a snack or starter, you’ll be wanting cauliflower on the menu more often!
Our Air Fryer Cauliflower Hot Wings are a spicier alternative, coated in a chilli-infused batter and dipped into a hot sauce. They’re low in calories and big on flavour – an instant crowd-pleaser!
Iceland Southern Fried Cauliflower Popcorn is available from Iceland, priced at £2.25 for a 250g pack.
The BAKERY at ASDA Chewy & Sweet Caramelised Biscuit Rocky Road Mini Bites – 68 calories per bite
A little bit of what you fancy does you good! These Chewy & Sweet Caramelised Biscuit Rocky Road Mini Bites from the Bakery at Asda are perfectly portioned, so you can have your cake and eat it too.
At 68 calories per bite, there’s no need to miss out on a sweet treat. Make yourself a cuppa and sit back with these little clusters of marshmallows, biscuit pieces and crispy rice, covered in white chocolate with caramel.
On days when a bitesize treat isn’t enough, save room for a proper dessert and make these Sweet Tacos. The crunchy baked taco shells are filled with homemade banana and chocolate ice cream, dipped in chocolate and finished with sprinkles. You seriously need to try them!
The BAKERY at ASDA Chewy & Sweet Caramelised Biscuit Rocky Road Mini Bites are available from Asda, priced at £2.60 per tub.
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 reminder of this week’s Super 6 selection:
- Baking Potatoes – 63 calories per 100g
- Chestnut Mushrooms – 17 calories per 100g
- Fine Green Beans – 31 calories per 100g
- Oranges – 47 calories per 100g
- Conference Pears – 64 calories per 100g
- Baby Plum Tomatoes – 18 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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