Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 15.04

Happy Good Friday! Our NEW Weekly Pinch of Shopping has your long weekend covered.

Easter Bunny eat your heart out, we’ve got a super sweet Reese’s Peanut Butter Cheesecake that’s well worth hopping to the shops for! Oh, and don’t forget the Hot Cross Bun Shortcake Bites from Thornton’s…

Feeling more of a savoury nibble? Try the Nudie Cauliflower Crisps we’ve popped in the basket for only 114 calories per serving. Plus, you NEED to try out the Caribbean BBQ flavours in the all new crispy-coated chicken bites from Levi Roots. Yummy!

Don’t forget to let us know if you’ve tried any of the recipes from Pinch of Nom Comfort Food! We’d LOVE to know which dishes are your favourites! If you haven’t picked up a copy yet, you can order yours right 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. 

Speaking of doing your weekly shopping, did you know we’ve got a brand new food planner coming soon? The Pinch of Nom Family Meal Planner is our most family-friendly food planner yet – it’s ideal for planning your meals and organising what you need to buy (plus there are 26 exclusive new recipes inside!). You can pre-order a copy here.

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! 

Want to make sure you never miss a Weekly Pinch of Shopping? You can sign up to receive the Weekly Pinch of Shopping in your inbox here, so you’ll always be the first to read the new articles. 

**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!**

Fibre One 90 Calorie Carrot Cake Bars – 90 calories per bar

Make sure you put these Fibre One 90 Calorie Carrot Cake Bars somewhere the Easter Bunny won’t find them! Coated and filled with cream cheese on a carrot cake base, these protein-packed bars are both filling and satisfyingly sweet. The perfect pick-me-up after a long day of egg hunting!

Hosting an Easter get-together? A batch of our Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting are easy, sweet nibbles for any springtime spread. Our delicately-spiced sponge and frosting tastes so good, you won’t believe it’s slimming friendly. You could even push the boat out and decorate them with edible glitter or cute little fondant carrots!

Fibre One 90 Calorie Carrot Cake Bars are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £1.50 for a pack of 4.

ManiLife Rich Cocoa Smooth Peanut Butter – 94 calories per 15g serving

Easter weekend isn’t just about sweet treats for the little ones. This Rich Cocoa Smooth Peanut Butter from ManiLife is a nutty, indulgent treat for everybody’s sweet tooth. Spread it on a bit of wholemeal toast at breakfast time, enjoy it on a piece of fruit for a quick snack or add a dollop to your next ice cream dessert – it’ll curb your sweet cravings at any time of day!

You can even use it to sweeten up your porridge bowl over the Easter break. Everybody knows peanut butter and banana makes for a dreamy combo, so a chocolatey teaspoon of peanut butter in your next batch of Coconut, Banana and Maple Porridge is bound to go down a treat (just be sure to adjust the calories accordingly, if you’re counting).

ManiLife Rich Cocoa Smooth Peanut Butter is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £3.00 per tub.

Vimto Cherry Raspberry & Blackcurrant – 4 calories per 250ml

A familiar staple on supermarket shelves, we love it when nostalgic brands like Vimto bring out seasonal flavours. So we had to pop their freshest, springtime combination in the basket this week: cherry, raspberry and blackcurrant. A sweeter-tasting twist on standard blackcurrant, it’s also low in sugar and high in vitamin D. It’s like sunshine in a glass!

If you love a light treat that’s bursting with punchy, berry flavours on a warm evening, you need to try our zingy Blackcurrant Mousse. Made with a small handful of ingredients, this fuss-free mousse comes bursting with sharp blackcurrant flavours that’ll cool you down and give you a boost. We love it even more with biscuits crushed on top or on the side for dipping!

Vimto Cherry Raspberry & Blackcurrant is available from Tesco, priced at £1.60 per bottle (1 litre).

Itsu Chicken Tang’Bao – 174 calories per 4 tangbao

Soup dumplings, anyone? Just as comforting and warming as they sound, these Itsu Chicken Tangbaos come with a hot, soupy centre of chicken, herbs, shiitake and pork broth. For only 174 calories, you can have 4 of these flavour-filled dumplings ready to be enjoyed in just 10 minutes straight from the hob! They’re tasty all on their own as a quick, warm snack with a dipping sauce, or you can break up the day with a Japanese-inspired lunch – why not plate them with a side salad or rice?

If all of this dumpling talk has put you in the mood for dumplings at dinner time, look no further than our Herby Chicken Stew with Dumplings. We’re talking chicken, veggies, lemon, thyme and (you guessed it) fluffy dumplings, all simmering away to make a classic, warming stew. It’s slow cooker friendly too, so you can leave it and come home to a slimming-friendly hug in a bowl!

You’ll find this hearty recipe in our third cookbook: Pinch of Nom: Quick and Easy.

Itsu Chicken Tang’Bao are available from Tesco, priced at £3.95 for a pack of 10 dumplings.

Nudie Snacks Cauliflower Crisps Katsu Curry – 114 calories per serving

As soon as we spotted these Katsu Cauliflower Crisps from Nudie Snacks, they had to go straight in the basket. Who knew cauliflower could be so tasty? Made with rejected wonky British caulis, each grab bag is just as sustainable as it is flavoursome. At only 114 calories per serving, every serving brings all the crunchy satisfaction you’re craving without taking you off track. 

Speaking of crispy Katsu flavours, have you ever tried our Loaded Katsu Curry Fries? Ready in just under an hour, we’ve made our Fakeaway version lower in calories by covering our Katsu chicken pieces and oven-baked chips with a homemade Katsu sauce. 

The Katsu fun doesn’t have to stop there! If Katsu loaded fries are a hit with the family, why not try our Katsu Curry Burgers too?

Nudie Snacks Cauliflower Crisps Katsu Curry are available from Asda, priced at £2.00 per pack.

Thorntons Limited Edition 8 Hot Cross Bun Shortcake Bites – 70 calories per shortcake bite

Nothing says British springtime quite like Hot Cross Buns! These limited edition Hot Cross Bun Shortcake Bites from Thorntons are the perfect companion to a sit-down in the garden with a cuppa. The hot cross bun inspired centre is what really makes us want to put the kettle on, with cinnamon-flavoured caramel and sultanas making up the gooey filling. Don’t mind if we do!

Now we’ve got afternoon tea on the brain, who else fancies a slice of Strawberry Shortcake? Fluffier and lighter than a scone, these shortcake bites come filled with sweetened strawberries and a creamy, low-fat yoghurt to bring the calories down. If you’re using a sweetener, you’ll need to make sure it’s granulated with the same sweetness and weight as sugar for the best results. You’ll find this recipe in our Quick & Easy Food Planner.

Thorntons Limited Edition 8 Hot Cross Bun Shortcake Bites are available from Asda, priced at £1.00 for a pack of 8.

Sainsbury’s Summer Edition Cajun Chicken Breast Grills – 177 calories per chicken breast

We love how easy these Cajun Chicken Breast Grills from Sainsbury’s are. They come pre-coated in a tasty, Cajun-style marinade, so all that’s left to do is oven bake and brown them on the grill to seal in the flavour. The bold spices would work well with a zesty, fresh salad, crunchy corn on the cob or rice – perfect for an Easter BBQ spread! 

Inspired by the flavours of Louisiana, our Cajun Spiced Stuffed Chicken comes coated in a punchy, Cajun-style seasoning and stuffed with a creamy pepper and soft cheese filling. Ready in just 15 minutes, slimming-friendly midweek dinners don’t come much simpler or tastier! Don’t forget to top with a sprinkling of chopped spring onion for a burst of freshness.

Sainsbury’s Summer Edition Cajun Chicken Breast Grills are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £3.00.

Iceland Chilli Crispy Shredded Beef – 334 calories per 1/3 pack (oven-baked)

Fancy a Fakeaway straight from the freezer? Iceland has delivered yet again with these Chilli Crispy Shredded Beef Pieces! Don’t worry if you’re not a fan of heat, they’ve put out a plain crispy beef version too – so you can enjoy all the crispiness without the spice. At 334 calories per serving, they come as close as you can get to our super popular Crispy Chilli Beef recipe without having to cook (nowhere near as good, of course – but a great alternative when you’re short on time and ingredients!). 

If you can’t choose between crispy chilli and salt and pepper, you can always go big and serve both with a side of our slimming-friendly Salt and Pepper Chips! Whether they’re air-fried or oven-baked, they taste just as good as the takeaway version for far fewer calories. 

Chilli Crispy Shredded Beef is available from Iceland, priced at £3.50 per pack.

Levi Roots Caribbean Breaded BBQ Chicken Bites – 208 calories per 100g

Move over plain chicken nuggets… Caribbean Breaded BBQ Chicken Bites by Levi Roots have officially arrived! With a vibrant, mildly-spiced crispy coating inspired by Caribbean BBQ flavours, this fun-filled recipe will have your taste buds dancing. So easy to prepare, it’ll be an instant hit at the dinner table with a side of rice, chips or salad – oh, and don’t forget the dip! Reggae Reggae Sauce, anyone?

Speaking of Caribbean-inspired flavours, our Caribbean Lamb Curry is still one of our favourite dishes from Comfort Food! We’ve swapped out goat for lamb and cooked it low and slow until it’s melt-in-the-mouth ready. We love spice, so this one’s got a kick to it, but you can always leave out the chilli if you’d prefer a mild yet flavour-filled dinner!

Levi Roots Caribbean Breaded BBQ Chicken Bites are available from Iceland, priced at £3.00 per pack.

Reese’s Cheesecake – 336 calories per 1/5 slice (1 serving)

Your Easter weekend treat is sorted! You can officially keep the indulgent deliciousness of a Reese’s bar in your freezer, thanks to Iceland. This peanut butter cup cheesecake comes on a chocolate cookie crumb base, covered with a milk chocolate glaze. All you have to do is defrost and slice equally – it’s the only way to avoid a tussle for the biggest slice, even if it is rightfully yours! 

By using peanut butter powder instead of peanut butter to make our Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars, we’ve made sure you can get all the rich, chocolatey, nutty satisfaction for far fewer calories. They’re fridge-friendly too, so you can keep them stored as a go-to sweet treat for over the long weekend while there’s so much sweet temptation around. Winner! 

Reese’s Cheesecake is available from Iceland, priced at £5.00. 

NEW 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 week’s NEW Super 6 selection:

Cucumber – 45 calories per 100g

High in nutrients and low in calories, we love the versatility of cucumbers! Snack on slices throughout the day, add it to a salad or pop it in a jug of water for a refreshing beverage.  

You know summer’s on its way when the Pimms is out! You only need 6 slices of cucumber to make a batch of our Pimms Lolly Ice recipe for the freezer. We can’t think of a better excuse to invest in a lolly mould!

Green Grapes – 69 calories per 100g

Good for your taste buds and good for you, sweet, juicy grapes are an easy snack whether you’re on the go or after a picky bit from the fridge. As well as being an energy-boosting snack, they’re also a handy ingredient to mix with veg or other fruits in a salad.

If you are hosting friends and family over the weekend, our Very Green Zingy Kale Salad will add a burst of green to your Easter spread. It’s especially good if you’re serving chicken!

Parsnips – 75 calories per 100g

Parsnips are a tasty veg that often goes unappreciated outside of the festive season. Easy to cook with plenty of health benefits, they’re especially good for chopping into stews, curries or blitzing into a healthy soup.

We can’t talk about parsnips without mentioning our Honey Glazed Roast Parsnips recipe. A surefire crowd-pleaser on any dinner table, we’re obsessed with watching the sweet glaze caramelise and crisp up in the oven (you need to try them with your next roast)! 

Carrots – 41 calories per 100g

We don’t think a week goes by without using carrots! This sweet, orange veg fits so easily in so many dishes, it’s hard to keep track. Throw them into pies, chop them into salad or blitz them into soups for added sweetness.

Speaking of soup, our satisfying Carrot, Orange and Thyme Soup is a soup flask dream. The sweetness of the carrots works so well with the sharp, zesty orange – trust us, you won’t get bored of this one!

Cauliflower – 25 calories per 100g

Full of fibre, high in vitamin C and low in fat, cauliflower is an all-year-round superfood that’ll give you a boost on a budget. Even if you pop a few florets in your basket, this veggie is so versatile, we bet you’ll find ways to use them all up! You can find plenty of cauliflower-inspired ideas here.

If you haven’t tried cauliflower as a healthy alternative to takeaway rice yet, you need to give our Cauliflower and Chicken Fried Rice recipe a whirl. We’ve used a blender to rice our cauliflower so you can hardly tell the difference!

Potatoes – 71 calories per 100g

Roast them, boil them, bake them, air fry them, mash them – whatever your potato preference, this humble root vegetable always delivers. High in fibre and nutrients, they’re a budget-friendly way to leave the whole family feeling fuller for longer.

For a potato recipe with a difference, why not try out our Chipotle Hasselback Potatoes? So easy to make, simply slice part of the way through, season and leave to bake until they’re crisp and irresistible. They even look as good as they taste!

**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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