Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 16.10
We’ve got some REALLY delicious, sweet treats in this week’s Weekly Pinch of Shopping, including Percy Pig Ice Cream – yes, really!
Whether you like coffee or peanuts, we’ve got lower calorie hot drinks that taste super indulgent, alongside some microwaveable pesto pasta and vegan sausages that are full of flavour.
Plus, we’ve also included Aldi’s current Super 6 Fruit and Veg selection as well as some meal ideas and ways to use up any leftovers that you might have.
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.
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.
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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!**
ASDA Green Pesto Micro Pasta – 177 calories per ½ pack
Pesto is such a quick and easy way to add an extra flavour punch to any dish and this ASDA Green Pesto Micro Pasta is fantastic to have on hand for a convenient lunch.
With 177 calories per every ½ pack serving, this pasta is suitable for vegetarian diets and is a source of fibre.
Free from artificial colours, flavours and hydrogenated fat, this ASDA Green Pesto Micro Pasta is ready to eat in just 2 minutes and we think it’s delicious with a little low fat cheese sprinkled over the top.
If pesto isn’t your favourite flavour, then Asda’s range of Micro Pasta is also available in Tomato & Basil, Tomato & Chorizo, or just plain Fusilli.
You can grab this ASDA Green Pesto Micro Pasta from Asda for just £1 per pouch.
Waitrose Apple Juice with Ginger – 64 calories per 150ml serving
With natural fibre from pressed fruit, this Waitrose Apple Juice with Ginger feels like a jazzed up version of standard apple juice!
The crisp apple taste and the warming kick of ginger is the perfect combination for chilly mornings.
Fruit juice often gets a bad reputation due to a high sugar content, but you can aim to choose the healthier options by checking that it’s ‘not from concentrate’ and contains plenty of fibre and vitamin C which help to maintain the immune system.
If you love ginger as much as we do, make sure you try our Ginger Sponge which even impressed Strictly star Anton du Beke on our podcast!
Waitrose Apple Juice with Ginger is priced at £1.50 for a 1L bottle.
ASDA Butcher’s Selection 2 Honey & Mustard Pork Chops – 248 calories per pork chop
Honey and mustard is such a fantastic flavour choice for pork and it works really well to enhance the pork’s flavour.
These ASDA Butcher’s Selection 2 Honey & Mustard Pork Chops have 248 calories per pork chop and are free from artificial colours and flavours.
We think they’d be perfect for enjoying on a cold winter’s evening alongside our Parmentier Potatoes, our Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Mash or even some mixed, steamed veg.
Asda’s Butcher’s Selection also features a really wide range of other flavoured meat which we think is really convenient to have on hand for when you just fancy a nice, quick dinner after a busy day.
You can grab these ASDA Butcher’s Selection 2 Honey & Mustard Pork Chops in Asda for £2.50.
Heck Meat-Free Vegan Sausages – 54 calories per 2 sausages
From Toad in the Hole to Sausage Hash, there are so many meaty dishes that rely on sausages as a key ingredient!
Now, vegans can join in the fun with these Heck Meat-Free Vegan Sausages!
At only 54 calories per two sausages, these are a great option if you’re following a vegan diet or trying to cut down your meat consumption.
They’re high in protein to keep you fuller for longer, as well as gluten and soya free: that sounds like a slimming essential to us!
Made with pea protein, these filling and substantial sausages are an ideal addition to a banging weekend breakfast or even in our delicious Sausage Rolls!
A pack of 10 Heck Meat-Free Vegan Sausages will set you back around £2 at most supermarkets.
Peanut Hottie Peanut Butter Powder – 51 calories per serving
We love peanut butter and this Peanut Hottie Peanut Butter powder tastes just like the real thing but with 80% less fat than other peanut butter brands.
High in protein and suitable for vegans, this powder gives you all of the delicious flavour you’d expect but without all of the guilt.
Simply mix with water and enjoy as a hot drink, or use as a spread, in smoothies or baking like in our Banana and Peanut Muffins.
If you’re craving a Nutella fix, then you can also get Peanut Hottie Chocolate Peanut Butter Powder for a tasty twist on a hot chocolate.
You can find Peanut Hottie Peanut Butter Powder in Asda or Tesco for around £3.60 per jar.
Mr Kipling Chocolate & Marshmallow Slices – 126 calories per slice
There’s just something about the combo of chocolate and marshmallow that screams ‘autumn’, and these Mr Kipling Chocolate & Marshmallow Slices mean that you can enjoy all of the flavours with less of the guilt.
Chocolate malt flavoured sponge filled with pink mallow and topped with marshmallow flavoured icing, these cake slices are just 126 calories per slice.
They also have no artificial colours, 100% natural flavours and no hydrogenated fat which makes them perfect for enjoying with an afternoon cuppa.
If you’re looking for more marshmallow and chocolate treats, then our Scan Bran Rocky Road Cupcakes which taste super indulgent, but are less than 100 calories per cake!
You can get these Mr Kipling Chocolate & Marshmallow Slices from most supermarkets at around £1 for a pack of 6.
Terry’s Chocolate Orange Cranberry – 101 calories per 5 segments
What could be more festive than chocolate and orange? Chocolate, orange and cranberry of course!
Terry’s Chocolate Orange Cranberry Bar is made with real orange oil, is suitable for vegetarian diets and has 101 calories per 5 segments.
In our opinion it’s the perfect combination of smooth, creamy chocolate and tart cranberries and is a great option for when you get a craving for something sweet.
Enjoy a few segments alongside a hot drink as an afternoon snack or during the evening while you relax in front of the TV.
This Terry’s Chocolate Orange Cranberry Bar is available in most supermarkets for around £1 per bar.
M&S Percy Pig Ice Cream – 83 calories per serving (⅛ tub)
Percy Pigs are almost a pop culture icon in the UK, and rightly so!
One of a handful of sweets that are suitable for veggies, and now Marks & Spencer have introduced an ice cream version!
With a fruity flavour that tastes just like the real thing, and dotted with strawberry marshmallows, this M&S Percy Pig Ice Cream is the perfect after dinner treat if you’re a fan of the sweets.
Because it’s as sweet as Percy Pig himself, a little goes a long way so this pot may last you much longer than you think!
You could serve a scoop over Strawberry and Vanilla Waffles for the ultimate sweet breakfast.
You can grab a 1l tub of M&S Percy Pig Ice Cream for £3.
Beanies Irish Cream Flavour Coffee – 2 calories per cup
Irish coffee may seem like a strange addition to a list of slimming essentials, but we’re actually talking about coffee!
Beanies have been around for a while now with a number of delicious flavours such as hazelnut, coconut and even cookie dough, but this Beanies Irish Cream Flavour Coffee is an immediate smash hit.
Smooth and luxurious, with just the right amount of Irish Cream flavour, it’s a real mid-morning treat.
We’re getting serious Christmas vibes from this coffee too; imagine a slimming friendly hot coffee to warm your cockles on Christmas morning, without having to pop open the Irish Cream until dinner time!
A 50g jar of Beanies Irish Cream Flavour Coffee is available at Sainsbury’s for £2.50
Aldi Super 6 Fruit and Veg Selection
We love Aldi’s selection of budget friendly veggies and they update every two weeks, so we thought we’d give you a handy fortnightly round up of what’s on offer and a dose of inspiration for meal ideas and the best way to use up any leftovers!
Tenderstem Broccoli – 38 calories per 100g
There are a couple of stir-fry friendly crunchy vegetables in the selection this time with tenderstem broccoli and mange tout, and we love having these in the fridge!
Chinese Chicken and Broccoli is a fab fakeaway when you’re short on time as it’s on the table in only 30 minutes and features bright, fresh tenderstem broccoli.
Mangetout – 33 calories per 100g
Mangetout is crunchy and full of texture. They can be popped in stir fries, rice dishes and even Creamy Chicken Curry for a little extra bite!
They also make a really simple side dish with an easy garlic seasoning, like our Garlic Green Beans.
Chantenay carrots – 25 calories per 100g
Chantenay carrots are the smaller, crunchier cousin of the usual large carrot, and are an essential addition to any roast dinner.
Leave the tops on and roast in the oven alongside Roast Potatoes, Roast Beef and a couple of Yorkshire Puddings for a roast dinner you will want to eat every day of the week! So what time do you want us round?
Butternut Squash – 45 calories per 100g
We love a versatile vegetable, and butternut squash is one of those ingredients you can always find a recipe for in a pinch!
Whether it’s Butternut Squash Risotto or Curried Butternut Squash Soup, you’ll easily find something tasty to use up this seasonal squash!
Chestnut Mushrooms – 22 calories per 100g
Earthy and filling, mushrooms are the centrepiece to so many of our recipes, for good reason!
They’re budget friendly, full of nutrients and easy to chop up small to hide from fussy eaters. Try them in Steak and Mushroom Pie or a fakeaway favourite Ham and Mushroom Calzone.
Savoy cabbage – 24 calories per 100g
Last but certainly not least, the humble savoy cabbage!
An ideal side to meat and fish dishes, you could even substitute the kale in our Bacon, Spring Onion and Kale Hash for a really simple brunch that’s nutritious and won’t break the bank.
What are your tips and tricks for making the most of this fortnight’s Super 6?
**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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