Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 21.07.23
It’s officially Friday, so grab your Family Meal Planner and get ready to make a list – the new Weekly Pinch of Shopping is here!
You’re going to want to pop the kettle on for this one. We’ve spotted McVitie’s all-new flavour of dunkable chocolate digestive on the supermarket shelves, and it’s too sweet to resist…
If you’re as obsessed with nostalgic puddings as we are, you’ll love the Rhubarb and Custard Sundae pots on this week’s list. They’re only 127 calories per sweet shop style pot!
Not sure what you fancy for lunch at the moment? From fajita-style salads to honey and sriracha coated chicken pieces, we’ve found some savoury goodies that’ll brighten up your midday break.
Our newest cookbook, Pinch of Nom: Budget, has been out in the world for a few weeks now and we couldn’t be more proud of it. Has your copy arrived yet? We’re absolutely loving seeing everybody’s photos and posts. Don’t forget to tag us when you’re sharing them, we don’t want to miss a single one!
From Meatball Mash Bake to Veggie Quesadillas, there is something for everyone in our first-ever paperback cookbook (if you’ve not got yours yet, you can order here!).
You’ll get 50 brand-new recipes and 25 fan-favourites dishes that cut down on costs, without compromising on the Nom flavours you know and love.
Split into two chapters, dinners and desserts, ‘Budget’ is all about turning affordable ingredients and store cupboard staples into food that the whole family will love.
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. 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 Peeled Maris Piper Potatoes – 90 calories per 1/4 pack
We’re always on the lookout for products that save time, so we couldn’t ignore Morrisons’ Peeled Maris Piper Potatoes. Reasonably priced and conveniently pre-peeled, you can have enough spuds for 4 people boiled without a fuss in 20 minutes.
Since these potatoes aren’t suitable for freezing, you’ll want to get them boiled, baked, roasted or mashed in good time.
You could always oven-roast them to prepare our vibrant Roast Potatoes with Herbs and Lemon. The perfect side dish for summer evenings, they’ll take a plate of meat, fish or your go-to vegetarian alternative to the next level in an instant.
If you’re as passionate about roasties as we are, we’ve got more slimming-friendly recipes for roast potato lovers here.
Morrisons Peeled Maris Piper Potatoes are available from Morrisons, priced at 99p for a bag.
Harvest Morn Apple & Blueberry Flavour Protein Oats – 275 calories per pot
How do you like your oats in the morning? If you like them quick and easy, these Harvest Morn Apple and Blueberry Flavour Protein Oats are for you.
Aldi’s pots come ready-infused with tangy, fruity, apple-and-blueberry deliciousness – you’ll just need to add boiling water and wait 3 minutes for the oats to fluff up.
Give them a good stir until the consistency is to your liking. If you prefer your porridge to be thicker and creamier, leave the pot to stand for a bit longer.
You can’t start your day right without a bowl of our Apple Pie Porridge. A warming combination of apples, cinnamon and nutmeg, this silky recipe is really easy to batch cook – so you’re never caught out on cold, rainy mornings.
Harvest Morn Apple and Blueberry Flavour Protein Oats are available from Aldi, priced at 85p per tub.
ASDA Plant Based Vegan Faux’jita Mexican Style Salad – 277 calories per pot
When a plant-based lunch option is the order of the day, it’s worth picking up this Plant Based Vegan Faux’jita Mexican Style Salad from ASDA’s chilled aisle. A fajita-inspired medley of mildly-spiced flavour, it’s packed with lots of veggies and fluffy cooked bulgur wheat that’ll leave you feeling full until dinnertime.
With finely-chopped carrots, peppers, onions, lettuce and more, it’s no wonder each pot gets you on your way to 5-a-day.
Speaking of Mexican-inspired flavours, have you tried our Mexican-style Corn on the Cob? Spicy, cheesy and colourful, it’s everything you could want from a fiesta-worthy side dish for only 124 calories per fully-loaded cob.
ASDA Plant Based Vegan Faux’jita Mexican Style Salad is available from ASDA, priced at £2.00 per pack.
Ashfields Honey & Sriracha Chicken Thigh Fillets – 194 calories per 100g serving
There’s no need for lunchtimes to be boring with Ashfields Honey and Sriracha Chicken Thigh Fillets. Marinated in a sticky sweet yet spicy honey-sriracha coating, these tender thigh fillets can be eaten hot or cold straight from the packet.
Keep them refrigerated until you’re ready to enjoy them with a medley of your favourite vegetables.
Why not toss them into a sunshine-ready lunchtime bowl with our rainbow-like Vegetable Couscous? It’s jam-packed with punchy harissa and zesty lime flavours that’ll nicely complement fiery chicken thigh fillets.
Filling and fantastically tasty, this feta-topped side is also great for barbecue spreads and picnics.
Ashfields Honey and Sriracha Chicken Thigh Fillets are available from Aldi, priced at £1.79 per pack.
Emporium Whipped Soft Cream Plain Cheese Spread – 76 calories per serving
It’s no secret that we love cheese at Pinch of Nom, so we were delighted to spot Aldi’s brand-new Emporium Whipped Soft Cream Plain Cheese Spread (there’s a garlic and herb soft cream whipped cheese available too) for just £1.29.
A little lighter and more airy than cream cheese, whipped cream cheese’s extra-velvety texture makes it lovely for spreading over toast, crackers and flatbreads.
If you haven’t tried cream cheese with salmon, you’re missing out on a classic combo. A popular bagel or sandwich filling, you can also make the most of the same duo by pairing it with flaky forkfuls of our Baked Garlic Salmon.
Emporium Whipped Soft Cream Plain Cheese Spread is available from Aldi, priced at £1.29.
Morrisons Jumbo Sausages – 159 calories per jumbo sausage (grilled)
While the weather’s hard to predict at the moment, these Morrisons Jumbo Sausages are really handy to have in the freezer. You can cook them from frozen, so they’re ready to pop on your BBQ grill at a moment’s notice when the sun puts its hat on!
If you don’t fancy grilling them, they’re just as delicious cooked until juicy in the oven or shallow-fried on the hob.
A scrummy midweek dinner, our Spicy Sausage Pasta never disappoints. One of the easiest recipes on our website, you only need a short list of ingredients to put this budget-friendly crowd-pleaser together.
To get our sliced sausages extra tasty, we simmer them in a tomatoey sauce infused with Italian-inspired herbs and spices. You don’t want to be shy with the fresh basil and Parmesan right before serving – it takes things to a whole new level of yum!
Morrisons Jumbo Sausages are available from Morrisons, priced at £1.50 for a pack of 4.
Plant Menu Spiced Kebab Pieces (Made With Soya Protein) – 157 calories per serving (cooked)
These Plant Menu Spiced Kebab Pieces are a scrumptious filling for a vegan kebab-inspired fakeaway night. Made with soya protein, Aldi’s recipe comes pre-shredded and seasoned in a coating of mild, family-friendly spices.
Once the ‘meat’ pieces are cooked through, they’re ready to be bundled into a flatbread with salad and a drizzle of your favourite lower-calorie sauce.
You can’t have a takeaway-inspired feast without tasty side dishes! Our Tofu Sesame Sticks with Peanut Sauce are an oh-so-crunchy addition to any plant-based menu, and they’re surprisingly simple to make (there’s no need to worry if you’ve never prepared tofu before!).
Take our sesame-coated sticks for a dip in our homemade satay-style sauce and you’re sure to come back for more.
Plant Menu Spiced Kebab Pieces (Made With Soya Protein) are available from Aldi, priced at £1.99.
Nescafé Gold Iced Latte Vanilla Cream – 56 calories per glass (with 225ml water)
While there’s no denying that vanilla lattes are delicious, they’re not always the most budget-friendly (or slimming-friendly!) option. With Nescafé Gold Iced Latte Vanilla Cream sachets, you can enjoy the sun with an ice cold barista-style treat at home.
Simply pour a sachet of instant powder into a glass, give it a good stir with 225ml of cold water and add ice to your liking – your order’s up!
You could always make Sunday mornings that bit more special by serving iced vanilla lattes at brunch. Our Eggs Florentine looks and tastes like you’re at the local cafe, for a fraction of the calories and cost.
To make our sauce lighter, we’ve cooked reduced-fat ingredients until they’re just as creamy, rich and silky smooth as traditional Hollandaise.
Nescafé Gold Iced Latte Vanilla Cream is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £2.00 for 7 sachets.
McVitie’s Digestives White Chocolate – 78 calories per digestive
McVitie’s Digestives White Chocolate flavour has arrived to help commemorate the hundredth anniversary of one of the nation’s favourite biscuits – the humble milk chocolate digestive!
The creamy, white chocolate-coated digestive was on supermarket shelves twenty years ago as a limited edition. Now, the flavour’s back and waiting to be dunked in your next brew. We have a feeling these are going to be really popular!
We can’t talk about white chocolate without mentioning our White Chocolate Blondies. Sweet, sticky and just the ticket with a hot cup of tea, these adorable little squares are simple to make and ultra-light on calories at 69 calories each.
McVitie’s Digestives White Chocolate are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £1.90 (or £1.50 with a Nectar card).
Dessert Menu Rhubarb And Custard Sundaes – 127 calories per pot
Aldi keeps serving up nostalgic puddings, and it’s done it again with these Dessert Menu Rhubarb And Custard Sundaes. With layers of vanilla custard, mousse and a rhubarb-infused sponge, there’s so much sweet shop style flavour in every spoonful.
For 127 calories per pot, we’d say these puds are well worth taking a trip down memory lane.
Our very own nostalgic Sprinkle Sponges are inspired by the sprinkle-topped cakes from school dinner days. Rather than smothering the full sponge, we’ve topped our squares with a delicate drizzle of icing sugar and colourful hundreds and thousands.
You can always serve them warm with a glug of Custard for an extra-special pudding!
The full recipe from the desserts section of our newest cookbook, Pinch of Nom: Budget, on pages 196-197.
Dessert Menu Rhubarb And Custard Sundaes are available from Aldi, priced at 79p for a pack of 2.
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.
Spring Onions – 32 calories per 100g
A must-add ingredient for stir-fries, soups or salads, spring onions will freshen up any dish in an instant. Their satisfying onion crunch is so easy to include in your cooking, and packed with vitamin goodness!
They’re even more of a key ingredient in Chinese takeaway inspired dishes like our Stir-fried Beef with Ginger and Spring Onion. With fresh veggies, tender strips of beef and egg noodles, it’s the perfect family-friendly dish for Fakeaway night.
New Potatoes – 65 calories per 100g
You can’t beat the versatility of potatoes! One of the most convenient types of spud, the waxiness of new potatoes means that they’re easy to toss into the pan with the skin on (there’s no need to chop them up!).
‘New’ or ‘baby’ potatoes are picked early, which is why their skin is so thin and light to bite – it’s what makes them perfect for quick, leafy lunches like our Smoked Salmon and Potato Salad.
Romaine Lettuce – 17 calories per 100g
Packed with vitamins and high in calcium, romaine lettuce is a great way to add some nutritious goodness to your plate. We’ve given crunchy romaine lettuce leaves a fruity twist in our Chicken and Mango Salad.
With creamy slices of avocado, lightly-seasoned chicken pieces and a tantalising mango dressing, this summertime salad is far from boring.
Vine Ripened Tomatoes – 17 calories per 100g
Sliced up in a salad, chopped into a sandwich or baked into a dish, you can’t beat the flavours in vine-ripened tomatoes. Typically more tender and sweeter than their off-the-vine cousins, it’s well worth grabbing a pack while they’re on offer.
It really doesn’t take much effort to rustle up our Baked Cod Provencal. Simply lay a lemon-infused cod fillet on a bed of oven-ready veggies, including juicy vine tomatoes, courgettes and peppers, and your oven will do the hard work for you.
Easy Peelers – 35 calories per 100g
Easy peelers add a boost of tangy, vitamin C goodness to breakfast, or you can save them to be enjoyed as a fruity pick-me-up at lunch time.
We love how well orange flavours pair with chocolate, and our Chocolate Orange Trifles are heaven if you’re the same way. Layered with Jaffa Cakes, orange segments, orange jelly, chocolate custard and light aerosol cream, it’s tough to believe they’re as light as 169 calories per serving.
Cherries – 50 calories per 100g
You can keep cherries in the fridge as a quick grab-and-go snack or enjoy them as part of a scrumptious slimming-friendly dessert. They’re nice and budget-friendly while they’re in the Super 6 – thanks a bunch, Aldi!
For a satisfying sweet treat that’s bursting with a cherry deliciousness, give our Cherry Pie Turnovers a whirl. We’ve lowered the calories by saying goodbye to pastry and baking them to perfection inside of a low-calorie tortilla wrap.
**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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