Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 24.09
We’ve got that Friday feeling and it’s all thanks to the exciting new products we’ve found on the shelves this week!
There’s something for everyone in today’s Weekly Pinch of Shopping, from chicken breasts wrapped in bacon with a creamy garlic sauce, to low calorie yoghurts that taste just like a cherry Bakewell – they’re the perfect slimming friendly Bake Off snack!
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!**
Slow-Cooked Beef Ragù Sauce – 131 calories per 1/2 pot
It would take hours of preparation and cooking to recreate the rich, deep flavours of this Slow Cooked Beef Ragù Sauce. Made from beef brisket simmered in a veggie-packed tomato sauce, half of this pot contains one of your five a day.
You can heat this up in the microwave or on the hob, so it’s ready in minutes. Serve it with some freshly cooked pasta and you’ve got yourself a seriously comforting, hearty dinner in no time.
At just 131 calories per serving, it’s not only delicious and convenient, but a lighter choice too – ideal if you need something healthy in a hurry.
If you have a little more time and fancy having a go at creating your own version, our slimming friendly Beef Ragu Fettuccine can be made in the slow cooker.
Slow-Cooked Beef Ragù Sauce is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £2.80.
Belvoir Sparkling Strawberry Lime & Mint – 29 calories per 100ml
Autumn is on the way, but if you’re not quite ready to say goodbye to summer just yet, this Belvoir Sparkling Strawberry Lime and Mint drink is basically British summertime in a bottle.
Fruity and refreshing, it’s made from simple, natural ingredients, creating an irresistibly bubbly, non-alcoholic drink that can be enjoyed any time of the year.
The sweet taste comes from real fruit, with the slightest hint of mint to complement the flavours of strawberries, lime and elderflower. Every sip tastes like sunshine – even if the weather outside has different ideas!
If you love summery strawberry drinks, our Strawberry Daiquiri is sure to be your new favourite cocktail. Too good to be saved for summertime, we love this all year round.
Belvoir Sparkling Strawberry Lime & Mint is available from Ocado, priced at £2.70 for a 750ml bottle.
Ambrosia Milk Chocolate Mousse Pots – 116 calories per pot
How good does this sound – a light, fluffy chocolate mousse that you can enjoy anywhere at any time? That’s exactly what you get with these Ambrosia Milk Chocolate Mousse Pots.
Rich and creamy, you’d think these are far more indulgent than they really are. They come in at just 116 calories each, so you can enjoy your pot of chocolatey goodness even if you’re watching what you eat.
Made with fresh milk and with no artificial flavours or preservatives, you know exactly what you’re getting when you tuck into one of these.
Rather make your own? We’ve got you covered. Our Chocolate Mousse recipe only requires five ingredients. Better yet, it only needs 10 minutes of prep and then you just leave it to set.
Ambrosia Milk Chocolate Mousse Pots are available from Tesco, priced at £2.50 for a pack of 4 pots.
Do Goodly Dips Tasty Tomato & Bean Hummus – 71 calories per serving
Whether you dip it or spread it, this Do Goodly Dips Tasty Tomato and Bean Hummus is a delight. It’s not really a hummus as it’s made with cannellini beans, rather than the traditional chickpeas, but it’s packed with flavour and delicious with bread or crackers.
Full of fibre and high in plant protein, this dip is a great option for lunch or a mid afternoon snack. In fact, it’s so versatile that you could add it into sandwiches, onto salads or serve alongside grilled veggies as part of a main meal too.
If you have a blender you could try making your own similar dip. Our Hummus Style Dip recipe is a great place to start – we’ve used butterbeans but you could switch to chickpeas if you prefer. Why not play around with flavours by adding in some paprika or chilli if you like to spice up your food?
Do Goodly Dips Tasty Tomato & Bean Hummus is available from Ocado, priced at £2.00 for a 150g tub.
Meridian Toffee Apple Almond Butter – 635 calories per 100g
If you’re looking forward to autumn and dreaming of Halloween, bonfire night and cosy evenings in front of the TV, this Meridian Toffee Apple Almond Butter is going to be right up your street!
Tinged with the sugary sweet flavour of a caramelised apple on a stick, a spoonful of this nutty butter goes a long way. Spread it on your toast, add a dollop into a smoothie or spoon some into your morning porridge. Nut butters are notoriously high in calories – so you need to be careful with your portions if you’re counting calories – but they’re full of goodness and healthy fats.
Try a spoonful with some apple slices as a snack in your packed lunch. The flavour of the almond butter will go so well with a crunchy wedge of crisp fresh apple.
You can use almond butter in almost any recipe that calls for peanut butter. Why not try recreating these Peanut Butter and Jelly Pots? You could switch the fresh fruit from strawberries to blackberries and use a blackberry jam – it would be delicious with the apple tinged almond butter!
Meridian Toffee Apple Almond Butter is available from Tesco, priced at £3.00 for a 170g jar.
PACK’D Nourish Prebiotic Smoothie Kits – 161 calories per serving
Perfectly portioned for maximum nutrition, these PACK’D Nourish Prebiotic Smoothie Kits are so handy to have in the freezer. Each bag contains a mixture of fruit and veg superfoods, carefully selected to promote gut health and support your immune system.
Each individually packaged portion includes banana, avocado, kale, pumpkin seeds and chicory root. You simply need to add liquid such as water or fruit juice and blend it all up into a smoothie that’s packed full of goodness. It can be blended straight from the freezer, so there’s no faff and your drink will be fresh and icy cold – perfect for breakfast.
If you’re after even more green goodness, you should try this Very Green Zingy Kale Salad for lunch this week! It’s zesty and delicious, and can be served as a main meal or side dish.
PACK’D Nourish Prebiotic Smoothie Kits are available from Ocado, priced at £3.99 for a pack of 4.
Extra Special Tomato & Halloumi Style Balls – 103 calories per 3 balls
These Extra Special Tomato & Halloumi Style Balls make a nice change to traditional meatballs. They’re vegan friendly and low in calories too – it’s just 103 calories for 3 of them!
Rich and flavourful, they’re seasoned with smoked paprika so they taste incredible on their own or when served in an Italian inspired sauce.
Why not give them a try next time you’re planning spaghetti and meatballs for dinner? They can be shallow fried or cooked in the oven, so they’re even more versatile than the meat version. You could forget the pasta altogether and serve them with a fresh salad for a light lunch, or pop some in a bread roll to make your own vegetarian meatball sub. Delish!
Why not try this Spanish Meatballs recipe but replace the pork meatballs with these tomato and halloumi style balls? The sauce is so rich and delicately spiced.
Extra Special Tomato & Halloumi Style Balls are available from Asda, priced at £2.50 for a pack of 12.
Magnum Bites Almond White Chocolate Ice Cream – 31 calories per bite
The snap of chocolate, followed by velvety vanilla ice cream – biting into a Magnum is always a treat. If you fancy a smaller treat to take the edge off your chocolate cravings, these Magnum Bites are ideal! You get a pack of 12, including a mixture of classic, white chocolate and almond Magnum miniatures.
Each little bite is just 31 calories, so you can enjoy a couple on an evening and still stay on track. Keep a pack handy in the freezer for when the temptation hits – they’re real ice cream inside so they’re super satisfying and perfect if you’re not a big fan of the tubs of low calorie ice cream alternatives.
Our Chocolate Rice Crispy Bites are also a delicious little treat if you’re looking for evening snack ideas! Easy to make and just 30 calories each, they’re bitesize, slimming friendly and so yummy.
Magnum Bites Almond White Chocolate Ice Cream are available from Tesco, priced at £3.50 for a pack of 12.
Creamy Garlic Chicken Breasts in Blankets – 227 calories per chicken breast
Tender, succulent chicken, smoky streaked bacon and a creamy garlic sauce – forget pigs in blankets, it’s all about these Creamy Garlic Chicken Breasts in Blankets.
The chicken is all bundled up inside a yummy bacon blanket, ready to be cooked in the oven and smothered in the ready-made garlic sauce. You can cook these chicken breasts from frozen, or defrost in the fridge overnight and cook from chilled.
Ready in 40 minutes or less, there’s no faffing with wrapping the chicken yourself or making a sauce from scratch. These are super slimming friendly too – they’re just 227 calories each.
Serve with some green veg and these crispy Parmentier Potatoes. They make a nice change to chips and they cook in the same amount of time as the chicken breasts, so everything can be ready at once.
Creamy Garlic Chicken Breasts in Blankets are available from Iceland, priced at £3.00 for a pack of 2 chicken breasts.
Light & Free Greek Style Yoghurt Very Cherry Bakewell Flavour – 59 calories per yoghurt
If you didn’t already know, The Great British Bake Off is back on our screens and we couldn’t be happier about it. The new series kicked off earlier this week and we’re already glued to the drama in the tent. If the show always makes you want to snack, we’ve got some slimming friendly baking ideas in this article.
How about a yoghurt that tastes just like a baked treat? These Light & Free Greek Style Yoghurts come in a Very Cherry Bakewell Flavour that’s sure to curb the cake cravings!
At just 59 calories per yoghurt, they’re far more slimming friendly than an actual Bakewell tart, making them ideal for anyone who’s counting calories or following a diet plan like Weight Watchers. Why not tuck into one on Tuesday night in front of the TV?
If you love the cherry and almond flavours of a traditional Bakewell Tart, you’ll love these Bakewell Baked Oats. You can enjoy them for breakfast or even as a pudding.
Light & Free Greek Style Yoghurts Very Cherry Bakewell Flavour are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £2.50 for a pack of 4.
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 fortnight’s selection, plus a little inspiration for how you could use each ingredient:
Tenderstem Broccoli – 40 calories per 100g
Tenderstem Broccoli is sweet, crunchy and full of goodness. It’s a hybrid of broccoli and Chinese kale and has long stems that are completely edible – so there’s no chopping and less waste.
Perfect for everything from stir-fries to Sunday roasts, this vegetable will add a vibrant splash of green to your plate!
Try it in these Beef and Broccoli Noodle Bowls – they’re so easy to make but packed with flavour.
Celery – 14 calories per 100g
Celery has a bad reputation as a boring diet food but it’s actually really flavourful and versatile! It’s low in calories and perfect for snacking, but it can also be chopped up and cooked into soups, stews and sauces to add extra flavour.
This tasty Chicken Waldorf Salad uses chunks of celery to add crunchiness that perfectly balances the creamy dressing and sharp, sweet fruit.
Brown Onions – 40 calories per 100g
The base of so many recipes, you can never go wrong with a few brown onions in the house. Along with celery, they’re great for adding flavour to a huge range of dishes, and they can be cooked down until they’re almost invisible.
Brown onions have a stronger flavour than white onions, so they’re perfect if you want to taste them a little more.
Try using one to make these Cheese and Onion Pasties. They’re so good!
Avocado – 160 calories per 100g
Although it’s fairly high in calories, avocado can still be enjoyed on a slimming friendly diet. It’s rich and creamy but it’s also high in protein and healthy fats.
A little bit goes a long way, whether you serve it on toast, in a sandwich or with a salad.
We love it in this Avocado, Asparagus, Soya Bean and Bacon Salad. It complements the saltiness of the bacon and the crisp, fresh asparagus.
Garlic – 5 calories per clove
We love garlic! It adds instant flavour and it’s super low in calories so it’s a slimming-friendly must-have. You can chop it, grate it, mince it or roast it whole to infuse other ingredients with that garlicky goodness.
It can be subtle or stronger depending on how much garlic you use, so you can adjust any recipe depending on your tastes.
These Garlic Chilli Prawns really put the garlic in the spotlight. They’re perfect as a starter or as part of a tapas style meal.
Carrots – 41 calories per 100g
Roasted, boiled, steamed or grated fresh into a salad, carrots are a healthy eating staple. They’re every bit as delicious served on the side of a roast dinner as they are chopped and simmered in a casserole.
As autumn approaches and we start to crave cosy, comforting food like soups and stews, these carrots will be put to good use!
It’s hard to beat a warming bowl of this Carrot, Orange and Thyme Soup on a chilly autumn evening.
**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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