Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 26.02
In this week’s Weekly Pinch of Shopping, we’ve got some amazing fakeaway favourites that are so good, you won’t be reaching for the takeaway menu anytime soon.
From a stonebaked pizza that’s loaded with toppings, to a veggie friendly crispy popcorn side dish, you can have a low calorie feast on the table in less than half an hour.
Add a bowl of fresh Greek Salad to the table to make it go even further.
Polish off dinner with a creamy, indulgent yoghurt that’s full of protein and gut-friendly bacteria, or tuck into a millionaire’s shortbread that will set you back just 66 calories.
They are SO tasty, it’s hard to believe they are slimming friendly!
For the tea-lovers among us, we have hot cross bun inspired tea for a zesty, fresh drink that’s perfect any time of day. Trust us, the flavours really work!
We’re also telling you about a delicious chicken and vegetable soup that you can take on the go, and some quick and easy meal inspiration with some Mexican inspired tuna and succulent veggie burgers, that would complement a pile of crispy Rustic Potato Wedges brilliantly.
It’s also Aldi Super 6 update week! For those that don’t know, Aldi discounts a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables every fortnight, so we give you the rundown and inspiration to make the most of these budget ingredients.
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 second 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!**
Yeo Valley Organic Black Cherry Yoghurt with Nut Butter Corner – 180 calories per 100g
Fancy a change from a typical fruit corner yoghurt? Try a rich and creamy Yeo Valley Organic Black Cherry Yoghurt with Nut Butter Corner!
With indulgent, sweet black cherry and a corner of protein-packed nut butter, they’re a delicious alternative to full fruit yoghurts.
We like how the thicker texture of the nut butter blends beautifully with the smooth yoghurt: they’re a real treat, and packed with gut-friendly bacteria.
They’re gluten free and vegetarian, with no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives!
A pot of this Yeo Valley Organic Black Cherry Yoghurt with Nut Butter Corner makes an ideal dessert, snack or as part of a packed lunch alongside Sausage Rolls and BLT Bites.
These Yeo Valley Organic Black Cherry Yoghurt with Nut Butter Corner yoghurts are available at Sainsbury’s for £1.50 per pot.
Oggs Millionaire Bites – 66 calories per bite
We love when companies take steps to reduce their environmental impact, and these Oggs Millionaire Bites not only taste amazing but are also good for the planet: Oggs plant 250 trees every single month to offset their carbon footprint!
These delicious caramel, chocolate and shortbread bites are indulgent and buttery for only 66 calories each, and surprisingly don’t contain any dairy or eggs.
We’ve also seen them in a brownie variety if you prefer a more chocolatey treat.
Once you’ve polished off these caramel bites, the packaging is fully recyclable, which gets a big thumbs up from us!
Try alongside a Pumpkin Spice Latte for the perfect afternoon pick-me-up.
A 125g bag of Oggs Millionaire Bites is available from Sainsbury’s for £2.25
Sainsbury’s Hot Cross Bun Flavour Infusion Tea – 1 calorie per 100g
We’ve seen a huge rise in flavoured teas in recent months, and we’re so impressed with the wonderful flavours that are hitting the shelves!
This Sainsbury’s Hot Cross Bun Flavour Infusion Tea is no exception: with a hint of sweetness, citrus and cinnamon notes, this tea is warming and comforting any time of day.
This tea is great to pop into your basket of slimming essentials as it’s calorie free by the cup, meaning it can satisfy your sweet craving without a buttery hot cross bun in sight!
Why not enjoy a cuppa as part of brunch alongside Marmite Mushrooms on Toast to balance the sweetness of the tea?
Grab a box of 20 Sainsbury’s Hot Cross Bun Flavour Infusion Tea Bags for £1
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Roast Chicken & Vegetable Soup – 133 calories per half a pot
It’s hard to beat a bowl of steaming hot soup on a chilly evening, especially when it’s minimal fuss and ready to go!
This pot of Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Roast Chicken & Vegetable Soup is already primed to pop in the microwave.
It’s packed with fresh veggies and shredded chicken breast, in a creamy stock: it’s hard to believe it’s only 133 calories per pot!
It’s really substantial, and handy to take to work as a packed lunch or heat up as a starter to a main meal.
If you have more time, try prepping and freezing a portion of Spicy Tomato Soup, ready to defrost on demand.
Vegilantes Salt & Pepper Popcorn – 272 calories per 8 pieces
When you see ‘Salt & Pepper Popcorn’, it may remind you of takeaway favourites that don’t exactly fit into slimming plans!
This Vegilantes Salt & Pepper Popcorn satisfies the craving for crispy popcorn bites, but they’re low calorie and meat free.
They’re also cooked straight from frozen for extra convenience on those days you’re missing motivation and need something quickly.
These bites are formed from mushrooms and plant protein, with added seasoning to boost the flavour, all wrapped in a crunchy coating.
We love the fresh ginger and chilli flavours and they make the perfect addition to a fakeaway buffet table or as a snack for dipping in a mint and yoghurt dip or a dollop of your favourite sauce.
If you find yourself craving the drive-through, try our KFC Zinger Burger Fakeaway for a simple, succulent chicken burger that we think is just as good as the original!
Morrisons stock a 240g box of these Vegilantes Salt & Pepper Popcorn for £3
LEAP Mexican Inspired Albacore Tuna Steak Pan-Fry Pieces – 179 calories per half pack
We LOVE Mexican inspired food…from Chicken Fajitas to Enchilada Lasagne, we can’t get enough!
These LEAP Mexican Inspired Albacore Tuna Steak Pan-Fry Pieces are a great twist on the usual chicken or beef.
Tuna is a great slimming-friendly protein, and this pack contains only Albacore tuna that hasn’t been farmed and is one of the richest sources of Omega 3, so that’s a big tick in our book!
They’re pre-marinated and ready to pan fry: try in a tortilla wrap or alongside sliced peppers and onions over a pile of fluffy white rice.
We’ve spotted a 270g pack of LEAP Mexican Inspired Albacore Tuna Steak Pan-Fry Pieces at Ocado for £5.99.
Sainsbury’s Stonebaked Thin Ham, Mushroom and Garlic Spinach Pizza – 220 calories per half pizza
An average takeaway pizza can easily set you back over 1,500 calories, so we’re always delighted to find alternatives that will fit into slimming plans, like this Sainsbury’s Stonebaked Thin Ham, Mushroom and Garlic Spinach Pizza.
Containing only 439 calories for the whole pizza, we’ve found it’s substantial enough to share with a side dish or two and STILL save on calories compared to a takeaway version!
There’s also plenty of toppings so you’ll get a taste of ham, mushroom and garlic in every bite.
Try with Cheesy Garlic Bread for a slimming friendly fakeaway night.
Toppings not for you? No problem! Try your hand at your very own calzone, such as our Chicken and Sweetcorn Pizza Calzone, where you can adjust the filling to include all of your favourites.
There’s currently a special offer at Sainsbury’s where you can get a Sainsbury’s Stonebaked Thin Ham, Mushroom and Garlic Spinach Pizza for £2.50, a saving of 50p.
Vivera Plant Burger – 161 calories per burger
If you’re looking for a lighter burger or trying to limit your meat consumption, these Vivera Plant burgers are just what you need!
They’re well seasoned and fortified with extra iron and B12 so you know you’re getting a boost of goodness with these burgers.
Not only that, they taste amazing, especially if you pair them with crunchy lettuce and tomatoes in your bun of choice.
Even though they are prepared to a fully vegan recipe, these burgers contain a whopping 17g of protein per burger, so there’s no doubt you’ll be left feeling fuller for longer with this slimming essential.
We love mixing up mealtimes with meat-free options, like our Halloumi Cous Cous Burgers with Salsa, served with a crisp, fresh salad and a handful of Homemade Oven Chips.
Tesco and Sainsbury’s sell a 2-pack of these Vivera Plant Burgers for £2.50
NEW Aldi Super 6 Fruit and Veg Selection
We love Aldi’s selection of fresh fruit and veggies, and each fortnight they choose six of them for a special offer where you can pick them up for much less than the normal price.
Here’s our roundup of this fortnight’s selection, alongside some meal inspiration to give you some ideas on how to make the most of the Super 6!
Oranges – 51 calories per 100g
We love the zesty citrus flavour when biting into a juicy orange!
They’re also packed with vitamin C which is one of the essential nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy.
You could keep these in the fruit bowl for mid-morning snacking, pack them in lunch boxes for school and work, or use them to add a zesty twist to your favourite chocolate dessert.
Try in Chocolate Orange Baked Oats for the nearest thing to cake for breakfast you can get while still keeping the calories low!
Mini apples – 53 calories per 100g
A lunchbox favourite, these mini apples are ideal for snacking, slicing over breakfast or popping in a batch of Apple Pie Cookies.
A fully stocked bowl of colourful, fresh fruit is a great way to help encourage everyone to reach for a healthier snack before a bar of chocolate or packet of crisps.
Mini pears – 42 calories per 100g
Another mini version of one of our favourite fruits: mini pears!
They’re soft and juicy, and perfect for popping in a packed lunch to take to work or school.
Believe it or not, pears also work well in savoury dishes like salads as well as sliced over breakfast or poached as a pudding.
Try our Pear and Ginger Crumble as a warming weeknight dessert.
Snack pack grapes – 67 calories per 100g
Sweet and crunchy grapes, packaged in a handy single serve portion.
These are great for keeping in the fridge as a grab and go snack, but if you have the time, always allow your grapes to come to room temperature before eating – it makes such a difference!
Toss through a Duck Salad for a burst of sweetness
Salad tomatoes – 20 calories per 100g
Simple, tasty and budget friendly, we use salad tomatoes in more than just salads! Slice them, cut into quarters or even eat them whole as a snack!
If you roast salad tomatoes in the oven, it amplifies the flavour: ideal if you’re serving with a full English breakfast.
Finely chop and add to Breakfast Muffins for a touch of colour and extra goodness.
Pineapple – 50 calories per 100g
Bring a taste of the tropical to your kitchen, wherever you are, with a plump, juicy pineapple!
Fresh, sweet and brightly coloured, pineapple can lift up so many dishes.
It’s also a good way to balance out sharpness in a dish, which is why you see it in recipes like Sweet and Sour Chicken. The real problem is not eating it all before you’re ready to use it!
**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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