Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 26.05.23
A sunny NEW edition of the Weekly Pinch of Shopping has arrived! Ready for blue skies on the horizon, we’ve jam-packed this week’s list with BBQ essentials. From tikka-style sizzlers to zingy kebabs, there’s something for all of the guests in your garden.
Plus, we know you’re definitely going to want to try the mini ice cream bites we’ve found for only 96 calories each! Will you take home the Chocolate Brownie Mini Bites, Cookies and Cream Mini Bites or both?
We’ve also picked up Jammie Dodgers’ brand-new biscuit flavour! A scrummy combination of blackcurrant and apple, you may as well run and put the kettle on right now…
There’s just under ONE MONTH to go until Pinch of Nom: Budget is out! Eeek…we’re so excited to share our first ever paperback cookbook with you all. It’s filled with 75 recipes (50 brand-new dishes and 25 fan-favourites!) that cut down on costs, without compromising on the Nom flavours you know and love.
Split into two chapters, dinners and desserts, this book is all about turning budget-friendly ingredients and store cupboard staples into food that the whole family will love.
Pre-order your copy today and you won’t pay a penny until it’s dispatched. Pinch of Nom Budget is out on the 22nd of June…we’re counting down the days already!
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!**
Oatly The Original No Sugars Oat Drink – 44 calories per 100ml
When you’re looking to lower your dairy intake day to day, having a tasty milk alternative on standby for brews and breakfast time is a must. Oatly’s The Original No Sugars Oat Drink comes jam-packed with all of the vitamins and minerals you’d expect, without milk, soy or sugar in sight.
A like-for-like daiiary alternative, try adding it to your cuppas throughout the day, or use it while you’re cooking and baking to add a gorgeous, silky nuttiness to your dishes.
Oat milk helps us get our Biscoff and Banana Porridge recipe just right every time. While you can use any type of milk you’d prefer, oat milk complements the Biscoff and banana flavours perfectly.
If you’re as obsessed with Biscoff as we are, there’s a whole roundup of slimming-friendly recipes inspired by the hugely-popular biscuit here.
Oatly The Original No Sugars Oat Drink is available from ASDA, priced at £1.60 per 1-litre carton.
Kettle Chips Dill Pickle & Jalapeno – 124 calories per serving
It’s not a sunny, buffet kind of weekend without savoury nibbles! These Kettle Chips Dill Pickle and Jalapeno are well worth pride of place in your sharing bowl. A moreish combination of aromatic dill, tangy vinegar and fiery jalapeno, you can also grab a Sriracha Mayo sharing bag from the same range.
Let’s talk about dill and its classic counterpart: salmon. A refreshingly light change from beef burgers, our Salmon Burgers are only 482 calories per serving – homemade tartare-style sauce included!
If you’re feeling extra hungry, pair them up with a crispy side of Rustic Potato Wedges for an additional 164 calories.
Kettle Chips Dill Pickle & Jalapeno are available from Waitrose, priced at £2.40 for a 125g sharing bag.
Tesco Prawn Cocktail Flavour Mini Rice & Corn Cakes – 101 calories per bag
With so much flavour for only 101 calories per bag, it’s worth making Tesco’s Prawn Cocktail Flavour Mini Rice and Corn Cakes a staple in your snack stash.
Coated in a mouth-watering prawn cocktail seasoning, they’re filling and crunchy enough to curb those pesky mid-afternoon hunger pangs without taking you off track. You could even try them with a Hummus-style Dip!
If you’re a fan of punchy prawn flavours, you need to give our Sticky Prawns with Ginger a go. Coated in a zingy, lower-calorie glaze with absolutely no hidden nasties, you can have this Asian-style fakeaway on the table in under 25 minutes.
Tesco Prawn Cocktail Flavour Mini Rice & Corn Cakes are available from Tesco, priced at £1.25 for a pack of 4 bags of mini rice cakes.
Sainsbury’s Aubergine Parmigiana Parcels, Summer Edition – 63 calories per parcel
These Sainsbury’s Aubergine Parmigiana Parcels are perfect for your picnic basket, whether you enjoy them straight from the packet or gently warmed from the oven.
Inspired by the richness of tomatoey Parmigiana, each parcel comes bursting with a herby, Italian-style sauce inside. A veggie-friendly bite, say goodbye to meat and hello to a melty combination of mozzarella and aubergine.
There are a number of top tier picnic staples out there, but the truth is…you just can’t beat a sausage roll! For our oh-so-crispy Vegan Sausage Rolls, we’ve swapped out full-fat pastry and pork for lower-calorie tortilla wraps and vegetarian sausage mince.
Far healthier and better for your budget than bakery-bought versions, don’t forget to dip them in your favourite sauce.
Sainsbury’s Aubergine Parmigiana Parcels, Summer Edition are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £2.00 for a pack of 6.
Ashfields Grill Ginger & Spring Onion Chicken Koftas – 119 calories per kofta
If you’re on the lookout for barbecue inspiration, you’ve come to the right place! With Ashfields Grill Ginger and Spring Onion Chicken Koftas on the grill, you’re on your way to a Middle Eastern inspired spread.
They come ready-skewered with a handy sachet of zingy, mildly-spiced sauce to drizzle on top. If you don’t fancy cooking them outdoors, they’ll be just as juicy from your oven or air fryer.
Bursting with vibrant notes of lemon, mint and parsley, our Tabbouleh recipe is ideal for partnering with a kebab-style main. Refreshing and light at 87 calories per serving, transform it into a mezze-inspired spread with a few warm pieces of pitta.
Ashfields Grill Ginger & Spring Onion Chicken Koftas are available from Aldi, priced at £2.99 for a pack of 4 koftas.
Morrisons Market St Salmon With Soy & Ginger – 272 calories per salmon fillet
You’ll never regret adding Morrisons Market St Salmon With Soy and Ginger to your midweek meal plan. An easy answer to ‘what shall we have for dinner tonight?’, simply pop the pre-glazed salmon fillets in the oven and wait until they’re gorgeously flaky.
Coated in a fusion-style soy and ginger sauce, they’re punchy, fragrant and mild enough for the whole family to enjoy.
It’s no secret that we love a good salmon recipe. Perfect for warmer, summer days, our Honey Soy Salmon with Seaweed Salad brings something a little bit different to the table.
You don’t want to knock seaweed until you’ve tried it! It’s a yummy ingredient for flavouring soups, stir-fries, rice dishes and salads with a boost of nutrition.
Morrisons Market St Salmon With Soy & Ginger is available from Morrisons, priced at £5.50 for 2 salmon fillets.
Sainsbury’s Greek Inspired Whipped Feta Salad, Summer Edition (Taste the Difference) – 218 calories per 1/2 pack
It’s so true that everything is better with feta. With Sainsbury’s Greek Inspired Whipped Feta Salad on offer, you’ll instantly take your barbecue spread up a notch. A delicious blend of chopped cucumber, spinach, parsley and filling bulgur wheat, it comes ready-drizzled in a zesty lemon dressing and topped with tangy feta chunks.
If you’re in the mood to serve a fruitier sharing dish, why not see how long our Summer Pineapple Lime Feta and Quinoa Salad lasts at the centre of your table? The definition of sunshine in a bowl, we’ve tossed together freshly-chopped veg, fruit chunks, coriander, vinegar and quinoa to create a slimming-friendly medley of colour and flavour.
Add a tropical spoonful to your plate for only 256 calories per serving!
Sainsbury’s Greek Inspired Whipped Feta Salad Summer Edition (Taste the Difference) is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £2.40.
Tesco Fire Pit Chicken Tikka Sizzlers – 167 calories per 1/2 pack
If you’re a fan of chicken tikka flavours, you’ll love flipping these Tesco Fire Pit Chicken Tikka Sizzlers on your grill. Pre-marinated in a fiery, tikka-style blend of red and orange spices, it’s best to oven-bake them first and then pop them on the BBQ for a crispy, chargrilled finish.
They come mildly spiced, but you might like to cool them down with a dollop of fresh yoghurt.
While you do have to go to the effort of marinating our Chicken Tikka Kebabs recipe yourself, the results are so worth it! Plus, with a homemade spice blend, you can save money, cut down on calories and control the spice level – so they’re tailored to your taste buds every time.
Try them with a crispy mixed salad or fragrant rice for an instant-favourite barbecue dinner.
Tesco Fire Pit Chicken Tikka Sizzlers are available from Tesco, priced at £3.50 per pack.
Jammie Dodger Apple & Blackcurrant Biscuits – 78 calories per biscuit
A new twist on a classic snack, these Jammie Dodger Apple and Blackcurrant Biscuits are just the ticket for taking a moment to yourself. While you’ll be used to finding bright red raspberry jam in the trademark heart-shaped centre of Jammies, this edition is brimming with an eye-catching blackcurrant and apple spread.
Sit back, relax and dunk them in your cuppa for only 78 calories!
Light, airy and loaded with lip-smacking berry flavours, our Blackcurrant Mousse is a delightful summertime treat for warmer evenings.
We love a pudding that’s quick to prep and these fruity pots only need around 20 minutes of your attention before they’re ready to set in the fridge. To make them extra special, top them with crumbled biscuits right before serving – you won’t regret it!
Jammie Dodger Apple & Blackcurrant Biscuits are available from Tesco, priced at 75p for a pack of 8 biscuits.
Gianni’s Ice Cream Mini Bites – 96 calories per mini bite
It’s impossible to say no to Gianni’s Ice Cream Mini Bites in Chocolate Brownie flavour. We’re talking about a velvety ice cream centre, coated in a layer of chocolate-flavoured dough and dusted in a decadent chocolate crumb coating. Great to nibble on straight from the freezer, they’ll curb your ice cream cravings for as little as 96 calories per bite!
You can also pick up a box of Cookies and Cream Mini Bites at 110 calories per dough ball. Thanks again, Aldi!
Did someone say ‘brownies’? An elite cuppa-time treat, it’s always a good idea to have a batch of Chocolate Orange Brownies on standby. To bring the calories down, we’ve prepared our squidgy squares with reduced-fat swaps, low-sugar syrup and the zest of a fresh orange.
Try them with a swirl of low-fat aerosol cream for a quick, comforting pud!
Gianni’s Ice Cream Mini Bites are available from Aldi, priced at £3.99 for a pack of 6 mini bites.
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.
Jersey Royal New Potatoes – 75 calories per 100g
We’re kicking things off with everyone’s favourite root veg! Whether they’re the centre of attention, or treated as a side dish, you can always count on potatoes to make your dish.
We’ve paired zingy pesto with velvety fat-free Greek yoghurt to give our gloriously green Pesto Potato Salad its silkiness. Complete with zesty lemon juice, you’ll want this summertime staple on your barbecue menu time and time again.
Extra Fine Green Beans – 31 calories per 100g
Green beans can add a colourful crunch to a variety of main meals at a moment’s notice, including stir-fries, salads and curries. They also make for a mean side dish with meat or fish dishes, especially if you prepare our Air Fryer Crispy Green Beans.
Ready in under 10 minutes, they’re cheesy, garlicky and crunchy – for only 79 calories per serving!
Aubergine – 25 calories per 100g
Aubergines have a really subtle, mild taste and a meaty texture that’s good at soaking up other flavours. A staple of vegetarian cooking, they’re great for bulking out dishes to make them really filling yet low in calories.
Chop an aubergine into cubes and roast it alongside some other Mediterranean vegetables to make this irresistible Roasted Vegetable Risotto. It’s hearty and comforting yet light enough for a sunny day.
Avocado – 160 calories per 100g
There’s a good reason avocado is considered a superfood; their fleshy green fillings are packed with nutrients, vitamins and minerals. With a creamy, mashed texture and mild flavour, they make a tasty toast spread that beats butter by a landslide!
Avocado is a key ingredient for our Cheesy Avocado Salsa Wedges. Topped with melty cheese, fresh salsa and coated in a fiery spice mix, we can’t say no to this moreish Mexican-inspired side dish!
Regal Vine Tomatoes – 18 calories per 100g
Bright, vibrant and full of nutritious goodness, it’s hard to miss vine tomatoes in the supermarket aisle. Full of rich, tomatoey flavour that’s high in vitamins and low in calories, we can’t think of an excuse not to throw them into a tasty midweek dish like our Black Pepper and Parmesan Spaghetti with Garlic and Thyme Tomatoes.
Simple to make and ready in just 15 minutes, toss them in with herbs and veggies for only 370 calories per portion.
Jazz Apples – 51 calories per 100g
Jazz Apples are a crunchier alternative to sweet varieties like Gala or Pink Lady. The sweet-sharp flavours are just the ticket for when you’re in need of a satisfying, crunchy treat, or they’ll break down nicely baked up in a sweet pie or crumble.
Did someone say crumble? When it comes to fruity puddings, you can’t beat Apple Crumble. There’s nothing to stop you cooling it down with a scoop of ice cream – just be sure to count the extra calories, if you’re counting!
**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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