Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 28.04.23
It’s Friday and it’s Weekly Pinch of Shopping time! Since spring is officially in full swing – we’re getting prepped for barbecue season with sticky coconut and mango glazed fish skewers. They’re phenomenal straight from the grill!
The perfect pudding to tuck into under a blue sky, we’ve also found a cheap and cheerful Limoncello Trifle that’ll transport you to Italy from the comfort of your back garden.
Plus, it’s almost time to crack out the red, white and blue coronation bunting! We’ve got some scrummy Strawberries and Cream Custard Creams that’ll go down a storm with a pot of tea…
Our upcoming paperback cookbook, Pinch of Nom: Budget, is available to pre-order NOW! 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!**
Baxters Kimchi Crunchy & Spicy – 42 calories per 100g
When you’re looking to add an irresistible tang to your lunchtime bowl, Baxters Kimchi Crunchy and Spicy does the job. If you’ve never tried kimchi before, it’s a Korean-style side dish made up of tangy, fermented vegetables. Baxters has added a fiery, chilli-seasoned kick to its jar, to keep things even more exciting.
If you’re looking to try your hand at preparing gut-healthy, homemade kimchi, our Quick Kimchi Style Slaw is a great place to start. It’ll stay as delicious as ever, refrigerated in an airtight jar, for up to 2 weeks (it actually tastes better the longer you leave it!).
We’ve used finely-chopped spring cabbage, carrots, radishes and cucumber, but you can use any stray bits of veg you’d prefer. How’s that for reducing food waste?
Baxters Kimchi Crunchy & Spicy is available from Morrisons, priced at £3.50 per jar.
What a Juice Daily Vits Tropical Juice – 41 calories per 100ml
Start your day with a boost of vitamins thanks to Sainsbury’s brand-new What a Juice Daily Vits Tropical Juice. A refreshing beverage to wash down breakfast, or sip on throughout the day, you can expect vitamins A, B12, C and D3 in every bottle. While we’ve gone for tropical-flavoured juice, it’s also available in an apple-infused blend, if you’d prefer.
Speaking of exotic, fruity flavours, we love diving into a Tropical Fruit Fool when the sun’s out. For these gorgeous little garden-party puddings, we’ve combined mangoes and pineapples with slimming-friendly swaps to keep things creamy and impressive, without taking you off track.
You can find the full recipe on pages 242-243 of Pinch of Nom: Enjoy. If you don’t have a copy yet, don’t worry – you can grab one here.
What a Juice Daily Vits Tropical Juice is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £1.95 per bottle.
Graze Sticky Toffee Oat Boosts – 122 calories per boost
True to the ‘pick-me-up you can’t put down’ strapline, Graze Sticky Toffee Oat Boosts are a midday nibble worth keeping on standby. A mix of natural wholegrains, chopped dates and low-sugar treacle, they’ll satisfy your sweet tooth at 122 calories per crunchy square – no matter where you are!
If toffee flavours are your cup of tea, you’ll want to try our oh-so-crispy Toffee Apple Swirls. We’ve said goodbye to calorie-laden, thicker pastries and swirled our homemade, toffee-apple puree filling between sheets of ready-rolled light puff pastry instead.
The result is a moreish, sweet snack that’ll tickle your taste buds for just over 100 calories a pop.
For more spiral-shaped treats, take a look through our favourite puff pastry swirl recipes.
Graze Sticky Toffee Oat Boosts are available from Waitrose, priced at £2.85 for a pack of 4.
Morrisons Savers British Beef Burgers – 79 calories per burger (cooked)
Is it even barbecue season without burgers? These Morrisons Savers British Beef Burgers give you bang for your buck, at less than 2 quid for 8 small patties. Keep them in the freezer until you’re ready to flip them on the grill – they’ll land on your plate peppery, juicy and ready to be topped with your favourite burger trimmings.
Royal ceremony or not, when it comes to tasty barbecue side dishes, our Coronation Coleslaw takes the crown. We’ve combined fat-free Greek yoghurt, fresh mangoes and freshly-shredded vegetables to create coronation sauce inspired magic.
Try it over the long weekend in a burger bun, sandwich or salad – we promise, it’s royally worth it!
Morrisons Savers British Beef Burgers are available from Morrisons, priced at £1.72 for a pack of 8.
ASDA Flavourful Garlic & Herb Chicken Kebab – 86 calories per 1/4 pack (ovenbaked)
If something says ‘garlic and herb’ on the packet, chances are it’ll be delicious! We couldn’t walk past these ASDA Flavourful Garlic and Herb Chicken Kebabs. Since they’re already pre-marinated in a lovely, herb-infused glaze, all you need to worry about is what sides to serve them with.
Whether you barbecue them or oven cook them, we bet these tender chicken skewers will go down a treat with Tabbouleh. Mixed with vibrant lemon juice, mint and parsley, all of the flavours in this Middle Eastern inspired salad are like summer in a bowl.
Spoon it onto your plate with a readymade chicken kebab, or make your own slimming-friendly kebab dish at home (we’ve got a whole roundup of kebab-inspired dishes here!).
ASDA Flavourful Garlic & Herb Chicken Kebab is available from Asda, priced at £4.40 for a pack of 4.
Tesco Firepit Mango Coconut Lime Fish Skewers – 127 calories per 1/3 pack
If you’re looking to eat less meat and trying to add more fish to your diet, stocking up on BBQ-friendly goodies is easier than you might think. Take these freezer-friendly Firepit Mango Coconut Lime Fish Skewers we spotted in Tesco as a tasty example!
With tender, chunky fish pieces ready-coated in a fruity, chilli-infused glaze, they’re filling and flavoursome enough to pair with a variety of sides.
Coconut complements white fish like a dream, and that’s definitely true with our Tamarind and Coconut Fish recipe. While we’ve used sea bass fillets for ours, there’s nothing to stop you using any white fish you have available – after all, the secret is in the sauce!
You can find the full recipe on pages 82-83 of our fourth cookbook, Pinch of Nom: Comfort Food.
Tesco Firepit Mango Coconut Lime Fish Skewers are available from Tesco, priced at £3.50 for a pack of 6.
M&S Mini Chutney Topped Crown Pork Pies – 193 calories per pork pie
Coronation week is getting closer, and it’s hard to miss all the red, white and blue goodies on the supermarket shelves. It’s no wonder these M&S Mini Chutney Topped Crown Pork Pies caught our eye! Each delicate little pork-filled pie comes with an adorable pastry crown, on a layer of either roasted tomato or punchy piccalilli chutney. Fun to look at and fun to eat, they’re perfect for a bank holiday picnic!
We’re not lying when we tell you that our Porky Pie recipe will be a hit with the whole family. A hearty, midweek dinner with a cheesy potato topping, we’re betting no one would ever guess it’s totally veggie-friendly.
It’s a filling meal all on its own, or you can add even more nutritious goodness with a crunchy side of Garlic Green Beans.
M&S Mini Chutney Topped Crown Pork Pies are available from Ocado, priced at £6.00 for a pack of 9.
Sainsbury’s Strawberries & Cream Custard Creams – 59 calories per biscuit
Are custard creams always the first to go from your biscuit tin? You’ll want to grab a packet (or three!) of Sainsbury’s limited edition Strawberries and Cream Custard Creams. At 59 calories per biscuit, they’re well worth dipping in a brew while you watch the jubilations.
If you agree that strawberry-flavoured treats are the taste of British springtime, you need to try our Strawberry Cheesecake Frozen Yoghurt at your long weekend shindig.
We’ve recreated strawberry cheesecake inspired flavours using a blend of fat-free yoghurt, extra-light cream cheese and tangy, homemade strawberry puree.
So impressive yet so simple, make some room in the freezer so that you can prepare it well before you’re busy enjoying time with friends and family.
Sainsbury’s Strawberries & Cream Custard Creams are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at 60p.
Iceland Breaded Cheese and Onion Rings – 77 calories per ring (ovenbaked)
Cheese and onion has always been an elite flavour combination, so it felt rude not to try Iceland’s Breaded Cheese and Onion Rings. Coated in a crispy layer of breadcrumbs, they come ready-stuffed with gooey Cheddar cheese and finely-diced red onion.
For only 77 calories per melt-in-the-middle nibble, it’s well worth adding them to the savoury section of your bank holiday buffet spread.
With our Onion Rings with Garlic and Chive Dip recipe, you don’t need to pop to the shops to get your fix. Ready in less than half an hour with a list of simple ingredients, you’ll be surprised by how easy they are to bake to perfection.
They’re 191 calories per serving – creamy, chive-infused dip included!
Iceland Breaded Cheese and Onion Rings are available from Iceland, priced at £2.50 for a pack of 8.
Dessert Menu Limoncello Tiramisu – 223 calories per pot
A tangy, refreshing twist on classic Tiramisu, we had to try this Dessert Menu Limoncello Tiramisu from Aldi. With zingy sponge, coulis and limoncello liqueur infused mousse, it’s fair to say this one’s just for grown-ups!
While it’s not quite the same as jumping on a plane, it is nice to know that you can get a taste of Italian-inspired sunshine for only 223 calories per pot.
When you need pudding in a hurry, there’s no better answer than our Microwave Lemon Lava Cakes. Once the lemony ingredients are combined, pop your ramekins in the microwave and wait less than 2 minutes for the ping!
Keep an eye on them until they’re just risen; they’re most impressive when their zesty centres are mouth-wateringly runny.
Dessert Menu Limoncello Tiramisu pots are available from Aldi, priced at £1.15 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.
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!
Celery – 14 calories per 100g
Low in calories and perfect for snacking, there’s nothing boring about celery when you get creative. Chop it up and cook it in soups, stews and sauces, or use it to add a crunch to your lunchtime salad. When you’re on the lookout for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, take celery for a dip in a tasty pot of Hummus-style Dip.
Ramp up the spice with extra chilli powder, if you’re feeling brave!
Mini San Marzano Tomatoes – 20 calories per 100g
It’s well worth grabbing a punnet of Mini San Marzano Tomatoes while they’re on offer! Rich with tomatoey deliciousness, they’re especially good for preparing homemade cooking sauces for pasta or pizza.
You can also serve them fresh in a crunchy, mixed leaf salad, like our Greek Salad recipe. Imagine them with punchy reduced-fat Greek-style cheese, drizzled in a zingy, lemon juice dressing…
Green Grapes – 69 calories per 100g
Good for you and even better for your taste buds, grapes are an easy snack whether you’re on-the-go or after a fridge-ready nibble. As well as being an energy-boosting snack, they’re also a handy ingredient to mix with veg or other fruits in a salad.
If you are hosting friends and family over the long weekend, our Very Green Zingy Kale Salad works especially well with chicken. Trust us, the grapes make it!
Sweet Potatoes – 86 calories per 100g
With a tough skin that’s perfect for crisping in the oven or air fryer, sweet potatoes are a delicious, alternative way to prepare homemade chips. You can also use them to add a pop of colour to your plate with Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Mash.
We roast our sweet potatoes with the butternut squash for around 60 minutes, before mashing. It really brings out their gorgeous, natural sweetness.
Blueberries – 57 calories per 100g
Packed with vitamin C, blueberries are the perfect fruit for sunshine snacking. They can be a little bit on the expensive side, so it’s always worthwhile popping them in your basket while they’re at a great price!
Use them to add a juicy twist to a batch of our refreshing Gin and Tonic Ice Lollies. A treat that’s strictly for grown-ups only, they’re sure to cool you right down for only 29 calories per lolly (we’ll raise a toast to that!).
**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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