Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 30.10
In this week’s Weekly Pinch of Shopping, we’ve found some extra matured Marmite for a more full-bodied kick.
Marmite is a hot topic this week as it’s a key ingredient in our new Marmite Mushrooms on Toast recipe, which has caused quite a stir on our Facebook Page and in our Facebook Group!
Are you a Marmite lover or hater?
We’ve also found the perfect bite-sized after dinner treat…mini Lindor chocolates!
These are some of our favourite chocolates but usually contain lots of calories so we were so excited to find these mini versions.
We’re also showcasing some tasty savoury items including Plant Pioneers No Duck Spring Rolls and a Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Soup Kit for a soup-er easy lunch idea.
Plus, slimming friendly creamy Brooklea 0% Fat Greek Style Yoghurt and Pickled Onion Puffs from Aldi that are super tasty AND budget friendly.
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.
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.
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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!**
Brooklea 0% Greek Style Yoghurts – up to 144 calories per pot depending on flavour
Smooth and creamy, these Brooklea 0% Greek Style Yoghurts are rich and indulgent, but with a substantial calorie saving against the full fat version!
They’re available in classic vanilla, hazelnut, strawberry and raspberry flavours and we love how versatile they are.
You can spoon them on top of cereal or simply grab a pot when you fancy something sweet and light: they’re a slimming essential that tastes great at any time of day.
We think the berry flavours will work wonderfully in our Raspberry and Blueberry Baked Cheesecake, or even try a hint of hazelnut for a nutty twist on Overnight Oats!
You can find Brooklea 0% Greek Style Yoghurts at Aldi for 69p for a 150g pot.
Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Soup Mix – 57 calories per half pack serving
Autumn is well and truly here to stay and we love rustling up a warming, hearty soup for lunch or dinner.
Butternut squash is in season right now, but we’d be lying if we said we didn’t wish we could skip the chopping sometimes!
Especially when you’re in a hurry and want something healthy without slaving over the hob for hours.
This Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Soup Mix takes out all of the hassle with pre-chopped butternut squash and red pepper; all you need to do is simply add stock and simmer – it’s that easy!
For a speedy meal, serve with a crusty wholemeal roll and fresh mixed leaves on the side.
We have plenty of other substantial soup recipes available if you’d prefer a different flavour – try our Ham, Leek and Potato Soup for a filling, healthy lunch.
You can find a 350g bag of this Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Soup Mix from Asda for just £1.
Quixo Stock Cubes – 27 calories
Stock cubes are a base to so many of our dishes and add such a depth of flavour you simply wouldn’t get with water!
You can even boil plain rice in a chicken stock cube to add a savoury flavour, upgrading a side dish with no effort at all– they are truly one of the best store cupboard ingredients.
When you cook from scratch, stock cubes are a slimming essential and every saving counts.
Thankfully Gemma Pemberton-Williamson mentioned these Quixo Stock Cubes over in our Facebook Group and they won’t break the bank at only 35p for 12!
Pop into stews and wintery casseroles like our Slow Cooker Balsamic Beef Stew or liven up a Garlic Mushroom Risotto.
Available in beef, chicken and vegetable varieties from Aldi for 35p for a box of 12.
Wham Softies – 27 calories per chew
How cute and nostalgic are these Wham Softies?
The same sweet taste with a hint of sourness that we all remember, but in a smaller size!
They’re still chewy though, so one of these mini versions will last a while, so they go far for only 27 calories.
These are ideal grab and go chews for an instant sweet treat, and they come in a share bag size so you can keep them in your handbag or car for snacking emergencies.
With no artificial colours or flavours, these are a good buy for trick or treaters this weekend, too.
However, they are SO tasty, we won’t blame you if you’ll be turning the lights off and pretending you’re not home!
If you’re looking for a slimming version of another childhood favourite, take a peek at our Jaffa Cakes!
Sainsbury’s sell a 175g bag of Wham Softies for £1.
Plant Pioneers No Duck Spring Rolls – 90 calories per spring roll
We have been huge fans of jackfruit for SO long, it was even featured in our podcast as the lovely Vicky Pattinson’s Magic Ingredient!
We’re always raving about it and we’re so pleased we’ve found a slimming essential that has jackfruit in.
Because it has such a meaty texture and shreds really well, it’s not only perfect for Vegan Campfire Stew but also in these Plant Pioneers No Duck Spring Rolls!
Packed with carrots, beansprouts and a sweet plum sauce, they’re a delicious vegan alternative to usually high-fat shop-bought spring rolls.
At only 90 calories a roll, these are a perfect addition to fakeaway night.
The only problem now is choosing between Crispy Chilli Beef and Chicken Chow Mein, right?
Pick up a 4-pack of these Plant Pioneers No Duck Spring Rolls for £2.25 from Sainsbury’s.
Pickled Onion Veggie Puffs – 87 calories
Our Facebook Group is a great source of inspiration, and we love seeing the slimming essentials you’ve been loving recently.
Clare Cooper shared these delicious Pickled Onion Veggie Puffs and we think they’re great!
They have a strong pickled onion flavour, and at only 87 calories a pack they’re a lower calorie alternative to crisps.
Sometimes if you’re in a snacking mood, it feels like nothing can possibly satisfy the craving but you may be surprised: a strong flavour like these veggie puffs can really help.
To keep them light, these snacks are baked instead of fried and are naturally gluten free.
Pop them in a packed lunch with Low Carb Chicken and Ham Wraps for a tasty, nutritious lunch.
Aldi stock these Pickled Onion Veggie Puffs for 55p per bag.
Graze Honey Roast Crunch Creations – 111 calories per serving
The words ‘honey roast crunch’ usually conjures up images of nuts or seeds that are slathered in sugar and honey, ingredients you would typically steer clear from on a slimming plan!
These Graze Honey Roast Crunch Creations are a healthier alternative, with the sweet honey roasted taste but made with vegetables.
Packed with corn and broad beans, lightly salted peas and corn chips, this veggie-friendly snack has the perfect balance between sweet and salty.
They are full of fibre to keep you fuller for longer, and come in super handy share bags.
We think these are ideal for movie nights or popping on the coffee table to snack on in front of the TV.
Why not serve with a plate of our brand new Apple Pie Cookies?
Graze Honey Roast Crunch Creations are available from Waitrose and Sainsbury’s for £2 for a 100g share size bag.
Lindt Lindor Minis – 60 calories per chocolate
Lindt Lindor chocolate truffles are so smooth and rich, but they’re also pretty high in calories so they’re a very rare treat!
Thanks to Paula Spencer over on our Facebook Group , we’ve seen that Lindt have recently introduced these Lindt Lindor Minis, in a perfect mini size: just enough to satisfy the chocolate craving but without blowing your slimming plan.
At only 60 calories per chocolate compared to 73 for a standard sized one and individually wrapped, you can find these in milk chocolate, mint and chocolate orange flavours – we’ll take one of each, please!
They’re also the same round shape as the originals and look great as decorations on cakes and puddings.
Why not use them to garnish our Chocolate Cake with Salted Caramel Cream for an additional touch of indulgence?
Lindt Lindor Minis are available in Tesco for £2 for a share size bag.
Graham’s Low Calorie Salted Caramel Ice Cream – 320 calories per whole tub
Yes it’s getting colder and darker, but there are no rules around when we need to stop enjoying ice cream, especially Graham’s Low Calorie Salted Caramel Ice Cream!
Creamy with a rich caramel flavour, this ice cream is light and delicious at only 320 calories per tub.
That’s 320 calories for the WHOLE tub!
It also doesn’t have the chemical aftertaste that can be common with artificial sweeteners, so it really does taste as good as the real thing.
Perfect for dessert, add a dollop on top of our Strawberry Pancake Traybake for a really easy pud that the whole family will enjoy.
Pick up a 450ml tub of Graham’s Low Calorie Salted Caramel Ice Cream at Asda and Aldi for £1.99.
Marmite XO Yeast Extract – 20 calories per serving
Last, but certainly not least, one for the Marmite lovers!
Marmite XO Yeast Extract is no less than FOUR times more matured than the usual spread and full of that distinctive flavour you love (or hate!).
If you’ve not yet tried one of our most popular recipes right now, Marmite Mushrooms on Toast, there’s no excuse not to with this vegan, vitamin rich spread!
You could even swap out the normal Marmite for this one if you’d prefer even more of a full-bodied bite for breakfast.
Not only that, at only 20 calories per serving it’s a great way of adding a burst of flavour to SO many dishes for very little calories.
We’re huge fans of the extra strong flavour in Marmite XO Yeast Extract and it can even make the humble Brussels sprout taste delicious in our Marmite Sprouts recipe.
You can grab a 250g jar of Marmite XO Yeast Extract at Sainsbury’s for £4.
REMINDER: Aldi Super 6 Fruit and Veg Selection
Aldi will be switching out their Super 6 on Thursday, so here’s your refresher of what’s available! For meal inspiration, take a look at last week’s full roundup here.
- Baking potatoes – 63 calories per medium potato
- Garlic – 5 calories per clove
- Large flat mushrooms – 5 calories per mushroom
- Royal Gala Apples – 62 calories per apple
- Persimmons – around 127 calories per fruit (approx 100g)
- Squash – 34 calories per serving (100g)
**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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