Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 31.12
Wow… Can you believe it’s the last Weekly Pinch of Shopping of 2021? It’s officially time to raise a glass to a fresh start! Are you feeling motivated to smash your New Year goals? Whether you’re already prepped or still not sure where to begin, we’ve got you covered with plenty of healthy inspiration for upcoming lunch and dinner times.
From tomatoey spaghetti hoops to squirty chocolate cream, we’ve found slimming friendly options and indulgent treats that’ll start your 2022 off on the right track.
Pssst… did you know that our Quick & Easy Food Planner is the PERFECT companion to start the New Year with. It’ll help you to plan out your meals and keep track of exactly what you’re eating or need to buy. It also includes 26 exclusive recipes, with space to celebrate your wins along the way and (most importantly) lots of fun stickers!
We’ve also dropped in a reminder of this fortnight’s Super 6. Every fortnight Aldi discounts a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, so we’re giving you the rundown of last 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.
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 NEW cookbook Pinch of Nom Comfort Food is out NOW! If you haven’t got your hands on a copy yet, it’s FULL of hearty, wholesome, home-cooked dishes. Get your copy here or pick one up in your nearest supermarket.
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.
Want first access to our Weekly Pinch of Shopping articles? Make sure that you’re subscribed to our newsletter as we’ll be letting our email subscribers know that a new list has been published before anyone else.
You can sign up to receive the Weekly Pinch of Shopping in your inbox here.
**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!**
Essential British Chicken Mince 5% Fat – 116 calories per 100g
If cutting down on red meat is one of your New Year’s resolutions, this chicken mince from Waitrose is the perfect alternative. With low fat mince handy in the fridge or freezer, you’re always part of the way towards a slimming friendly meal. From burgers and meatballs to home-cooked bolognese, it’s a super versatile ingredient for a variety of dishes.
The low fat mince in our Cheesy Fajita Orzotto recipe really soaks up the classic fajita flavours. Seriously cheesy, easy to make and even easier to batch cook, it’s a crowd pleaser the whole family will love. Trust us!
While our recipe uses turkey mince, chicken mince will be just as delicious – make sure to recalculate the calories accordingly if you’re keeping track.
Essential British Chicken Mince 5% Fat is available from Waitrose, priced at £3.50.
Wonderfully Curious Peeled Garlic – 119 calories per 100g
Garlic is an essential ingredient in so many dishes, and it’s even better when it’s freshly peeled and good to go. That’s why we love how convenient this pack from Wonderfully Curious is! Saving time without compromising on flavour, you can take cloves straight from the bag ready to chop or press.
Why not ramp up the indulgence in our Chilli Pasta Bake recipe by adding a few extra freshly crushed cloves? Full of warming comfort, you can have this meal prepped and served fresh from the oven in less than 45 minutes.
We’ve made sure to use easy to find, inexpensive ingredients only, so you’d be able to cook this for a special occasion even at short notice.
Wonderfully Curious Peeled Garlic is available from Ocado, priced at £1.50.
Heinz Plant Protein Moroccan Chickpea & Bell Pepper – 218 calories per can
This Chickpea and Bell Pepper Plant Protein soup from Heinz is bursting with plant-based flavour, so it’s ideal if you’re aiming to eat more veggie-friendly lunches this year. Using chickpeas, bell peppers and haricot beans, every spoonful is full of nutritious goodness that’ll keep you on track by providing 2 of your 5-a-day. Simply heat it up gently in a pan to enjoy!
You could always bulk out your lunch and enjoy a bowlful of this Moroccan-inspired soup alongside our Cheesy Garlic Bread recipe – everybody loves garlic bread! Ours only takes 10 minutes for the cheesy bread slices to be crispy and golden. At just 85 calories per slice, we think it’s well worth mopping up your leftovers…
Heinz Plant Protein in Moroccan Chickpea & Bell Pepper is available from Tesco, priced at £1.50 per can.
Kallo Organic Vegetable & Mixed Herbs Stock Paste – 57 calories per 15g portion
It’s SO easy to add an extra level of flavour to your cooking using stock. This Organic Vegetable and Mixed Herbs Stock Paste by Kallo is a vegan-friendly paste you can stir into your cooking or use as a herby marinade. A little goes a long way with this paste – we love that a 15g (57 calorie) portion packs enough flavour for 4 people.
Having flavourful ingredients like stock paste handy in your store cupboard means you’re never far from preparing a satisfying, slimming friendly meal. You can easily work this stock paste into your midweek dinner routine by stirring a portion into warming dishes like our Cottage Pie recipe.
Calling all New Year meal-preppers! Our favourite thing about this recipe is that it’s still just as tasty even if it’s reheated, so you’ll definitely want to make room for a portion or two in your freezer.
Kallo Organic Vegetable and Mixed Herbs Stock Paste is available from Waitrose, priced at £1.85.
Cauldron Vegan Organic Tofu – 117 calories per 1/4 pack
It’s easier to eat less meat with a go-to tasty alternative like Cauldron Vegan Organic Tofu. High in protein and calcium, it’s a nutritious ingredient that absorbs flavours nicely while you’re cooking. To seal a more chewy texture into your tofu, bake it in the oven ahead of adding it to stir-fries or curries – trust us, it makes a difference!
By omitting the chicken and using a veggie stock cube, you can make a veggie-friendly, tofu version of our Creamy Chicken Curry. Similar to a korma, the sauce is full and rich without being too overpowering. The mildly spiced flavours are perfect if you’re catering for fussy eaters on family Fakeaway night!
Cauldron Vegan Organic Tofu is available from Morrisons, priced at £2.00 per pack.
Good Catch Thai Style 8 Fish Free Cakes – 129 calories per serving
Did someone say Veganuary? Whether you’re participating in the official challenge or setting a personal goal, these Thai Style Fish Free Cakes from Good Catch are a nifty buy you can build a healthy, vegan-friendly meal around. Using vegetable protein instead of fish, these tasty lemongrass-infused cakes are only 129 calories per serving.
Why not create a filling, vegan-friendly meal by plating them up with a portion of Indian Fried Rice? The kick of chilli and other spices will complement the Thai-inspired fish cakes nicely – we’d recommend serving with a squeeze of fresh lime juice for added zing!
Good Catch Thai Style 8 Fish Free Cakes are available from Tesco, priced at £3.75 per pack.
Sainsbury’s Bolognese Bites (Pack of 10) – 55 calories per bite
Even if it’s not the season of buffets and finger food anymore, we can still appreciate that big flavour can come in small packages. These Bolognese Bites from Sainsbury’s are a tasty, savoury treat stuffed with macaroni pasta and beef bolognese. You’ll LOVE the crispy breadcrumb coating!
We love how inexpensive it is to put together a hearty bolognese, and our Baked Bean Bolognese recipe is even thriftier than the traditional Italian classic. Using a combination of store cupboard staples, veggies and Italian herbs, this dish can serve 4 in less than 40 minutes.
Double the thriftiness by saving a portion for lunch too – it’s an irresistible jacket potato topping!
Sainsbury’s Bolognese Bites (Pack of 10) are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £3.00 per pack.
Heinz Vegetable Pasta Hoops – 117 calories per 1/2 can
These Heinz Vegetable Pasta Hoops come ready-loaded with 30 percent more veg, so they’re already a winner. Low in sugar and high in fibre, half a can provides a nutritious lunchtime option that’s microwave ready in under 2 minutes.
There are plenty of hidden veggies in our Italian-inspired Creamy Tomato Pasta too, which is why it’s such a nutritious family favourite. If you’re catering for veggie diets, just be sure to use veggie Worcestershire sauce or Henderson’s relish.
We’ve used broccoli, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes and peppers to make up the base of our dish, but you can add in any stray veggies you’d like!
Heinz Vegetable Pasta Hoops are available from Tesco, priced at £1.25 per can.
Iceland Luxury 12 Chocolate Cups – 84 calories per cup
Anyone fancy an indulgent chocolate bite? This set of 12 Luxury Chocolate Cups from Iceland makes the most of classic flavour combos, with dark chocolate mint cups and milk chocolate orange cups in each box. Keep them handy in the freezer for whenever your sweet tooth comes out to play – they’ll satisfy your cravings for only 84 calories per cup!
Speaking of gooey, chocolatey puddings, these Chocolate Lava Mug Cakes taste just as good as they look. Ready in less than 10 minutes, they’re best enjoyed as soon as they’re heated through and risen. We’ve topped ours with raspberries and an extra sprinkling of cocoa powder. Delish!
Iceland Luxury 12 Chocolate Cups are available from Iceland, priced at £2.00 per box.
ASDA Chocolate Squirty Cream – 38 calories per serving
We are officially obsessed with this Chocolate Squirty Cream from ASDA. The lightly whipped texture is perfect for adding even more indulgence to your sweet treats. Why not top your next hot chocolate with marshmallows and a swirl of chocolate cream? Oof! Don’t mind if we do.
Topped with cream and crushed Biscoff biscuits, you’ll definitely enjoy our Biscoff Cookie Milkshake recipe if you’re a fan of creamy sweet treats.
Full fat milkshakes can be super high in calories, so we’ve made some clever swaps to keep ours rich and slimming friendly for you.
ASDA Chocolate Squirty Cream is available from ASDA, priced at £1.50 per can.
REMINDER 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 reminder of this fortnight’s Super 6 selection:
- Carrots – 41 calories per 100g
- Brussels Sprouts – 43 calories per 100g
- Swede – 38 calories per 100g
- Red/White Cabbage – 30 calories per 100g
- Parsnips – 75 calories per 100g
- White Potatoes – 75 calories per 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!**
Love our Weekly Pinch of Shopping articles? Remember to sign up to our newsletter to get first access to the next one.
And if you’re not already part of our Facebook Group then make sure you join as we love seeing all of the new products that you find – not to mention all of the amazing support and motivation!