Joleisa’s low Carb Meal Ideas as Featured on Channel 5’s Shop Smart Save Money

This week we have decided to recreate some of the low carb meal ideas we shared on Channel 5’s Shop Smart Save Money and add a few more which we share with Katy Kicker and her readers weekly.

Not only have we shared the names of the dishes, but we have even added the list of ingredients needed, the method, and also photos of the dishes.

I will also endeavor to add a photo with us as presenters and the family each week. (See Below for the photos)

 

Here’s the popular chicken korma recipe to check out and save later

 

We hope you like them as much as Byron and Sophie did and also that you shop wisely for the ingredients to recreate them. Don’t forget too, to check out your fridge and cupboards to see what you already have in. This way you will be cutting down on food waste.

 

Low carb meal plan ideas for this week

Sunday– The best make at home vegan burgers

This brings back happy memories of an Aldi sponsored BBQ we had last summer.

Monday– Salads in jars 

Tuesday– Spaghetti Bolognese with spiralized vegetables

Wednesday– Ackee and Saltfish with green bananas

Thursday– Vegetable risotto with spicy chicken

Friday– Chicken and chickpea curry with flatbread and or rice

Saturday– Beef and vegetable soup

Although we are not on Slimming World nor Weight Watchers, we have been adjusting the number of starchy foods we eat, thereby cutting down on our carbohydrate intake.

 

Here are the dishes we planned for Byron and Sophie on the show

Photos below

 

• Special Spaghetti Bolognese with spiralized vegetables and Turkey or Chicken Mince

This is a super adaptable bolognese that can be made to suit different dietary requirements.

Starting with the succulent low-fat chicken pieces in the delicious sauce and then the spiralized vegetables, this will suit Sophie’s low-calorie needs whilst Byron can still get his chicken fix and lots of carbs from the spaghetti. With this meal, both are winners.

 

 

 

• Mixed Veg Risotto with Spicy Chicken

This risotto with the variety of vegetables will be a match made in heaven for people like Sophie and Byron with different nutritional requirements.

Extra low-calorie fibre-rich vegetables will be perfect for Sophie while a man-sized portion will ‘do the business’ for Byron.

 

 

 

• Spicy Chicken and Chickpea Curry

This tasty Indian delight will leave your belly satisfied while your taste buds zing for more!

It’s an amazing curry that is suitable for someone on a low-calorie diet but spicy and filling enough for their other half too.

 

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Here are the recipes

Special Spaghetti Bolognaise with spiralized vegetables and Turkey or Chicken Mince

Ingredients

200g Turkey/Chicken mince

1 can chopped tomato

1 onion, chopped

1 tbsp dried mixed herbs

Low-calorie cooking spray

2 carrots, chopped

2 celery sticks, chopped

1 courgette or spiralized courgette

1 stock cube

100g spaghetti

 

Method

Spray saucepan with low-calorie spray. Add chopped onion. Sauté for a minute or until softened. Add vegetables and mince and continue stirring until the meat is thoroughly cooked (about 4 minutes).

Add chopped tomatoes, herbs and stock cube dissolved in 100ml of hot water.

Allow simmering until the sauce is reduced.

While sauce is simmering, cook the spaghetti in salted boiling water, over which the spiralized courgette (or other vegetables) is steamed.

Serve with a salad of choice.

Wow!

 

Our spiralizer is a game changer! I got it as a Christmas gift 2 years before we used it. It is handy for preparing vegetables in a noodle-like shape. It also has different attachments according to the shape you want. Suitable for when you still want to enjoy low carb dishes like spaghetti bolognese (but with fewer carbs.)

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Mixed Veg Risotto with Spicy Chicken

 Ingredients

200g frozen mixed veg

200g Arborio or other risotto rice

150g quark

1 stock cube

1 tsp smoky paprika

1 pack ready-cooked hot and spicy chicken breast slices

Low-calorie cooking spray

1 onion

Salt and pepper

 

Method

Put kettle to boil with 400ml water.

Over medium heat, fry onion until softened. Add thawed vegetables. Then stir in the rice and the crumbled stock cube.

Stir and cook for about 2 minutes. Add the hot water gradually stirring all the time.

Allow each portion of water to be absorbed before adding more water.

Once all the water has been absorbed, stir through the paprika, chicken, quark, salt, and pepper. Cook for a further 5 minutes then remove from the heat and serve with a salad of choice.

 

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Spicy chicken and chickpea curry with rice

Ingredients

1 pk Lime & Coriander Steamed Basmati Rice

2 chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

1 400g can chickpeas

1 onion, chopped

2 tbsp spiced ginger puree

1 Tbsp turmeric

1 tsp curry powder

1 tsp garam masala

1 tsp coriander powder

Low-calorie cooking spray

1 tsp chili flakes or chili powder

Salt and pepper

 

Method

Boil chickpeas in salted water for about 20 minutes until soft.

While the chickpeas are cooking, spray a separate saucepan with low-calorie cooking spray and sauté the onions and ginger puree for 5 minutes.

Add the chicken, turmeric, curry powder, and chili flakes. Continue cooking while stirring over medium heat for 5 minutes. Cover and leave to simmer.

Check on chickpeas which should be soft when pressed against the pan with the back of a spoon.

Remove chickpeas from heat when cooked and blitz with one cup of the boiling water in a food processor

Add the pureed chickpeas to the curry pan along with the garam masala and coriander

Cook for a further 5 minutes

Season with salt and pepper as needed

 

Cook rice in the microwave and serve up with curry (or chappati and a salad of choice

 

Enjoy!

Studio day

Savvy shoppers Jo, Leisa, and Kelly along with Byron and Sophie

 

… And with the other presenters, Andy, Gabi and Alexis

… and yes, both were happy with the meals we planned and they did come in at under £20 for three meals.

What about you? What would you suggest for low carb meal ideas? Share with us in the comments below.

 

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