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New Low carb ready meals in my Supermart

Oldvatr

Oldvatr

Expert
Messages
8,453
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Just found that my local (ALDI) supermarket has launched a new range of low carb frozen meals. The SlimFree range is a meal-for-one that in general has carbohydrate content listed at less than 5%, The range is produced exclusively for Aldi.

But they are not marked or advertised as being LC, so you will need to check the labels before purchase. But I found them to be
good quality and definitely did not spike me.

The same supermarket has also recently trialled some other frozen products such as Butternut Risotto rice, and Moroccan Style Rice that are also LC but not labelled or advertised as such. They also sell spiralised veg such as Courgetti and Squashetti, and cauliflower rice in their fresh veg section, along with some good stirfry veg packs. There is also a heavy presence of gluten free foods, but these are definitely NOT low carb so beware,

There are other LC surprises in their prepared meals section, but be careful to check their Paleo range of health foods. One Paleo nut protein bar had 78% carbs, of which some 60% were added sugars.

So, Well Done Aldi! They are my No 1 shopping go-to.
 
A new Aldi has opened not far from us,so I'll check these out.They would be useful to have in the freezer for an emergency or when MrMac is in need of a high carb meal and I need to stick with a quick low carb one.Thanks for the info:)
 
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Apparently Slimming World are not happy with Aldi because the packaging looks similar to theirs. I think they made Iceland change their packaging for the same issue.
 
There's a new Aldi opened up near here, too - so I shall keep an eye open for these ready meals. Thanks for the heads up! :) :)
 
I find an Aldi stake costs about the same as a Tesco ready meal and is just as quick to cook.
 
I simply cannot bare cauliflower rice, not even when I do it myself. I have tried it with herbs, and spices all sorts and I really hate it.Yet I adore cauliflower steamed in the normal traditional chunks. Somehow when the cauliflower is pureed or blitzed into a looking rice makes the taste strong and more pungent, bitter even yuk. So if I have a curry I leave the cauli in the traditional chunks or when stir frying I do the same lol. I am pleased that you say its Aldi because we have not Lidl's here so cannot try their protein roll. Will look out for this range as sometimes it is nice not to have to cook,as I cook for two others in my house and they do not always want the same as my food
 
ringi said:
I find an Aldi stake costs about the same as a Tesco ready meal and is just as quick to cook.
Click to expand...
But how do each of these affect your bgl levels after?

I keep a ready meal in the freezer for emergencies, but I would not wish to freeze a steak for long if at all since freezing affects the steaks making them tougher. A ready meal can be done in the microwave too, which a steak is not so well adapted to. Also most ready meals can be split into two to share if sufficient vegs are provided, but a steak is generally a one person thing.

How low carbs are the Teco meals? My Aldi one last night was 2,8g carbs per 100 g, so is well within my carb budget. My 2hr PP and 4hr PP were both lower than my pre-meal reading (as confirmed by both of my meters having the same delta drops to confirm).
 
derry60 said:
I simply cannot bare cauliflower rice, not even when I do it myself. I have tried it with herbs, and spices all sorts and I really hate it.Yet I adore cauliflower steamed in the normal traditional chunks. Somehow when the cauliflower is pureed or blitzed into a looking rice makes the taste strong and more pungent, bitter even yuk. So if I have a curry I leave the cauli in the traditional chunks or when stir frying I do the same lol. I am pleased that you say its Aldi because we have not Lidl's here so cannot try their protein roll. Will look out for this range as sometimes it is nice not to have to cook,as I cook for two others in my house and they do not always want the same as my food
Click to expand...
Me neither! I've been told I'm supertaster for cauliflower as I find it sooo bitter. I've tried adding garlic and spices and it makes no difference. Wish I knew the answer. Like you I can tolerate it in cauliflower cheese though if steamed
 
I'm also an Aldi lover. Favourite purchases are paleo museli, their oh so easy stir frys, cauliflower rice and rice cake bars. I might give one of the ready meals ago once every so often.
What's your favourite/lowest carb @Oldvatr?
 
Sally_Ann_W said:
Me neither! I've been told I'm supertaster for cauliflower as I find it sooo bitter. I've tried adding garlic and spices and it makes no difference. Wish I knew the answer. Like you I can tolerate it in cauliflower cheese though if steamed
Click to expand...
I have a Lidl roll and butter with my curries, instead of rice or cauli. There is a butternut risotto in the Aldi freezer section that is quite nice, and also a moroccan spiced rice that goes well. Both are low carbish but not as low as cauli rice.

I am told that Basmatti or Patna rice are possible for some, I have used wholegrain basmatti without too much grief, but as usual eat to meter and test, The secret as taught by my mother (T1D from Bombay), is to wash first, then boil as usual, then place in sieve and washthrough with cold water, followed immediately by boiling water from the kettle to heat it up again, This washes out the gloopy starch.
 
@derry60 and @Sally_Ann_W I can't bear cauliflower rice made from the fresh stuff either. I buy frozen cauliflower in 1kg bags and cook it in the microwave, then whizz it with salt and pepper. It is not remotely bitter and doesn't smell horrid either! I have 'rice' probably twice or three times a week (for 2 portions cook 500g for 10mins, then whizz) and 'mash' a couple of times a week (500g for 20mins, blend with immersion blender with salt, pepper and cheese). I've just had the latter as a topping on tonight's fish pie.

Scrummy!

:)
 
tiredoftrying2017 said:
I'm also an Aldi lover. Favourite purchases are paleo museli, their oh so easy stir frys, cauliflower rice and rice cake bars. I might give one of the ready meals ago once every so often.
What's your favourite/lowest carb @Oldvatr?
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I am of Indian / Pakistani decent, so I like their currries, but their Moroccan veg stew is good too. At 2.8% carb I am happy with the result. Yesterday I had a chicken tikka meal 4 one, and I hypo'ed after it which was surprising. I have had good results with their risotto, and also their carbonara and canelloni choices from the chill cabinet.
 
I would never trust anything any supermarket or food manufacturing company about a product being low-carb it's normally a scam.
 
mjames1 said:
I would never trust anything any supermarket or food manufacturing company about a product being low-carb it's normally a scam.
Click to expand...
None of the products I discussed in my OP are being marketed or even marked as Low Carb, but the statuatory listing on the packaging shows low carb content, and my meter readings post meal confirm that they are indeed LC compatible, I would not be extolling their virtues if I had not tested them first. The ingredients listed are also indicative of a properly thought out recipe too, so I for one am going to continue using them

As an aside, although I have mostly used these as meals for one (i.e. me) the portions are such that they can be shared between two with a litttle extra veg, as my carboholic daughter will attest to.
 
Oldvatr said:
Just found that my local (ALDI) supermarket has launched a new range of low carb frozen meals. The SlimFree range is a meal-for-one that in general has carbohydrate content listed at less than 5%, The range is produced exclusively for Aldi.

But they are not marked or advertised as being LC, so you will need to check the labels before purchase. But I found them to be
good quality and definitely did not spike me.

The same supermarket has also recently trialled some other frozen products such as Butternut Risotto rice, and Moroccan Style Rice that are also LC but not labelled or advertised as such. They also sell spiralised veg such as Courgetti and Squashetti, and cauliflower rice in their fresh veg section, along with some good stirfry veg packs. There is also a heavy presence of gluten free foods, but these are definitely NOT low carb so beware,

There are other LC surprises in their prepared meals section, but be careful to check their Paleo range of health foods. One Paleo nut protein bar had 78% carbs, of which some 60% were added sugars.

So, Well Done Aldi! They are my No 1 shopping go-to.
Click to expand...

Thanks Oldvatr. Will look when I am next in Aldi. It is a shame the website does not have them on as yet ? As an aside
Aldi and others do not have a match on Iceland for web information most items on the Iceland website have a nutrition
header that lists carbs etc. Examples below.
http://groceries.iceland.co.uk/iceland-takeaway-chinese-chicken-curry-375g/p/62596
http://groceries.iceland.co.uk/iceland-chicken-bhuna-375g/p/45268
 
Snapsy said:
@derry60 and @Sally_Ann_W I can't bear cauliflower rice made from the fresh stuff either. I buy frozen cauliflower in 1kg bags and cook it in the microwave, then whizz it with salt and pepper. It is not remotely bitter and doesn't smell horrid either! I have 'rice' probably twice or three times a week (for 2 portions cook 500g for 10mins, then whizz) and 'mash' a couple of times a week (500g for 20mins, blend with immersion blender with salt, pepper and cheese). I've just had the latter as a topping on tonight's fish pie.

Scrummy!

:)
Click to expand...
Wow! That is interesting. I will give it a try. Thanks for letting me know
 
Oldvatr said:
I have a Lidl roll and butter with my curries, instead of rice or cauli. There is a butternut risotto in the Aldi freezer section that is quite nice, and also a moroccan spiced rice that goes well. Both are low carbish but not as low as cauli rice.

I am told that Basmatti or Patna rice are possible for some, I have used wholegrain basmatti without too much grief, but as usual eat to meter and test, The secret as taught by my mother (T1D from Bombay), is to wash first, then boil as usual, then place in sieve and washthrough with cold water, followed immediately by boiling water from the kettle to heat it up again, This washes out the gloopy starch.
Click to expand...
Yes, I do have a lidl roll now and again. That's an interesting idea about washing though. If I do have a small amount of rice I cook, cool for 12 hours and then reheat as I think it becomes resistant starch but I'm gonna try washing first before cooling. Ps: tom kerridge does a really good flatbread recipe from coconut flour which I've had in place of a naan. My man, who is not worried about carbs loves them too. Thanks for the info
 
Snapsy said:
@derry60 and @Sally_Ann_W I can't bear cauliflower rice made from the fresh stuff either. I buy frozen cauliflower in 1kg bags and cook it in the microwave, then whizz it with salt and pepper. It is not remotely bitter and doesn't smell horrid either! I have 'rice' probably twice or three times a week (for 2 portions cook 500g for 10mins, then whizz) and 'mash' a couple of times a week (500g for 20mins, blend with immersion blender with salt, pepper and cheese). I've just had the latter as a topping on tonight's fish pie.

Scrummy!

:)
Click to expand...
I have never thought of trying the frozen whizzed up. I will try that next. Like I said hate the fresh cauli whizzed awful smell and taste.
 
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