Low Syn Essentials - BBQ Special - June 2019

As the weather is starting to pick up (finally!) I’m hoping to host a barbeque at some point, there is absolutely no better smell in the world than a burger on the grill! So I’ve been keeping an eye out for low-syn BBQ sausages, burgers and all the other bits and bobs that come with it to keep the syns as low as I can. Luckily, most of the supermarkets are well stocked for BBQ season and there is no shortage of options. Find below a list of slimming world friendly BBQ options from local supermarkets.

 

The Mains

It’s always an option to make your own syn free burgers, but if you are looking to save time or have a break from the usual beef burger, why not try these Venison Burgers from Morrisons for 3 syns each. Venison is deer meat, which is beautifully tender and juicy. These are quarter pounders, so they are a decent size and will set you back just 3 syns.

Not a fan of red meat? For a different vibe altogether, why not go for Morrisons Chicken and Spanish Chorizo Kebabs, just a half of a syn each!

And who can forget the veggies. Linda McCartney is representing you with these pulled “pork” quarter pounders, also just 1 syn each. These can be found in Tesco, Sainsburys or Ocado.

The Booze

On offer at B&M at the moment is a treat for us Winos. The B by Black Tower range offer both a while wine and rose wine option, , at 5.5% alcohol is just 3 syns per glass - going a lot further than the average bottle of wine or Rosé!

If you are more into the fizzy stuff, check out my recent review of the B Secco Range, a sparkling wine range which also 3 syns a glass - you can read all about it here!

B by Black Tower White and Rosé

B by Black Tower White and Rosé

The Garnishes

If you haven’t tried Halloumi (or Squeaky Cheese as I like to call it) you really need to give it a go. It’s honestly one of my favourite foods. Since this particular version by Sainbury’s is lighter - it will give you the most for your healthy extra A choice - 50g in fact. Slice it, whack it on the BBQ for a few mins each side or just dry fry in a pan. A slice of this on top of a burger would be a dream, but it it can also be enjoyed in little taster cubes or as a kebab.

This Skinny Coronation Potato Salad from Marks and Spencers is possibly the lowest-syn potato salad I’ve come across at just 3 syns for the pack. There is a subtle fruity twang to this one, the perfect compliment to a burger or chicken, or whatever BBQ dish you’re having.

If you’re into the classics, Iceland offer one of the lowest syn coleslaws - their reduced fat Coleslaw is just 3 syns per 100g and is well rated.

The Buns

Some would argue that every burger needs a bun, and if you’re not willing to go without, a standard burger bun can set you back up to 8 syns. Save a couple of syns by going with Aldi’s Ballymore Crust Thins - the white ones are 5 syns while the seeded ones are 6. Even better, use your healthy B choice for a Schar white ciabatta roll. These are Gluten Free and one roll counts as a healthy B. Available in Tesco, Asda and online.

The Desserts

You’re going to need something to cool you down after all of that. So dessert is ice lollies or ice creams.

Halo Top is a high-protein low calorie ice cream for just 4.5 syns a pop, you can find these in Birthday Cake pops in Tesco - plenty of other flavours to choose from too. Or for something a bit more fruity, you can’t go wrong with a Fruit Pastille Lolly for just 2.5 syns, found in most local shops. Lastly, for a bit of a combo, these fab minis are also just 2.5 syns each - spotted in Tesco and Asda.

So there you have it, some low syn barbecue finds to keep you satisfied throughout the summer. This weekend is set to be a scorcher, so enjoy!

Have you tried any of the above low-syn supermarket finds or come across something new and interesting that you fellow slimmers can enjoy? Let us know in the comments below! 

Remember, we have curated slimming world shopping lists for all of the supermarkets mentioned here and more. You can view these here

Couscous Cake - Lemon and Blueberry

 
Couscous Cake Low Syn.jpg
 

There is never a dull moment with Slimming World, and the variety of food we can eat while staying on plan always inspires me. I saw a couscous cake while browsing on Pinterest recently and thought - this is a free food on slimming world, there must be a way to make this low syn! So, I've made a fresh and tasty version adding Lemon, Blueberry and Poppy Seeds and using low syn and free ingredients. Enjoy enjoy a few with a cuppa and still have syns left over for the day.
If you are dubious, worry not - sweet couscous is not what we are used to in the UK and Ireland but it's quite normal for some cultures. You'll soon be won over by the gorgeous aromas filling your house, it smells exactly like a blueberry muffin.
In terms of texture, I was pleasantly surprised - there is no graininess to it so long as it is cooked to the instructions and mixxed well with other ingredients. Definitely something I'll do again.

Note: Since this is not the intended use of couscous, it is considered a "tweak". To account for this we add a further syn per slice, bringing the syn value to 1.5 syns per slice.

8 Servings
Prep Time:
Cook Time:
Ready In:

Ingredients:

  • 100g couscous, cooked as per instructions
  • 3 medium eggs
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • Half tbsp poppy seeds (1 syn)
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 3 tbsp sweetener (1.5 syns)
  • 2-3 tbsp Fat Free Greek Yoghurt/Quark
  • 100g Frozen Blueberries (2 syns)

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 190 C.
  2. Cook the couscous as per instructions. Add lemon juice and leave to cool
  3. Whisk the eggs, and add the cinnamon, yoghurt and sweetener
  4. Add the poppy seeds and cooled cous cous and mix well
  5. Line a cake tray with parchment paper or spray with a non-fat cooking spray
  6. Pour gently into the tray, and place blueberries evenly into the mixture
  7. Cook for 25-30 minutes
  8. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes before slicing into 8

A couple of tips:

  • Make sure the fruit is well frozen to retain its shape. Fresh fruit will spread a lot more!

  • You can mess around with flavourings, such as vanilla essence or nutmeg if you’re not a fan of cinnamon and lemon.

  • This mix works very well for muffins too.

  • The seeds are completely optional.

Have you tried any variation of the couscous cake? What should we try next? Let us know in the comments below, on Facebook or on Instagram!