Slim Free ready meals are cheaper AND lower in calories
As anyone who has sampled one of their not-quite Jo Malone diffusers or Yankee-style candles could testify, Aldi are adept at taking well-known brands and producing their own similar items – often at a fraction of the price.
Now the German discounters have taken on rivals Iceland with a new range of diet-friendly ready meals that look more than a little familiar.
The Slim Free range is being compared to the Slimming World meals that are currently sold exclusively in Iceland, only the Aldi versions tend to be both cheaper AND lower in calories.
Where the Slimming World meals available in Iceland sell for £3 a pop while Aldi’s are £1.99. Both are frozen ready meals that can be cooked in the microwave or a conventional oven.
Aldi’s meals are lower in calories
The Aldi meals also tend to trump Iceland’s when it comes to the calorie count.
Aldi’s Slim Free Chicken Tikka Masala, for example, has 371 calories compared to 405 in the Iceland one. Both are the same size, at 550g.
Aldi’s Chicken Saag has 322 compared to Iceland’s 395 and Aldi’s Spaghetti and Meatballs has 521 calories compared to Iceland’s 539.
Julie Ashfield, Joint Managing Director of Corporate Buying at Aldi, said: “Our Slim Free ready meal range is aimed at customers who enjoy healthy eating without compromising on taste or quality. At just £1.99 each, they offer excellent value.”
Slim Free meals DON’T follow the Slimming World system
We should point out that Aldi is not itself comparing its products to the Slimming World range.
The popular Slimming World diet is based on Food Optimising, where dieters work from a list of ‘free foods’ including fruit, veg, lean meat and fish, which can be eaten in unlimited amounts.
Other foods are given Syn numbers and members are given a certain amount they can consume daily, depending on their individual diet plan.
Slimming World took legal action earlier in the year when Asda launched its own Slimzone range stating the meals were free foods under the plan.
The Aldi meals don’t use the Slimming World free food and Syn system but might still represent a bargain if you’re counting calories.