My M & S grocery favourites

We all have our cheap thrills and I have no shame to admit that I get a kick from grocery shopping. Especially coming from Bombay, it’s always interesting to check out the different aisles to see what products are currently available in London.  Chalk it up as part of the job.  While I’ll grocery shop just about anywhere provided the store stocks what I need, one of my favourites here is undoubtedly Marks & Spencer. 

It’s slightly more expensive than supermarkets like Sainsbury’s or Tesco but you definitely pay for quality. That being said, they almost always have some kind of deal going on e.g. 3 packets of protein for £10.  As quite a few of my readers live in/frequently visit the UK, I wanted to share a few of my favourite M & S products of late.  Just so we’re clear, no part of this post is sponsored by M & S:

• This Posh Dog Pickle Relish is basically LIFE!  The addition of gherkins to mustard takes this condiment to a whole new level.  It’s extremely versatile, and so it’s no surprise I’ve been adding it on just about everything.  Sandwiches, salads, grilled fish/chicken—> you name it!

• I have no qualms about cooking seafood at home but it’s usually limited to salmon, prawns & white fish fillets.  As much as I love calamari, restaurants usually serve it breaded/tempura-style which is basically a write-off for me.  Fortunately these ready-to-eat packets of Chargrilled Calamari Rings mean I can get my fix in the comfort of my own home.  The packet says Serves 2 but I almost always take down the whole packet in one sitting.  

• Canned soups can be so hit-or-miss but M & S nailed it with their Chunky Vegetable & 3 Bean Soup a.k.a. chilli without the meat.  Between its relatively low sodium content, all-real ingredients, hearty texture, and flavourful taste, it didn’t take long for this to become a pantry staple for me.  I’ve been trying to add more plant-based meals to my diet and this makes it a no-brainer.  For extra nutrients & volume, I stir in a few large handfuls of baby spinach while heating it up. 

• And what’s chilli without some tortilla chips?  Although equally calorie-dense to Doritos, their Fire Roasted Chilli Tortillas have a one-up in terms of ingredients. 

• Red meat is one of the reasons why I could never eat a fully plant-based diet. Be it beef, lamb or venison, there’s something about a good burger that I just can’t resist.  Although I’ve never cooked with red meat from scratch, I’ve been buying these Venison Burgers since my university days and they are a total win: stick ’em in the oven for 10-12 minutes, douse in ketchup & mustard and serve with your choice of sides.

• Life’s too short to eat bad chocolate and fortunately that is not the case with M & S!  I picked up a bar of their Dark Chocolate on a whim and it was a total party in my mouth.  Put it this way, you know a chocolate is legit when you classify it in the same league as Lindt ;)!  In case you eat a vegan or lactose-free diet, take note that these contain no dairy. 

• Speaking of dessert, I couldn’t do a post on M & S without talking about their chocolate cake. Although it’s a supermarket cake, it blows any gateau/fancy pants dessert out of the water. And no matter how old I get, Colin the Caterpillar will always be my #1!

Obviously fresh is always best but let’s be honest: life gets busy and despite our best intentions, we can’t always cook from scratch!  There’s no harm to get a little help from out during your healthy living journey…just be smart about it and try to opt for products made from wholesome, REAL ingredients!  

Friends in the United States, check out my Trader Joe’s favourites in case you haven’t already! 

What’s your favourite M & S product?

What’s your favourite supermarket in the city you live in?