Aldi is a discount grocery store that offers great prices on real, whole foods! Here are my top 5 whole foods to buy from Aldi.
This post is not sponsored by Aldi. Elsie and Erin both just genuinely love saving money on whole foods at Aldi–and want to share the love.
By Elsie, Contributing Writer
When I made the switch to eating a whole foods diet three years ago, I thought I would have to completely change where I shopped.
In college, I stocked my kitchen with products from Aldi and Wal-Mart. I’d gotten into a good groove–I bought the same things every time, and I knew where to find each item.
Did switching to real food mean I would have to be at the farmer’s market at 7:00 am every week?
Turns out, no.
Although I enjoy–and benefit–from alternatives to the grocery store, it’s also good to know that I can buy real, whole food from my friendly neighborhood grocer.
I’m a big fan of keeping things simple. And right now, I’m in a season of life where I need the simplicity of just going to the regular grocery store. I’m blessed to have an Aldi store near me. Aldi has amazing prices (and many now carry an organic line!)
Whether you have an Aldi near you or not, you can find plenty of wholesome, unprocessed foods at the regular grocery store! That may mean skipping certain aisles, but you’ll find your groove eventually.
Here are my top 5 whole food items that I purchase at Aldi:
1. Fresh produce
Aldi doesn’t have an especially large selection of produce, but we can find all the staples we need. We purchase carrots, bananas, citrus, garlic, and potatoes every time. Often, we take advantage of the “produce pick of the week” for discounted pears, avocados, melons, pomegranates, etc. Usually, the produce pick is something currently in season.
I would do this at any grocery store, but I’ve found that I have to take a closer look at the produce at Aldi, just to be sure there’s no moldy potatoes hiding in the bag. It’s usually not a problem, but if I ever accidentally purchase off produce, Aldi will always give me a refund when I explain it on my next visit.
2. Dry goods
Most of our dry goods come from Aldi. We’ve found that Aldi has the best prices on things like extra virgin olive oil, rolled oats, salsa, cocoa powder and other baking goods, natural peanut butter, and pasta. For slightly more “specialty” items like canned coconut milk or dried chickpeas, we make a quick Wal-Mart trip.
3. Frozen seafood
Did you know that Aldi carries frozen wild-caught Alaska salmon? I like to keep our freezer stocked with it to make biscuits with salmon gravy, a favorite hearty meal. I also purchase frozen tilapia and shrimp, and Aldi sometimes carries other frozen fish varieties as well.
Frozen seafood has become my go-to convenience food, because it’s so quick to thaw and cook. Even if I haven’t planned a menu for supper, I can pull frozen seafood out of the freezer at 5:00 and have a good meal on the table in no time. Convenience food doesn’t have to be unhealthy!
4. Dairy
We love getting our raw milk from a local dairy farmer, but we do buy other dairy at Aldi such as sour cream, butter, fresh mozzarella, and cream cheese. I also like to buy cheese in blocks and grate it fresh for recipes. It seems to be more frugal that way, and it certainly packs more punch flavor-wise. As well as blocks of cheese, Aldi carries specialty imported cheeses at excellent prices. We love their Brie cheese!
One caveat: you do need to be careful with the specialty cheeses because it can be tempting to try them all…and blow your grocery budget!
5. Spices
Aldi sells large spice and herb bottles in staples like cinnamon, garlic powder, paprika, and oregano. Many of these basic spices can be combined to create your own unique spice blends! During the holidays, Aldi will often carry less common spices, like pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice.
I’ve learned that if you just stick with basic whole ingredients and foods, you can eat very healthfully–even if you don’t shop at a health food store. Avoid the boxed, pre-made foods and frozen meals, the sugary drinks, the candy, the juice–turn a blind eye to these things and focus on pantry staples that you can use to create your own simple, wholesome meals. We like Aldi for its fabulous prices and the simple layout of the store, but you’ll find that any grocery store carries the basics!
What should you make with your Aldi ingredients?
For lots of easy, frugal dishes made with Aldi ingredients, check out Lauren Greutman’s meal plans! Each cookbook teaches you how to create 20 delicious slow cooker freezer meals!
Kimberly
I definitely buy organic apples each time I hit the store. My kids believe the phrase “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” so they eat them daily… and as many pesticides that are used on your typical apples… if my kids are going to be eating them daily, I splurge on the slightly higher priced, pesticide FREE apples. 🙂
Elsie
I totally agree on the apples! I think they’re pretty high on the “dirty dozen” list, so we try to always get those organic.
Danielle @ More Than Four Walls
I love Aldi. It’s the second of three stores I shop at every month. I too buy veggies, cheeses and some dry goods.
Elsie
Aldi has saved us so much money! Aldi and Meijer are our go-to grocery stores.
Ashley @ Joyful Thrifty Home
Great tips Elsie! I love shopping at Aldi but have not had a lot of luck with the produce so I tend to buy that on sale at Meijer. I almost always get my dairy products from there as well as lots of other staples and dry goods. I try to make a trip to Aldi at least once a month to stock up.
HIllary Norton
I LOVE aldi as well, however, as I’ve lately, I’ve been having trouble with their produce as well. Like, after 3 days and it’s already started to turn. So I either pay less money and have to spend the time prepping the veggies and freezing them for later use, or spend more money at a different store for them to last longer! But I LOVE everything else about them!
Barbara
I love Aldi and they are one of few places with butter that only has 2 ingredients.
Elsie
True that. I’m excited about the organic butter they’re coming out with, too! Should be in a few months!
Pam
Oooh! I LOVE talking food prices!
I do not go to Aldi because the one near us is really dirty/dingy, the produce looks not-so-fresh, the employees need a little lesson on personal hygiene, and I don’t go anywhere that doesn’t get an “A” rating from the health department! I go to the “regular” grocery store probably once every 1-2 months, usually for a specialty item I can’t find elsewhere. Otherwise, I do most of my shopping at Costco, Trader Joe’s and Target. They all have a nice selection of good produce and lots of foods without all the artificial junk, all at very reasonable prices.
I usually don’t do organic or local due to the significantly increased cost. Here are a few of my faves: I get a week’s worth (7-8) of bananas for $1.34 at Costco, which is a phenomenal price compared to other places. I also get a 25lb bag (one month’s worth) of potatoes at Costco for $6.99, normally $2.99 for 5 lbs at the grocery store. The only place I have ever found organic potatoes is at Trader Joe’s, but at $7.99 for a 5lb bag that would last for only 2 or 3 meals, just can’t justify the extra cost. I LOVE Trader Joe’s taco seasoning as it is made of only spices and NO fillers or junk. Plus, one 79 cent package lasts for 3 meals. I also buy TJ’s organic taco shells, only 3 ingredients and CHEAPER than other brands. I buy all of our meat at Costco, they have the. best. prices. and the meat is of much better quality and tastes much better than other places I’ve shopped. Grass fed and organic meats are too expensive for us, double to triple the cost 🙁
OK, I’ll stop before this turns into a novel 🙂 Thanks for letting us share!
Elsie
I like talking food prices, too, Pam! Thanks for sharing! It sounds like I need to get a Costco membership(; Right now, I’m just shopping for my husband and I. Do you think it would be worth it to get a membership if there’s just two people?
Deb
Meijer’s has organic potatoes if you ahve one near you. I buy mine there but no Trader Joes, Target, etc. near me. The best on produce is Great Scot near me, Meijer next as far as good, healthy, organic foods. This according to my doctor. Aldis here is as mentioned, produce needs used yesterday or today what isn’t already rotten. better to get that which lasts longer and no throwing away. Not the organic stuff here either, mostly hig fat, hig sugar, and highly processed foods. I don’t want any of those foods.
Sarah
I, too, love Aldi! Ours recently had organic canned tomatoes! The butter is excellent and we go through pounds of cheese. We buy only a very few things organic and instead try to prioritize the clean 15 over the dirty dozen to be as healthy as possible.
Elsie
Sarah, Aldi is actually planning to expand their organic line and bring it to stores permanently in just a few months!
We do the dirty 12/clean 15, too, for the most part! We get lots of citrus, melons, squash, and things like that from the clean 15.
Allison Lane
Please check the origin of all seafood. Pacific Ocean seafood is not safe. They are dumping 300 tons of radioactive water into the Pacific everyday. Research it.
Also a lot of conventional groceries are made with GMO ingredients. 95% soy products,88% corn products,90% of canola and 54% of sugar in the US are genetically modified. Check ingredients and watch out for soy products, corn products, vegetable oils and many more.You have to be very careful. Please research these things for yourself.
Deb
I worry about seafood. It says wild caught but packaged in China. Bit leery of that because I love salmon and any kind of seafood actually. No soy, corn, or beet sugar, so much GMO like you mentioned. getting hard to get any safe foods unless you grow them yourself. If only I could do all myself, but alas can’t. Researching is best.
Katie Hamilton
SO. WITH YOU on the spices! Their prices are GREAT and so is the quality and quantity!!!!
Corinna Schicker
Hi ladies
I’m writing from Germany (where Aldi – still a family-owned chain) comes from and I am delighted that so many of you in the US appreciate the value for money AND quality you get every time you shop there!! I don’t only buy all my food staples there (plus fresh and frozen fruit, vegs, fish + seafood, dairy produce…) – but also ALL my other “household items” (washing powder + all other cleaning products, toilet/kitchen paper, soap etc…) – always a winner!! Oh and Pam (who posted on 10/25): you’ll be surprised to hear that “Trader Joe’s” is actually – also Aldi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldi
Heather
I was wondering where you get your raw milk? I wasn’t sure if you are around North Caroline. I have tried looking around for raw milk from grass-fed cows but everyone I find feeds their cows some grain. If you could help me that would be great. I live in Charlotte, Nc and I am willing to drive a little. Please help me!!!
Akehia
Heather, it is illegal to sell raw milk for human consumption in NC 🙁
Patti
If you don’t mind a trip down to SC, raw milk is sold legally here. I did a quick google search and found this place in Fort Mill, SC.
http://www.peachstand.com/index.asp
Joy
I’ve enjoyed Aldi for many years after being introduced to it by my aunt in Indiana. How thrilled I was to have Aldi come here to Minnesota – and just a couple miles from my mom!
I buy lots of produce, staples and dry goods there. Love their in-season prices! Our store does have a section of organic produce and I’ve also spotted Fage Greek Yogurt. .
lori
I’ve enjoyed Aldi for many years and converted my Husband to them as well. They are the primary grocery for most of our purchases. We’ve not had many problems with their produce, we always get out Onions, Potatoes, Banana’s, carrots, celery there and other staples we need. They have very reasonable prices and many of the locations we/ve been to are kept clean. Additionally we shop Meijer for the items that we can’t get at Aldi because they are seasonal or they just don’t carry it. We even look for an Aldi when we’re on vacation! I just love the savings and sometimes an item from Aldi is better then the name brand!
We do a very good job at staying within our proposed budget every month, which would be hard without Aldi!
Shanna
From what I’ve seen & also read on the back of the pkgs of Aldi’s fish & shrimp it comes from China & seafood from China is a big no for me. After reading how they raise & feed them nope will never buy any food from China. Just my 2-cents worth. However I do buy a lot of other stuff at Aldi. It’s one of my favorite grocery stores. 🙂 Thx for the post!
Erin
I have mixed feelings about the shrimp, too. But I agree they have a ton of great stuff there!
Chris
To bad you don’t have Wegmans where you live. We have Aldi’s here too & I sometimes shop there but for Organics I Love Wegmans. I do Trader Joe’s too & if I want grass feed meats I go to the Farmers Market near my house. This same market has been in business EVERY Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday year round for over 100 years. It’s the best place to go. You have to know your farmers thought if you want non-GMO products or organics. Sometimes these vendors go to the bigger market & buy fruits & vegetables that are usually sold to supermarkets so those you can’t be sure are non-GMO or organic.
Erin
Wegmans sounds great!
Shelia S
I am so excited that my town is getting an Aldi’s. There is an Aldi about 20-25 minutes from me, but I never seem to go there.
Margo from Iowa
Hi Elsie! Couple questions…I love Trader Joes & think Aldis & T. Joes are owned by brothers correct? I have never been impressed with Aldi’s, but haven’t been in over a year…is there dairy hormone free? I would never recommend buying spices that aren’t organic as they have had so much heating, processing etc. there would be very little, if any, nutritional value left, & possibly nasty filers. MAJOR taste difference in organic spices & most of them are not much more! I am VERY leary of buying meat there also. Why do you feel it is safe? Or do you just buy the salmon? Hoping there organic line is decent, please keep me posted!
Elsie
You’re right–Aldi and Trader Joe’s were started by brothers! Aldi has been slowly improving their stores over the last decade and even the last year. They used to have a reputation in some places for being low-quality or even dirty (although I personally have never seen a bad Aldi store)! But most Aldi stores are now much, much better and have gotten some great updates! My Aldi store doesn’t have all the organics, yet, but it does have a few things like organic spinach and nitrate-free bacon. (And hopefully more to come.) It doesn’t have much organic dairy, yet, but some Aldi stores do.
Currently, we just buy fish, not beef or chicken. But before we had enough money to purchase grass-fed beef and chicken elsewhere, we always bought Aldi meat and had no problems with freshness or taste. If you do get any “bad” product at Aldi, they are super good about giving you a refund and replacing the product!
Carol Taylor
I love our local Aldi’s and i do save a lot of money shopping there, especially in stocking my pantry with staples. This store carries so many things and adds more each time i go.
I have not seen frozen wild salmon though but am going to look for it more often.
The only item in your menu that I did not like is the tilapia , which can be a nasty fish if you don’t know
where it comes from.
I also shop elsewhere for frozen vegetables as Aldi’s does not have a good selection.