What to Buy at ALDI (Grab This Healthy Grocery List)
Inside: New to shopping at ALDI and need some ideas for the best things to buy? Here’s a healthy grocery list for ALDI to take along.
I do the majority of my grocery shopping at ALDI, which means I get everything from fresh produce and bread to paper towels and dog treats there. I find that my grocery bill is simply lower when I shop at ALDI (compared to my regular local grocery store). I also love that the stores are a manageable size, so I’m in and out much quicker.
In short, I buy many more products at ALDI than are on this list below. But I wanted to call out some particular items to make a healthy ALDI grocery list:
So, if this is your first time at ALDI or just want some new ideas for things to buy, take along this list of healthy ALDI finds:
BONUS: Want a printable version of this list? Grab my free printable healthy shopping list.
ALDI Healthy Grocery List
Produce
I buy ANY fresh vegetables and fresh fruit we need in the produce aisle, but these are some of my favorites
- Berries: Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries (organic or conventional)
- Hearty Fresh Snap Peas: Sweet, crunchy, and a great snack
- Artisan Lettuce Mix: These four heads of lettuce make extra-pretty salads
- Little Salad Bar Sweet Kale Chopped Salad: Comes with dressing, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, and a yummy poppy dressing
- Pre-washed Brussels Sprouts: Steam in the bag or prep for roasting
- Sundate Medjool Dates: I love these for energy bites
- Avocados: You’ll find these at great prices (they’re not typically ripe, so plan ahead)
- Pre-Washed Baby Potatoes: Just pour into a pot or onto a baking sheet to boil or roast
- SimplyNature Organic Baby Arugula, Spring Mix, and Mixed Greens: Organic pre-washed greens at a great price
- Mini Sweet Peppers: I love these for lunchboxes
- Sweet Potatoes: Packed with vitamin A and naturally sweet and rich-tasting
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 26 ALDI Dinner Ideas for Fall & Winter
Breads & Pasta
- L’Oven Fresh 12 Grain Bread: Each hearty slice has 5 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber
- L’Oven Fresh Sandwich Skinnys: When you want whole grains but a little less bread for your sandwich
- L’Oven Fresh 100% Whole Wheat Bread: A less-expensive whole wheat bread, with 60 calories and 2 grams of fiber per slice
- SimplyNature Sprouted Bread: Sprouted whole grains may have unique health benefits
- Live GFree Gluten Free Bread: A good option if you’re eating gluten-free
- SimplyNature Graintastic & Seedtastic Breads: These are a little pricier than the other whole grain loaves but it’s so good!
- Live GFree Pasta: If you avoid gluten, look for this liveGfree line
- SimplyNature Whole Wheat Spaghetti: I love that they carry whole wheat pasta, as well as white (and I buy both)
- SimplyNature Chickpea Penne: Another gluten-free option with lots of protein
BONUS: Want a printable version of this list? Grab my free printable healthy shopping list.
Pantry Staples
- Dry Beans: Healthy, inexpensive, and shelf-stable
- SimplyNature Organic Quinoa: I use this for quinoa salads and my Quinoa Peanut Butter Bars
- Stonemill Spices (99 cents!) or SimplyNature Organic Spices (still at a good price): Amazing deals on the most commonly used spices
- SimplyNature Organic Broth: They carry regular and low-sodium versions
- Dried Lentils: Packed with plant protein
- SimplyNature Organic Beans: Including black, pinto, and garbanzo
- Earthly Grains Instant Brown Rice: Brown rice with a super-speedy prep
- SimplyNature Organic Rice & Grain Pouches: I love these! They make it easy to have grains ready fast
- Specially Selected Brown Basmati Rice: Serve it with Indian-inspired dishes and rice bowls
- Southern Grove Nuts (including cashews, pistachios, almonds, walnuts, and peanuts): For baking or snacking
- Stonemill Pure Vanilla Extract: I love their price for the real deal
- Priano Balsamic Vinegar: Keep on hand for salad dressings and sauces
- Casa Mamita Taco Shells: Just three ingredients–corn, oil, and salt
- SimplyNature Organic Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
Snacks
- SimplyNature Sweet Potato Chips: Just sweet potatoes, oil, and salt
- SimplyNature Grain Free Pretzels: If you’re avoiding gluten, this is a tasty pretzel alternative
- Southern Grove Sunflower Kernels: Get these for eating out of hand and sprinkling on salads instead of croutons
- SimplyNature Sea Salt Popcorn: Popcorn is a natural whole grain and good source of fiber
- SimplyNature Freeze Dried Fruit: Just one ingredient–fruit!
- Southern Grove Trail Mixes: All of these mixes are tasty and packed with nuts
- Live GFree Sea Salt Brown Rice Crisps: A yummy snack option if you’re eating gluten-free
- Savoritz Woven Whole Wheat Crackers: Made with just whole grains, oil, and salt, with 3 grams of fiber per serving
- Southern Grove Raisins: Raisins are sweet but have no added sugar
- Choceur Dark Chocolate & Milk Chocolate: ALDI has amazing chocolate!
- SimplyNature Green Pea Crisps: Tastes like a snap pea crossed with a cheese puff
BONUS: Want a printable version of this list? Grab my free printable healthy shopping list.
Canned & Jarred Foods
- SimplyNature Organic Peanut Butter: Just peanuts and salt
- SimplyNature Creamy Almond Butter: Almonds and oil, with no added sugar
- SimplyNature Organic salad dressings: Organic ingredients and just 1 gram of sugar
- Specially Selected Olives: Good for snacking or adding to a cheese board
- SimplyNature Unsweetened Applesauce: Naturally sweet and no added sugar
- Sweet Harvest Fruit Packed in Juice: Affordable, sweet, and no heavy syrup
- Casa Mamita Chunky Salsa: Just veggies, vinegar, garlic, and spices
- SimplyNature Avocado Oil: The neutral flavor and high smoke point makes it versatile for cooking
- SimplyNature Coconut Oil: Opinions seem to shift on this oil, but if you love it, they’ve got it!
- SimplyNature Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Loaded with heart-healthy fats
Breakfast Foods
- Millville Oats: Both old fashioned and quick oats are whole grain and fiber-rich
- SimplyNature SuperFoods Granola: Whole grain granola with 3 grams of fiber per serving
- Millville Whole Grain Granola: Another good option, made with oats and almonds (FYI: it also contains inulin, so skip it if you’re sensitive)
- Millville Bran Flakes: One of the higher-fiber boxed cereals, with 7 grams per bowl
- Specially Selected Pure Maple Syrup: The real stuff at a good price
- Millville Crispy Oats: Just like Cheerios, it’s low-sugar and whole grain
- SimplyNature Milled Flaxseed: Ready for adding to smoothies and baked goods (if you opt for whole flax seeds, put them through a coffee grinder before eating)
- SimplyNature Instant Oatmeal: Good if you need a quick option (but higher in added sugar)
- SimplyNature Chia Seeds: A great source of fiber to add to granola, oats, pudding, and other recipes
Refrigerated Case
- Earth Grown Extra-Firm Tofu: Loaded with plant protein, the extra-firm version is great for stir-fries and rice bowls (here’s how to make it extra-crispy)
- SimplyNature Organic Grass-Fed Beef: If you prefer grass-fed beef, you’ll find it here
- Kirkwood Ground Turkey: Lean and rich in protein. I use it for these Turkey Tacos
- Varieties of Hummus: Scoop this up with the Savoritz Woven Whole Wheat Crackers
- Atlantic Salmon: I buy this weekly
- HappyFarms String Cheese: 7 grams of protein per piece, plus calcium
- SimplyNature Organic Whole Milk Plain and Vanilla Yogurt: Good source of calcium and protein and made with whole milk
- SimplyNature Organic Cage Free Brown Eggs: If you opt for organic eggs, you’ll find them here at a good price
- Friendly Farm Greek Yogurt: Greek yogurt is strained so it’s higher in protein than regular yogurt
- Priano Fresh Mozzarella: I use this for homemade pizza
- Cottage cheese: Great source of protein straight-up or in recipes like these Protein Pancakes
Frozen Foods
- Fremont Market Frozen Shrimp: A convenient way to get more fish (learn more about ALDI’s fish and seafood)
- EarthGrown Meatless Meatballs: Perfect for a quick meatless meal (and swapping in for regular meatballs in recipes like these Meatball Subs)
- Breakfast Best Protein Waffles: Made with whole wheat flour, these waffles have 12 grams of protein and just 1 teaspoon of sugar per serving
- EarthGrown Veggie Burgers: They have multiple varieties (this one is made with 11 different veggies). Eat it as a burger or chop it onto salads or into tacos.
- Season’s Choice Riced Cauliflower: Already riced and seasoned for veggie bowls and other recipes
- Season’s Choice frozen fruit or SimplyNature Organic frozen fruit: Whole fruit frozen at the peak of freshness, perfect for smoothies or adding to oatmeal
- SimplyNature Veggie Bites: Made with real veggies, with a short ingredient list and fun shapes for kids
- SimplyNature Organic Frozen Vegetables or Regular Frozen Vegetables: One ingredient (veggies) that can steam right in the bag
Here’s the criteria I used for this list
- Shorter ingredient lists
- Closer to their whole form
- Whole grain when possible
- Nutrient-dense (such as fiber-rich or calcium-rich)
- Lower in added sugar when possible
BONUS: Want a printable version of this list? Grab my free printable healthy shopping list.
A few more notes on this ALDI Healthy Grocery List
- I include a lot of organic products on this list–not because I eat all-organic (my own grocery cart tends to a mix of both organic and conventional). Rather, I wanted to give a special shout-out to the organic products since some people don’t know they carry those, and you can get many organic foods there at a great price. I also favor organic versions of products when they have shorter, simpler ingredient lists.
- I’ve noted some of the brands below, many of which are ALDI brand items. You may not recognize those store brands right away, but many of them are dead-ringers for their name-brand counterparts (and in many cases, at much lower prices).
- This is not meant to imply that things not on this list AREN’T healthy. If you follow me regularly, you know I’m not about food shaming. I buy many other products at ALDI than are on this list!
7 fun facts about ALDI
Their store brands are dye-free: All of the ALDI-exclusive brands are free of certified synthetic colors. They also eliminated added MSG and partially hydrogenated oils.
The shopping carts are free: Yes, you need a quarter to get a shopping cart–but you get the quarter back when you return it.
They carry beer and wine: For some reader recommendations see this post: All About Buying Beer & Wine At ALDI
They have a line of gluten-free products: If you’re avoiding gluten due to intolerance or celiac disease, they have a line called liveGfree, includes pasta, pretzels, crackers, bread, and cookies.
They’ve got organics: The ALDI SimplyNature line is organic and free of artificial ingredients and preservatives.
You’ll find fancy food too: Sure, they’ve got all the basics. But if you’re looking for something a little elevated, their Specially Selected brand has special cheeses, meats, olives, and other party-ready items.
Some items are seasonal: ALDI has some products that are there only for a limited time–like German-inspired foods around Octoberfest. So when you find a seasonal item you love, stock up!
More good stuff ALDI shoppers
- Want to make an ALDI charcuterie board? Here’s How to Make an Epic ALDI Cheese Board.
- In a dinner rut? Get 20 Last-Minute ALDI Dinner Ideas
- Stocking the freezer? Here are 12 ALDI Freezer Meals With Free Shopping List
Wish they had block cheeses that were 2 percent.
So I have just shopped at Aldi for the FIRST time ever. I listened to a podcast this past week where you were interviewed about shopping at Aldi and have moved to a new town where they actually HAVE one so I was so excited! My entire grocery load was HALF what I normally pay…and I was only missing a few items. My question is…what is your opinion on their meats?? I have read your fish post, but I am pretty picky about where all my meat comes from! Any thoughts?
Hi Erica–Glad you liked it! 🙂 I am totally fine with their meats and have bought a few different varieties. My ALDI now stocks organic chicken and grass fed beef. But I often buy meat in bulk from local farms so I don’t tend to buy much meat in general at grocery stores.
Hi could you please tell me how is the quality Of fresh Atlantic salmon are they farm raised fish and where they are coming from thank you
The labels should specify wild or farmed and their country of origin.
I have shopped at Aldilon beforehere wasone local and have found all the items stand up to their garentee.if there is a problem he standbehind it onehundred percent! I have never purchased fish but chicken, beef, hamburger and pork cuts! Has ever been disa!
I am thrilled when I leave with acart fullandhaent broke the bank!
Parents why spend more than necessary and have excellent quality!
I have shopped the big gu store and prices differ but quality in produce and dairy canttouch Aldi!
If you haven yet go to Aldi buy milk, bread, eggs and butter! Less than $10!
Wow!
F Wallace Hagerstown Md
Basil chicken in the healthy meals is unavailable at Toukley/L/Haven stores