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What to Buy at ALDI (Grab This Healthy Grocery List)

BySally Kuzemchak, MS, RDN Published: Updated on
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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.

The best healthy food to buy at ALDI

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

 

Healthy grocery list for ALDI

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!
Healthy grocery list for ALDI

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

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