Healthy Shopping at Aldi

One of my favorite places to shop has always been Aldi. Not only do they have a variety of healthy options, their prices can't be beat. If that wasn't good enough, they recently made the news with their move to remove pesticides, artificial ingredients, synthetic colors, MSG, and partially hydrogenated oils (you can read more about all of the great changes they have made here.) If you've never shopped there, here are some things you need to know:

BAGS
You do need to bring your own bags and pack your own groceries. You can also buy reusable bags from the store. This is a deterrent for most people but it's a small inconvenience for the amount of $$ you'll save. When you check out, your cashier will load your groceries into a cart which you will take to the counters across from checkout  to pack your bags. You can also pick up boxes to load your groceries into as you shop.

CARTS
Bring a quarter for a shopping cart. Aldi saves money money by using a deposit system for carts- simply put the quarter in the slot, unhook it, and shop away! When you're done shopping bring the cart back, hook it up again, and get your quarter back!

PAYMENT
Cash, EBT, debit, and credit are accepted. Aldi does not accept coupons but you really don't need them!


READING LABELS
It is important to read labels at Aldi. There are a variety of  healthy options but there are also plenty of items that have some not so great ingredients. There are also lots of fresh items, both conventional and organic. We eat mostly paleo so there are some foods that maybe aren't 100% paleo but still better options (health wise and financially)so we buy them anyway. Our goal is to buy as much fresh food as we possibly can. If we have to buy anything processed, we try to buy foods with no added sugar and minimal ingredients. There are certain additives that we also avoid after studying and doing some research. Ultimately it's up to you to decide what ingredients or items you want to avoid.

A lot of Aldi  gluten-free options have fairly clean ingredients. If you are trying to eat healthier or looking for a better treat they have some great options.

The SimplyNature line is created without many artificial ingredients and preservatives and most of them are organic or non-gmo verified. Some of the items have some added sugar, which we prefer to avoid, but again it's up to you decide if those foods fit your needs or not.

You can read more about their specialty food offerings at www.aldi.us

SPECIAL BUYS
Keep an eye out for clearance prices (red tag) and "Special Buy” products that are available while supplies last. Aldi also carries special non food items, such as fitness and health items depending on the season, so keep an eye on the ads!

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Now for the fun part. I've attached a list of healthy foods that you should be buying from Aldi if you aren't buying them already. Is this the be all, end all list? No, certainly not! They truly have a great selection of food. These are just some of the foods that we buy on a regular basis and incorporate into our meal plans.

I've talked to many people who are afraid to give Aldi a try. I get it... it's not a normal grocery store. BUT Aldi has some great things going for them so if you haven't tried shopping there yet, you really should give it a go. Make your grocery list and then give yourself some time to walk through the store and check things out (you can even take the list I made with you) I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the food you find and the money you save!