Our Aldi is about 15 minutes away which is really nice. However, my favorite grocery is within walking distance so Aldi, like Sam’s Club is a once a month store. Below I’m sharing my monthly shopping list for Aldi.
One thing I really love about this Aldi is how they are adding organic products! We went on Tuesday for the first time in 2 months and they had added a number of new items and their baby line of products. Needless to say, I was thrilled!
We also love their low cost gluten free options since Kolton and wheat do not get along well. While I still make bread and tortillas for Jason and I, wheat-free bread and tortillas aren’t as easy to make. As well, wheat-free flours are more expensive and it’s just simpler at this point to buy gluten free bread.
My Monthly Shopping List for Aldi
- 4 bags non-gmo tortilla chips $1.69 ea.
- 2 loaf gluten free bread $3.99 ea.
- 4 pkg nitrate free lunch meat $2.99 ea.
- 6 pkg cheese $1.69 ea.
- 3 pkg string cheese $1.69 ea.
- 2 pkg sliced cheese $1.69 ea.
- 2 containers sour cream (same ing. as Daisy brand) $.99 ea.
- 2 boxes snack sticks $2.49 ea.
- 1 Organic ketchup $1.69
- 1 Organic bbq sauce (for when I don’t have time to make my own) $1.99 ea.
- 1 pkg gf pasta $2.89
- 2 bags gf pretzels $1.89 ea.
- Bag of fish, typically wild caught salmon $3.70
- Bag of shrimp $4.49
- Can of oysters (the boys and I love oyster soup for lunch) $1.99
- 12 baby food pouches for on the go baby-snacking (at home we use these) $.79 ea
I’ve found Aldi to be the best price on seafood and when I had to buy chicken, I liked their prices the best as well. Cheese is sometimes cheaper elsewhere, but for simplicity’s sake I buy it at Aldi’s unless I’m already going to the grocery where it’s cheaper.
The nitrate free lunch meat is an awesome price for around here and since Jason takes a tortilla wrap everyday for his lunches, I’m only too happy to pay a little more and avoid the nitrates.
Now that I have my my Sam’s Club and Aldi monthly shopping lists made out. I’m left picking up the other stuff at our local grocery stores. Along with doing my 2 week menus again, I’m hoping to stick with doing my regular shopping every two weeks as well.
Once some of the fall stuff slows down I plan to get back into freezer cooking again. I loved having freezer meals readily available for busy nights!
*Do you notice the mostly healthy foods, with an odd “junkie” food here and there in my monthly shopping list for Aldi? There’s a reason for that. Sometimes you have to give a little. 🙂
Some things are simply too pricey to buy organic. Other items are that little thing that keeps you from stopping at a convenience store or fast food place while you are out and about. I talked with Jason about all the Speedway food stops he does, and that was his reason. He sometimes needed a little something extra, and thought that if I had more available at home to pack, that would help.
I’m not super-woman, and while I’m happy to keep homemade cookies and bars on hand for him; I’m also willing to buy a few things too. Eating healthy is important, but so is family time and stuff like that.
I’m not 100% pleased with the healthy/junkie and homemade/boughten balance that we’ve created here, but I’m okay with it. Sometimes it’s okay to just be okay.
What balance does your family have? Do you keep things strictly one way or another, or do you have little areas where you “give” in a bit?
Renate says
September 8, 2016 at 7:29 amDear Kendra, iám living in germany. And so i grown up with Aldi. I do all my shoppings there. I have a big family (7 children) and so i must look for healthy, cheap food and also for a good taste. this is a big challenge. So usualy i go shopping to Aldi. the first years i like to make lots of food myself. It need many time and organisation. So i change slowly. I still make a lot of food myself. But also iám looking for a good balance. Some food i buy. for the very trouble days i always have some cans in my stock. But i use them not usual. For me it is also important to have time to spent with my family and to have time to read and pray and also time for me to be kreativ.
Renate
Mary says
September 8, 2016 at 11:09 amI buy the other meat sticks at Aldi’s. They have the turkey ones with no msg and low fat 3 grams and 1 saturated. Kids and hubs love them. On sale $2.49 reg price $2.99.
Kendra says
September 8, 2016 at 1:49 pmNice! Our store doesn’t have those yet. Hopefully soon 🙂
Jo says
September 8, 2016 at 1:22 pmGood to know that I’m not the only one that isn’t completely satisfied with the healthy/junkie and homemade/boughten balance but realizes that sometimes sanity is more important 🙂 I also love how you’re willing to buy some of those things because that’s what your husband prefers sometimes – I’m kinda in the same shoes, he’s all about convenience, things he can just grab when he’s packing his lunch, and I would rather he try to make it healthier, but glad he doesn’t complain about the healthier options I feed him other times.
Kendra says
September 8, 2016 at 1:48 pmJason never complains so long as there’s food lol. I just struggle to have everything he would like. 🙂
Tiffanie of Truly Skrumptious says
September 8, 2016 at 5:25 pmWe’re in the same boat with that balance. And I’ve realized this is just the way it needs to be at this stage, so I can accept it. We’re a long way from where we used to be, and the way both grew up. I look at all of the progress we’ve made and then I am more than okay with where we are at the moment. 🙂 I think I might need to provide more of those choices for Steve when he’s out so he doesn’t make those stops. They DO provide good, healthy snacks at his work, so that helps a lot!
Amber says
September 15, 2016 at 3:55 pmI see mention of oyster soup – do you have a recipe to share?? I would LOVE to find a good one, but haven’t yet!
Kendra says
September 15, 2016 at 10:45 pmI do! I’ll put it up on the blog here in a week or two 🙂
Dana Studer says
September 26, 2016 at 8:24 amI have thought of buying seafood at Aldi. The shrimp is from China. I heard not to buy Chinese caught seafood. And tilapia is a fish we aren’t supposed to eat bc it eats garbage. I hear all kinds of things and just never know if I’m buying good seafood or not.
Kendra says
September 26, 2016 at 2:55 pmWe no longer eat Tilapia and yeah… it’s a struggle knowing exactly what is good. Salmon is likely to become and issue as gmo salmon are now approved for the market and eventually they will get in with wild salmon and who knows what all… Kind of like with my other food, I try to go with the best option but don’t let it stress me out too much.