Right now produce isn’t cheap. Even when you focus on buying organic for just the Dirty Dozen it feels like your grocery budget is about to bust. You know eating clean is important and it will save you more money in the long run. (Ever looked at the price of a heart attack?) Yet you still have to pay the mortgage NOW. Things will get better when the local produce starts to bloom but until then you’re wondering where you can find a corner or two to cut on your weekly grocery trip.
The first step is to eating healthy on a budget is planning. If you have a plan for the week (or for two) you can make use of fresh ingredients that might go bad. For example, one head of cauliflower can make cauliflower fried rice plus a nice curry with chickpeas.
The second step to eating healthy on a budget is doing a monthly staple stock up at Aldi.
Aldi? Not Costco? Not Trader Joe’s?
The budget friendly supermarket is cracking the organic food market wide open and you need to start taking advantage of it. Aldi is owned by the same holding company as Trader Joe’s but may be in markets that aren’t big enough for Trader Joe’s (like my hometown Springfield, MO). Unlike Costco, there is no annual membership fee and you don’t have to buy enough to supply a small army. (Although you do have to deposit a quarter for your cart.)
Here’s your list of 15 clean eating pantry staples to buy at Aldi to save money and time.
- Organic Salsa
You can mix it with eggs, top your black bean burger or enjoy it as a dip for veggies when mixed with Greek yogurt. - Organic Freeze Dried Strawberries
Keep these in your desk drawer for an easy fruit snack or add to your Greek Yogurt or oatmeal. - On the Go Trail Mix
Get the peanut, cranberry and almond blend to keep in your desk. - Chia Seeds
I love to add them to my morning oatmeal but I could write a whole blog post on chia seed recipes. Oh wait I did! - Organic Coconut Oil
I roast with it, stir fry with it and add it to my vanilla coconut protein pancakes. - Organic Ketchup
I don’t like it but my husband mixes it with siracha for his sweet potato fries. - Organic Canned Beans
Kidney and garbanzo are my go-to beans. Chili, tacos and black bean burgers are just a few things you can do when you have beans on hand - Organic Diced Tomatoes
Diced tomatoes are great for soups, chili and making easy pasta sauces. - Canned Pumpkin
Not organic but it doesn’t need to be. Perfect for smoothies and oatmeal. - Organic Natural Peanut Butter (no sugar!)
This may be pricey compared to regular peanut butter but it’s a huge value compared to other organic brands. You can just eat this right off the spoon. - Dried Lentils
I love sloppy joes made from lentils. They also make great soup. - Organic Quinoa
Use it like rice with your favorite protein and veggies. - Sandwich Thins (no HFCS)
I love these for black bean burger night or egg salad sandwiches. - Organic Frozen Blueberries
Blueberries are perfect on top of your oatmeal, Greek yogurt or protein pancakes. - Organic Vegetables Broth
Broth has a million and one uses. You could make your own stock but this is much more cost effective and huge time saver!
While you are there you can pick up a few bargains that are also less perishable to take you through a couple of weeks:
- Eggs
- Egg whites
- Organic milk (regular or soy)
- Greek Yogurt
- Avocados
- Organic apples
- Bananas
- Onions
- Sweet potatoes
- Cauliflower
Now you’ve got some room in your budget for perishable seasonal vegetables, special items and organic meat (which I believe they have at Aldi too). When you know how to meal plan and shop smart, eating healthy does not have to mean giving up Netflix and your favorite tea subscription box. Life is too short to eat poorly (or drink bad tea).
Are you an Aldi shopper? How do you make your grocery budget go farther?
