When I think of high-quality food at affordable prices, Aldi instantly comes to mind.
I first got hooked on the chain about a decade ago, when I was on the hunt for a grocery store that sold a variety of nutritious products that also tasted good. After all, I’m a dietitian, and my partner has similar goals since he’s a personal trainer.
Aldi took the crown for us, and we’ve now been shopping there for over a decade.
We’re always looking for nutritionally dense foods that support our workout regimen and recovery. And as busy business owners, we’re also looking for quick, healthy meals.
Here are some of our favorite things to buy at Aldi.
The Little Salad Bar kits are packed with flavor.
I think salads are best when there are themes to the flavor profiles — that’s what encourages us to go back for more. I like using Aldi’s kits to make these with minimal chopping and prep.
Its Little Salad Bar kits come with specialized dressings and toppings that are great on their own with the included base (such as chopped romaine and cabbage) or added to another leafy green to bulk them up.
Each variety has a good amount of fiber and a little protein — either from nuts, seeds, or bacon pieces. We’ll often add a cooked protein, such as chicken, to bulk these up even more.
We’re not vegan, but we love Aldi’s plant-based meat alternatives.
Even though we don’t eat vegan, we often substitute animal protein for plant-based options to support our heart health and switch up our meals.
The Earth Grown Vegan plant-based burrito bowls are convenient for making tacos, burritos, pasta, and chili. Our favorite is the Southwest pack with chipotle peppers, which contains 18 grams of protein.
The chain has a nice selection of mixed nuts.
My husband is always looking for the most convenient source of protein, and we’ve found it with Aldi’s mixed nuts.
The sea-salt variety from Southern Grove is super versatile — we use it in breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and desserts.
I love using these in desserts, too. I layer frozen fruit, whipped cream, and mixed nuts for a salty-sweet flavor profile.
Mini sweet peppers are the perfect on-the-go snack.
With our busy schedules, mini sweet peppers help us meet our produce intake when we’re on a road trip or commuting to work.
We usually pack the peppers with a dipping sauce or just eat them plain — especially if we don’t have time or energy to roast vegetables in the evening.
We get plenty of smoothies out of the Season’s Choice frozen berry medley.
Smoothies are our go-to at least three days a week. Mixing Aldi’s berry blend with almond milk and protein gives me a brighter start to the day.
The frozen fruit here is much cheaper than what I find at other grocery stores. At Aldi, I pay around $7 or $8 for a 32-ounce bag.
I always leave with some Dakota’s Pride canned beans.
We love stocking up on a variety of canned beans from Aldi’s private label Dakota’s Pride. Each can tends to cost less than $1.
Legumes are a great source of protein and fiber, which keeps us full until the next meal or snack.
One of our favorite meals consists of putting black-eyed peas in a slow cooker with collard greens, onions, garlic, spices, and herbs. It’s satisfying and delicious.
We usually double up on Greek yogurt.
We love Friendly Farms’ nonfat strawberry Greek yogurt and low-sugar vanilla Greek yogurt.
Mixing Greek yogurt and frozen berries helps us have a protein-packed breakfast. The yogurt also comes in handy when we need a quick snack before bed to satisfy our sugar cravings.
Happy Harvest diced tomatoes are great for sauces.
Eating a variety of pasta dishes is our love language, and creating chunky tomato sauces with Happy Harvest’s basil, garlic, and oregano blend of diced tomatoes takes them to another level.
Plus, the cans don’t have a ton of salt, so they can keep things low-sodium while still being flavorful.
The miniature potatoes are very versatile.
We typically pick up miniature potatoes at Aldi and roast them in a little avocado or olive oil with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Sometimes we’ll top the roasted potatoes with cheese and salsa for a very satisfying source of fiber. These are also the perfect size for making diced breakfast potatoes.
Yes, a dietitian and personal trainer still eat pizza.
We believe all foods (in moderation) can fit within a healthy eating pattern. We usually eat 80% high-nutrient foods and 20% fun foods.
On Friday nights, when we don’t want to go out for dinner, we pop a frozen pizza in the oven. Luckily, Aldi’s Mama Cozzi’s pizzas are quite affordable and tasty.
We add mushrooms, bell peppers, and diced tomatoes to increase the meal’s fiber and nutrient content. It’s our way of creating a pizza that still provides us with health benefits.
Keep reading Aldi diaries like this one.
This story was originally published on May 19, 2024, and most recently updated on April 13, 2026.
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