Amy at MomAdvice is doing a review of her Grocery Game trial. She’s a big Aldi fan (the Aldi Queen, in fact), so I’ll really be interested to hear what she has to say.
In celebration and solidarity, I thought I’d do another shamelessly commercial Thursday Thirteen to share my love for all things Aldi.
While doing random research for this post, I discovered that Trader Joe’s and Aldi are kissin’ cousins, which comes as no surprise to this gal. Some of my favorite products at Aldi, I once purchased at Trader Joe’s. I was especially glad when I stopped having to trek over to TJ’s for #3. Don’t get me wrong, I still head over every once in a while for a special treat, but it’s definitely something I do for special occasions rather than routine shops.
In my very unscientific trial, I am finding that I can often get things cheaper at Meijer using my Grocery Game list. But I do love many Aldi items, and their prices usually cannot be beat if you don’t combine sales with coupons. Here, in no particular order, are some of my faves:
- Milk and Honey hand soap
- Jasmine rice
- Frozen ‘haricot verts’-style green beans
- Canned baked beans
- Dee-licious canned corn
- Cat litter
- Tandil oxygen activated stain remover (don’t make me live without this)
- Their version of the Magic Eraser sponge (you need one)
- Apple juice (It is not pretty if we run out of apple juice in this house)
- Chex-style snack mix (I occasionally run out of this just on principal)
- Peppercorn potato chips (heaven)
- Ground turkey (haven’t found a better price)
- I love their frozen “crispy” chicken (combined with mashed potatoes and green beans for a quick, easy, comforting, kid-friendly meal)
I must confess that I’ve never shopped at Aldi but your list makes me think I should take a look. Thanks for sharing!
I love Aldi’s! They just opened one up near my house. I can’t get everything I need there (I don’t purchase things with HFCS or hydrogenated oils as a rule, so that eliminates most of their packaged goods–but not all!). They have so many great deals. I have been pleased with the quality of the items so far. Their Fit n Active line is good–the strawberry jam is excellent.
You know that middle-of-the-week run for groceries that kills your budget every time? You just need milk, eggs, maybe a few spare ingredients or something you’re running out of? I made one of those runs today at Aldi and it only cost me 34.44. And here is what I got:
7 perfect peaches–3.15
Baby wipes–1.95
Brown sugar–1.19
4 smoked bratwurst sausages–2.29
1 large bar dark chocolate–1.69
1 large bar milk chocolate with almonds–1.29
1/2 gal. orange juice NFC–2.39
Imported apple strudel–2.69
Imported apple-berry strudel–2.69
Large bag fish sticks–2.99
Multi-grain waffles–1.29
Lemon juice–1.85
Dishwasher gel–2.69
HUGE can of oatmeal–1.79
Frozen french style green beans–1.39
2 nice green peppers–1.29
large jug bleach–1.29
All that for 34.44 inc. tax! As you can see, I got more items than I really went in for. I was really just going for dishwasher gel, brown sugar, oatmeal, bleach, the brats (which were on sale) waffles, and oj. But with those prices, I got the other items, too, knowing it was going to make the rest of the week easier. I have company coming and wanted the strudels for dessert, for example.
The produce was all U.S. grown. The frozen green beans were from France! The imported frozen strudel from Germany–their “Deutch Kuche” brand. All products were regular-sized or larger–no small, wimpy containers here! The dishwashing gel, for example, was the really large jug, not the little tiny one that usually costs $3.99 at the grocery store.
I also have to put in a plug for their chocolate. They sell the “Chocoeur” brand and the “Moser-Roth” brand. Both from Austria I believe (or Germany). To die for! I love fine chocolate, and these are every bit as good as Lindt and other imported brands. Try them–the price is as amazing as the taste!
I absolutely love Aldi so far and can see myself doing a very significant chunk of my shopping there.
Oh. My. Word.
Aldi frozen pizza–at $1.99 each–is a staple here! Seriously–what do the rest of y’all eat when you don’t feel like cooking? Or when your oldest is home alone babysitting–what else would he feed the younger set?? We have it twice a week, probably.
Moose Tracks ice cream.
Cheese. In all forms.
Spring greens.
Vanilla yogurt–we mix it half & half with plain, plus Aldi granola and Aldi canned tropical fruit salad.
Tilapia–in the frozen bags. Chicken breasts, too, of course.
Cereal. Boxes and boxes of it.
Blue corn tortilla chips.
I’ll stop there!
Jeanne
Okay, I’m already jealous that we don’t have any CVS stores here, but now I’m pea green with envy because we don’t have Aldi either. Or Trader Joe’s. Good grief, I am totally depressed.
Never heard of an Aldi store. I am with Meredith . . . I NEED Trader Joe’s. I have a CVS (and am unimpressed) but I need my Trader Joe’s!!!
ALDI also has a great career training program.
LOVE Trader Joes freeze dried strawberry’s I can and have ate 2 of those containers in one day. Hmmm, maybe that’s a bad thing but they tasted sooooo good!
Take care,
Amy
I love shopping at aldi and this is why-
-milk@2.49/gal
-cereal@1.79/box
-coffee-(their brand which is quite good) 35oz @4.29
-100% pure beef quarterpounders-12/5.99
-any type of storage bags-1.99- you get a lot for $2
-their strawberries are great- you can usually use the
WHOLE container
-ice cream 1.99
_ they carry at my aldi “Motts” sliced apples that are perfect for lunchboxes. you get 8 packages for 2.49
the best deals at Aldi are the non food items
I bought beanbag chairs for $14.99
Trader Joes is coming in about a month and I can’t wait for my first day that i have both littla angels in school so I can roam uninterrupted for a few hours
happy shopping
I am a HUGE Aldi fan after a friend swore by it for inexpensive but great tasting groceries. Some of my favorites are:
1. Strawberry Jello
2. Milk (always cheaper!)
3. Shredded Coconut (seasonal, but always cheaper when they have it)
4. Peanut Butter and Jelly (like Goober Jelly, except I hate that it’s grape, but my son loves it)
5. Cereal (so cheap!)
6. Macaroni and Cheese (the deluxe kind, it’s the BEST out there and I can’t eat any other kind now)
7. Bagged Salad
8. Chicken Salad
9. Ground Turkey
10. Shredded Cheeses
11. Ice Cream sandwiches (like skinny cow)
I just began shopping at an Aldi near my home that opened up in October 2008. So far, here are my takes on some of their products:
Blue corn tortillas are a must. Their regular round tortilla chips are also quite good.
Salsa is very cheap but not spicy. Better as an ingredient than a dip.
Faux Wheat Thins and Triscuts are great.
Eggs are the best price around (I live in CT), although sometimes they are set to expire in about a week, which isn’t very good. Make sure you check.
Cheese is good as an ingredient (I usually just shred the cheddar in my food processor, although they do sell pre-shredded.). However, as a straight up snack, it is very bland. Generic store brands are usually much better.
Cereal is a great deal, but I wish they sold an organic variety (just b/c it tastes better).
Milk is a great deal, but they never have skim at my store (I saw it at another one one time though)
For the basics: Flour, Sugar, Corn Starch, Pepper, Salt, etc. they cannot be beat. If there is one reason to shop at Aldi, this is it. You may only go twice a year, but you can really save a lot on this stuff if you are like me and like to cook from scratch.
Frozen food: great deals all-around, although I don’t usually buy frozen entrees so I can’t comment on most. Their fish (Salmon, Mahi-Mahi, Tilapia, White Fish) is ridiculously cheap, but it is not top-notch in quality by any means. I prepare most of my dog’s food, however, and the Salmon or White fish makes for a great inexpensive protein.
Sour Cream is a great deal, fine quality.
Produce is usually, well, pathetic. You don’t shop at Aldi for produce. However, when the Banana’s (Dole) look good, they are a steal at 49 cents a lb.
Ground Turkey is an amazing deal.
I love the Cocheur chocolate bars (dark chocolate with hazelnuts) and the natural peanut butter which has only peanuts and salt. Love to purchase food items with the fewest ingredients. The candy is the best dark chocolate I have ever tasted. Two ingredients other than the chocolate ingredients. The natural peanut butter is wonderful.
Actually, I am not a big fan of the Aldi chocolate, though I have tried. I usually get my chocolate fix when it’s on clearance somewhere and I have extra coupons. Score.