Our Five Ring Circus: The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

I confess, I used to be a grocery store snob. I only shopped at one local grocery store even though they charged more than their competitors, and I only bought brand name items.  That changed when Liam was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, and I suffered from sticker shock while shopping for his gluten free foods. Everybody I knew who had to buy gluten free food recommended Aldi, so off I went into the unknown. And guess what? I was VERY surprised by what I found!


I don't know why I was so scared of the bring your own quarter for a cart and bring your own shopping bag concept. I couldn't imagine anything would be better than name brand or that I could possibly save much money. But when my dear friend acted as my tour guide when I went to Aldi for the very first time, I discovered just how wrong I was. Not only did I find lots of affordable gluten free options, but I also found out that I liked Aldi for my entire family!

Aldi

That was back in October, and I now do at least 75% of my weekly grocery shopping at Aldi. I've saved hundreds of dollars in the process! Just like anything, there are simply some products that I will only buy brand name (like Heinz ketchup!), but many Aldi products have replaced our old favorites!

Let's go shopping, shall we?


Trolley Bags


*I narrowed down my list to our favorite things that we buy most often at Aldi. If the item also happens to be gluten free, dairy free, or nut free, (and it isn't already obvious) I put it in italic next to the product name. I did not include seasonal items, even though there are quite a few products we love. (Apple Straws, Apple Chips or Spring Fruit Snacks, anyone? Their festive holiday food selection is top notch, too!)*


ALDI FAVORITES:


Fit & Active Fruit Bars


One of my favorite things about Aldi is that they sell healthy snacks in the checkout line! I found these gems a few weeks ago while I was shopping after two missed meals, and they are my FAVORITE Aldi item to date. At 49 cents each, they're a very affordable snack, and my family loves them! If you're going to try them, I highly recommend my favorite flavor: Strawberry Banana!

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

SimplyNature Kids Squeezable Fruit Blends [GF/DF/NF]


Liam still loves fruit pouches, and these ones are delicious! They have a variety of flavors, including applesauces, but these are our favorites. At $1.69 for a box of 4, it makes them cheaper than most other stores. They are gluten, nut and dairy free and made with real fruit!

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Kirkwood Honey Battered Tenders


Frozen chicken nuggets and tenders aren't always tasty, but these ones are delicious. My family loves them, and their regular chicken nuggets are the best we've ever tried!

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Breakfast Best French Toast Sticks (Original AND Cinnamon)


Every so often, my kids request french toast sticks for an easy school day breakfast. They really like these ones from Aldi. I rarely eat frozen breakfast food, but I did try the cinnamon french toast sticks a few times, and I thought they were really good!

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Sundae Shop Junior Pops


Frozen treats are the dessert of choice in my house for everyone but me! I buy these almost every time I go to Aldi. I've never tried them, but my kids think they're good! (I'm not a good judge of this category, but the rest of my family liked all the frozen treats from Aldi!)

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Friendly Farms Vanilla Almond Milk


Grant and Liam drink almond milk, and it a half gallon costs about the same as a gallon of milk. It can get very expensive, so we made the switch to this brand. It costs a bit less than the competitors (even generic brands at other stores), but we go through so much of it that I consider it money saved.  They like it just as much as any other brand they have tried!

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Fit & Active Turkey Franks {GF}


Liam's diet is very limited, and he loves hot dogs. Although the turkey franks are more expensive than some of the other options, they are a much healthier version, they are gluten free, and also a good source of protein. Since he eats them several days a week for lunch or dinner, I'm willing to pay a bit more!

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Little Salad Bar Garden Salad


My family eats salad every day, so at 89 cents per bag, it's a fantastic deal!

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Little Salad Bar Salad Kits


Every so often, we like to eat a different type of salad with our meals. Aldi has awesome, inexpensive salad kits. Our favorite is the Caesar Salad Kit, but we also like the Asian Chopped Salad Kit. It's a great side for our favorite honey teriyaki chicken and rice recipe (which I should post soon)!

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Little Salad Bar Potato Salad and Macaroni Salad


These are available in the prepared food section at Aldi, and they do not disappoint! They are cheaper than everywhere else I've bought prepared salads from, and they taste really good!

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Millville Blueberry and Strawberry Frosted Shredded Wheat


The same friend who introduced me to Aldi, recommended these two cereals. They are SO good! Although we eat them traditionally as cereal, they also make a really easy and tasty snack on the go!

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Simply Nature Green Pea Crisps {GF}


My kids LOVE these! They like to snack on them at home or on the go, and put them in their lunchboxes. I don't mind, because it's a healthier snack option! They are gluten free, so Liam can eat them, too.

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Fit & Active Caramel Corn Rice Cakes {GF}


These are also another healthy snack option that my family loves! (Try them with peanut butter!) It's a very affordable snack that everybody in my family can eat, and the flavor is just right. Not too sweet, not too bland.

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Fit & Active Caramel Rice Snacks {GF}


I like these MORE than the rice cakes! I swear, the flavor is richer, and they are great to snack on. Liam ripped into the bag before we even got home, so it doesn't make for a good product feature, but I couldn't leave them off my list!

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Clancy's Original Veggie Straws {GF}


Like most kids, my crew loves veggie straws! I picked these up on my first trip to Aldi, and I was shocked at how inexpensive they were. They loved them so much, that I buy them regularly now. Even I snack on them on occasion! (Your proof of their goodness is in the fact that they attacked the bag before I finished unloading groceries!)

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Savoritz 4 Kids Cheese Dip & Cracker Sticks


$1.09, my friends! Great for school lunches and for snacking. And even though it says KIDS on the package, mama eats them the most. They. Are. Delicious.

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Southern Grove Honey Roasted Peanuts


Very affordable, very tasty, and they only last a week (if even) at my house!

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Clancy's Original Pretzel Slims


Grant takes these into the office every week to snack on. I never tried them until I started writing this post, and when I bit into the first one, I actually said "yum" out loud! I just might have to buy some for myself! They also come in Everything flavor.

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Savoritz 4 Kids Mini Cheese Sandwich Crackers and Mini Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers


Yet again, the name is misleading. They're a great snack for everyone! I love Ritz Sandwich Crackers, and these taste JUST like them, BUT at an incredible price!

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Benton's Peanut Butter Filled Cookies & Caramel Coconut Fudge Cookies


Absolutely amazing! They taste just like Girl Scout Cookies, and the $1.39 per package price shocked me! (I just might hide these from my kids.)

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Fair Trade French Vanilla Coffee K-Cups


Around $4 for a box of 12, these K-Cups are inexpensive and delicious! I prefer French Vanilla when I drink coffee, but they have quite a few varieties from regular to dark roast to hazelnut.

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Goya Coconut Water


I don't drink these, but my husband loves them. He loves coconut water, but it can be really expensive. These are just over $1 per can!

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Nature's Nectar Aloe Vera Drink


I don't like to drink chunks, but the rest of my family does! These are 89 cents each, and I usually buy a few of them each week. Much healthier than soda (which I only buy for parties)!

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Clancy's Tortilla Chips/Casa Mamita Mild Chunky Salsa/Casa Mamita Salsa Con Queso


All of this? Around $5! It's one of our favorite snacks and the salsa is really good!

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Friendly Farms French Onion Dip


This dip is really inexpensive and still delicious! It pairs nicely with Clancy's potato chips!

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

Produce


Aldi is known for their fresh, top notch, affordable produce. They sell a wide variety of regular and organic produce, so I buy most of our produce there each week! It's expensive to eat healthy, but Aldi makes it very affordable for bigger families!

The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!}

100% Gluten Free Favorites:


live Gfree Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets


Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets are expensive no matter where you buy them, but the price at Aldi softens the blow a bit. Plus, Liam likes them, so that's a win!

Gluten Free Food at Aldi

live Gfree Gluten Free Organic Brown Rice & Quinoa Pasta


Gluten Free pasta isn't always the best. It took a lot of trial and error, but this is one of the GF pastas that Liam prefers!

Gluten Free Food at Aldi

live Gfree Gluten Free Pancake & Baking Mix


A very affordable option that actually tastes good!

Gluten Free Food At Aldi

A few tips to rock your Aldi shopping trip:


  • Don't forget your quarter! You do have to put in a quarter to get your cart, but you will get it back when you take your cart back to the cart return.
  • Pay it forward! Just hand over your cart to a customer who is arriving after you load up your car, and don't take a quarter in return. They tend to pay it forward.
  • Bring along reusable shopping bags! (We love Trolley Bags!) If you forget them, no worries. They have several styles available for sale at checkout from paper bags that cost around 10 cents each to insulated plastic bags that cost around 80 cents each to extra large totes that cost around $2. 
  • The checkout lines move VERY fast. I've never waited more than 2 minutes to check out, and they often scan the items faster than I can pull them out of the cart!
  • You do have to bag your own items afterward, but that's okay with me. It's worth it if I don't have to wait in line for 15 minutes!
  • You will probably end up with more than just groceries! Each week, Aldi sells different items including clothing and shoes, cookware, pet supplies, plants, workout gear, toys and more! I pick up something new almost every week. Some favorites have been my rain coat, my reusable glass water bottle, rain boots for the kids, and our extra large stainless steel strainer.
  • Check the weekly circular before you go so you have an idea of what's on sale and what's new!
  • Check their holiday selection. We love their festive holiday pasta and treats!
  • You can't use coupons, but you WILL save money!
Aldi

Thanks for shopping with me! If you shop at Aldi, I would love to hear what your favorites are. Leave me a comment and tell me what I should buy on my next shopping trip!


The BEST Items to Buy At Aldi {Including Gluten Free!} #Aldi #shopping #familylife #diet #celiacdisease #glutenfree #momblogger


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Shopping made easy with Trolley Bags

Trolley Bags

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20 comments:

  1. I may have to give Aldi another try. We haven't had the best luck in the past.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh no! My experience has been nothing but positive. Hopefully you'll have better luck next time.

      Delete
  2. My husband likes to shop at Aldi. They have a lot of kosher food, which is what we look for!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love how they offer a wide variety of food for specific diets!

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  3. The peanut butter awesome! I use the natural for sandwiches and eating with fruit etc and I use the regular for baking and both are great. My hubs was a total Jif snob. I did a blind taste test with him. Peanut butter toast, half with Jif half with Aldi. Aldi won! He was soooo surprised!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've been buying it, too! Dylan goes through a ton of peanut butter, and I was fed up with paying a fortune for it each week. I think it's really good!

      Delete
  4. Holy moly! I looks like I need to get to Aldi!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You should! I put it off for so long, and now I just keep thinking about how much we missed out on!

      Delete
  5. Thank you so much for sharing this! I've always been daunted by Aldi's shopping carts and self-bagging (first world problems, amiright?!) but I think I may finally take the plunge!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is EXACTLY how I felt, too! I actually prefer it now, because I get through checkout in less than 2 minutes!

      Delete
  6. I'm so glad you did this post! We got an Aldi about a year or two ago and I still have yet to set foot in that store. My MIL's raves about it becuase it's so affordable, so I guess I really do need to get my butt over there! I mean, bagged lettuce for only $0.89?!?! Holy moly!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You should try it out! I save so much money there, and the food is GOOD!

      Delete
  7. It is fantastic that you are exploring the health benefits of a gluten free diet and that you have found all the alternative products you need. My friends and family rave about Aldi - I am not sure they stock the same range of products here though! I am a huge fan of almond milk, coconut milk and aloe vera (I have heard it is great for coeliacs). I've heard Manuka Honey is very healing for this too? Joanne x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We're new to the gluten free lifestyle, but it's a necessity for our youngest son. I will check out Manuka Honey!

      Delete
  8. I actually have an ALDI somewhat close to me but I've never been. I might need to finally check it out though because I am trying to find healthier options that aren't crazy expensive.

    Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You definitely need to check it out! They make eating a healthy diet very affordable!

      Delete
  9. I have friends that rave about Aldi, too. I don't have one that is super close to me, but I really should give it a try, especially since we do lots of entertaining over the summer, and the food becomes really expensive. I have to check out your Trolley Bags, too. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love Aldi's too! The GF bread is one of the best tasting, seriously!

    ReplyDelete

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