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- I’m a dietitian who loves Aldi. I rely on these 11 items to feed my family of 4 on a budget. (businessinsider.com)
Local Dietitian Reveals Aldi’s Secret Weapons for Budget-Friendly, Healthy Family Meals
Anytown, USA – Jennifer Messineo, a registered dietitian and mother of two, including a hungry teenage boy, has cracked the code for feeding her family nutritious meals without breaking the bank. Her secret?
Aldi. What started as a skeptical visit to the discount grocer has transformed her into a “true Aldi enthusiast,” and she’s sharing her top picks for healthy, affordable staples that keep her family well-fed and her grocery bill in check.
Messineo, who prioritizes balancing nutrition and cost, was initially hesitant about Aldi’s product quality compared to other store brands. However, she quickly discovered that Aldi not only offered significant savings but also matched the quality of higher-priced alternatives, especially when it came to organic milk for her toddler.
Now, her weekly Aldi run is a strategic mission to stock up on nutrient-dense items. Here are some of her must-have, budget-friendly finds:
Eggs: The Unbeatable Protein Powerhouse
Messineo consistently buys two dozen eggs per week at Aldi due to their significantly lower price point. These versatile eggs are a family favorite, making appearances in breakfasts like omelets, waffles, and pancakes, and serving as convenient, protein-packed hard-boiled snacks.
Raw Nuts: Versatile and Heart-Healthy
Walnuts and pecans are always on Messineo’s list. She utilizes them in a variety of ways, from sprinkling them over Greek yogurt and overnight oats to incorporating them into baked goods like banana bread and desserts. Walnuts, in particular, are lauded for their heart-healthy fats, and Messineo often stores them in the freezer for extended freshness.
Greek Yogurt: A Dairy Aisle Essential
A 32-ounce tub of Aldi’s Friendly Farms plain nonfat Greek yogurt is a non-negotiable for Messineo. She highlights its probiotic benefits and impressive 16 grams of protein per serving. It’s a breakfast staple, often enhanced with chia seeds, walnuts, and blueberries, and also serves as a healthy substitute for sour cream or mayonnaise in recipes.
Sourdough Bread: The Perfect Base
Aldi’s Specially Selected sourdough earns a spot in Messineo’s cart for its simple ingredient list and authentic tangy flavor. While it uses commercial yeast, it still delivers the desired taste and texture, making it ideal for tuna melts, avocado toast, and fried egg sandwiches.
Jarred Olives: Flavorful and Long-Lasting
These low-carb, healthy-fat olives are an “underrated find” for Messineo. They add a delicious briny kick to salads and grain bowls, offering a healthier alternative to cheese or processed ingredients. For entertaining, she uses them to craft homemade tapenades for cheeseboards.
Frozen Berries: Antioxidant-Rich Bargains
Messineo considers Aldi’s frozen berries among their best bargains. Packed with antioxidants, the cherry and berry medleys are perfect for smoothies, while frozen blueberries are a daily essential for overnight oats, yogurt bowls, and muffins.
Canned and Frozen Fish: Quick Protein Fixes
Canned tuna is a go-to for its lean protein and affordability, often transformed into tuna melts by her son. Canned salmon provides a quick lunch solution over salads. For a more “luxe” seafood dinner, Messineo reaches for Aldi’s frozen tuna steaks to create sesame-crusted, pan-seared dishes.
Steel-Cut Oats: High-Fiber Breakfast Prep
Aldi’s old-fashioned and steel-cut oats are key for Messineo’s weekly overnight oats meal prep. These fiber-rich oats, often topped with nuts for extra protein, also find their way into energy bars, granola, toasted oats, and even as a high-fiber binder in recipes.
Produce Section: Freshness at an Affordable Price
Messineo praises Aldi’s produce section for its affordable selection of salad ingredients like prewashed arugula, peppers, red onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, and radishes. She also regularly stocks up on zucchini, red peppers, and red onions to create large batches of grilled or roasted vegetables for side dishes or versatile lunch bowls.
Jarred Pesto: Effortless Meal Upgrade
Aldi’s jarred pesto is a pantry staple for Messineo, who finds its taste superior and its price more economical than homemade versions. She keeps multiple jars on hand for quick family favorites like pasta with chicken or shrimp, broccoli, pesto, and Parmesan.
Chia Seeds: Tiny but Mighty Nutrient Boosters
These tiny seeds are a freezer resident in Messineo’s home, providing a significant boost of fiber, protein, and heart-healthy fats. A tablespoon or so is added to yogurt or smoothies for extra nutrients, and storing them in the freezer helps extend their shelf life due to their high fat content.
Messineo’s insights prove that eating well on a budget is not only possible but can be delicious and convenient with a little strategic shopping at stores like Aldi.