A list of the ultimate paleo foods you need for your Aldi‘s Paleo shopping list! Aldi’s has some pretty amazing finds, and will help you keep your Paleo lifestyle without breaking the bank!
If you are a meal planner, like I am, then one of your first stops for the week needs to be Aldi’s. Aldi’s is a great place to shop your meal plan on a paleo diet because of the great options and low prices. You’ll be able to make a wide variety of delicious and nutritious meals all at affordable prices. Here are my top items that are always on my Aldi’s Paleo shopping list.
1. Produce
One of the best things on my shopping list is fresh whole foods. Organic Kale, organic lettuce, organic cucumbers organic celery hearts, and organic avocados. Now I love Trader Joe’s, but when I comparison shopped Aldi’s vs Trader Joe’s I found that the organic celery hearts were 2.49 at Aldi’s for the exact same brand that was at Trader Joe’s for 2.99. When shopping I am always looking for the best prices. A great way to do this is to write down the prices of food items on your phone on the list app of the different local stores in your area. (Learn how to use the list app here.) Another staple on my shopping list is sweet potatoes. There are many great fruit options at Aldi’s such as organic pears, organic apples, and organic berries like strawberries and blueberries. One of my stock up items is ginger for my wellness shots. Aldi’s has many fantastic fresh produce options at a good price. (All prices are subject to change, and vary by location.)
2. Nuts/Seeds
Aldi’s has many variety of nuts! Right off the produce section there is a snacking section with many options of seeds and nuts. However it is key to read the labels because some of the nuts are processed with canola oil, peanut oil or sunflower oil. I learned this the hard way on the first week of transitioning to Paleo after eating this specific container of cashews that contained canola oil. However there are a few versions of nuts that are just roasted with sea salt. Like the Southern Grove pistachios pictured above. They also have cashews, pumpkin seeds, and pepitas.
Nuts In The Baking Aisle
In the baking section there are also a bunch of nut and seed options. You will likely find silvered almonds and sliced almonds, walnuts and pieces of pecans. These nuts haven’t been roasted or anything since the assumption is made that they would be cooked into a dish, so they are completely plain. It is possible to put them on top of a salad if you want, or you could roast them in the oven. Along with chia seeds, flax seeds and also almond flour. Nuts have healthy fats and are a great option for on the go snack foods. Its a clean food option I like to keep in my purse as an emergency food when I get the munchies.
3. Oils
If there’s one thing that you need to go to Aldi for, it’s this section! The sauces and oils section of Aldi is truly unrivaled. You will find a wide variety of different options, and everything is budget friendly, especially the Avocado oil.
You would have a very difficult time trying to find Avocado oil anywhere else with this low of a price at this quality. It is one of my favorite things at Aldi’s; and its always a good idea to have an extra bottle in your panty for roasting veggies since Avocado oil has a high smoke point. Other options for oils are coconut oil and olive oil. However with my large family we use a large amounts of olive oil and coconut oil so I prefer to buy mine at Costco. Also its important to source your olive oil because any non-EVOO olive oil is a blend of cold-pressed and processed oils. Since it’s difficult to know the processed oil’s type or quality, stick with EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) for drizzling or when the oil is the star of the show.
4. Organic Whole Chickens
If you are looking for a bargain on quality meats then Aldi’s is a good place to start. It’s most important that you stay away from any processed foods – for instance, things like marinated meats and sausages. They simply are packed with preservatives, artificial ingredients, and sugars.
One of my favorite items to have on hand is a whole chicken because its versatile meal prep idea. I love to roast the entire chicken and then to store it in the fridge as a good protein source for multiple meals. Once it’s all been used I then use the bones to make my own chicken broth. Honestly I feel it’s the best value to purchase the whole organic chickens; more then buying individual parts. These are hit and miss when I shop at my Aldi location, so it’s clear they’re a popular option. Still, the choice is available.
5. Organic Ground Beef
Another option I like to keep on hand is a few pounds of ground beef in the freezer. Our family favors ground turkey vs ground beef. However, I am a big fan of buying one pound of ground beef at a time or stock up when it goes on sale. Last time I stocked up it was 4.99/lb which is hard to beat for organic grass-fed beef. There are some other protein options such as clean bacon without sodium nitrate and sugar. However, organic whole chicken and organic ground beef are top on my shopping list.
6. Nut Milks
Aldi’s usually has Almond milk, coconut milk and cashew milk. It is hard to find Almond Milk and Coconut Milk with clean ingredients. The coconut milk at Aldi’s is not a great healthy food option since it has Carrageenan which is an additive that causes inflammation. This last week during our shopping trip cashew milk was out. This item is a hit or miss option at our local store. Although I have seen it at other locations further from my home. We like to add nut milks to our smoothies to add some creaminess to some delicious recipes. Another good option would be coconut water which Aldi’s has a very clean option if your dietary needs are nut-free.
7. Freeze Dried Fruits
Aldi’s has a lot of Paleo friendly snacks. One of our family favorites is freeze dried fruits. The best part is that there is just one ingredient (the fruit). One of my daughters loves to get a bag as a treat for going to the grocery store with me. I like to add freeze dried foods to my nut granola or on top of a smoothie bowl for a little crunch and sweetness. Or at our home a yogurt bowl with dried fruit and granola is one of our favorite whole food snack choices. However it is hard to find a paleo yogurt option at the local grocery store that doesn’t have sugar. It is sometimes an item that you can find on Aldi’s finds is plain cashew yogurt that is enjoyed at our home.
8. ORGANIC BUTTER
Dairy products at first glance are not Paleo. However organic butter is a must to make your own ghee! Making my own ghee is the most economical for my family and it is super easy to make.
9. Lunch Meat
It is really hard to find clean lunch meat with out sodium nitrates and sugars but it is possible at Aldi’s. However, when I am in a hurry and need to add protein on a salad or have a lettuce wrap to help sustain me for a long time. Lunch meat is a great option to have on hand.
10. Apple Cider Vinegar
This has been on my shopping list for a long time even prior to Paleo. Since I have been trying to consume the best whole food options for a long time. This apple cider vinegar is very comparable to the name brand option of Mothers. Although this choice is very budget friendly. I love to use this in my wellness shots.
Things to Note
Aldi’s tries to keep its overhead down so when you go to the store make sure you have a quarter on hand because you will need the quarter to retrieve the shopping cart. Also like many other stores Aldi’s doesn’t have grocery bags for free; you will want to bring your own bags or you can purchase reusable bags at your store. On Monday/Tuesdays in the mail you will receive a weekly ad for current deals for your local Aldi for the week. However, there are a few items usually good quality meat options that go on sale on Wednesday and are a limited time or while supplies last item. So if you can do your grocery shopping in the middle of the week and meal plan accordingly your will get your best bang for your buck.
A lot of people shop the Aldi finds aisle that has good deals of random products that are off brand. Also as my functional medicine team has had me focus on a Paleo and Autoimmune Protocol diet. Someone that is looking for keto diet options at Aldi’s could be successful on a whole. Since Paleo and Keto diets are very similar with avoiding grains, beans and sugars. However both diets look at healthy eating in different ways.
Unique to my Health Journey
Working with my functional medicine team, I am currently on a protocol that is stricter then a typical paleo diet. With that being said there a few items I currently am not eating that would have been on my top 10 list.
Right now my body is sensitive to egg whites so I didn’t put eggs on the top of my list. However, I am eager to make homemade mayo with eggs when my functional medicine team deems me ready. This way I can make different paleo compliant recipes. I also am unable to eat any nightshades which includes any tomatoes. With that being said, I didn’t add any organic salsa, pasta sauce or tomato paste to my ultimate shopping list. Also I currently can’t have any sugars so I don’t have trail mixes or dark chocolate (chocolate bars) on the list since some type of sugar is “snuck” into the ingredients.
My Aldi grocery haul may look a little different then it may in a year as a I continue my health journey and making nutritious meals for my family. Overall Aldi’s has some good finds but it isn’t a one stop shop for my family with our food needs. However it is my first grocery store of all my local store options because it is budget friendly and we can find easy whole food options for our family. These are my top 10 items that should be on your Aldi’s Paleo shopping list each time you shop! What food items will you be adding to your Aldi’s Paleo shopping list for your next grocery haul?
Printable Aldi’s Paleo Shopping List
Go a head and print off this Aldi’s Paleo Shopping List and add whatever your MUST HAVES to your list!
XO
Shirlene RN BSN
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