ALDI Grocery List on a Budget (Realistic Weekly Haul + Prices)

Hi friends,

I thought this post would come at a good time since we are all in this together when it comes to saving on groceries, now more than ever. I have written many posts in the past sharing our food hauls but things have really gotten out of hand in the price department since the last time, huh?

For a while, we weren’t shopping at ALDI as much as we used to. But recently I decided to start going again and wow, I forget just how much more affordable this place is versus any other of our local stores.

I have been aiming to keep our ALDI bill around $100-$120 a week because I do shop elsewhere for specialty items (I’ll talk about that shortly). I want to share a specific weekday shopping haul soon, but for now, I am just going to let you know the budget-friendly items I have been grabbing there that are very much cheaper than anywhere else I have been. I do not buy all of this at once, but these are the items we are grabbing typically.

Family of 4 ALDI Shopping List

~ Produce – whatever is in season or on sale for the best price. I almost always get apples, bananas, lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, baby carrots, zucchini, broccoli or cauliflower, potatoes, clementines or oranges, greens

~ Sourdough bread for toast in the morning, sandwich bread for lunches. Sometimes English muffins or bagels if the kids request.

~ Rolled oats for morning oats and to make my own oat flour (which is much cheaper)

~ Dry cereal and freeze-dried strawberries for kids

~ Tortillas and/or taco shells for dinners

~ Nuts and seeds – raw cashews, mostly, but also raw almonds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, and pistachios if we need to restock

~ Picking snacks for the family, usually tortillas chips, pretzels, popcorn, or rice cakes

~ Dips/condiments such as hummus, peanut butter, jam, ketchup, mustard, salsa, guac, olive oil, vinegar, hot sauce, maple syrup…

~ Baking items as needed, but most notably the dark chocolate baking chunks, unsweetened cocoa powder, vanilla, baking powder/soda

~ Jarred and canned goods are so so cheap here and BPA-free lining! We stock up when needed, usually on: beans of all varieties, corn, carrots, green beans, peaches, pears, tomato sauces/paste, coconut milk, pumpkin puree, pickles, sauerkraut

~ Jasmine or basmati rice

~ Pasta for kids

~ Soy and oat milk

~Tofu and vegan cheese shreds

~ Frozen items of all varieties, but mostly frozen berries, edamame, peas, corn, fries

For the remainder of what we need (specialty-type items) I shop either Whole Foods or our local grocery chain and try to keep it flexible between $50-$100. I place my order online to ensure that I keep it within that range… it is much easier than going in-store! I always overbuy when inside the store. Keep in mind, I don’t buy all of these things every week and at once, but I pick and choose based on the menu for the week and/or what we ran out of. This includes things such as:

plant-based meat for the week (impossible beef/burgers, daring plant chicken, beyond brats, etc.)
plant-based cheese slices (violife)
non-dairy yogurt (I like siggis plant based coconut blend or kite hill)
aloha protein bars
gf bread and pasta
rice noodles
curry paste/specialty sauces
chickpea flour / gf flour
just egg
vegan butter

So overall for our family of 4, we are aiming to keep our bill between $175-$225 a week, but ultimately striving for that $200 mark. Yes, we go over some weeks and yes, sometimes under! And I rejoice and my husband laughs but OMG, I rejoice. But by keeping a pretty strict list with a specific number in mind, I have been very successful in this and we are still eating colorful, healthful, and well.

Maybe $200 a week seems like a lot for you, or maybe you are way over. We all have different needs for our family and depending on where we live, different price points. But I hope this has been helpful or eye-opening to just see how we have been saving by shopping the bulk of our needs at ALDI. I cannot appreciate them enough.

Real Life Example ALDI Haul

Vegan Grocery Haul + Meal Ideas (Family is 4)

6 lbs of apples ($9.98)
Bag of mini sweet peppers ($3.49)
Bag of mandarin oranges ($3.99)
3 broccoli crowns ($1.93)
Kale ($1.69)
Cauliflower ($2.99)
Green beans ($0.85)
3 zucchini ($1.63)
Head of red cabbage ($1.64)
Head of escarole ($2.57)
2 yellow squash ($1.08)
Package of sweet tomatoes ($5.00)
2 packages of blueberries ($3.56)
2 bushels of bananas ($3.56)
Baby kale ($2.99)
5 lb bag of sweet onions ($4.49)
Red grapes ($4.10)
4 pears ($3.20)
2 blocks tofu ($5.98)
3 blocks tempeh ($8.97)
Lightlife “turkey” ($3.99)
Lightlife “bologna” ($3.99)
2 cans diced tomatoes ($3.38)
1 cans diced tomatoes w/ green chili’s ($1.00)
2 cans crushed tomatoes ($3.38)
2 cans kidney beans ($2.00)
2 cans black beans ($2.00)
1 can pinto beans ($1.00)
2 bags dried pearled barley ($2.98)
Yellow & blue corn chips ($3.00)
2 cans pumpkin ($4.98)
Couscous ($1.99)
Unsweetened almond milk ($4.99)
Unsweetened soy milk ($3.49)
Unsweetened cashew yogurt ($5.99)
Ezekiel bread ($5.99)
Whole wheat bread ($2.29)
2 SoDelicious coconut yogurt ($2.58)

Grand total of $128.72!

So, what am I making with all this stuff? Here are some meal ideas…

Breakfasts:

Hearty tofu scramble
Broccoli & onion tofu quiche
Yogurt with fruit
Pumpkin smoothies (with canned pumpkin, bananas, dates, cinnamon, and almond milk)
Baked cinnamon apples

Lunches/Dinners:

Balsamic roasted veggies & tempeh with side of barley
Taco salads using baby kale as a base and adding corn, peppers, beans, salsa, etc.
Escarole & beans
Kale, tomato, and olive pasta (this recipe has broccoli rabe but I am subbing in)
Tempeh bacon sandwiches
Vegan chili
Roasted cauliflower tacos or bean tacos
Loaded nachos (tortilla chips topped with beans, tomatoes, olives, lettuce, and vegan queso)
Summer squash & zucchini pasta