This Registered Dietitian Is an Aldi Superfan — These Are the 8 Groceries She Buys on Repeat (All for Under $15)
If you’re finding it hard to stretch your grocery dollars these days, you are most certainly not alone. Even the savviest shoppers are upping their weekly budgets and scouring the circulars for deals before deciding where to shop. One retailer that’s been on the top of more and more lists lately? Aldi!
The beloved discount grocer has become a must-stop shopping destination in recent years, and remains consistently cheaper than some of the biggest budget-friendly retailers, including Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and even Dollar Tree (which is more like the $1.25 tree these days). Low prices are a compelling reason to stop by at Aldi, but it’s the quality of the items that keep shoppers coming back week after week.
One such shopper is Dalina Soto, a registered dietitian based in Philadelphia and founder of Your Latina Nutritionist, which offers online nutrition coaching to people across the country. (Her first book, The Latina Anti-Diet: A Dietitian’s Guide to Authentic Health that Celebrates Culture and Full-Flavor Living, will be released in March 2025 and is currently available for preorder). She’s also a BIG Aldi fan and regularly posts about her favorite groceries and easy meal ideas.
We asked the mom of two what groceries she’d buy for just $15. At her local Aldi, she scored an impressive number of items — and a wide enough variety to make herself breakfast, lunch, and dinner. She even had some money (54 cents) left over.
Breakfast
1. Friendly Farms Protein Vanilla Greek Nonfat Yogurt, $0.65 for 5.3 ounces
“I get the vanilla flavor,” Soto says. “I like that it has 13 grams of protein,” which is a whopping 26% of the daily value. In addition to yogurt bowls, Sotos uses “them in smoothies a lot” and “my kids love them as a snack with strawberries and mini chocolate chips.” Plus, “you also can’t beat that price.”
2. Strawberries, $1.89 for 1 pound
“Strawberry season means cheaper strawberries!” Soto says, though that’s certainly not the only reason she adds the beloved berries to her cart — and her morning yogurt. “In my house we eat them with all meals and for snacks … We go through these very quickly.”
3. Simply Nature Organic Pumpkin Seed & Flax Granola Cereal, $2.79 for 11.5 ounces
With “5 grams of protein per serving,” as Soto points out, this granola is a good source of the essential nutrient (10% of the daily value). Beyond the health benefits, it adds a hearty crunch and bit of sweetness to a spoonful of berry-topped yogurt. You could also just pour some in a bowl and add a splash of your favorite milk from Aldi.
Lunch
4. Little Salad Bar Asian Chopped Salad Kit, $2.99 for 12 ounces
“Aldi’s salad kits are so great,” Soto says, “and the quality is always good.” Her favorite? This Asian Chopped Salad Kit, which has inspired more than a few two- and three-ingredient lunches. “I love cabbage and the crunch of the mix. It’s also a great way to have a quick and cheap lunch — just add protein!” Speaking of …
5. Northern Catch Zesty Lemon Pepper Chunk Light Tuna, $0.80 for 2.5 ounces
Come lunchtime, Soto will reach for this packet of zesty tuna over a can every time. “ I don’t like storing tuna, and I feel like the serving is more appropriate for me.” She adds, “a can is too much if I am just adding it to a salad.”
Dinner
6. Earthly Grains 90 Second Jasmine Rice, $1.39 for 8.8 ounces
“As a white rice stan,” says Soto, so many of her favorite meals incorporate the inexpensive grain. (It’s the perfect blank slate, after all!) “I don’t always want to cook rice from scratch though, so in a pinch these are great.” Of the two Aldi stocks, she prefers Jasmine.
7. Eggs, $1.96 for 1 dozen
“Eggs are an inexpensive protein option that are loaded with nutrition,” Soto says. Eaten in moderation, they’re also a good source of other essential nutrients, like choline, vitamin A and B-7, and, yes, cholesterol. Soto will scramble her eggs — that’s how her kids like them! — and combine them with vegetables (more on that below) and rice for a sum that is so much greater than its three humble ingredients.
8. Season’s Choice Three Pepper and Onion Blend, $1.99 for 1 pound
We’ve been raving about the bagged carrots and mixed vegetables at Aldi for years, and we’re not alone in our fandom. In fact, Soto says, “I almost exclusively buy frozen veggies.” They’re convenient, affordable, and versatile (a trifecta!): “I can add them to anything and everything and reduce waste.” She sautés this pepper and onion blend “with olive oil and some garlic salt” before adding in the eggs to scramble (once the onions are cooked to her liking). Served with a side of 90-second rice, and dinner is ready.
What are your favorite Aldi staples? Tell us about it in the comments below.