My Aldi paleo shopping list
I have a confession… I don’t grow all of my own food or shop exclusively from farmers markets, organic butchers and fishmongers. With a long commute and long hours, I often just don’t have the time to source my food in the way I’d like. Believe it or not, I've found Aldi can be a fairly good place to buy Paleo friendly food. Whilst it’s clearly not the same as knowing the farm(er) your food came from, I think it can be a good compromise. It also tends to be far cheaper than my other local supermarket options (i.e. Coles and Woolworths).
I thought I’d share with you my Aldi paleo picks…
Meat & Poultry
Aldi sell “Highland Park” beef – it’s grass-fed! We like grass-fed! As you know, I don’t buy mince/ ground beef, but I have tried the Highland Park Steaks ($17.99 – $25.99/kg depending on the cut)
They also stock Willowton free range chicken (thighs, breast and drumsticks)
Butter
Butter is another good buy (but is it paleo?) as Aldi have an organic butter for under $3 a pack
Nuts
Nuts are another staple that I use just for a snack, in a no-oatmeal or occasionally for a bit of paleo baking. I've seen the Forresters brand of natural almonds and also raw walnuts in my local Aldi.
Eggs
I've not actually tried Aldi’s eggs yet, but they do sell free range eggs.
Oil
Whilst I've never seen coconut oil in Aldi, they do have an Australian olive oil that seems quite good for just under $5.
Berries
My final paleo in a pinch purchase at Aldi is frozen berries (Sweet Haven brand), which are handy to keep in the freezer for smoothies or even a quick ice cream.
Have you tried any paleo friendly foods from Aldi? What did you think?
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Yay Aldi. I love their Smoked Sprats in Olive Oil. Mmm smoky fishy goodness.
I haven’t seen those – thanks for the tip!
I am not a supermarket snob either, I have always shopped at Aldi. It’s a good way to get good quality food more cheaply. I found this out just by chance and have shopped there ever since.
I’m the same Claude, it’s ridiculous how much more some of the supermarkets charge – or the exact same things!
I love Aldi! I get their smoked oysters (sugar-free, sweetener free) in water (most other brands have veg oil), sardines in springwater and cheap kale.
Great tips Lori – I’ve not tried the oysters yet.
I love Aldi, I find they’re free range eggs as good as other more expensive ones and they’re veggies seem to last longer other supermarket all of which are products of Australia.
Exactly Kel – when the produce is all local and lasts well, it seems even more crazy that is’s so expensive in the other supermarkets!
I shop at Aldi every week and buy all you mentioned in your post. BTW, their free range eggs are great, and so is their fresh salmon.
Thanks Stacey, will add the salmon to my list!
They also do a very reasonably priced organic olive oil.
They occasionally have larger bags of nuts in their fruit and veg section – the macadamias were $31/kg (typically closer to $40/kg in Colesworths).
After doing some heavy duty label reading one day I discovered that one of their pasta sauces (can’t remember which) has no sugar and minimal ingredients.
I second the sprats- so smoky! Delicious. We’re on a very tight budget and so eat a lot of aldi eggs and bacon. The “budget” bacon they sell is awesome.
Thanks for the tips Andrea!
I also get organic tined tomato’s and tomato paste from Aldi
I shop in Aldi too. The pasta sauce is probably the organic neopolitan one. I also buy the organic yogurt on occasion, as well as most of the products mentioned above. Sometimes, on special, they have luxury items, like vanilla beans, saffron and also truffles. I’ve just bought a little jar with two mini truffles, and have to now research a recipe so I can use them. I also buy the kalamata olives. Great shop
I have been shopping Aldi for a few months now and I like all the GF and Organic items they have added. I have been on the Paleo diet for 3 yrs and food has been very expensive. I love the Clancey brand for snack items and more.
Please keep me up to date on added items.
Aldi’s now sells organic cold pressed extra virgin coconut oil here in the states. I sure wish I had access to your Sprats (these are different from Sardines, correct?), the luxury items mentioned….I love Aldi’s and do the majority of my grocery shopping here. Thanks for the positive info!
its a shame Aldi is still not in perth maybe soon!!!!!!
Aldi does carry organic coconut oil for $4.99 in eastern PA
Hi! I just discovered your website and it’s already been a wealth of information!
I just wanted to add that I make ghee out of the Aldi organic butter; not strictly for paleo reasons, but more so because I couldn’t bear the thought of margarine when my family was placed on the RPA Elimination Diet some years ago. I now stick to ghee for all of the other fabulous reasons, and making it yourself isn’t hard at all, especially when done in big batches.
We choose other organic and free range products from Aldi, too. One other thing to consider is that we have had reports from farmers that Aldi are more supportive of them than the other big supermarkets, who go so far as to dictate the exact regime of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides that are to be sprayed on the crops of their suppliers as a part of their contract (WEEKLY combo sprays for leafy greens! ARGH!), but then often reject ENTIRE crops if they don’t look like perfection. Aldi buyers are more flexible and find ways around any small aesthetic issues (ie selling lettuce hearts if the outer leaves are damaged). Their excessive packaging does really put me off, so I’m hoping that they can further limit this side of their practice. But their support of Australian farmers (and the precious resources committed for growing our food in Australia) is an area I am very happy to pay for with my dollars.
Have real issues with Aldi butters that “split” when used in cooking, an indication of seconds quality.
@Jo 100 new stores coming in 2016 with many in WA already having planning permission.
@Laura, yes their approach to farmer relations is way better than the Colesworths approach. History here
The “greens” wash is of concern for me in many ways. Have a contact using zero chlorine/chemical wash which gives longer shelf life without the residue
Zero coconut oil in vic until recently but not always. Tinned Cream and Milk has no additives … yay
I buy my coconut oil at Aldi here in Texas.
My local Aldi (in Melbourne) stocks coconut oil. It’s near the olive oils. I can’t remember the price, but it’s not expensive and it is organic (part of their ‘Just Organic’ range). It is cold pressed, extra virgin oil in a 300g jar. Hope you can find it!
I only buy my coconut milk/creams from Aldi. They have no added preservatives or sweeteners. In the first aisle in a tin. Also their Passata is great, as well as their Remano brand Italian whole tomatoes in a tin (no sugar or preservatives). Lastly for snacks or adding into salads, there’s the packs of seeds & sultanas, pepitas, or just seed mix.
Guys, you are making me jealous. In the UK there is almost nothing organic. No coconut oil at all, coconut milk terrible. Only organic carrots and bananas as far as we found out. Eggs are maybe organic, but not freerange, nothing.
I had no idea it was so different – that’s not fair!
Great info, I’m eagerly awaiting the grand opening of our very own Aldi in a SA suburb on 3 Feb. I’m from the UK where we had their stores for way before Australia did & I often thought of Aldi as a cheapo low quality kind of place but not any longer! Hoping to save some $ whilst still eating paleo. Will make a huge difference.
We get at our Aldi’s in Victoria
Coconut Oil – same as you Leanne
Coconut Milk/Cream – preservative/additive free
Coconut Water – preservative/additive free
I’m into their fish as well.
Just bought LOTS of Kerry Gold butter for half what it usually costs at my “traditional” grocer’s. I don’t eat much cheese, but my son eats it occasionally and that also was 1/2 price. I always keep their organic frozen berries in the freezer for smoothies and faux ice cream. I am researching their grass- fed meats and the sourcing of their seafood and fish, since “grass- fed labeling only requires the meat to be 50% grass- fed. I have heard that organic almonds and cashews can be found, but I haven’t found them at my Aldi’s yet. Love their unsweetened organic almond milk!!! So much fun to explore the most affordable options for healthy eating, although my husband and I have decided that it’s budget priority # 1 and will build the rest of our financial lives around it- gladly!
Love Aldi! Does Aldi carry Ghee??
Please just check the detail re their grass fed beef as there was quite a controversy a couple of years ago where they were caught out due to the beef being grain fed prior to slaughter. Also ALDI free range eggs are not on the Choice list for free range eggs. They do however stock some of the best canned tuna as it’s line caught and sustainable. Greenpeace rates it highly.