Growing up in the midwest (Chicago specifically!), Aldi was a staple! I remember going there with my mom when I was little. Back then we ate a SAD diet.. And she prided herself on being able to create 10 cent lunches out of a $1 package of bagels.

Once a wfpb-eating adult, I continued my trek to Aldi for more than just nostalgia. It seemed like no matter what I put in my cart, my total came out to $35. It was always pretty miraculous. As a newly-transitioned McDougaller, I found that I could stock up on essentials like potatoes, fruits, veggies, canned beans, salsa, and even some whole-grain pastas and occasionally some oil-free pasta sauces.

Back in my earlier days, I didn’t care much about added salt or sugar in my products, so long as they were vegan, oil-free, and CHEAP. Aldi was perfect for all of that. Nowadays, with a little extra push from Dillon, I care a lot more about that kind of stuff. Still, when I found out an Aldi had opened up in Phoenix, I had to go! I brought Dillon there so excited to show him the treasure trove of plant-based delights. Dillon, however, didn’t find the same Aldi fascination that I did.

While the canned beans and tomatoes are really affordable, they are packed with sodium and some of those other added ingredients we try to avoid. The other tricky thing about Aldi is.. Their produce section is always rotating. It’s a great option when you aren’t picky about what you need to buy, but if you’re cooking for a recipe, you might end up having to visit a different store if they don’t have the herb or vegetable you’re looking for.

Our trip to Aldi was fun. Dillon got to try out the quarter-cart-release. We picked up some salsas and guacamoles to try. We perused the snack foods looking for some compliant, oil-free treats we could eat that were vegan. There were some fantastic buys that we didn’t need, such as $2.50 potatoes for a ten pound sack. We were excited about a specific type of hashbrowns we found in the freezer section… but you’ll have to watch the video to see what we end up doing with those! Join us for a little mini haul of vegan, plant-based, and (mostly) healthy Aldi Products.