We don’t often shop at Aldi as it is still fairly new to Arizona, but we know we have Worldlings from all over the world. That is why we wanted to do an Aldi haul for those who may only have an Aldi nearby! It is also not often that we purchase convenience packaged foods, so in this video we went over a few of the plant based and oil-free options we found at Aldi as well as some pantry staples!

It is difficult to find compliant items at the store, especially if you don’t have time to look at each and every label. Or there are some days where making a meal just is not possible for a number of reasons. On a SOS free and whole food plant based diet finding a fast, prepared, and compliant meal is almost impossible. That is why we wanted to go over some of the best products and quick meals that we could find at Aldi that are plant based and oil-free.

We will discuss the ingredients, the salt content, and the sugar content of each item. For some items we will even have a taste test and let you know if we think it is worth purchasing or if you should just avoid it.

#1 - Chickpea Penne Pasta

The first item we bought was chickpea penne pasta. We love using chickpea or red lentil pasta especially when we make recipes in the Instant Pot like our Baked Ziti recipe. Not to mention, the only ingredient in this pasta is chickpeas.

The verdict? This chickpea pasta is Well Your World Approved! It is a great option and is definitely worth picking up. We love how affordable it is compared to most brands.

#2 - Canned Pumpkin Puree

The second item we purchased was canned pumpkin puree with just one simple ingredient, pumpkin. Make sure you are picking up canned pumpkin puree and not canned pumpkin pie which is full of sugar and various spices. Canned pumpkin puree is great to have on hand all year long for various recipes especially for our Pumpkin Alfredo recipe. Pumpkin is also delicious in oats, soup, stews, and more!

The verdict? This canned pumpkin is great and Well Your World approved! We usually buy canned pumpkin after the holidays when it is on sale, but at Aldi it is cheaper than most places making this a good buy.

#3 - Long Grain and Wild Rice Mix

The third item we bought was two different long grain and wild rice mixes. One box was garlic and herb flavored and the other was roasted vegetable and chicken flavored (still 100% plant based). Both of these items are extremely high in sodium and use white rice.

The verdict? These long grain and wild rice mixes are not something we would go for on a normal day. Yet, they are good to keep in your pantry as an emergency meal. Make this instead of being tempted to go get fast food!

#4 - Roasted and Unsalted Pistachios

The fourth item we found was roasted and unsalted pistachios in the shell with only one ingredient, pistachios. We were so excited to have found this. Oftentimes it is difficult to find roasted and unsalted pistachios, it is usually one or the other. We also love that the pistachios are in the shell because it makes it more difficult to devour the entire bag!

The verdict? These pistachios are great and likely more affordable than at other stores! Definitely pick these up if you are Aldi and enjoy pistachios! Be careful to not get distracted and eat the whole bag like Dillon has done!

#5 - Canned Whole Potatoes

The fifth item we picked up was canned whole potatoes. We have never seen a product like this, so we had to give it a try (which we might have regretted). This can does contain a good amount of sodium. And after opening the can, we discovered small peeled potatoes…an interesting sight.

The verdict? This is not a product we recommend at all, even if you are in a pinch. These potatoes were not at all good. The taste and the texture were just so wrong…

#6 - Smoky BBQ Pinto Beans

The fifth item we bought was the smoky bbq pinto beans. These beans do contain salt and sugar from maple syrup. The entire package has 840 mg of sodium, which is not too bad. We do like that this item is able to be microwaved in the pouch, making it a great option if you are in a hotel or dorm.

The verdict? Having a couple of these pouches on hand especially when traveling is a good idea in case you need a quick emergency meal. Just make sure you don’t become reliant on convenience products like these!

#7 - Spicy Guacamole

The fifth item we found was spicy guacamole. What makes this unique is that it uses red bell pepper, which we haven’t seen before. Also, this guacamole does have some salt with 115 mg of sodium in two tablespoons. At first glance, this guac looks like it has been blended and uses frozen avocado, which was not the most promising.

The verdict? This guacamole is not worth it to us. Not only is it not spicy, it is just not good. We don’t recommend this guac even if you are in a pinch. Instead, make our healthy and delicious Smashed Chickpea Avocado Dip.

#8 - Four Pepper & Black Bean and Corn Salsa

The fifth item we tried was a four pepper salsa and a black bean and corn salsa. We knew that these jarred salsas would be high in salt, but what we didn’t expect was a lot of sugar.

The verdict? The black bean and corn salsa tasted very sweet and more like a marinara than a salsa. The four pepper salsa was still sweet, but had a lot of great flavors from the peppers. Although, we have come to realize that sugar is not a great addition to salsa, especially in large amounts. But if you are in a real pinch, grab the four pepper salsa.

That is all for this Aldi haul! We hope we were able to show you some affordable plant-based options at Aldi and show you which ones to avoid. Let us know if you have tried any of these products and what you thought! And please let us know if you have any plant-based and oil-free Aldi recommendations!