I follow the Mediterranean diet and spend $40 a week at Aldi. Here are my favorite things to buy for just myself.
As someone who follows the Mediterranean diet and sticks to a $40 weekly grocery budget, I shop at Aldi for beans and Simply Nature spinach.
Kristan Schiller
- As someone who follows the Mediterranean diet, I love grabbing essential ingredients at Aldi.
- I spend $40 weekly and purchase items like tilapia, vegetables, and Dakota's Pride beans.
- I always buy Southern Grove mixed nuts and California raisins to make my own trail mix.
Each week, I make the 15-minute drive to my local Aldi in Cleveland to stock up on groceries.
I'm a single shopper on the Mediterranean diet, which my doctor recommended because I've inherited high cholesterol from my parents.
As a faithful pescatarian of about 10 years, I'm a huge fan of Aldi's fish and legume options.
Here are a few essentials I buy at Aldi each week.
Kristan Schiller
I love grabbing all sorts of fish from Aldi, including cod, salmon, and tilapia.
Out of the three, tilapia is my favorite. Each package contains two huge fillets, which I use for various dishes.
I'll usually make what I call tilapia tikka masala, which uses a myriad of Indian-inspired spices.
Alternatively, I'll sometimes coat the fish in olive oil, Parmesan, salt, and pepper, and fry it in a pan on medium heat.
A package of tilapia is about $5 to $8 at my local store.
Kristan Schiller
I also love the Tanimura and Antle artisan lettuce. Each container comes with four small heads of leafy red lettuce.
When making a salad, I tear about half a head of lettuce into small pieces and toss it with red onion and raisins.
The lettuce pairs especially well with the Specially Selected Greek vinaigrette.
At my location, a container of Tanimura and Antle artisan lettuce costs about $2.
Kristan Schiller
The Dakota's Pride beans from Aldi are a staple in my diet, and I usually buy six cans a week. I typically pick up the black, garbanzo, and Great-Nothern varieties.
I use them in my homemade cowboy caviar, which keeps in the fridge for about a week.
First, I drain the beans and combine them with chopped garlic, olive oil, vinegar, chopped onion, parsley, and halved grape tomatoes.
Sometimes, I squeeze lemon on top just before serving.
Cans of beans are between $0.70 and $0.90 each at Aldi.
Kristan Schiller
I often buy kale and Specially Selected baby spinach from Aldi.
Most times, I'll throw these veggies in the wok with olive oil and garlic powder for a quick dinner.
I also like to get green beans, asparagus, or broccoli to fry with olive oil for a simple side dish or meal.
If I get carrots, I'll slice them in half the long way and braise them with olive oil and sage over low heat.
The baby spinach is about $2, and broccoli is usually just under $2 per container at my local Aldi.
Kristan Schiller
When I need a pick-me-up, one of my favorite snacks is a cup of homemade trail mix, which I make with the Southern Grove deluxe mixed nuts with sea salt and California raisins.
The mixed nuts come with almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans, and macadamia nuts.
I mix half a cup of each into a large mug or bowl for a healthy, easy snack.
A 30-ounce container of nuts costs $12.80, and raisins are $4.70 at my local Aldi store.
Kristan Schiller
Because I don't drink alcohol, the POM pomegranate juice is essential for my go-to mocktails.
I pour about a third of a cup of POM into a glass of sparkling water, which I also get from Aldi, for a refreshing drink.
A bottle of POM is about $2.30 at my Aldi.