Shoppers may associate Aldi with cheap pantry staples more than organic groceries, but the cost-cutting German chain has packed its aisles with healthier choices to attract more discriminating shoppers. While Kroger or Whole Foods loyalists may not find the selection of organics they’re used to, we’ve crunched the numbers on several products and found that Aldi’s prices are usually lowest. Committed to eating clean? Here are some examples of how Aldi can help you save.
Related: I Shopped at Aldi for the First Time and Here’s What I Learned
Prices and availability were researched in February and are subject to change.
Simply Nature Organic Macaroni and Cheese
Price: $1.15 for 6 ounces It’s hard to beat good ol’ mac and cheese for a quick meal that will please a picky kid. The same size box from Kroger’s Simple Truth brand costs $1.50, and Whole Foods’ Everyday 365 Value brand costs $1.99. (If your tastes are more high-brow, Aldi also sells Organic Shells and White Cheddar at the same price.)
Related: We Tried 13 Kinds of Store-Brand Mac and Cheese and These Are the Best
Simply Nature Organic Whole Milk Greek Yogurt
Price: $5.29 for 32 ounces Choose from plain or vanilla — either way, Greek yogurt is a protein-packed way to fuel your day, and it’s cheaper at Aldi. At Kroger and Whole Foods, you’ll pay $5.49 for the same size store-brand container.
Related: 20 Foods Americans Eat Now That They Never Heard of 20 Years Ago
Organic Bananas
Price: 59 cents a pound Go ape for organic bananas at Aldi, where you’ll pay 59 cents a pound for these potassium-packed wonders. Kroger and Whole Foods charge 69 cents a pound.
Related: Banana Lovers Rejoice: 20 Cheap and Easy Recipes
Simply Nature Organic Salted Butter
Price: $4.49 for 1 pound Need to do some baking? Stock up on organic butter at Aldi. Whole Foods charges $5.29 for a 1-pound box of store-brand organic butter, while Kroger wants $5.49.
Simply Nature Organic Cage-Free Brown Eggs
Price: $2.39 a dozen This is one of Aldi’s best buys when it comes to organics. Kroger and Whole Foods charge $4 a dozen for store brand, cage-free organic eggs.
Related: Is Raising Chickens Cheaper Than Buying Eggs?
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Simply Nature Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef
Price: $5.29 for 1 pound Here’s another stellar Aldi buy. At Kroger and Whole Foods, the cheapest 85% lean organic beef is $7 a pound.
Little Journey Organic Baby Food Puree Pouches
Price: 79 cents for 4 ounces Got a hungry baby to feed? Aldi has single-serve 4-ounce puree pouches for 79 cents each. Kroger charges $1.19 for 4-ounce pouches from its Simple Truth line. The cheapest organic option we spotted at Whole Foods was $1.29 for its Mama Bear brand pouches.
Related: When Is It Worth Buying Organic?
Simply Nature Organic Spring Mix
Price: $4.19 for 16 ounces Throw together a cheaper organic salad with Aldi’s spring mix. Kroger and Whole Foods charge $5 for the same size package.
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Simply Nature Organic Creamy Peanut Butter
Price: $3.39 for 16 ounces Parents who slap together a lot of PB&Js will especially appreciate this bargain. Kroger and Whole Foods charge $3.99 for 16 ounces of their organic store brand peanut butter.
Simply Nature Organic Single Origin Whole Bean Coffee
Price: $4.49 for 12 ounces Java junkies who prefer their coffee organic can get a fair-trade brew from Peru or Honduras at Aldi for roughly 37 cents an ounce. In comparison, organic whole-bean coffee from Kroger’s Simple Truth brand is 59 cents an ounce; from Whole Foods’ 365 Everyday Value brand, it’s about 70 cents an ounce.
Simply Nature Organic Salsa
Price: $1.89 for 16 ounces Whether you like it mild, medium, or hot, Aldi has you covered with organic versions of all three. Kroger charges $2.29 for 16 ounces of its Simple Truth organic salsa, and Whole Foods wants $3.29 for 365 Everyday Value organic salsa.
Related: The 20 Least Unhealthy Junk Foods
Simply Nature Organic Quinoa
Price: $3.55 for 16 ounces Get your superfood fix for less by picking up organic quinoa at Aldi, where it runs about 22 cents an ounce. At Kroger, you’ll pay 29 cents an ounce, while Whole Foods charges 33 cents an ounce.
Related: 10 Cheap, Healthy Alternatives to Red and Processed Meat
Organic Gala Apples
Price: $3.99 for 3 pounds Pick up a few pounds or organic apples for about $1.33 a pound at Aldi. Kroger and Whole Foods charge $1.99 a pound, though it’s worth noting you won’t be locked into buying a certain quantity at those stores.
Related: 25 Creative Ways to Enjoy Apples This Season
Simply Nature Organic Canned Beans
Price: 89 cents for 15 ounces Organic black beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans are well under a dollar at Aldi, but you’ll pay 99 cents for the same size cans at Whole Foods, and $1 at Kroger.
Related: 12 Easy, Tasty Recipes That Celebrate Beans
Simply Nature Organic Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Price: $2.25 for 6 ounces Aldi’s dairy-aisle organic options include shredded mozzarella for 37.5 cents an ounce; it sells an organic Mexican blend for the same price. At Kroger, organic shredded mozzarella will run you about 52 cents an ounce; at Whole Foods, it’s 53 cents an ounce.
Simply Nature Organic Milk
Price: $2.89 for 64 ounces This morning staple is slightly cheaper at Aldi, where it runs about 4.5 cents an ounce. Whole Foods charges 4.7 cents an ounce, while Kroger’s Simple Truth brand is about 5 cents an ounce.
Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth
Price: $1.79 for 32 ounces It’s easy to use a lot of chicken broth if you cook a lot, so why pay more? Kroger and Aldi want $1.99 for their store brand organic chicken broth. And if chicken broth isn’t quite what you need, Aldi sells organic beef and vegetable broth for the same price. Organic chicken and beef bone broth is also an option, albeit for $2.99.
Simply Nature Organic Frozen Berries
Price: $4.99 for 24 ounces Berries are bound to be a staple in any smoothie lover’s freezer. At Aldi, organic frozen strawberries and blueberries are both about 21 cents an ounce. While Kroger charges slightly less for strawberries, 20 cents an ounce, it wants 25 cents an ounce for blueberries. At Whole Foods, strawberries are about 23 cents an ounce, and blueberries run 27 cents an ounce.
Related: 24 Healthy Recipes You’ll Never Know Were Made With Frozen Produce
Simply Nature Organic Apple Juice
Price: $2.29 for 64 ounces Whether you’re guzzling organic apple juice yourself or quenching the thirst of young kids, consider buying it at Aldi. At Kroger, the store brand is $2.79, and at Whole Foods, it’s $3.69.
Simply Nature Organic Coconut Oil
Price: $4.49 for 14 ounces This suddenly popular pantry staple https://www.cheapism.com/weird-new-foods/ can be had for a lot less at Aldi. The same amount of Kroger store-brand organic coconut oil costs $5.49, while Whole Foods wants $5.99 for its own brand.
Simply Nature Organic Salad Dressing
Price: $1.99 for 12 ounces If you’re buying organic greens, veggies, and cheese for your salad, why not top it off with organic dressing? Aldi sells several varieties for about 16.6 cents an ounce. Kroger’s store-brand organic dressings run about 29 cents an ounce, while Whole Foods’ are 25 cents an ounce.
Related: 17 Easy-to-Make Foods to Stop Buying at the Store
Simply Nature Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Price: $4.99 for 16.9 ounces This pantry staple can truly run the gamut when it comes to price, but Aldi’s store-brand organic variety runs just under $5. At Kroger, you’ll pay $5.49 for Simple Truth, while Whole Foods charges $5.99 for 365 Everyday Value.
Related: 15 Things Not to Buy in a Grocery Store
Simply Nature Organic Spices
Price: $1.95 for 1.5 to 2.5 ounces Stock the spice cabinet at Aldi and you’ll pay less than $2 for large jars of popular organic spices including cayenne, cinnamon, garlic powder, and thyme. While jar sizes vary, Kroger charges $3.59 for most of those spices, and Whole Foods charges $3.99.
Related: 20 Items You Should Avoid Buying in Bulk
Simply Nature Organic Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips
Price: $1.99 for 11 ounces Snack attack Aldi’s organic tortilla chips work out to about 18.1 cents an ounce. At Kroger, you’ll pay about 28 cents an ounce, while at Whole Foods, you’ll pay about 25 cents. (Not feeling yellow corn? Aldi also sells organic blue corn and multigrain tortilla chips at $1.95 for an 8.25-ounce bag.)
