Anyone out there who regularly purchases food for kids – especially organic, healthy food – can tell you that grocery bills add up quick, even if the child you’re feeding is picky. I can only imagine how parents of teenagers feel when they stock up on food every week! When it comes to feeding Chase, we try to keep his diet well-rounded and full of fruits and veggies, healthy fats and protein. Of course this is easier said than done and while we’d ideally get greens in his belly a heck of a lot more frequently than we do, I’ve adopted a slightly more relaxed attitude about his eating because stressing out about it doesn’t do anything to improve his appetite and there’s definitely no forcing a toddler to eat if they aren’t interested.
That being said, Chase has developed some food and snack time favorites and there are certain foods I find myself purchasing for him on repeat. Ever since we began shopping at ALDI regularly, I feel like I am constantly discovering a new healthy snack for Chase that is both affordable and made with simple and often organic ingredients. We purchase a lot of our organic fruits and vegetables at ALDI in addition to their grass fed organic beef (another Chase fav!) but for today’s post, I wanted to share a roundup of five ALDI-specific foods Chase loves. (I can also vouch for the tastiness of all of these snacks… yes, even the pouches!)
Toddler Favorites from ALDI
- Clancy’s Original Veggie Straws
I first purchased these veggie straws when I saw another toddler snacking on them in the cart at ALDI as his mother shopped. Of course Chase saw this snack action happening and immediately pointed at the veggie straws in the toddler’s hands and said, “Blease! Blease!” (His version of “please” still begins with a “b.”) Naturally the veggie straws made it into our cart because I’m a sucker and if something with the word “veggie” on it even remotely interests Chase, I’m going to try it! And just like that, a love affair was born. The veggie straws are crunchy, salty and very tasty and pack well in a small Ziploc bag (they don’t crush as easily as other crackers). Though we treat them like chips (so they’re more of a “treat” snack), they’re definitely a favorite when we bring them out!
- SimplyNature Cashew Butter
Proceed with caution around this cashew butter because you will want to eat the whole jar in one sitting! Chase saw me snacking on a spoonful of the cashew butter a few weeks ago and seemed interested, so I made him a cashew butter and jelly sandwich. He absolutely inhaled it! I am always looking for ways to get Chase to eat more foods that contain healthy fats and this nut butter is one of his new favorites. In addition to sandwiches, he loves using it as a dip for apple and pear slices.
- Elevation Pure & Simple Apple Pie Bars
The Elevation Pure & Simple bars first attracted my attention thanks to their simple ingredient list. These bars remind me of energy bites I make for Chase that he loves (mainly dates, nuts and spices) and the apple pie flavor is his (and my!) favorite. They’re easy to throw into my bag at the last minute and work well as a delicious source of energy when Chase is hungry and we’re out and about.
- SimplyNature Organic Shells & White Cheddar
The SimplyNature Organic Shells & White Cheddar pasta is a hit with our picky little eater! I can often sneak riced cauliflower into the dish at the last minute which makes me happy since anytime I can get veggies in Chase’s belly, it feels like a small victory. I’m not going to lie, Ryan and I love this mac and cheese, too!
- Little Journey Organic Food Pouches
I love these pouches so much not only for the sheer convenience (organic fruits and veggies on the go!) but also the price. They come in a variety of flavors including Pear Apple Spinach, Apple Banana Strawberry Yogurt (Chase’s favorite), Apple Carrot, and Banana Apricot Apple Rice. I always have a pouch of some kind in my bag and Chase is a big fan of the Little Journey flavors!
ALDI Giveaway
And just in case you didn’t have the chance to enter the ALDI giveaway last week, you still have time to win a $250 gift card to ALDI!
To enter this giveaway, simply use the widget below and click here to find your local ALDI. A winner will be randomly selected first thing next Friday morning!
Good luck!
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
That cashew butter looks amazing. It is so pricey at other stores that I never buy it. Need to make an Aldi run now!
I love aldi so much!! I do the majority of my grocery shopping there since it’s the most affordable. We love the veggie straws, the produce (especially the oranges) and the fresh salsa! Yum!
As a Mom to 2 toddlers I have to get my hands on these snacks!?
I need to start shopping at Aldi!! I usually shop at Harris Teeter and Publix, and throw in Whole Foods and Fresh Market for random items each week, too! I definitely could be saving more in the food area and I think Aldi would be a great way to do that. I love that they carry so many organic items, too!
-Sarah http://www.thefrugalmillionaireblog.com
Until reading your posts about Aldi, I never knew that had such healthy foods. I’m going to have to stop into the one in my area.
Cashew butter is my favorite & those elevation bars sound delicious! As a mom to 2 boys, snacks are always in my bag!
Love Ald! I need to try out those veggie straws. My little one’s favorite thing is carrying in the quarter from the car and putting it in the cart. I like that Aldi is small and we can get through it much quicker.
I love these Aldi posts and they have been inspiring me to explore my local store more. Thank you!
I just realized that there is Aldi down the street from our church! We are planning to check it out this Sunday!
I’ve had a lot of great Aldi experiences, specifically within their produce section; they offer such fresh, wholesome varieties that often look even better than traditional grocery stores. Also, they have a great cereal collection with many of their store brand versions of cereals tasting even better than name brand!
I didn’t realize how many Aldi’s are close to me! ILl have to check it out!
I completely forgot about Aldi until I read your posts! Looking forward to shopping there more.
Going to have to try these little pouches for my guy!!
Aldi has great deals and their own branded stuff is tasty too!
We love Aldi! I’m gluten free and their gluten free selection is awesome! And Munich little guy is obsessed with those veggie straws
I really need to check our ALDI out! So many people have been mentioning it lately. The thought of less expensive organic items sounds like heaven! Haha 🙂
You should look closer at the veggie straw ingredients – they’re basically potato chips, and the labeling is very misleading. Our pediatrician actually really strongly recommends against feeding them to toddlers because they have no nutritional value, and can actually increase obesity later in life.
Thank you for sharing this info, Kate! Definitely something to look into. I’ll ask my doctor about them at Chase’s 2 month check up as well!
My friends also rave about how great Aldi is, I’ll have to check it out soon! The cashew butter looks amazing
Aldi is the best!! I need to try those Veggie Straws with my little one!!!
Amanda
http://girlaboutcolumbus.com
The next time I run into Aldi I will make it my mission to add the cashew butter to my cart.
Picky toddlers can be stressful! I need to stop at Aldo’s! Thanks for the ideas 🙂
I haven’t shopped at ALDI, but was planning to go there today to buy some sparkling water! A coworker had it yesterday & said it’s just as good as the more expensive La Croix:)
I love Aldi. I can get my weekly shopping done in 30 mins which is amazing with 2 toddlers! Too many great products to pick a fav
I hate to say but I’ve never been to an Aldi! Next month we are moving to an area that has one very close and I can’t wait to try shopping there. I have a girl about the same age as Chase and will definitely try some of your suggestions!
We recently had an Aldi open about a half mile from our house (there was one across town but not very convenient for us). I love it! It amazes me how much money I can save and the different products I can find 🙂 To be honest, the first time I ever went to Aldi after a friend raved about it, I was kind of thinking “what’s the big deal?” but once I got in there and actually did some shopping, it’s become a big fave!
I love Aldi and couldn’t miss the chance to try and win $250! It’s basically a month’s worth of groceries at Aldi!
So true! I went this week and spent $80 TOTAL for a week of food for our family!
I love, love, love Aldi! There are certain things from there that I always get like dried fruit, chia seeds, nuts, cheese, and more! The new store renovations are just a cheery on top (I live in Charlotte).
There is one about 20 mins from me.. I don’t go often but when I do it’s amazing!
I’ve just started shopping at Aldi in MD! I’m so glad to see so many organic options!
I don’t know if you know this, but those pouches are recyclable at certain places. My daughter loves them, too. We rinse and save them in a bag in the closet and drop them off at a local organic market that offers terracycling.
An Aldi just popped up about 20 minutes away from us. Would love to try it!
I haven’t been to Aldi in ages, but I keep hearing great things about their selection of organic produce! Would love to check it out!!
I have not been to an Aldi in a while and would love to use the gift card to explore all they have to offer!
I recently switched all my shopping to Aldi; can’t believe how much I’ve saved on our grocery bill!
These are perfectly convenient…and good for adults too! I love that you can keep them in a bag and they don’t need to be refrigerated. Awesome suggestions!
Would love to try organic nut butters from Aldi! Thanks for the giveaway!
Love Aldi- especially produce and snacky food!
I LOVE Aldi! I’m always amazed at how low my bill is there. Just this week we got a watermelon there because we eat watermelons like it’s our job in the summer and it was $2.60 less than the other major grocery stores in our area.
Aldi is my favorite for fresh produce!
Love what I find Aldi!
I love Aldi! My toddlers eat very similar snacks with can be really expensive at the regular grocery store!
I love our re-vamped Mooresville Aldi’s!
I’ve been wanting to try Aldi since you have started posting about it and some friends have started going since there is one about 5 minutes from our house!
I actually haven’t been to Aldi for awhile now. We recently moved and there isn’t one near us but we are frequently in our old area so I definitely want to swing by!
We love aldis for their cheaper produce and organic items. Definitely need to checkout their cashew butter!
I love buying spices at Aldi… Definitely saves a lot of money!
I really need to hit up Aldi more. I always forget about it!
I JUST started shopping at ALDI! Thanks for the snack suggestions… I too am constantly trying to get my toddler to eat more veggies!
Our family has just started shopping at Aldis for certain items. Would love to try those granola bars you mentioned. I’m sure my two year olds would love them just as much! ??
Love, love, love Aldi! Shop there weekly! Favorites are their Havarti, the jalepeno artichoke dip, garlic vinagrette, and produce options! So many great things!
I love Aldi! It takes a few times to get used to shopping there because their layout is different from traditional grocers, but it’s totally worth it.