Aldi and Lidl food planning

Bublin1

Is there anyone who ONLY buys and plans their meals around Aldi and Lidl's special offers, esp the meat.

For example, you know that next week Aldi will have chicken and pork on special. That means your family will have chicken and pork meals that week.

Or is this quite common and Im just late to the game?

Linda32

We shop at Aldi and I'm not sure they do special offers on food. Apart from their super 6 which is in season fruit and veg where 6 different items will be a set price.

I think the price is the price. We are more than happy with all of their food. I used to avoid the fruit and veg as it simply didn't keep long but that seems to have improved. We must have bought the odd thing and noticed how it lasted.

Edited to add, I see from further posts on the forum, Lidl do offers, I don't go to Lidl as we do have one but its right across town so never used the shop.

Bublin1

Linda32 wrote: »

We shop at Aldi and I'm not sure they do special offers on food. Apart from their super 6 which is in season fruit and veg where 6 different items will be a set price.

I think the price is the price. We are more than happy with all of their food. I used to avoid the fruit and veg as it simply didn't keep long but that seems to have improved. We must have bought the odd thing and noticed how it lasted.

There is a Super 6 meat offer on at the moment in Aldi.

My question was not how good or bad the quality is. I think we all agree that the quality is pretty good. I'm asking if anyone only buys what is on offer and that is what they will have to plan meals around, not just meat items but all foods in the store that are on offer that week. Kind of like a pot luck

Linda32

Oh I see what you mean. Yes I think people do. Have you looked on the Old Style Board. A lot of people do that there. They go to the shops (whichever it may be) with a list of meals they need to cater for, rather than a shopping list.

Say 5 dinners plus packed lunches for two children etc.

Then work out the dinners and lunches to suit from what is on offer. Say if apples and cooked meat is on offer then you have packed lunches. Dinners from the 3 for £10 on the meat etc.

meer53

Isn't this how meal planning works wherever you shop ? I don't really understand the question.

Bublin1

meer53 wrote: »

Isn't this how meal planning works wherever you shop ? I don't really understand the question.

Ive never really meal planned so Im probably asking a basic question :rotfl:

Ken68

Yes Bublin, I use half price Lidl weekend stuff to fill the freezer/Just bought a load of mince and mushrooms.
Also grow own veg and fruit, so cheap living here.
Also do a nutrition check every now and again to confirm that my diet has enough and no more than the needed calories and protein and essential fats etc. Most meals are about 50p per day.

supki

this week's meal plan for 2 based on current lidl offers:
potato and mince curry (half the pack of mince)
chilli con carne (with other half pack of mince)
tortellini with pasta sauce (currently 89p)
baked gnocchi with mozarella (currently 99p)
baked mackerel and potato gratin for friday's fish supper.
most cases i manage to get mini leftovers that do me for me lunch. i bulk most things with veggies to make it go further.

lilian1977

I think the question is - do you meal plan first then purchase or do you check offers then meal plan?

We do a mix of both, and amend as necessary - so we'll sometimes base around the Aldi Super Six but if we've planned, for instance, veg stir fry then when we get to Tesco there is YS chicken we might have a chicken stir fry instead and save the veg for the next day, bumping everything on the plan back a day (use by dates allowing).

maman

Thanks for flagging this up Bublin. I shope in Aldi every week and had never heard of it! I must do my shop on auto pilot.


Disappointingly some of the 'meat' looks a bit processed for me and I'd have to compare the prices with other chicken etc. before I was interested.


I know lots of people make a meal plan before they shop but are flexible enough to change if they find any specials that present a cheaper option be it meat or anything else.


I tend to buy my meat when it's good value (3 for £10, YS etc) and then portion it up for the freezer. I do buy some meat in Aldi (gammon and FR chicken particularly) but rarely go to Lidl as although their offers sound good I don't want to make a special trip at the weekend.


So meal planning for me is built round the meat I have in to start. I'll start checking those Super 6 ones now you've alerted us and think what I could make from e.g. the drumsticks.

Bublin1

I'm relieved some of you understand what I was trying to say!

Some great responses. Im going to start checking offers and plan meals around them.