Aldi shoppers -- I need help!

mardatha

We need to cut the food bill. Been using Sainsbugs online because I can't manage round a big store and they are so handy, but the cost is creeping ever upwards. We want to try Aldi - but I need to send the husband with a list as I can't go myself. :eek:
Could any kind soul give me ideas for one week's meal plan and shopping list from Aldi? I know it's a big ask but my brain isn't firing on all cylinders just now (many will say it hasn't been for years )
Two adults, one main meal and one supper per day.
Nothing ready-made, nothing spicy or exotic. Plainish traditional food. No laundry or cleaning products. And thank you!

Soworried

Can you copy and paste your normal Sainsburys shopping list on to here? That way we can tell you the aldi alternative to it.

Islandmaid

Hiya,

I think it's 'changeover day' tomorrow for super6 etc, so between us we can probably help then, with most upto date information.

As Soworried said your normal shopping list will help X

mardatha

I usually get something along the lines of
Chicken thighs x 2
Lamb
Brie
Pate
Fish - mackeral or sole or anything easy to cook
tins salmon
Bacon and eggs - a lot
Veg - cauli or broccoli or cabbage
Single & double cream
Cheddar
Fruit - berries only
Cream cheese - a lot
No cakes no biscuits no bread no desserts (diabetic)
Cannot think why Sainsbugs is costing me £45 average per week for this!

Islandmaid

Here's an idea of costs for you (OH is snoring his head off, can't hear the news so thought I'd have a look )

Soworried

mardatha wrote: »

I usually get something along the lines of
Chicken thighs x 2 £1.89 for a 1kg pack
Lamb I buy the frozen leg, £5.89 a kilo
Brie 99p for 200g
PateThey have a few but I buy the brussels as it is low carb 49p
Fish - mackeral or sole or anything easy to cooksmoked mackeral £1.29 for 200g, it's lovely!
tins salmon 85p for pink, £1.79 for red 213g tins
Bacon and eggs - a lot eggs 15 for £1, sorry I don't buy bacon
Veg - cauli or broccoli or cabbage Prices vary from 49p to around £1
Single & double cream 57/69p for 300g
Cheddar Ex mat £1.49 for 350g, best cheese by miles, nicer than cathedral city
Fruit - berries only frozen 500g for £1.49
Cream cheese - a lot Tastes better than philadelphia 49p 200g
No cakes no biscuits no bread no desserts (diabetic)
Cannot think why Sainsbugs is costing me £45 average per week for this!

Can you tell how much I shop there :rotfl:

Your shopping list is similar to mine as we eat lowish carb

Wysiwyg49

Great idea for a thread. I have a book on my Kindle called "How to feed your whole family a healthy balanced diet" by Gill Holcombe which has loads of ideas and weekly meal plans for Tesco, Asda, Lidl, Aldi and Sainsburys. It started me off on the meal planning thing although I am an epic failure due to full time job and giving in to kids whims for expensive ice cream etc., I console myself if I was up against it I would know where to go for tips.

I agree with the other posts that it might be best to follow roughly your regular list. No point buying stuff no-one will like. My tips for good replacements from Aldi are: chicken breast fillets / mini fillets, casserole cubed beef, mince are all great; cheese and deli meats are great; tinned tuna, passata, curry sauces, dried pasta, rice, really ALL the basics are really good and the fruit and veg are fab. Frozen sweetcorn is great but I do prefer B1rds Eye peas to any others... Avoid dinners with big lumps of meat, if you eat meat make sure it's cut up small and cooked with veg and sauces as it goes a lot further...HM pizzas and pasta dishes are great for making a lot out of a small amount of expensive ingredients. Spanish omelette, sausages and beans is a good compromise in our family where DD hates sausages, DS loves them and the adults eat anything!

I find the main meals aren't the budget busters, but the breakfasts and snacks can be. Big brand crisps, biscuits and the dreaded £3-£4 a box cereals if everyone has a different favourite. So plan the detail as well as the dinners.

Will have a look at your list (it came up while I was typing!) and have a go!

Dustyblinds

So worried, I love the extra mature cheddar, we go through loads of it.
I also love the cream cheese, the garlic and herb is delish, even the low fat ones aren't watery like other stores own makes can be!

FairyPrincessk

Hi Mar,

You can go onto Mysupermarket.com and do a 'virtual' Aldi shop. They won't deliver, but you can print the list complete with price (or just copy it down if you don't have a printer). There is the odd item that isn't on there, but it should work absolutely fine to make sure the RV doesn't go rogue. You can get everything on your sample list at Aldi.

I'll see if I can think up a menu plan for you, although we like the weird and exotic stuff so I'll see if I can think of some nice things from the We'll Eat Again books as I think you have those.x

mardatha

Wow great help already thanks ladies :j:j
FP yes I have those cookbooks and love them. tyty everybody. No printer because it won't talk to the new laptop but I prefer pen and paper anyway.

maman

Unfortunately although Aldi is on mysupermarket only a fraction of what they sell is on there IMO. Don't let that put you off, you'll get most of your shop there at good prices. The Super 6 will be available tomorrow so then you can see whether you want any of those.

I do the bits I can't get /don't like in Sainsbury's so hopefully your DH can do the same if needed.

Your original post said that you can't do big shops. Aldi tend not to be big shops. Might you manage to go if it was only a one off? For example, I know Aldi meat is good but I like to make sure I choose the leanest ones.