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    I Replaced My Family’s Favorite Groceries With Budget-Friendly Versions

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    • I’m a mom of two who started shopping at Aldi to save money.
    • Recently, I swapped some of my family’s favorite grocery items with Aldi products.
    • The only swap my kids noticed was the change from Stacy’s to Clancy’s pita chips.

    Thanks to rising prices and two growing kids, I recently started shopping at Aldi to help cut down on grocery costs.

    The budget grocer has its quirks — like requiring a quarter to use a shopping cart — but overall, I’ve been very happy with Aldi’s offerings.

    Last month, I decided to buy Aldi versions of my family’s favorite grocery products, and it worked out better than I could’ve hoped.

    I saved money, especially since I usually buy multiples of these items every week. Oh, and the best part: My kids only noticed one change.

    Prices may vary by location.

    Happy Farms New York sharp cheddar cheese is our new go-to.


    A display of Happy Farms New York sharp cheddar cheese at Aldi.

    We eat a lot of sandwiches, quesadillas, and grilled cheese, so I always buy a few blocks at a time.


    Megan Harrington

    I used to pay about $2.90 for an 8-ounce block of Cabot New York extra sharp cheddar. Now, I buy an 8-ounce block of Happy Farms New York sharp cheddar for about $2.10 at Aldi.

    We’ve found that this cheese melts nicely and has the sharp cheddar taste we love. Whether it was eaten with crackers or added to a grilled cheese, no one seemed to notice the difference.

    We’ve officially swapped Barilla for Reggano pasta.


    Bags of Reggano Pastas rotini and farfalle noodles.

    We usually eat this pasta with meatballs and sauce, but it also works really well in chilled pasta salads.


    Megan Harrington

    I used to pay about $2.20 for a 1-pound box of Barilla rotini at my local supermarket. At Aldi, however, the same-size box of Reggano-brand rotini costs just under $1.

    In my opinion, dry staples like pasta and rice are a good place to swap in generic brands. I served the Aldi rotini with marinara sauce and my kids gobbled it up.

    My family and I love the Lunch Buddies applesauce pouches.


    A display box of Lunch Buddies squeezable apple variety pack.

    Squeezable applesauce pouches are the perfect portable snack.


    Megan Harrington

    I pack an applesauce pouch in my kids’ lunchboxes every day — and sometimes eat them myself when I’m on the go. So, we go through them quickly.

    I used to buy a 4-pack of GoGo Squeez pouches for about $3.60, but now, I buy a 12-pack of Lunch Buddies pouches for about $6.30, which saves me about $0.37 per pouch.

    My kids have been eating GoGo Squeez applesauce pouches since they were babies, so I was surprised they didn’t notice the new brand.

    Simply Nature’s organic seeded bread tasted tasted amazing.


    A display of Simply Nature seeded bread loafs.

    This bread has a good amount of fiber and protein.


    Megan Harrington

    I used to buy a 20.5-ounce loaf of Dave’s Killer Bread thin-sliced organic bread for just under $6. Now, I get a 20.4-ounce loaf of Simply Nature organic seeded bread for about $3.30, which feels like a real steal.

    Even my picky 6-year-old loves it (seeds and all). It’s thinly sliced, which is perfect for the kids, and I like that it has a decent amount of protein and fiber.

    Friendly Farms yogurt drinks are a great breakfast option.


    A display of Friendly Farms strawberry banana Greek yogurt drinks.

    Yogurt drinks are a great quick breakfast on busy mornings.


    Megan Harrington

    On mornings when we’re scrambling to get to school and work on time, these drinkable yogurts are a quick and nutritious breakfast. I usually buy at least a dozen bottles at a time.

    I used to pay just under $2 for a 7-ounce bottle of Chobani’s yogurt drink. Now, I pay about $1.50 for the same-size bottle of the Friendly Farms version at Aldi.

    The Millville protein pancake mix is super versatile.


    A display of Millville protein pancake mix and Millville chocolate chip protein pancake mix.

    This mix is packed with protein, so it keeps us full for hours.


    Megan Harrington

    My family and I love the versatility of Millville’s protein pancake mix. We think it’s great for pancakes, waffles, and muffins.

    A 20-ounce box of Millville protein pancake mix costs about $3.80, whereas the 18-ounce box of Kodiak Cakes protein pancake mix I used to buy cost about $6.40. So, I save about $0.17 per ounce.

    The only item my kids weren’t sold on was Clancy’s pita chips.


    A display of bags of Clancy's sea salt pita chips.

    My kids didn’t like Clancy’s pita chips as much as they like Stacy’s pita chips.


    Megan Harrington

    My family is used to Stacy’s pita chips (about $4.60 for a 7-ounce bag). In our experience, they hold up well with thick dips like hummus and salsa, and have the perfect amount of salt.

    However, we decided to try the cheaper 7-ounce bag of Clancy’s pita chips for about $2.20. I thought they tasted pretty good and were thin and crispy.

    However, my kids preferred the heartier crunch of the Stacy’s brand.

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