Can you buy healthy foods at the supermarket?

Cost is our biggest prohibition when it comes to healthy eating. let’s face it, not everyone has $50 to spend on a protein powder, or “wellness elixir”. As I am on maternity leave, I spend (too much) time trawling supermarket aisles, looking for not only the healthiest products, but also ones that won’t send you broke. I make a list every week of what I “want” – not all items are essential & often I’ll check out a couple of stores before making an informed decision.

Woolworths – I know a lot of people are anti supermarkets but if we all spend our “supermarket dollars” on healthier products guess what they’re going to produce more of & drive prices down on? That’s right. My top 5 favourite products are:

1. Macro organic coffee – I buy it ground & make a small pot of coffee every morning. At $6 for a packet, which lasts me over a week, it’s a lot more economical than buying your coffee, plus no nasty disposable coffee cups
2. Macro organic peanut butter ($6.50 for 500g) – the only negative thing is that it does come in a plastic container – if you’re listening Woolworths, please change to glass 🙂
3. Macro organic hulled tahini – I add it to home made chocolate so we go through quite a lot (oops!)
4. Macro organic Dijon mustard – it is my favourite mustard & less than $4 per jar. What’s not to love?!
5. Macro organic berries – my kids absolute favourite snack, they eat them by the bowl for afternoon tea or dessert. They are normally $7 per packet but keep your eyes peeled as they’ve been half price recently so $3.50 a packet is extremely good value. On a side note: Woolworths Double Bay – you’ve suddenly discontinued the Macro organic berries. Bring them back! They’re a staple in our home.

Some other noteworthy products which I find good value: Coolibah Organics Kale, Organic salad mix, organic eggs (about $8 a carton), organic meat (if you choose to eat meat).

Aldi – I need to focus on my list in Aldi as it is very easy to get sidelined by the deals! 99% of the time it’s not something I need, especially this year as we embrace minimalism as a family.  My top 5 purchases in Aldi are:

1. Gluten free pasta: made from 2 simple ingredients – corn flour & rice flour
2. Organic salted butter. Aldi, hello, if you’re listening, can you please bring back the unsalted too?! I don’t personally like butter but my sons do so I won’t compromise on quality.
3. Organic milk – we go through a couple of litres every week (I don’t personally drink milk)
4. Organic natural yoghurt – we use this in muffin recipes & my sons like it with some berries, vanilla powder & cinnamon. Just look out as the flavoured organic yoghurts look healthy (simple branding) but even the vanilla punches a massive 15% sugar.
5. Organic pasta sauce: this sauce does have some added sugar but with a total of 6% sugar, I am ok with a small amount of this whether on its’ own, in a Puttanesca; or in the boys bolognaise

Other noteworthy deals: organic coconut oil & organic beef mince. Aldi, if you see this post, please start selling more organic meat for those who choose to consume meat.

I’d love to hear about what you’ve found in the supermarket that’s both healthy; & inexpensive. Come say hi over on Facebook or Instagram – 6 Clean Ingredients. Until then, wishing you abundant health & happiness, with a bit of fun on the side

Alice