I’m from California, so I had no idea what Aldi was until I came to school in the Midwest. When I learned that it’s the parent company of Trader Joe’s, I immediately dropped everything and hopped on an Uber to give Aldi a go, and boy, was that the right decision. Aldi has a larger variety than Trader Joe’s—and for even cheaper prices, which is hard to come by. Though I wanted to buy out the entire store, I settled for checking out the top ten affordable Aldi snacks that you have to try if you are a college student.
1.) Cashew Butter ($5.99)
Listen, if you know me, you know I’m obsessed with all things nut butter. Not only is it nutritious and filling, there are just so many varieties to try. I’d been looking for a good yet affordable cashew butter, and Aldi’s Simply Nature Cashew Butter is going to be my go-to brand. It’s got a pretty short ingredient list, and it’s all stuff that you can pronounce, so you know what’s going in your body. Plus, it’s perfectly rich and creamy and, for $5.99, it’s a steal.
2.) Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels ($2.99)
Dark chocolate and salted caramel is a perfect combination. It’s luxurious and #bougie due to how multidimensional the flavors are. However, for less than $3, you can enjoy these little squares of heaven and feel like you’re in a European country when you’re needing that sugar hit. Plus, it’s Rainforest Alliance certified, so it’s good for the environment.
3.) Vanilla Flavored Pizzelle Italian Waffle Cookies ($2.99)
If you haven’t heard what a pizzelle is, you’re living under a rock. They’re essentially a thin and crispy Italian waffle, and they’re super versatile. You can have them with ice cream; you can dip them in chocolate; you can even eat them by itself. The possibilities are endless and because they’re really light, they make the perfect snack for when you want to munch on something.
4.) Moser Roth Dark Orange Almond Bar ($2.19)
When Trader Joe’s came out with the dark chocolate orange, the Internet went crazy. There’s something novel about about the fresh, tangy orange infused with rich, dark chocolate. Aldi ups its offshoot by bringing Moser Roth to America. Moser Roth is a German chocolate brand, so already it’s better than 98.2% of American chocolate. The quality of the chocolate is superior, and with unique flavors like dark chocolate orange almond, it’s hard to find elsewhere for just over $2.00.
5.) Exotic Vegetable Chips ($2.79)
In recent years, there’s been a movement towards finding healthy alternatives to beloved junk foods. Potato chip alternatives, particularly veggie chips, stand at the forefront of this movement. Oftentimes, I find veggie chips to be 1.) more expensive than potato and 2.) not nearly as tasty. However, Aldi’s veggie chips are comparable in both price in taste to your favorite potato chips. They’re salty and crunchy and satisfying.
6.) Elevation Maple Glazed Pecan & Sea Salt Bars ($2.49)
Kind bars are great. They have tons of flavors and are constantly cranking out new products that meet their mission of making snacks with wholesome, natural ingredients. However, Kind can be expensive. A bar costs about $1.50 if you just buy one instead of a pack. Why not purchase a pack of four for the price of two? These Elevation bars from Aldi are a copycat of the maple glazed pecan and sea salt (my personal favorite), so make the swap if you’re looking to save some bucks.
7.) Dried Fruit Medley ($1.49)
Dried fruit is a nutrition-packed snack for those with a perpetual sweet tooth, myself included. You’re eating your fruit without having to worry about it going bad. However, tons of dried fruit snacks have tons of preservatives and added sugars, counteracting any benefits of eating the fruit. What I like about Aldi’s Dried Fruit Medley is that the ingredient list is fairly short, with minimal added products, and it was on sale when I bought it.
8.) Indulgent Trail Mix ($4.89)
Trail mix is an essential for college students, because it’s got a balance of fats, carbs, and protein, providing sustainable energy to fuel you through your late-night cram session or workout. Aldi offers countless of flavors, but I picked up this one because it was a huge pack for less than $5, and because it seemed rich enough to satisfy my cravings. And boy, did it do that. Just a handful is enough to get you going with the rest of your day.
9.) Schogetten Cookies and Cream Bar ($1.29)
Oreos are America’s favorite cookie. They’re just so addicting that sometimes when you’re finishing up a pack, you forget what the suggested serving size is. Aldi’s got you covered to help with portion control with this Schogetten Black & White (AKA Oreo) flavored chocolate bar.
Schogetten is yet another affordable European chocolate brand available at Aldi that’s just as good as Moser Roth, but with a twist. Each piece is pre-separated so you’re forced to be more conscious about how many you’re eating, making it less likely to consume the whole bar in one sitting. Besides, the chocolate and cookies and cream filling are so rich that even three pieces will be enough for you.
10.) Parmesan, Garlic & Herb Pita Chips ($1.99)
To wrap up the list is the best Aldi product that I have tried: the Parmesan, Garlic & Herb pita chips. Another potato chip alternative, these pita chips have replaced my love for Cheetos. Though this statement might sound loaded, hear me out. These pita chips are fluffy yet crunchy, packed with flavor yet not heavy, inexpensive yet not skimpy with its quality or quantity. They were so good that I finished the entire bag in 3 days (#sorrynotsorry) and I yearn for more each day that passes. If you’re going to buy one thing from Aldi, BUY THE PITA CHIPS.
Aldi, I would just like to thank you for existing and for being every college students’ home away from home. You’re everything I’ve been looking for and more. The world is not worthy of you.