Had to choose between $50 meal prep from Trader Joe's or $30 from Aldi last month

I was dead set on saving cash so I tried Aldi first. Got a big batch of black beans, rice, frozen veggies, and some chicken thighs for like $28 total. Prepped 8 meals that actually tasted decent. Next week I went to Trader Joe's and spent $55 on similar stuff with fancier sauces and pre-cut veggies. Honestly the Aldi meals held up better because I didn't get bored of them as fast. Has anyone else noticed cheaper stores force you to keep it simpler and that's actually better?

3 comments

3 Comments

campbell.tara3d ago

Respectfully, I see it different. Trader Joe's actually wins for me because their frozen meals and pre-made sauces save me from falling off the wagon halfway through the week. When I do Aldi, I end up staring down plain chicken and rice by day four and ordering pizza. Plus TJ's has those frozen bags of stir fry veggies that cost maybe $3 and last forever. Aldi's produce goes bad way faster in my fridge, so I'm throwing money away there. Different strokes for different folks though, your mileage may vary on what keeps you actually cooking.

robertgreen2d ago

You hit the nail on the head. Those stir fry bags are a lifesaver on busy nights.

williamhill2d ago

Flip it around and look at Trader Joe's drawbacks. Their frozen stir fry bags have way more sodium than anything I'd make myself, and that $3 price disappears fast when you need two bags to feed more than one person. Aldi's produce might go quicker, but that just means I'm eating fresh veggies early in the week and freezing what's left, which keeps me from ordering pizza.