It will be March in a few days. At this point, most people have already given up on their health-related New Year’s resolutions. I’m even noticing the gyms I encounter along my travels have far less cars in their parking lots compared to what they did January. In general, living a healthy life these days takes a lot of time and a financial commitment – and to be effective needs to be a long-term commitment vs. a resolution for just a few months. That’s why I love stores like Lidl, who offer a multitude of healthy and organic groceries at great prices, which gives everyone the opportunity to access healthy, quality food year round.

Grocery Costs on the Rise

It’s no secret that grocery costs have risen tremendously in the past five years. I can even look back at past grocery haul blog posts from several years back and see that certain items that I buy have gone up in price at least a dollar and even close to $2 in certain instances. That is why stores like Lidl, Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Walmart and Target are so important to our communities – because they offer many items at much lower price points compared to traditional grocery chains. Plus, these stores tend to be a bit more innovative than other traditional grocery stores and continuously introduce new healthy food items.

My Latest Healthy Lidl Grocery Finds

I hadn’t been to my local Lidl in months and was excited to see new healthy products (or at least new products to me) during my latest Lidl shopping trip a few days ago. My excitement was tempered a bit when I noticed that my local store did away with the separate gluten free/natural foods section. This made it a bit more difficult to locate some of my tried and true product favorites, which are now interspersed throughout the store. With that being said, Lidl didn’t disappoint and I walked away with a cart full of healthy, affordable groceries. And my total Lidl grocery bill was under a $100 for everything (including many items that I do not include in my list below). I wanted to share just a few of my latest Lidl healthy grocery finds:

1. Lidl Guacamole (Mild)

I love guacamole! I use it as a condiment for sandwiches and eggs, a dip for tortilla chips and even have been known to eat it by the spoonful. I noticed this time around, Lidl offers different packaging for their delicious guacamole. At least at my store, they still offered the old packaging (plastic bag in a box) as well as this round container option. This new packaging is much easier to use and the guac stays fresher longer. The Lidl guacamole it is non-GMO Project Verified and contains no artificial preservatives. Plus, at $2.98 at my store, it is several dollars cheaper than guacamole at almost any grocery store around. They also offer hot and homestyle guacamole options.

2. Combino by Lidl Red Lentil Fusilli (Pasta)

If you are looking for a nutrient dense, healthy gluten free pasta, lentil pasta is the way to go. And Lidl sells a delicious lentil fusilli pasta option for just $2.49 for an 8.8 ounce bag. The best thing about this pasta is that it has just one ingredient: red lentil flour. Nothing else! It also includes 14 grams of protein, no added sugar, and even contains some iron and potassium. The taste is fantastic! My Lidl also sells a chickpea pasta variety under this same brand. It looks like a certified organic red lentil pasta is available at other Lidl stores for the same price, but unfortunately it is not available at my local Lidl store. I will definitely purchase this pasta again!

3. Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce

Speaking of pasta, there is almost nothing better than a pasta dish with a flavorful pasta sauce. Rao’s never disappoints. By far, it is the sauce that is closest to the taste and texture of homemade sauce. And, it is one of the few commercial tomato sauces that does not include added sugar or harmful seed oils. I was so excited to see that my local Lidl carries a few varieties of Rao’s sauces now. At $6.88 for a 24 ounce Rao’s jar, the price is practically unbeatable. (Around me, only Walmart carries Rao’s for a similar price point and I’ve heard you can also get a good deal on Rao’s at Cotstco as well.) Most grocery stores sell Rao’s sauce for at least a dollar more than this phenomenal Lidl price.

4. A Bag of Meyer Lemons

Especially during cold and flu season, I love to start my day with a little hot water with lemon and honey. While some call it a detox drink, I enjoy the warming effect of this tasty drink during the chilly cold months of winter. I love to use Meyer lemons because they are a bit sweeter and less tart than regular lemons. I was excited to find this big bag of Meyer lemons at Lidl for just $2.49 at my store. I also like to squeeze one of these lemons in my afternoon tea and add some lemon to my smoothies when I am feeling under the weather.

5. Peak Harvest by Lidl Sesame Asian Chopped Salad Kit

I remember working in NYC about 15 years ago and chopped salad restaurants were popping up left and right. The salads were very expensive, fully customizable and you could watch your salads be chopped up into smaller pieces right in front of your eyes. Now, almost every grocery store offers chopped salads. And I am obsessed! My favorites are the Asian and Mediterranean chopped salad varieties. Lidl offers several different chopped salad options at my store (Sweet Kale, Asian, Caesar, Everything, etc.) and I flock to the Asian variety every time. It is so delicious and the entire kit is just $3.49. My only wish is that they would offer an organic version in the future, and then these kits would be perfect. (Note: to make my salads even healthier and gluten free, I don’t use the dressing or wonton strips, but instead use my own dressing or olive oil with lemon and add in some pumpkin seeds for crunch.)

6. Organic Smoothie Red Mix

My standard smoothie recipe is amazing but it often takes me over 10 minutes to make from start to finish. At some point, I will definitely share my recipe. Sometimes I just do not have the time to make a smoothie from scratch. I love it when I find smoothie kits that can help me cut down on time and allow me to make a nutritious smoothie within seconds when I am super busy. In Lidl’s vast frozen food section, they carry two different frozen organic smoothie kits, including this red mix that I purchased. And it is completely organic and delicious. At $2.49 for a smoothie kit (I swear Lidl loves to offer anything at the $2.49 price point), it is also an amazing deal.

7. Alesto by Lidl Lightly Salted Dry Roasted California Pistachios

Finding healthy snacks at grocery stores can be a chore, but not at Lidl. Shelled pistachios are one item I always pick up at Lidl. Pistachios are a highly nutritious snack food but they are often very expensive. Pistachios are a good source of protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. Plus, they can help reduce cholesterol levels and regulate blood sugar. Lidl carries the Wonderful pistachio brand, but they also sell their own brand at a much better price ($4.99 for a 6 ounce bag), which is what I most frequently purchase. Plus, the pistachios are already shelled – so you don’t have to make a mess while enjoying this healthy snack.

8. Alesto by Lidl Raw Brazil Nuts

Brazil nuts are one of the richest food sources of selenium around. You only need to eat 2 Brazil nuts a day to meet your daily requirement of selenium. Although not the tastiest nut, Brazil nuts are filled with nutrients beyond selenium and are often really expensive. At Lidl, you can pick up a bag of raw Brazil nuts for just $4.69, which is half the price of the same bag of Brazil nuts at other stores.

9. Califia Farms Unsweetened Almond Milk

In the past, I could never shop for certain items at Lidl, such as plant-based milks or pasture-raised eggs. Now, thanks to Lidl’s improved inventory, I can shop for both at Lidl. Prior to recently at my store, I could only find flavored, sweetened and lower quality plant-based milks. During my last shopping trip, I came across two great plant-based milk options: Planet Oat Unsweetened Oat Milk ($3.77) and Califia Farms Unsweetened Almond Milk ($3.97). I opted for the Califia Farms Unsweetened Almond Milk, which was a bit cheaper than the price of this same product at most local grocery stores With viable plant-based milk options now available at Lidl, I saved myself a trip to another grocery store for this item.

10. Frozen Organic Steamable Vegetables by Lidl (Sweet Potatoes and Broccoli)

If you are looking for some healthy side dishes, look no further. Lidl sells an assortment of organic frozen vegetables in their frozen food section that can complement virtually any main dish. I was ecstatic to see that both organic frozen veggies that I picked up, sweet potatoes and broccoli, were both under $2.00, which is hard to find anywhere these days. (To be more specific, the organic sweet potatoes are $1.79 and the organic broccoli is available at my store for $1.99.) As an added bonus, you can steam both bags in the microwave if you are pressed for time.

11. Healthy Beverages (Solevita Organic Coconut Water and Sofresco Cold-Pressed Lemon Mint Juice)

I am always a sucker when it comes to trying new coffees, teas, healthy drinks and juices. During my last Lidl shopping spree, I picked up two drinks that I haven’t tried before. The first is the Solevita Organic Coconut Water, which is available at my store for just $1.99. Coconut water is an excellent way to get electrolytes without added sugar or artificial ingredients. This delicious coconut water is not from concentrate and is certified organic, which it tough to find in other coconut waters in markets. The second drink that I tried is the Sofresco Cold-Pressed Lemon Mint Juiice, which I purchased for $2.99. The drink was refreshing with just the right touch of mint (not too minty). I would definitely purchase it again as a treat. It would be a perfect warm weather beverage.

Additional Lidl Tips and Tricks

• Download the myLidl app today and definitely before you go shopping at Lidl for access to savings, weekly ads, coupons and rewards. It’s a must for any Lidl shopper and it is free to use. For example, I logged on today and I was greeted by a $5 off $30 purchase coupon, plus over 44 other coupons. You will definitely be rewarded for shopping at Lidl. You can also create a shopping list and access hundreds of recipes, many of which are very healthy, directly in the app. Just remember to scan your code at checkout.
• Prices and inventory may vary by location. I recommend checking the MyLidl app for your local Lidl store to access the prices and products available at your store.
• From my experience, my Lidl store has the most inventory when you shop early on Saturday mornings or mid-week. The store can get super crowded on weekends and they often have limited cashiers at the check-out registers, at least at my store, which definitely adds time to your shopping.
• Lidl offers a few aisles of household and seasonal items, as well as toys and tools, where you may be able to find an incredible find!
• To save some money, bring your own reusable bags. You will be charged for bags at Lidl.
• Some items such as brand name detergents, brand name seltzers, garbage bags, etc. may be cheaper at other stores such as Target, Costco or Walmart.

If you want to check out some other healthy grocery finds at Lidl, check out my previous blog article for some fabulous items.