Cooking on a Budget: Organic Meal From ALDI for $5

Check out this healthy, quick weeknight meal from one of the most affordable grocery stores.

With three ingredients and under 30 minutes to make, this is one of my family’s go-to dinners.

What’s for dinner tonight?

That’s a question in practically every household every day and on millions of people’s minds—yes, even sometimes during meditation.

The answer to that question for my family sometimes relies on what we get from ALDI for the week. I’m a big fan of ALDI for many reasons, but here are my top three reasons:

1. I can get in and out of ALDI in less than 45 minutes with a full week of groceries. Fewer options = less time spent deciding what to buy.

2. ALDI continues to add more organic and gluten-free options, including in ALDI brands.

3. I know exactly what I’m getting.
   

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If you find yourself in an endless sea of tasks like most busy parents, the go-to meal below is something you can make once a week for less than $5 with ingredients from ALDI. (Note that prices may be different, depending on where you are located.) You can swap in different veggies and add your own personal touch, or keep it simple with these three ingredients:

• 1 bag of liveGfree Gluten-Free Organic Brown Rice & Quinoa Fusilli: $2.95

• 1 bag of Simply Nature Frozen Organic Broccoli Florets: $1.99

• 1 16.9-ounce bottle of Simply Nature Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil: $4.39 (This will last for several meals.)

• Optional: Organic marinara: $1.49

Hint: Buy these ingredients in bulk so you regularly have a healthy, quick go-to meal on hand, especially important for busy nights.

Learn how I make a meal out of these ingredients in less than 30 minutes.

Practice It: Cook It, Eat It, Store It

Organic and Gluten-Free Penne and Broccoli Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

• 1 bag of liveGfree Gluten-Free Organic Brown Rice & Quinoa Fusilli

• 1 bag of Simply Nature Frozen Organic Broccoli Florets

• 1 16.9-ounce bottle of Simply Nature Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil (to coat the pasta after cooking)

• Organic marinara (optional)

Directions

1. Cook frozen broccoli in saucepan according to package directions.

2. Place parchment paper on a baking sheet and place the broccoli on it.

3. Drizzle broccoli with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

4. Bring a pot of water to a boil and add a pinch of salt to the pot. (I use Himalayan pink salt.) Add the pasta and cook for 7 to 10 minutes.

5. Once pasta is cooked to your preference, drain the pasta and place it in the pot.

6. Remove the broccoli from the oven.

7. Mix together the pasta and roasted broccoli and serve.

8. Enjoy dinner with your family without distractions (ahem, smartphones, laptops and TV).

If your family doesn’t finish the meal, save it for lunch tomorrow.