Want Muscles? Shop at This Grocery Store

Why Aldi has a cult following among athletes and pro bodybuilders.

Last night’s $150 grocery haul

Transformation— whether in life or just in the grocery aisle—is always about being open to seeing things differently.

A few years ago, as I began my journey into bodybuilding, a new Aldi popped up several blocks from my house. At first, I barely noticed. Sure, some of my neighbors were buzzing about this quirky German chain where you had to deposit a quarter for a cart, but I wasn’t interested. I had my routine, my grocery-store comfort zone. I’d heard whispers of Aldi’s cult-like following and tales of slashed grocery bills, but honestly? My impression was...expired mystery foods from overseas no-name brands.

That was, until my bodybuilding coach started posting in our team’s Facebook group about her Aldi finds. Then I noticed something—more and more people in my athlete circles were sharing their finds too.

My teammate Shannon Bowers, a 39-year-old real-estate agent in Abingdon, Md. who competes in the bikini category, boasted about her incredible “protein hauls.” At the same time, an endless parade of bodybuilding bros began sharing TikTok videos of themselves pushing grocery carts around Aldi’s. Intrigued, I decided to check it out myself.

And just like that, I was hooked.

Rewriting the Grocery Rules

Aldi didn’t just change the way I shop; it reframed how I think about the food choices I make. In a world overwhelmed by excess—30 types of cereal, endless kinds of frozen pizza, confounding, newfangled food fads like sweet potato toast and collagen cookies—Aldi is a breath of fresh air. It’s simple, no-nonsense, and intentional. And yes, my grocery bill has been cut in half. (I pay around $150 a week to feed a family of four–which is two-thirds of the official USDA “thrifty” food plan for a ‘reference family’ similar to mine.)

I’m in and out of the store in less than 20 minutes. There’s no BS food marketing: You’ve got a produce aisle and a decent meat section, but packaged food options are very limited. At my Aldi’s in Silver Spring, Md., the freezer section is less than a half-dozen cases. Basic condiments, under the Burman’s brand, typically cost 30 percent less than the usual suspects at other stores. Where I shop, the only recognizable name-brand coffee grounds are Bustelo. Nilla Wafers are Vanilla Wafers. Doctor Pepper is “Professor Peppy.” You’re not greeted by a sea of options. Instead, Aldi offers the essentials—transparent, affordable, and straightforward.

“It reduces the analysis paralysis,” says my teammate Ginny Grivas, a rockstar pro bodybuilder who won in the figure category earlier this year at the Catonsville Conquer in Maryland. “I’m driven by price and nutrition labels, so I don’t need all those choices, I don’t need that headache. You’ve got three or four options, tops. And they have the best pricing on egg whites.”

Protein Paradise

Egg whites! For bodybuilders, egg whites are gold. Ginny and her husband, Britt, both compete and during the weeks ahead of a competition (known as “prep”), protein intake is everything. And Aldi delivers, both with reasonably priced egg whites and all sorts of lean proteins— like steelhead trout, a lighter, high-protein cousin to salmon which the couple swears by.

“Steelhead trout looks, tastes, walks like salmon,” she says. “But it has less fat, very high protein. It’s a quality fish. We literally clean them out and buy 20, 30 pounds of it.” She adds that it’s not unusual for the two of them to walk out of the store with an entire pallet of egg whites— “It’s the bodybuilders’ blood,” she laughs—- and prices per carton are around $3.85, compared with nearly $6 for the similar-sized name brand product at other stores.

Slurping egg whites helps me meet my daily protein goals

After about two years of shopping at Aldi, it’s become more than a routine—it’s a ritual. Even when I’m out of town, I find myself seeking one out. It’s not just about the savings, though those are nice. It’s about stripping away the noise and finding exactly what I need.

My Aldi Protein Haul Essentials

Here’s what I loaded up on last night, along with a few tips:

Ground Turkey: A mix of 93 percent and 99 percent lean turkey, seasoned with taco spices, makes for versatile “crumbles.” My kids love them stuffed into taco shells, and I toss them over rice, onto salads or into wraps. A batch lasts a few days, and it’s a protein-packed lifesaver.

Chicken Tenderloins: Perfect for the air fryer. I take them to work, season them, and cook them in minutes. No oil needed. At home, we grill them for family dinners.

Egg Whites: Always. I buy three or four cartons at a time for smoothies or omelets. My go-to is an afternoon smoothie with egg whites, whey protein isolate, a banana, and peanut butter. Don’t overthink the raw egg white thing—it’s fine, and you’ll forget about it after the first sip.

Pork Tenderloin: The pre-marinated $4.74 pork loin is a weeknight hero. It’s easy to grill, delicious, and feeds our family of four (including a perpetually hungry teenager).

Tofu: My personal favorite. I chop it up for a stir-fry with veggies, soy sauce, and ginger. At $1.55 per brick, it’s a steal.

And yes, I’m human. My kids still get their share of treats. Aldi’s “Aisle of Magical Wonders”—that strange, middle aisle with seasonal treasures—always wins them over. Last night, my daughter scored a $10 magnetic dartboard.

The Takeaway

I also kind of dig Aldi’s nerdy vibe, of consumers who eschew traditional hype, glossy packaging and rip-off prices. When Instacart delivers my Aldi packages to the office, someone always comments “I freaking LOVE Aldi’s.” (There’s an “Aldi Aisle of Shame Community” on Facebook and a reddit group for store superfans who exchange recipes.) It’s about more than saving money. It’s about letting go of the overwhelming and embracing the essential. Whether in the gym, the kitchen, or life, simplicity is powerful.

So, the next time you’re chasing transformation—whether it’s your body, your budget, or your perspective—consider starting in the grocery aisle. Sometimes, the simplest choices are the ones that change everything.