Feeding a family of seven was never something I imagined would feel this intense — but adding newborn twins to the mix changed everything overnight. Suddenly, grocery shopping for a family of 7 wasn’t just about planning meals or sticking to a loose budget. It became about efficiency, predictability, and survival, especially once baby formula entered the picture.
Formula is expensive. There’s no way around it. And when breastfeeding doesn’t work out the way you hoped, you adjust, emotionally and financially. That meant we had to rethink how we shopped for groceries fast, without falling into extreme couponing or spending hours comparing prices online.
What we landed on isn’t perfect or flashy, but it works. And in this season of motherhood, that’s enough.
Why Aldi Became Our Go-To Grocery Store
At this point, about 80% of our groceries come from Aldi — and that wasn’t by accident.
With multiple kids and two newborns, we needed a store that:
- Was quick to get in and out of
- Had predictable pricing
- Didn’t encourage impulse buying
- Covered the basics without overthinking
Aldi checks all of those boxes.
The smaller store layout alone saves my sanity. Fewer aisles means fewer “can we get this?” conversations and fewer random items sneaking into the cart. When you’re grocery shopping with kids, or racing home to feed babies, that matters more than people realize.
What We Consistently Buy at Aldi
Aldi handles the bulk of our weekly needs, especially staples. These are the items we almost always grab there:
Fresh Produce We Buy Regularly
- Organic apples, bananas, and seasonal fruit
- Bagged salads and spinach
- Bell peppers, onions, and zucchini
- Baby carrots and cucumbers for easy snacks
Dairy and Everyday Staples We Rely On
- Organic whole milk
- Aldi’s pure Irish butter from grass-fed cows (their Kerrygold-dupe option)
- Grass-fed and organic cheese options (block and shredded)
- Yogurt (they have a 2G dupe.. Low sugar for the kiddos!)
- Pasture Raised Eggs
Pantry Staples We Keep on Hand
These are the items that make quick meals possible without overthinking:
- Pasta and pasta sauce
- Condiments
- Organic olive oil and basic cooking oils
- Syrup, Honey, Jelly (my son has a nut allergy, so we don’t really keep nut butters in the house, but when I was pregnant PB & J sounded soooo good, and I wasn’t disappointed by the peanut butter and almond butter options)
- Breakfast staples
These are the foods we rotate through constantly, especially on busy weeks.
Snacks for Kids (and Tired Parents)
We try to keep snack options simple and predictable:
- Applesauce pouches
- Granola bars
- Nut-allergy-friendly snacks (mini cookies, honey grahams, etc.)
- Crackers and pretzels
- Popcorn
- Off-brand cereals without artificial colors and dyes
Nothing fancy — just things that work when everyone is hungry at once.
Freezer Items for Busy or Postpartum Days
This category has been especially helpful during the newborn stage:
- Frozen vegetables
- Frozen fruit for smoothies
- Easy freezer meals for nights when cooking isn’t happening
- Frozen fish filets or chicken nuggets, or quick proteins for the kids, for when I don’t have the time to cook a meat-based meal
Having these on hand has saved more evenings than I can count.
Grabbing these when we’re already there keeps us from making extra stops later. None of this is revolutionary; it’s just a system built around consistency and ease, which matters a lot when you’re feeding a large family and caring for newborn twins.
If it’s something we go through quickly or buy every single week, Aldi is usually the first stop.
And in this season? If a meal can be made quickly or thrown together while holding a baby, it’s a win.
What We Don’t Buy at Aldi (and Why)
As much as Aldi covers most of our list, we don’t and can’t buy everything there, as they sometimes don’t always carry certain items.
There are a few categories where consistency and availability matter more than price:
- Formula (brand consistency is non-negotiable, especially since I don’t havethe supply to successfully breastfeed twins)
- Certain specialty pantry items
- Bulk items we need the exact same way every time
- Trash bags.. They just don’t work the same as typical name-brand bags in my opinion.
With newborn twins, running to multiple stores just to save a few dollars isn’t realistic. Convenience matters, especially when sleep is limited, and schedules are unpredictable with appointments, after-school activities, practices, and sporting events.
How We Use Amazon and Thrive Market Strategically
Instead of trying to buy everything from one place, we shop strategically, based on what makes life easier right now.
- Amazon is helpful for formula and pantry staples when consistency and delivery matter more than hunting for deals. Subscribe and save for Prime Members can save 5-15%, usually. They also have a new program that’s only $4.99 a month to get unlimited grocery delivery from Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh, and other local retailers.
- Thrive Market is something we use occasionally for better-for-you swaps or specialty items that aren’t always easy to find locally. Organic snack items for the kids, mostly.
If you’ve never tried Thrive Market, you can score 40% off your first order here: http://thrv.me/aNMayY
We don’t shop everywhere all the time, just where it actually makes sense for our family and our season.
This approach keeps grocery shopping from feeling overwhelming and helps avoid unnecessary trips when we’re already juggling a lot at home.
The Reality of Feeding and Grocery Shopping for a Family of 7 (Including Formula Costs)
Adding baby formula to our grocery budget changed everything. There’s no “cutting back” on it — it’s a necessity.
So instead of trying to save money everywhere, we adjusted where we could:
- Simpler meals
- Fewer impulse snacks (for us parents)
- More predictable shopping routines
- Less food waste, such as utilizing leftovers for lunches, etc.
It’s not about perfection or guilt. It’s about adapting to the reality you’re in, even if it looks different from what you imagined.
For other ways we save money as a big family, check out this post I wrote about money-saving tools
What This Grocery System Has Changed for Us
This setup hasn’t magically eliminated grocery costs, but it has:
- Reduced decision fatigue
- Made trips faster and more manageable
- Helped us plan realistically
- Lowered stress during an already intense season
And honestly? That matters just as much as the numbers.
Real Life Over Perfect Budgets
This isn’t a “perfect system”, and it most likely won’t look the same forever. As our kids grow and seasons change, our grocery habits will too.
But right now, focusing on simplicity, consistency, and sanity has made grocery shopping feel manageable again — even with newborn twins and a full house.
If you’re in a similar season, know this: doing what works for your family is enough.
What are some ways your family saves when grocery shopping?
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you choose to make a purchase through one of these links. I only share products and services we actually use or find helpful for our family.
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