24-04-2025
The best healthy foods in Aldi and Lidl
In recent years, you might have noticed it is getting increasingly difficult to get round the supermarket without being bombarded with health messaging. A rise in health-conscious shoppers has sparked competition among the supermarket brands, whose 'better basket' health campaigns, gut health ranges and products promising health benefits are coming at us thick and fast.
It used to be that the higher-end supermarkets were the go-to shops for health foods, but thankfully it's low-cost ones such as Lidl and Aldi that come up trumps for nutrition staples. As a nutritionist, I find that all too often the latest health fashion translates to 'more is more'. We're seeing unnecessary additions to products in the name of health, when what I want are decent, well-produced essentials without the gimmicks.
Cost is an important factor when it comes to staying healthy, so here are the products I rate more highly than the expensive competition.
1. Vitamin-enriched smoothies
While smoothies cannot replicate the nutritional advantages of eating whole fruit, they can be a great way of consuming a range of fruits conveniently. The more in the mix, the better, ideally with a vegetable or two thrown in. Vitamin-enriched smoothies tend to come at a price, which is where Lidl's Naturis range is to be recommended.
For instance, its Rejuvenate with cucumber, apple, grape, mango and kiwi includes niacin, B6 and riboflavin in addition to matcha and linseed. Aldi's Enliven is another rich-in-vitamins contender.
At nearly three times the price, M&S's Revitalise smoothie also includes chicory root fibre, which contains inulin, an ingredient that can trigger gastrointestinal symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) sufferers such as bloating, stomach pain and distension. As such, it is not Fodmap-friendly (the Fodmap diet is designed for those with sensitive digestion).
Best buy
Lidl Naturis Rejuvenate 750ml, £1.75
