Heaven for me would be living on a blueberry farm. My love of blueberries started when I was a kid living in the Midwest. I remember my mom would take me and one or both of my brothers to a blueberry farm where we picked the luscious blue gems till we could pick no more. We only had to pay for what we brought back from the fields not for what ended up in our bellies. One summer goodness knows how many blueberries I ate in one day. Yet we still brought home a stash of 45 pounds.
Fortunately my love affair with blueberries continued. All fruit is nature’s candy but these succulent little blue squishy balls are a super great food. They contain a disease-fighting compound called anthocyanin—a phytochemical/nutrient—which gives them their beautiful rich blue color. They’re also a good source of another phytochemical—resveratrol also found in grapes and red wine.
15 pints of blueberries minus one that Neily ate
I always have frozen berries in my freezer because they’re just not available year-round. Fresh ones are a treat but they can be pretty expensive when not in season.
Where I got my 34 pints for $40!
Unless—I find them on sale or available at one of my new favorite stores. No, not Whole Foods, Central Market, Sprouts, or Trader Joe’s. At this store you have to bag your own groceries—which I do anyway when I go to Kroger because no one does it better than me. Seriously. I am the master grocery-bagger. Paper, double-bagged. I can cram more into one bag and save dozens of the plastic ones. (Yes, I have my eco-friendly bags but I love the paper ones to put all my recyclable paper in.)
I bring my debit card or cash—they don’t take credit in order to keep costs down. If you want a cart be prepared to pay for it. But no worries, it’s a quarter and you get it back when you return it. Again, keeps costs down by not needing employees scouring the parking lot for carts. Genius. There has only been one cashier—always very pleasant—when I’ve gone so expect to stand in line. But boy is that cashier fast! The line goes quick.
So what grocery store am I talking about? ALDI. Wednesday the weekly flyer came out. Blueberries—$1.19 per pint. I was in blueberry heaven! I bought 34 pints for $40. Yes this photo only shows 33, because I had already eaten a pint.
A few weeks ago blueberries were available for $1.29 per pint. Never having bought them from ALDI I was hesitant—how good could they be? So I only bought a few. I was pleasantly surprised how big many were—and they were good. Really good. The next day I got more. A lot more. They’re almost gone. Ate a few pints and froze the rest. I also did some research on where these little jewels were coming from. The ones I bought Wednesday were actually from three different places.
- Welchsfresh.com
- Alwaysfresh.com
- Naturipefarms.com
If I was an organic freak and insisted on only eating organic—which I don’t—then I would be missing out on some incredible nutrient-rich delicacies. My $40 would have allowed me to buy only 7 pints (versus 34) at Whole Foods today. They’re $5.99 per organic pint. To their credit they’ve got a one day sale (today, Friday, June 27) for conventionally grown Texas berries at $1.99. I’ll go check them out!
Having worked as a clinical hospital dietitian at Parkland Memorial, Dallas’s county hospital, early in my career I had to learn to speak a language my patients could understand—budget-friendly. They didn’t have the luxury of shopping the high end stores with fancy organic produce. Plus, they didn’t need to—all fruits and veggies regardless organic or not are practically the best foods money can buy. I’ve yet to come across a research study where produce does not do the body good. Anyway I was just happy my patients ate a fruit or vegetable.
My blueberries would be really out of my reach—budget wise—if I only bought organic. Fortunately I don’t preach the only eat organic or something is wrong with you rule. And if anyone makes you feel badly because you don’t buy organic, ignore them and maybe find a new friend.
ALDI also had strawberries for $1.19 per pound. Love those too but my fridge and freezer are bleeding blue. And anyway, July is almost here and guess what that is? National Blueberry Month!
1 cup of blueberries
How do I eat my berries? Let me count the ways.
- By the handful (my favorite!)
- At night as a sweet treat—I’ll take a bowl of the frozen blue edible marbles and suck on them like candy
- Mixed into Greek nonfat yogurt with a little sweetener
- Mixed into cottage cheese with some Kashi® GOLEAN cereal and walnuts
- Blended into my favorite smoothie! (nonfat or 1% milk, berries, banana, handful of greens if I’m in the mood, maybe some whey protein powder, ice)
- Bowl of berries with milk (no almond or rice milk for me—I need the mega nutrition and protein from dairy milk)
- Added to oatmeal
- I used to love to bake but honestly (and obviously not modestly), I’m pretty darn good and ate too much of what I made so don’t do it much any more. However, feel free to make me a blueberry pie! I’ll eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Maybe I’ll share.
To be honest, ALDI won’t be my go-to store for everything—I’m still a die-hard Kroger girl and spread my grocery dollars around. But, being so convenient, I’ll keep my eye out for the great deals at ALDI and look forward to seeing you there! Warning: make sure when it comes to the fresh produce you get there quick—the secret’s getting out and those great deals can go quick! Let’s be trendsetters and make it the place cool folks like us go to save money.
Now tell me, how do you enjoy eating blueberries?
Jennifer “Neily” Neily, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Neily on Nutrition
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Wellcoach® Certified Health Coach
Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Photo credits: Neily on Nutrition
Website & blog: NeilyonNutrition.com
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Oh my gosh! I seriously thought I was the only blueberry addict!! My favorite is to eat them frozen or in yogurt. Like you, I used to bake and would make this fantastic blueberry bread. Since it is now the off-season, I’ve been buying them at Costco. For $5.79, you get 1 lb. 2 oz of blueberries. Since I live in CA, we don’t have an Aldi’s(but I know where one is where I grew up outside Chicago), my task will be to find a comparable Aldi’s here. Thank you for your wonderful and enjoyable blog. So glad to know there are other’s out there who love those sweet, round morsels of goodness!!
Yes yes yes! I am a fellow addict. So good to have a love of GREAT food vs. the not-so-great :). I’ve got about 15 pints frozen in my freezer I bought when they were on sale this summer. Thank you for your lovely comments and glad you enjoy my blog. My goal is to post more often! 🙂 Cheers Kathleeen!
I’m addicted to blueberries also
Yay! I knew I wasn’t alone 🙂
I thought I want alone! I just ate a whole box even though it makes me feel sick. This is an awesome post
Definitely not alone Sam! 🙂 Thanks for your comment. -Neily
I thought i was the only blueberry addict on the planet!! I particulary like the grape size ones when they”re cold and crunchy
Nope! Love love love blueberries! Thanks for your message Jesse. -Neily
You do not seem to know that NON-organic produce often contains too-high-for-me levels of glyphosate (now well accepted as a carcinogen, but I’ve known this from basic research since 2012). The chance of getting some type of cancer in one’s lifetime is a ridiculous ONE IN TWO PEOPLE.. and food is the ONLY cause of this we can actually control. There is actually even more to “organic”– I wrote an (unpublished, since it is “controversial”) 23-page review paper on this just citing actual research papers that have already been published. If I cannot afford expensive organic blueberries, I either choose something organic that is cheaper (via nutrients per dollar) OR I WAIT for cheaper ORGANIC blueberries. Example: I recently got (not *just* 34 “pints”) but 18 POUNDS of blueberries for only $60 from an “unofficially organic” pick-your-own farm that I interviewed and found to follow the organic rules. I waited all year for that, and during that entire year, did not buy ANY store-bought blueberries, organic or non. However, I was not nutrient-deprived, because I got antioxidants from cheaper (but still organic) types of foods, depending on what was on sale (yes, organics can go on sale a LOT).
Appreciate your comments and if I had a blueberry farm anywhere near me, I would joyfully pick my own as I did in my childhood growing up in the midwest. There is nothing better than picking your own produce. And no you would not be nutrient-deprived simply avoiding blueberries since a variety of food offers similar nutrient-rich benefits.
I must however respectfully disagree with you that I do not seem to know what I write about. There was sensationalized coverage of a now retracted study from 2012. Unfortunately much propaganda and fear mongering continues. In a 2012 review Epidemiologic studies of glyphosate and cancer: A review, “Our review found no consistent pattern of positive associations with any cancer.”
In 2016 the was published. Description: “Genetically engineered (GE) crops were first introduced commercially in the 1990s. After two decades of production, some groups and individuals remain critical of the technology based on their concerns about possible adverse effects on human health, the environment, and ethical considerations. At the same time, others are concerned that the technology is not reaching its potential to improve human health and the environment because of stringent regulations and reduced public funding to develop products offering more benefits to society. While the debate about these and other questions related to the genetic engineering techniques of the first 20 years goes on, emerging genetic-engineering technologies are adding new complexities to the conversation.” The report is available as a free download.
My goal is to provide unbiased relevant health and nutrition information so that people make educated decisions.
I wish people would do more with spreading facts not fear.
-Neily
I found this while researching if I ate too many blueberries. xD LOL
same!! I eat 2-3 cups of frozen blueberries a day for snack instead of snacking on bad foods but idk if its actually unhealthy to do this?
Stop paying the dairy industry to abuse, torture, murder mother animals and their babies. Visit http://www.facebook.com/DloodyDairy
Also, dairy is NOT healthy. Any study that claims it is says so because it has been funded by the dairy industry itself: https://nutritionfacts.org/?s=dairy
Thanks for you comment(s) – I will publish all 4.
Since I monitor comments I could very well have deleted yours Jake. I did not. Why? Because I respect your opinion. And that is what it is, an opinion. Fear-mongering like yours is one of the reasons I do what I do – provide unbiased, relevant health and nutrition information so people can make educated decisions. Note the word unbiased – no I do NOT have an affiliation with the dairy industry.
But Jake, why are you so angry. It’s a shame really – as many of my vegan colleagues would say. It is the voices like yours who give vegans a bad name. I’m sure Dr. Greger would be disappointed with your hostile comments as well.
I’m very familiar with Dr. Michael Greger’s work and agree with him on many things. Why don’t you check out this dairy farmer, perhaps educate yourself. https://www.facebook.com/tillamookdairyfarmer/
Respectfully-
Neily
Stop paying the dairy industry to abuse, torture, murder mother animals and their babies. Stop stealing the BREAST milk of babies who are forcibly separated from their mothers just so you can stuff your face with THEIR milk. Visit http://www.facebook.com/BloodyDairy
Also, dairy is NOT healthy. Any study that claims it is says so because it has been funded by the dairy industry itself. To educate yourself:
Watch the documentary FORKS OVER KNIVES: https://www.amazon.com/Forks-Over-Knives-Colin-Campbell/dp/B008Q0AUX8/
Read the books:
– THE CHINA STUDY (by Dr. T. Colin Campbell)
and
– HOW NOT TO DIE (by Dr. Michael Greger)
Ouch – so I can stuff my face with their milk. What an ugly thing to say. As I said in my previous comment, why are you so angry? You give vegans a bad name. So sad.
I am familiar with all the sites/books you recommend.
-Neily
Oh also, I wrote my comment based on the ASSUMPTION that you are not paid by the dairy industry to promote their products since they DO pay so-called “nutrition experts” to encourage the public to consume dairy.
You ASSUMED correctly – I am NOT paid by the dairy industry. I choose not to be paid by ANY industry so I can maintain my unbiased approach. And yes the dairy industry does pay nutrition experts just as marketers of vegan products pay individuals.
Stop paying the dairy industry to abuse, torture, murder mother animals and their babies. Stop stealing the BREAST milk of babies who are forcibly separated from their mothers just so you can stuff your face with THEIR milk. Visit http://www.facebook.com/BloodyDairy
Also, dairy is NOT healthy. Any study that claims it is says so because it has been funded by the dairy industry itself. To educate yourself:
Watch the documentary FORKS OVER KNIVES: https://www.amazon.com/Forks-Over-Knives-Colin-Campbell/dp/B008Q0AUX8/
Read the books:
– THE CHINA STUDY (by Dr. T. Colin Campbell)
and
– HOW NOT TO DIE (by Dr. Michael Greger)
If you have an ounce of integrity and are not paid by the dairy industry, you would publish this comment.
“If you have an ounce of integrity and are not paid by the dairy industry, you would publish this comment.”
You’re welcome Jake 🙂
Read my other responses please.
Neily