I used to be an Aldi hater — now, I'm totally obsessed. Here are 12 things I love to buy there.

• I never used to shop at Aldi, but when I visited the chain on a trip to Hungary, I became hooked.

• The L'oven Fresh pains au chocolate and Friendly Farms almond milk are morning staples for me.

• I grab the Deutsche Küche spaetzle and Sundae Shoppe stroopwafel treats whenever I see them.

I used to turn my nose up at Aldi. I never believed anyone who said it was a terrific place to shop, but my mind finally changed during a trip to Budapest, Hungary.

When our tour guide made a pit stop to grab snacks at Aldi, I wrinkled my nose but went in anyway. I couldn't believe how beautiful the bakery and cheese aisles were and how great the selection of produce looked.

Now, I'm hooked on shopping for my groceries at Aldi. Here are 12 of my favorite things to pick up at the store.

The avocados at Aldi are a deal.

The avocados at Aldi might feel like little rocks when you throw them in your shopping cart, but good things come to those who wait.

I usually have to wait a couple of weeks until they're soft, but I think they're priced well and worth the extra time to fully ripen. I've even seen them as low as $0.29 apiece.

The L'oven Fresh pains au chocolate is a delicious way to start the day.

The L'oven Fresh pains au chocolate is rich and buttery with a just-right amount of chocolate down the center. According to the package, they're imported from France.

Give them a quick 10-second zap in the microwave, serve with your favorite latte, and you'll have a terrific petit dejeuner (breakfast).

I always look at the specialty cheeses at Aldi.

I love Aldi's cheese selection. There are the normal and somewhat generic shredded and sliced varieties, but if you look beyond those, you'll notice gourmet-looking blocks.

From Gruyere and cheddar to goat's milk and cave-aged, the craft cheeses are often imported, and in my opinion, always delicious.

Exquisite Collection Côtes de Provence rosé is tasty.

Few things go better with delicious cheese than a fun wine, and Aldi's got a great selection. The bottles might not be vintages you'll cellar but they're deliciously drinkable.

The Exquisite Collection Côtes de Provence rosé is a clean and dry variety of the summer favorite and is made in the south of France.

At about $10 a bottle, you can check your inner wine snob at the door.

I grab the Deutsche Küche spaetzle whenever I see it.

The Deutsche Küche spaetzle is one of my favorite global finds at Aldi. It's not in stock all the time, so when I see it, I snag it.

The sturdy German egg noodles are a great base for your favorite comfort food. I'll pair them with beef stroganoff or chicken paprikash but they're also great with butter and a bit of cheese.

Burman's sauces are essential for my easy dinners.

Burman's simmer sauces come in tikka-masala, butter-chicken, and korma flavors and take my dinners from bland to brilliant. I usually grab a few jars for my pantry because they make meal prep so easy.

Just cook your desired protein, add the sauce, simmer, and serve over rice. Sometimes, I'll even skip the meat and sub in chickpeas for an easy vegetarian option.

The Specialty Selected mini naan is perfect for dipping in sauces.

The Specially Selected mini naan is a delicious option if you're looking for good dipping bread.

The naan comes in packs of eight and can easily be warmed up in the toaster. They also make a great quick personal-pizza crust.

I usually keep them in the freezer until I use them.

The Simply Nature chia seeds add fiber to my snacks.

Chia seeds are tiny, mighty, and widely considered a superfood. They're packed with antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber, and I can find them for far cheaper at Aldi than at other stores.

Whether I blend the Simply Nature chia seeds into smoothies, sprinkle them on yogurt, or use them to make a delicious pudding, I never regret grabbing a bag.

The Simply Nature dark-chocolate-and-sea-salt granola tastes like a treat.

The Simply Nature dark-chocolate-and-sea-salt granola tastes decadent, but it's full of good-for-you ingredients like amaranth, millet, and chia seeds.

It's a delicious breakfast option that fills me up without taking a big bite out of my budget at around $5 a bag.

Friendly Farms' unsweetened vanilla almond milk is a morning staple.

Almond milk is my morning go-to because I use it in my coffee, overnight oats, and green-tea matcha lattes.

I prefer the Friendly Farms unsweetened version with a subtle hint of vanilla. Plus, a half-gallon carton costs me $2.30, making it a budget-friendly option.

The fresh Atlantic salmon at Aldi comes in a variety of delicious flavors.

Salmon is one of the healthiest animal proteins, and the varieties I've seen at Aldi make incorporating it into my diet easy and tasty.

The fresh, Atlantic salmon comes in a variety of portion sizes. I've seen plain, Mediterranean-herb, and cedar-plank versions, but my favorite is slightly smoked.

The Sundae Shoppe stroopwafel ice-cream sandwiches are a cool summer treat.

I can't help but indulge my sweet tooth, so I always buy the Sundae Shoppe stroopwafel ice-cream sandwiches when I see them. I'd even put them on par with those I stashed in my carry-on in the Netherlands.

The waffles are thin and slightly crispy on the outside and have a generous layer of caramel syrup in between, making them the perfect dessert.

Click to keep reading Aldi diaries like this one.

Read the original article on Insider