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These budget-friendly groceries can help shape your summer barbecues, picnics, and road trips without breaking the bank.

Reviewed by Dietitian Madeline Peck, RDN, CDN

Key Points

• Dollar General offers convenient, nutritious foods for all your summer adventures
• Snacks like applesauce pouches and popcorn are fiber-rich and perfect for summer road trips
• Groceries like a pasta salad kit and canned tuna can be transformed into tasty barbecue sides.

Summertime calls for no-cook meals and simple snacks the whole family will love, but as grocery prices continue to climb, you might be eager to find ways to lower your grocery bill. If you’re not already shopping at Dollar General, pay it a visit to stock up for your summer road trips, picnics and barbecues. They don’t only have holiday decorations and party supplies; they also have a surprising array of groceries for a lower cost than many grocery stores. Here are the top 9 groceries I recommend stocking up on this summer from Dollar General.

Suddenly Pasta Salad

A pasta salad is the perfect barbeque side or refreshing lunch for a summer vacay. Suddenly Pasta Salad is a pasta-plus-seasoning kit that makes it easy to throw together a tasty pasta salad with minimal effort. All you have to do is cook the pasta, mix in the seasoning pack and some olive oil, and voila! You have a tasty summer side. Plus, it’s only $3 for 4 servings. To make it into a meal, combine it with canned tuna and veggies for more protein and fiber without breaking the bank.

David Jumbo Sunflower Seeds

Summer road trips call for plenty of snacks, but it’s easy to default to ones low in fiber or high in sugar. No wonder so many people complain of constipation while traveling! For a fiber-rich option that’ll also keep you full, I recommend David Jumbo Sunflower Seeds. A single-serve package is just $1, and it’s packed with 20 grams of heart-healthy fats and 4 grams of fiber. One thing to know is that this snack is high in sodium, so choose an unsalted or lightly salted version, if available, or crack the seeds and eat the kernels, but skip the salty shells.

Gogo Squeez Applesauce Pouches

Gogo Squeeze Applesauce Pouches are some of the most convenient snacks you can find, and at Dollar General they’re only $3.25 for a 4-pack box. Buy a pack or two for the whole family to enjoy on your next trip to the beach, the park, or your kids’ sports game. They’re perfect for road trips, too. Made from 100% fruit, they provide natural sweetness and a couple grams of fiber per serving. Pick from pure applesauce or apple strawberry flavor based on what your family likes best.

Clover Valley Creamy Peanut Butter

There are so many ways to use peanut butter, so it’s a must-have for your summertime shenanigans. Make a PB&J for a packable lunch, pair it with apples or celery for an easy snack, or blend it into a summertime smoothie. From Dollar General, I recommend Clover Valley Creamy Peanut Butter for the best value. At just $2.25 for a 16-oz jar, you really can’t beat that price. Plus, a 2-tablespoon serving provides 7 grams of protein and 12.5 grams of heart-healthy fats for lasting satiety.

Clover Valley Chunk Light Tuna in Water

Canned tuna provides high-quality protein at an affordable price, so it’s worth picking up on your trip to Dollar General. For the best value, I suggest buying Dollar Generals private label tuna: Clover Valley Chunk Light Tuna in Water. You can get it in a can or a pouch depending on what you’re using it for—either way, it’s $1. I love bringing a tuna pouch and whole-grain crackers on long summer hikes, while canned tuna is ideal for tuna salad sandwiches.

Triscuit Original Whole Grain Wheat Crackers

Made with just three ingredients—whole grain wheat, canola oil, and sea salt—Triscuits are a simple snack. At Dollar General, a 6-serving box costs $2.95, so a single serving costs less than $0.50! Add them to your cheese board for a healthy dose of whole grains or pair them with other items on this list, especially peanut butter and tuna. Each serving provides 11% of the DV for fiber and 8% of the DV for iron.

SkinnyPop Original Popcorn

Popcorn is my personal favorite whole grain, and summer is the ideal time for this crunchy, airy snack. At Dollar General, I buy SkinnyPop Original Popcorn. At under $1 per serving (a 4.5-serving bag costs $3.65), you’re getting a lot of nutritional value, especially compared to other salty snacks. It’s made with just three ingredients—popcorn, sunflower oil and salt—and it’s not a significant source of sodium or saturated fat. Plus, a bowl of popcorn is a crowd-pleaser for any summer gathering—picnic, backyard barbecue or beach day.

Wonderful Pistachios

Pistachios are a nutritious, packable snack for all your summer adventures, but they’re also a delicious topping for a summertime salad or bowl of ice cream. A quarter-cup serving has 11.5 grams of heart-healthy fats, 3 grams of fiber, and 6 grams of protein. Plus, Wonderful Pistachios lightly salted version is low in sodium, with just 65 mg per serving. They may be the most expensive item on this list at $5.25 for 4 servings, but that’s still a great value compared to many other stores.

Dole Canned Pineapple Slices in 100% Juice

Find yourself craving fruit more in the summer? At Dollar General, a 20-ounce can of Dole Canned Pineapple Slices costs $2.80, or about $0.50 per serving. Canned fruit may get a bad rap, but don’t let that deter you. This pineapple is canned in 100% juice, so it’s free from added sugars. Plus, each 2-slice serving has 17 mg of vitamin C, or about 19% of 90 mg, the recommended daily value, which is important for healthy immunity. Use it for smoothies, mocktails or fruit salad.

Our Expert Take

Whatever you have planned this summer, Dollar General has groceries that’ll help you stay nourished without breaking the bank. If you’re prepping for a backyard barbecue, I suggest Suddenly Pasta Salad and canned tuna. If a road trip is in your future, stock up on snacks like pistachios, sunflower seeds and popcorn. Either way, a trip to Dollar General can save you money without sacrificing nutrition.