scorecardI'm a dietitian who shops at Trader Joe's every week. Here are 16 things I love to buy and how I use them.
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I'm a dietitian who shops at Trader Joe's every week. Here are 16 things I love to buy and how I use them.

Lauren Armstrong   

I'm a dietitian who shops at Trader Joe's every week. Here are 16 things I love to buy and how I use them.
I like picking up flavorful items like tomato-basil hummus and baked teriyaki tofu.Lauren Armstrong
  • I'm a dietitian who loves food, and Trader Joe's is my go-to grocery store.
  • I always buy frozen vegetables, snacks, and animal or plant-based protein options.

Roasted, seasoned Brussels sprouts with Parmesan cheese make a great side.

Roasted, seasoned Brussels sprouts with Parmesan cheese make a great side.
These go well with a grain or pasta.      Lauren Armstrong

If my vegetable-hating fiancé will eat these Brussels sprouts without a fight, then I bet you'll love them.

They're frozen so you can store several bags and avoid any spoiled produce.

They're the perfect side next to a grain and protein source, in a pasta dish, or served by themselves crispy from the oven or air fryer.

Add this sauerkraut with pickled Persian cucumbers to sandwiches and salads.

Add this sauerkraut with pickled Persian cucumbers to sandwiches and salads.
If you're like me and love sauerkraut, you need to get this.      Lauren Armstrong

This sauerkraut isn't the standard version that sits at room temperature on the grocery-store shelves, it's raw and naturally fermented. This means it's full of "good" bacteria that can help keep your gut healthy while also supporting your immune system.

I often eat this straight out of the jar because the tart, tangy flavors of the cabbage and pickles are a perfect snack when I'm craving something savory. Other times, I enjoy adding this sauerkraut to a classic Reuben or turkey sandwich and in salads for additional texture and flavor.

Blueberry-vanilla chèvre has the perfect balance of tartness and sweetness.

Blueberry-vanilla chèvre has the perfect balance of tartness and sweetness.
This cheese is the perfect sweet element to add to a charcuterie board.      Lauren Armstrong

The tartness of the goat cheese complements the vanilla and blueberries perfectly.

The flavors remind me of blueberry cheesecake, so it's a go-to when I'm in the mood for a rich, sweet snack.

Let the cheese sit at room temperature for a while to soften up so that it spreads easily on a cracker or fresh fruit on a charcuterie board.

Vegetable fried rice is a hearty, colorful main dish or side.

Vegetable fried rice is a hearty, colorful main dish or side.
All you need to do is pop this rice in a frying pan for a few minutes and it's ready to eat.      Lauren Armstrong

I love how fried rice makes an excellent side but can be bulked up to become an entrée.

This preseasoned frozen option is packed with vegetables including carrots, edamame, corn, green peas, leeks, and red bell pepper.

I'll serve this rice alongside Trader Joe's teriyaki tofu or mix an egg in for additional protein and eat it as a vegetarian entrée.

Tomato-basil hummus is a great protein source.

Tomato-basil hummus is a great protein source.
Hummus is rich in protein because it's made from chickpeas.      Lauren Armstrong

Hummus is a great snack, but I never really liked the chickpea dip until I tried this one from Trader Joe's.

The tomato-basil flavor reminds me of a Margherita pizza and it pairs well with crackers and chips or spread onto a sandwich.

Everything but the Bagel-seasoned smoked salmon is a charcuterie board staple.

Everything but the Bagel-seasoned smoked salmon is a charcuterie board staple.
Believe it or not, I love to have this salmon at breakfast.      Lauren Armstrong

This salmon is another one of my favorites to have on a charcuterie board. It's covered with one of Trader Joe's arguably most famous products — Everything but the Bagel seasoning.

Grab yourself a savory bagel, spread some cream cheese on it, and then layer the salmon and some sliced vegetables, like cucumber and onion, for a more affordable lox bagel.

You can't go wrong with these hash browns.

You can
These hash browns beat those at fast-food chains.      Lauren Armstrong

Skip the fast-food hash browns and get a 10-pack of these comparable ones for just a few dollars.

These hash-brown patties are simply just potatoes with a little bit of oil and seasoning. I toss them in my air fryer to get nice and crisp, but you can also cook them in the oven.

These hash browns are perfect with hot sauce and served alongside eggs, but I like to use them as the "bread" for avocado toast.

I also like to pick frozen meals like this cauliflower gnocchi.

I also like to pick frozen meals like this cauliflower gnocchi.
This gnocchi is a simple way to add vegetables to your meal in an unsuspecting way.      Lauren Armstrong

I'm not a huge fan of substituting cauliflower for rice and other grains, but this gnocchi is an exception.

The texture is similar to that of traditional potato gnocchi and contains fewer carbohydrates, fat, and calories.

I love to add the cauliflower gnocchi to soup and make a copycat version of Olive Garden's chicken gnocchi. It's also excellent pan-fried with pasta sauce.

Cheese-filled Fiocchetti with pink sauce is simply delicious.

Cheese-filled Fiocchetti with pink sauce is simply delicious.
Serve this pasta on a night in with your significant other or yourself.      Lauren Armstrong

If you're craving pasta but don't feel like cooking, this is perfect to serve on a date night.

Serving this cheese-filled Fiocchetti is reminiscent of eating food from the local Italian restaurant in the comfort of your own home. The pink sauce is the perfect combo of tomato and cream.

Cook in the microwave or a frying pan and this will be ready to eat in 10 minutes. I usually whip up a side salad or roasted veggies to enjoy alongside the pasta.

Spicy jalapeño chicken sausages are perfect for grilling.

Spicy jalapeño chicken sausages are perfect for grilling.
Cook these sausages over the summer when the grills come out of their winter hibernation.      Lauren Armstrong

There's nothing wrong with enjoying your typical hot dog, but I like that these chicken sausages are a little leaner and can be enjoyed by anyone who doesn't eat pork or beef.

I opt for the jalapeño because I love spicy foods, but Trader Joe's has plenty of milder options.

Slice these sausages up, arrange them on a sheet pan with your favorite vegetables, toss with a little olive oil, and roast in the oven. Serve with rice and you have yourself a well-rounded meal with very little clean-up.

This organic baked tofu has a yummy teriyaki flavor.

This organic baked tofu has a yummy teriyaki flavor.
I love to put this tofu in the air fryer to get crispy.      Lauren Armstrong

With my on-the-go lifestyle, I usually forget to marinate plain tofu on my own, so I always pick up this pre-marinated version for a great sweet and savory flavor.

I like to cook the tofu in my air fryer or pan fry it to get a little texture.

I'm not a huge fan of the spongy consistency of raw tofu, but I have diced this up and added to soups.

This vegan, creamy dill dressing can go on salads or inside wraps.

This vegan, creamy dill dressing can go on salads or inside wraps.
If you like ranch, you'll probably love this dill dressing.      Lauren Armstrong

The most "dietitian" thing about me is that I could eat a salad every day and enjoy it because there are just so many options and toppings to choose from.

However, I always need to have a dressing on salad, so this creamy dill option is the perfect vegan swap for ranch.

Besides going on salad, this dressing also works as a creamy vegetable dip or a sauce to go inside a deli wrap.

Mexican-style roasted corn has a great charred flavor.

Mexican-style roasted corn has a great charred flavor.
This fire-roasted corn is even low in sodium.      Lauren Armstrong

Instead of canned corn, pick up this fire-roasted version for your next recipe.

You'll get a nice charred flavor without having to deal with actual fire.

This corn is extremely versatile and can be used in soups, salads, or salsas. I'll even eat it solo alongside my favorite Mexican-style dishes.

Yellow tadka dal makes a high-protein lunch or dinner.

Yellow tadka dal makes a high-protein lunch or dinner.
Store these at work or at home for a simple yet delicious lunch.      Lauren Armstrong

This shelf-stable pouch only requires a microwave to be warmed up for lunch.

The yellow tadka dal is a combination of spices and high-protein lentils to keep you full. After trying this, you might want to taste all of Trader Joe's Indian Fare options.

I tend to scoop up this dish with some naan or serve it with rice and vegetables for an additional crunch.

These mini Hold the Cone ice-cream snacks make cute, little desserts.

These mini Hold the Cone ice-cream snacks make cute, little desserts.
These ice-cream cones are enjoyable for both kids and adults.      Lauren Armstrong

I purchased these cute, chocolate-shell-coated ice-cream cones when my nephews came to visit but found myself continuing to buy them after they left.

These mini cones come in a variety of flavors like chocolate chip, vanilla, and chocolate.

A serving size of three cones comes in at around 250 calories, so there's no need to feel guilty if you go back for seconds.

I even grab Mint-A-Breath bones for my dogs.

I even grab Mint-A-Breath bones for my dogs.
My dogs have come to learn the paper Trader Joe's bags include goodies for them too.      Lauren Armstrong

I never leave Trader Joe's without grabbing some treats for my two dogs.

These minty bones contain natural breath fresheners, help clean my dogs' teeth, and don't cause issues with my golden retriever's sensitive tummy.

Click to keep reading Trader Joe's diaries like this one.

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