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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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'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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Popular Right Now
Popular Keywords
Advertisement