45 Trader Joe’s Healthy Favorites
It’s a crazy time in our world right now, but you know what pretty much EVERYONE can agree on? TRADER JOE’S! There’s something about this cute little grocery store that just makes everyone happy.
To be honest, this post has been on my editorial calendar for months. I think I was hoping COVID would calm down and it would become okay to take photos of each product in store again… but I’ve let that dream go for now. If they are going to take tons of precautions to keep us safe and limit the amount of people in store, I’m not going to take longer than I need to or touch things I’m not buying that day. That wouldn’t be very nice of me to do. (Also, this photo was taken pre-COVID. I promise I always adhere to their store rules and wear a mask now!)
So instead of lots of photos, here is a big master list of all of my Trader Joe’s healthy favorites. This list covers 9 different categories with descriptions of why I love each and every one. And while some are healthier than others, all of these have quality ingredients that you can feel good about. I hope this inspires your next TJ’s list – and please let me know if this helps you find any new favorites!
*This post is NOT sponsored by Trader Joe’s. Trust me, I wish it was 😉
45 Trader Joe’s Healthy Favorites
Produce Section
Cruciferous Crunch
This mix has kale, brussesls sprouts, broccoli, and cabbage (both red and green). You can saute it if you’d like, but I usually just use it as a base for a crunchy salad! Make sure you use this dressing…
Spicy Cashew Butter Dressing
If you know me, you know that this is my favorite healthy salad dressing EVER. It tastes just like the sweetgreen favorite, and I literally have 3 bottles in my fridge ? I love it with kale, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes!
Mini Peppers
If you want to reach for something healthier to pair with hummus or other dips, mini peppers will always be my favorite. They’re crunchy and sweet and perfect for dipping!
Jicama Sticks
Jicama sticks are my other favorite dipping alternative when I’m trying to stay away from chips and cracker. Jicama is a root vegetable, and the flavor is a little sweet and starchy… but still super crunchy.
Riced Cauliflower
Because who has time to make their own cauliflower rice? This bag makes it so easy to make cauliflower rice as a savory side dish with dinner or even add some cauliflower to your smoothies for a boost of nutrients. (They also have organic riced cauliflower in the freezer section, too!)
Steamed Lentils
Love the idea of lentils but don’t want to actually make them? BUY THESE! Just open the bag, pop them in a pan to heat them up, and then add them to your salads all week!
Southwest Salad Mix
If you are looking for a super easy dinner for busy weeknights, buy this salad. It has cabbage, romaine, cotija cheese, pepitas, tortilla strips, and a southwest dressing… and it is delicious. We often just eat this salad with a simple piece of salmon. The best no fuss dinner!
Fancy Medjool Dates
I loooove dates as both a snack and natural sweetener, and these are really great quality. I love adding a little almond butter to a few for a snack or wrapping them in bacon as a holiday appetizer!
Dips, Sauces and Condiments
White Bean & Basil Hummus
I have loved TJ’s White Bean & Basil Hummus for years – probably because it tastes a little bit like pesto. That being said, you really can’t go wrong with anything in their hummus section. They’re ALL good!
Romesco Dip
I bought this on a whim a few months ago and now it’s my absolute FAVORITE. If you’ve never had a romesco sauce, it’s basically a mix roasted red peppers, tomatoes, and crushed almonds… and it’s good with everything. It’s great as a dip with their beet crackers, but I especially love it on breakfast tacos. The best weekend brunch at home!
Olive Tapenade
The olive tapenade in the refrigerated section of Trader Joe’s is the BEST pre-made grocery store tapenade EVER. Yeah, I said it. While olives are high in sodium, they also a good source of healthy fats and are high in Vitamin E and other antioxidants. I love to serve this as a dip with crackers, or mix it in to my salads and grain bowls for an extra punch of flavor. SO GOOD.
Cowboy Caviar
If you like chunky salsa, you MUST try their Cowboy Caviar. It has black beans, corn, and peppers mixed in. Such a fun alternative to boring salsa!
Honey Pale Ale Mustard
Last year, a friend of mine told me I needed to try this mustard – and she was right! It’s basically the best honey mustard you could imagine. Use it as a condiment, or just dip pretzels right on in 😉
Organic Super Fruit Jelly
I bought this on a whim a few months ago and Adam and I cannot get enough of it. It’s a blend of morello cherries, red grapes, blueberries, and pomegranates. DREAMY.
Coconut Aminos
Coconut aminos sounds fancy, but it’s really just a Whole30 version of soy sauce. I like it because it’s less salty than soy sauce, but it still has lots of umami flavor. It’s great in a stir fry, lettuce wraps, or even sushi night!
Snacks
Dried Mango
Dried fruit can be very sweet, so I love that Trader Joe’s dried mango is JUST mango. That’s it!
Unsweetened Applesauce
Speaking of pure snacks, the only ingredient in TJ’s unsweetened applesauce is organic apples. No added sugar at all – and it’s still perfectly sweet and delicious!
Garlic & Onion Pistachios
These particular pistachios taste like JUNK FOOD. Truly, when I eat these, I feel like I’m eating some sort of sour cream and onion chip from my childhood ? Yet, 1/2 of a cup of these pistachios have 12 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber to keep you full!
Savory Banana & Nuts Trek Mix
This snack mix uses Green Saba bananas from The Philippines, which are less sweet than ripe bananas. They’re cooked in coconut oil, which turns them into a crunchy chip – and then mixed with cashews and pecans. Trust me, it’s amazing.
3 Seed Beet Crackers
These crunchy little crackers are a great nutritious option for dips and cheese boards. In addition to beet powder, it also has black sesame seeds, flax seeds, and chia seeds.
Seasoned Kale Chips
If you like kale chips, you’ll love the tahini and cashew butter seasoning on these!
Oven Baked Truffle Cheese Bites
I’ve been adding these Oven Baked Truffle Cheese Bites to our salads recently, and it adds the perfect crunch and burst of flavor to any simple salad.
Happy Trekking Trail Mix
The perfect trail mix! This one is a mix of pistachios, cashews, almonds, dried cranberries, dried cherries, and dark chocolate chips.
Frozen Foods
Cauliflower Gnocchi
No Trader Joe’s list is complete without cauliflower gnocchi! These veggie-filled, gluten free pillows are the perfect freezer staple for easy dinners. I love to make them with pesto and asparagus, but it’s also great baked with zucchini and turkey meatballs, or even a simple tomato sauce.
Sweet Potato Gnocchi
This might be a little controversial, but I think I like their sweet potato gnocchi even better than their cauliflower gnocchi! Sure, the butter and sage on it might play a factor in that… but they’re still really healthy! I like to make it with zucchini, corn, and arugula.
Roasted Potatoes with Peppers and Onions
If you are hosting a brunch, do yourself a favor and BUY THESE POTATOES. All you have to do is heat them in a pan with some olive oil or pop them on some foil and bake them in the oven. It couldn’t be easier, but it tastes like you’ve put a ton of effort into making them delicious!
Hash Brown Patties
Do you ever crave fast food hash brown patties? These taste just like that… without all the extra grease.
Brown Rice
Brown rice can be a pain to cook, but these frozen bags make it so much easier. No more rice stuck to the bottom of your pot ? The instructions tell you to microwave it, but I just add the bag to a nonstick pan to heat it up!
Chicken Gyoza Potstickers
Whenever we have a sushi night, we always made a few chicken gyoza to go with it. It saves money on the takeout bill, and they are just as good! Trader Joe’s also has a vegetable version if you’re vegetarian.
Riced Cauliflower Stir Fry
Need an easy side dish for a piece of salmon or chicken stir fry? Add a bag of this Riced Cauliflower Stir Fry mix to the pan!
Vegetable Masala Veggie Burgers
I tend to think all frozen veggie burgers taste the same… but these veggie masala burgers are so unique! First of all, it has those warm flavorful Indian spices that I love. In addition, it also has potato in it, which reminds of eating a samosa. Not mad at that! I like to heat these up in a pan and then add them to a big salad for lunch.
Very Cherry Berry Blend
This is my favorite blend of frozen fruit for smoothies! It has cherries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries. All you need is some fresh spinach, protein powder and milk, and you’ve got a killer smoothie bowl!
Dairy
Authentic Greek Feta in Brine
I heard about this feta from What’s Gaby Cooking, and her rave reviews are definitely warranted. It’s more expensive than their crumbled feta, but it will kick ANY salad up a notch.
Unexpected Cheddar
Yes, the hype over Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar is real, too! At first, it tastes like a regular cheddar, but as you eat it, it starts to taste like an aged Parmesan. You know, with the crumbly salt crystals? I know I’m starting to sound nerdy here, but just trust me on this.
Halloumi
Okay I don’t know if I’d call halloumi healthy… but it makes super healthy dishes feel decadent! Does that count?! This semi-hard brined cheese is usually made from goat’s milk and sheep’s milk. It’s unique because it has a really high melting point, so it can be fried, grilled, or even air-fried! (I also love it in this recipe with chicken and tomatoes!)
Seasonings
Everything But The Bagel Seasoning
I mean… duh. Does this even need an explanation?! While I tend to think Everything But The Bagel Seasoning is a little over-hyped, I still use it all the time. I personally think it’s the best on avocado toast or in eggs!
Chili Lime Seasoning
If EBTB is over-hyped, Chili Lime is UNDER hyped! I put their chili lime seasoning on salmon, chicken, tofu, popcorn… all the things! It adds so much flavor but it’s not too spicy for those who don’t like a huge kick.
Other Pantry Staples
Almond Butter
Nut butters can be filled with a lot of ingredients that are completely unnecessary – but Trader Joe’s Creamy Unsalted Almond Butter is just made from almonds. Plus, it’s easily stir-able, the texture is great, and it tastes like it’s homemade! (Their peanut butter is good, too!)
Blanched Almond Flour
Whether you want to do some paleo baking or you just like using almond flour to coat chicken tenders (my favorite!), Trader Joe’s has a GREAT option. I usually get mind from Thrive Market, but the Trader Joe’s version is just as good, and it’s the same price!
Raw Shelled Hemp Seeds
I love to add hemp seeds to my yogurt, oatmeal or smoothies in the morning. They are high in omega-3s, protein, and fiber!
Sweets
Dark Chocolate Covered Powerberries
If you’ve never had their chocolate covered powerberries, please add them to your list NOW! They are basically little fruit gummies (made from the juice of acai, pomegranates, cranberries, and blueberries) that have been dipped in dark chocolate. The perfect after-dinner sweet treat.
Gummy Tummies
While gummy candies aren’t really the healthiest thing in the world, I love that Gummy Tummies have no artificial flavors and no preservatives. Plus, they’re so cute! I mean, little gummy penguins with cherry, lime, and strawberry filling in their tummies? ? An adorable option if you have a sweet tooth craving.
Beverages
Lemon and Ginger Juice Seltzer With A Splash
If you like Spindrift, you need to try this Lemon and Ginger Juice Seltzer with a Splash! This is my favorite flavor because it’s so subtle and refreshing, but they also have one with Blood Orange & Orange Juice and another one with Cranberry and Lime Juice.
Ginger Turmeric Herbal Tea
Trader Joe’s Ginger Turmeric Tea is my all time favorite tea. Hands down. Ginger and turmeric can often be really overwhelming, but this tea has the perfect balance of the two. Also, did you know that both ginger and turmeric are anti-inflammatory and can help with an upset stomach? The more you know!
GT’s Kombucha
GT’s Kombucha isn’t exclusive to Trader Joe’s, but I feel like they always have the best flavors! Like the tea, kombucha can be really great for your gut health. It can be an acquired taste, but I love it.
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What are your favorite items at Trader Joe’s?!
PS. You might also like Trader Joe’s Sweet Potato Gnocchi Recipe, Cauliflower Gnocchi with Pesto, Asparagus, and Chicken Sausage, and Baked Turkey Meatballs with Zucchini and Cauliflower Gnocchi.
