Trader Joe's

quianabenson

I am taking my FIRST trip to Trader Joe's with a friend from work. Does anyone have any suggestions on healthy snacks, or suggestions in general for my field trip? I need to know of some guilt free yummy snacks! Feel free to add me as a friend, I am looking for some online support during my journey to a healthier lifestyle. Thanks.

klmnumbers

They have oodles of dried fruit. I basically live on banana chips and kettle corn from there as snacks. They're a re-sale-r, so lots of their food is going to be frozen, but not all of it is too high in sodium. Some of their frozen food is heavenly (i.e. any of the Indian food), and the turkey chili (while high in sodium) is chock full of protein and amazing.

SparkleShine

I love Trader Joe's. I find their prices to be pretty good too!

I love their....

hummus
baked potato chips ...they have regular and bbq
fresh fruit/veggies
turkey burgers (frozen section)
reduced guilt entrees....they still have high sodium though (as do most frozen entrees)
nuts....you can get salted or unsalted with many of them. Just watch portions!

I'll have to think of more! I just go and look at what looks yummy to me!

rhichi

Dried fruit is always good, but check to make sure what you get isn't loaded with extra sugar. Their fresh produce isn't always the best, but they do have a variety of healthier snacks like veggie chips and trail mix (again, just check the ingredients for added sugar). I personally am a sucker for their gallon of unsweetened green tea and natural peanut butter. The ingredients are literally peanuts and salt (I get salted), but it's smooth and creamy like "regular" peanut butters (but without the sickening sweetness from the added sugars in Jif and the like).

Meaganandcheese

Love TJs!

Goat cheese medallions
Wasabi almonds
This Fig Walked Into A Bar (cereal bars)
cheapo olive oil
garlic stuffed olives
butternut squash soup
three-layer hummus
cashew butter
ginger cat cookies
frozen lime bars

Cindym82

They have these little ice cream bars, mango and cream or raspberry and cream...they are amazing. Also they have chicken cilantro dumpling in the freezer section which are great and also frozen brown rice you do in the microwave which is great. And they have these chips that remind me of sun chips that are good

sglasberg

I love their frozen rice, they have white, brown, and a rice medley. Three minutes in the microwave and viola! I also love the goat cheese medallions, as someone else pointed out. The frozen chicken dumplings are also fantastic!

BAMFMeredith

My heart is sad that we have no Trader Joe's here

kellybean14

You should be able to find tofuti cuties there which are a good ice cream sandwich alternative. Also, their Double Rainbow sorbet is amazing (and fat free)!

The one thing I'd watch out for is all the sodium crammed into the pre-made food options. Things like the insta-Indian food are good when you're in a pinch, but it's best to make your food from scratch.

Skeith5

Be careful at Trader Joes... a lot of their food isn't any healthier than what you'd find in the junk food section of a grocery store. Their prices are high as well.

That being said I love their gnocchi.

apvalletta

Try the "Better than peanut butter" & the raspberry/vanilla ice cream bars. Also, the soy chocolate milk is great before or after your workout

blueimp

I'm a big TJ's fan. It may depend on where you are -- my TJ's locations generally have very fresh produce. I do gravitate to the nuts and dried fruits sections (I always get the unsalted nuts). The do have a lot of good things in the freezer section but others have already noted them. I hope you enjoy your trip! You may friend me if you wish.

ElizabethRoad

They have oodles of dried fruit. I basically live on banana chips and kettle corn from there as snacks. They're a re-sale-r, so lots of their food is going to be frozen, but not all of it is too high in sodium. Some of their frozen food is heavenly (i.e. any of the Indian food), and the turkey chili (while high in sodium) is chock full of protein and amazing.

What's a re-sale-r?

NoAdditives

I do 90% of my grocery shopping at Trader Joe's. I love it. I don't generally buy processed foods though.

Meatsies

I love their green Thai simmer sauce (found in a jar). So delicious. They have uncured natural chicken hot dogs that are really low in calories and very tasty. The coconut thin cookies are awesome, but only if you have good control and can eat just a couple. I really want to go back there now and try the three layer hummus...no idea what that is, but I love hummus. And layers.

MindyG150

I love Trader Joe's. I find their prices to be pretty good too!

I love their....

hummus
baked potato chips ...they have regular and bbq
fresh fruit/veggies
turkey burgers (frozen section)
reduced guilt entrees....they still have high sodium though (as do most frozen entrees)
nuts....you can get salted or unsalted with many of them. Just watch portions!

I'll have to think of more! I just go and look at what looks yummy to me!

Yes, those portions will get you every time

bakay138

Edamane Hummus...to die for.

erinl84

i love their veggie sticks/veggie chips although i now usually buy them from regular grocery store cause they carry rosemary and olive oil flavored ones. you can have a decent size portion for not many calories

i personally try to stay away from dried fruit and stick to fresh because they lack the water i want to get in a day

Hungry_Tuna

I usually just get the basics that I'd get at any other store... almonds, soy or almond milk, curry pastes, etc. I avoid the sugary stuff like dried fruits and the like. Sure, their snacks are tasty, but I stick to the basic clean foods so they're not special. LOL.
On a side note, their produce isn't amazing. I just get mine from my CSA or Whole Foods.

Anyway, be mindful of nutrition labels and you don't have to worry too much about the ingredients, since most of them are whole and (fun!). Of course, there's nothing wrong with a few treats too. Life is short, indulge a little. Their dark chocolate is tasty.

twinmom01

My staples when I go there (and I just went the other day)

- Frozen Fish - Ahi Tuna and Salmon
- 72% Dark Chocolate bars
- Fire roasted tomatoes with Green Chilis
- plum tomatoes in a can with Basil - OMG use a blender to blend this up it is a great base for a fresh healthy mariana sauce
- Kalamta Olives
- canned Salmon and Tuna
- Raw Almonds and Pecans
- Garlic and Spinach chicken sausage
- fresh fruits and veggies
- Almond Meal
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- sundried tomatoes

the Dried Fruit is good - but you need to watch as they have different versions - ones with and without added sugars - dried fruit are pretty high in sugar to begin with because it is so concentrated and it is very easy to overeat dried fruits since it is such a small serving size

DG_Allen

I often have the Country Italian salad for lunch. It's 380 calories with the dressing. That or 1/2 the lentil wrap sandwich.

As for snacks, I do the lite cheese sticks and the reduced guilt woven wheat crackers.

They also have a low fat Greek Yoghurt that has huge amounts or protien in it. I used to take a cup of that with about 10 frozen cherries in it. The cherries would thaw by breaktime and it was really good.

Have fun!

hrpeluso

-TJ's brand nonfat plain Greek Yogurt (add your own cut up fruit)
-Barbara's Shredded Spoonfulls cereal either as a cereal or as a way to reduce the calorie intake with dried fruits. For example, this plus some of their low salt almonds and some raisins makes a great low cal trail mix if you go easy on the nuts and raisins.
-Ak-mak stoned sesame crackers
-low fat babybel cheese wheels (in the little net bag)
-low fat cheese sticks
-Fruit floe ice pops (lime is my favorite)
-fruit and cream ice pops (raspberry and cream or mango cream are awesome)

Remember to always pair carbohydrate with protein and fat to make the snack satisfying longer. Cheese plus fruit or cracker plus cheese...

PeaceCorpsKat

OMG - EVERYTHING!

I love thier steamed lentils, thier Champaign Pear Vinagarette isn't even a "lite" dressing and it uas 45 calories for 2 table spoons. I make broccoli sla with thier produce and some of the reduced guilt kale and spinach dip.

I love, love, love the african smoke flavor grinder - it's really low sodium for a food spice, and super yummy!

All of thier cheeses have no growth hormones, even the non organics.

Pick up the Grilled not Fried Eggplant parm in the freezer section - best meal out there - and only 270 calories! It's a great place to buy Kind bars. I love thier Fire roasted pepers and onions - I start all dinners with those. Thier frozen veg is so cheap and so awesome.

It is a cheap place to buy nuts and dried fruit.

The list goes on and on. Take it all in. LOVE TJ's!

thepetiterunner

Oh. My. God. I LOVE TJs!!

You can check my food diary, but here's what I usually get:

TJ's Bran Flakes Cereal
Cut up butternut squash
Frozen Brown Rice
Frozen Brown Rice Medley (just look for the brown and purple box)
Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (in the dairy case)
Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies (for when I want something sweet, you get 12 mini cookies for 150 calories)
Frozen French Green Beans
Low Fat String Cheese sticks
Kale!!
Salad mixes
Fruit
Mandarin Orange Chicken (frozen, for when I want chinese food)
Greek yogurt
Fresh Raspberry, Apricot, Strawberry or Blueberry Preserves
Espresso Pillows (tiny toffee-chocolate-covered-espresso beans for when I just want a taste of something sweet, 22 for 75 calories!)

I could go on and on and on... seriously.

Totally forgot:
Chicken Lime burgers (frozen)
Salmon Burgers (frozen)
Butternut squash risotto
Asparagus risotto
Breaded chicken breast tenderloins

And:
Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread
Cinnamon Raisin Whole Wheat Bread
Sprouted Breads

mbmorse1011

I love Trader joe's too.

Make sure you have enough time to look around at everything.

I usually get

Fruits/veggies
Sometimes cheese
They have a nice pre made pizza dough
I get kefir for my smoothies
Flax seed oil (also for my smoothies)
frozen hashbrowns
frozen french fries
frozen green beans
chicken stock (organic low sodium)
ground hamburger 80/20 (non organic)
sometimes wine
I also just bought their face wash, I like that too.

I haven't always had enough time to look at everything since I run there at lunch time.

pinkita

I love TJ's! Way better prices than my grocery store and Target.

If you get chocolate cravings, they sell 100 Calorie Chocolate bars (both milk and dark chocolate). I don't get too many snack-type foods though. I love getting my veggies there--baby carrots, brussels sprouts, English cucumber, etc. I also get Kashi GoLean cereal, unsweetened almond milk (has half the calories of nonfat milk), and in the refrigerated section they have "Spicy Ranchero Egg White Salad," which is only 100 calories for the whole container. I use one container of that with 2 low-carb tortillas--makes a great lunch.

Have fun shopping!

laurarpa

lots of good info from others. I will add:

avocados
little rye toasts
savory thin rice crackers (a serving is 30-some crackers!)
high fiber cereal - great on greek yogurt with fruit. Good when you need more fiber in your diet
agave
"just a handful" of mixed nuts/fruits. Love keeping in the car/purse/work for emergencies
I love to buy the little individual cheeses - goat and brie.

and I never leave without a bag or two of creamy polenta with carrots and spinach. I find the 3 serving bag easily gives me 6 servings and I'm always satisified. It seems so indulgent.

amygard71

I do 90% of my shopping at TJ's since my hubby is a manager and he picks it up for me.

These things are great:

Hummus
frozen fish
reduced fat cheese crunchies
nuts
peanut butter
butter lettuce
meringue cookies
all the frozen veggies
olive oil
greek yogurt
organic sprouted 7 grain bread
unsweetened green tea
frozen chicken breasts and tenders

there are so many more things too but these are the things I buy all the time.
Also, they are cheaper on staples like milk and eggs too

Happy shopping!

laurarpa

oh yeah - lowcarb tortillas are great too!

LittleSimoni

Love Trader Joe's. Some of my favorites snacks

Just a handful of Almonds (210 cals a bag)
Dried Jeju orange snacks
Low-fat cheese sticks
Edamame hummus (I use veggies)
Black bean/ Quinoa chips (high in cals but yummy)

Not snacks: (frozen)
Beijing stir fry - really good, just add your own protein
Japanese fried rice

stiggysworld

I love the margherita puff pastry pizza. It's my standby if I'm running late and don't have time to make a lunch. Just a little cheese and tomatoes. Definitely helps stop the pizza cravings.

This fig walks into a bar
Chewy chocolate chip granola bars
Produce is always fresh where I live
Mango sorbet

Actually, we got our Easter ham there and it was amazing! My husband likes their sourdough English muffins. Just be careful because a lot of their bread products don't have a lot of preservatives so they can bad quickly.