It’s no secret that we love shopping at Trader Joe’s. We start with our favorite TJ’s staples — things you should always buy at Trader Joe’s to save big on groceries — and move on to new finds, of which there are many every month. These are the new products that we’re eyeing this month. Because, hello delicious!
Related: The big mistake you’ve been making at Trader Joe’s — and how to fix it stat.
Just Coconut Chunks
If you follow us on Instagram, you’ve probably seen me share fresh frozen coconut. I’m obsessed, but it’s pretty hard to find. And when I do find it, it’s usually at Whole Foods for a pretty penny. Now I can grab frozen coconut at Trader Joe’s, where a 16-ounce bag is just $2.49!
These chunks are literally fresh coconut, peeled (no hard brown skin to contend with!) and frozen. They’re great for snacking and make for the most heavenly smoothies.
Peanut Butter Protein Granola
This just sounds good: cane sugar-sweetened rolled oats clustered together with peanut butter and peanuts. I mean, right? And though that combination alone has a good amount of protein, TJ’s boosts the goodness by adding pea protein, which happens to be my favorite source of added plant-based protein.The result is a granola that contains a whopping 11 grams of protein for every 2/3 cup serving. Sweet, right? You can grab a 12-ounce bag for $3.49.
Seed & Bean Medley
This snack mix is a parental lifesaver, if you ask me. It’s a salty snack that’s nut-free (so safe for all schools) and that offers some real nutrition compared to chips or popcorn thanks to a combination of roasted pumpkin seeds, large corn kernels, chickpeas, fava beans, and edamame. They’re all freeze dried as opposed to fried and sprinkled with just a little salt. Genius, and available in 6-ounce bags for $3.49 each.
Organic Cacao and Maca Powders
This may be a little out there — well, at least the Maca Powder — but both of these products are staples in my house. The cocoa powder is probably a staple in yours, too, and this organic, fair trade variety is a great buy at $3.99 for every 8-ounce bag. You already know what to do with it: bake, add to oatmeal, blend into smoothies, et cetera.
As for the maca powder, well, remember this round-up of 7 smoothie add-in’s you can find easily without spending a fortune? Let’s just say that maca powder couldn’t be included before now. Called the “Lost Crop of the Andes,” “Peruvian Ginseng,” and “Inca Gold,” this stuff is nutrient dense — some even say a superfood — and can be added to smoothies, stirred into oatmeal, or used in baked goods. According to the Trader Joe’s site, organically-grown maca root powder normally sells for upwards of $3 per ounce — seriously — but they’ve apparently cut a deal with a supplier to price it at $4.99 for every 8-ounce package. Whoa.
Riced Cauliflower Stir Fry
Cauliflower rice continues to go strong! And why not when places like Trader Joe’s make it so, so easy. In this case, they combine blanched cauliflower rice with tamari, sesame oil, green peas, red bell peppers, grilled corn, and spring onions for a quick, easy, and super healthy side that can go from freezer to pan in just minutes. Also, if you haven’t been able to get your kids to try cauliflower rice yet, this might just be the way. You can grab a package in the freezer section for $2.99.
Kohlrabi Salad Blend
I’m always looking for creative ways to use lesser known veggies like kohlrabi so that my kids will give them a try — but, uh, they’re lesser known for a reason. It’s hard to know what to do with them! Trader Joe’s makes using kohlrabi, a mild, slightly sweet relative of cabbage, easy by combining it with shredded kale, golden beets (my favorite!), and red cabbage. You can dress this like a salad or toss with a creamy dressing to treat it more like slaw and maybe top fish tacos? Yes, I think my kids would like that. Grab a 10-ounce bag for $2.49.
Mango & Sticky Rice Spring Rolls
Thai mango and sticky rice is one of my all-time favorite desserts and the fact that Trader Joe’s has turned it into a crispy treat (that I’d serve at snack time or for dessert) is exactly the kind of fun food genius that I love Trader Joe’s for most. These bake up or can be pan fried in about ten minutes and sell in a box of five for $2.99.
Gluten-Free Cheese Pizza with a Cauliflower Crust
Yup, cauliflower rice and now cauliflower crust pizza too. Hey, what can we say? Trader Joe’s loves coming up with creative ways to serve cauliflower as much as we do. Because if the kids are down, we are too.
This gluten-free crust is made of cauliflower, mozzarella cheese, potato flour, chickpea flour, and brown rice flour, and is topped with tomato sauce and a blend of mozzarella and provolone cheeses. It’s pizza, but a tad healthier, which is why I love it for people — ahem, kids — who can eat gluten too. Each 12-ounce frozen pie sells for $4.99.
