It’s no secret that we love Trader Joe’s for staples as much as for special treats, and the same goes for healthy staples when we’re trying to eat well… like now. So if you’re on the healthy eating resolution train like us, make life easier by stocking up on our favorite healthy Trader Joe’s products. Because the more convenient you make healthy eating, the more likely you’ll stick with it.
And, hey, even if you pick up a pack of their new frosted sugar cookies, too, at least you’re netting out on the healthier side. That’s something.
Related: 8 things you should always buy at Trader Joe’s to save big on groceries.
Eating well means starting the day healthfully. As in, no more pop tarts or leftover kid’s toast for breakfast. Instead, grab TJ’s tasty Organic Rice and Quinoa Hot Cereal, which boasts 42 grams of whole grains, 4 grams of protein, and 2 grams of fiber per serving. Morning solved.
If you’re more of a smoothie person in the morning, grab these Just Coconut Chunks, because holy tasty. Coconut is all you’ll find in this package. No added sugar, just tons of flavor to give your morning drink a tropical kicks that will get you up and at ’em.
So many trendy healthy smoothie add-in’s come with a hefty price tag, but not a Trader Joe’s! One of our favorite finds are their frozen Acai Smoothie Packets which are not only affordable, but also conveniently portioned to quickly thaw just enough to slip right into the blender for a healthy morning smoothie that will satisfy you without breaking a single resolution.
Related: Skip the fancy supplements with these 7 healthy, easy to find smoothie add-in’s.
Stock up on more affordable smoothie supplements with Trader Joe’s Organic Fair Trade Cacao Powder and Organic Maca Powder. Both are nutrient dense ways to boost the flavor and health value of your smoothie, whether it’s for breakfast, post work-out, or an afternoon pick-me-up — as in, instead of coffee. Yes, seriously!
This Cocoa Almond Cashew Beverage is great for when you need a splurge, though it does have 10 grams of sugar. But if you’re watching your sugar across the rest of your day, it also serves up just 80 calories and 2 grams of protein for every one cup serving. And keep in mind that you can use less than a full serving to flavor a smoothie — maybe with those coconut chunks. Yum.
Check out our highlighted Instagram Story to see how I recently used a can of Green Jackfruit in Brine from Trader Joe’s to make a killer vegan meal that my kids totally thought was meat! We’re sold, and you should be too. Grab a few cans and experiment with this stuff. It’s so easy and healthy, too, especially if you’re looking to incorporate more meatless meals into your diet.
Related: 5 items to buy at Costco to save a bundle on school lunch.
Or if you prefer TJ’s to do the cooking for you, grab their Yellow Jackfruit Curry with Jasmine Rice from the frozen food section. Curry is a perfect way to use jackfruit and they’ve done all the work for you so that you can try this new ingredient without having to mix, measure, or cook something unfamiliar without even knowing if you’ll like it. (But you will.) Low stakes experimentation for the win!
Among the best things at Trader Joe’s are their convenience products, and when you’re trying to eat more healthfully the number one thing you want to make more convenient are veggies. We love using cauliflower as a healthy substitute for so many things, including mashed potatoes and this frozen Mashed Cauliflower makes it easy. Delicious too.
Spiralized veggies are so smart and the perfect way to get kids (and grown ups) to eat more vegetables, but man, prepping them takes more work than I’m willing to put in on a busy weeknight. Fresh, pre-spiralized veggies are one answer, but I find that they go bad pretty quickly, which is why I stock on on these frozen Carrot Spirals instead. They’re the perfect thing to pull out when I need a quick veggie side or work-from-home lunch fix.
Related: The big mistake you’ve been making at Trader Joe’s (and how to fix it stat).
More frozen veggies to the rescue! This Riced Cauliflower Stir Fry makes an excellent side dish or even main. You can add a lean animal protein or just serve this as is in a huge bowl. Because when you’re eating this well, yes, you can fill your bowl ALL the way to the top.
If you prefer to grab fresh prepped veggies, you’ll definitely want to stock up on Trader Joe’s Riced Cauliflower and Riced Broccoli, both of which make excellent healthy substitutes for white rice. In fact, just this one swap — dropping a heavy white carb for a nutrient dense veg — is nearly enough to be a resolution in itself!
While we’re talking prepped veggies, stock up on as many as you can grab. Whether it’s pre-washed greens, washed and snipped green beans, or Trader Joe’s Pre-Cut Butternut Squash, having as much grab-and-cook produce on hand as possible will help increase your veggie intake by an order of magnitude.
Related: 6 tips to help cut your food budget way back.
Back in the frozen foods aisle, we’re obsessed with TJ’s Pizza with a Cauliflower Crust. Yes, seriously. You can also get the plain Cauliflower Pizza Crust and top it yourself. Either way, yet again, you’re swapping heavy, white carbs for healthy veg without giving up any flavor. It’s a good deal.
Not everything healthy has to be about a food’s nutritional value, per se. Sometimes, a simple food that adds big flavor without adding anything bad like fat, sodium, or calories is just what you need to save the day. If you ask me, that’s exactly what you get with Trader Joe’s Salsa Verde. I’m obsessed with this stuff — and I seriously hate all other jarred salsas (even most fancy brands). Use this to slow cook shredded meat or flavor beans and keep your Mexican meal skinny, but oh so totally delicious.
Everything But the Bagel Seasoning Blend is another secret flavor bomb that makes everything from avocado toast to simply broiled chicken breasts more delicious. Must be the lack of guilt that tastes so damn good.
