Trader Joe’s may look like a kitschy neighborhood grocery store, but it’s actually a multi-billion dollar chain with more than 500 locations across the United States.
Fortunately, despite its commercial successes, it’s still an affordable place to get organic, nutrient-rich staples.
As a dietitian married to a personal trainer, here are some of our favorite things to buy at Trader Joe’s in the summer.
I love Asian vegetable stir-fry.
Trader Joe’s Stir Fry Kit is unique because it contains fresh, not frozen, vegetables.
We often use pre-made packs when we’re stuck for dinner ideas. We also use them on days when we want to make a 20-minute stir-fry with tofu, chicken, or shrimp on a bed of white or brown rice.
Chicken meatballs can do it all.
Trader Joe’s Chicken Meatballs, which you’ll find in the refrigerated section, are more than just a nice addition to pasta.
They’re low in sodium and high in protein, so my husband and I love using them to make lean meatball sandwiches.
You can also create sweet and sour meatballs to vary the flavor profile of your meal.
Organic firm tofu is an excellent plant-based protein.
Air fried tofu is a favorite in our house.
Tofu takes on the flavor of whatever you add it to, so we can prepare it in so many different ways. Plus, the vegetable proteins is famous for improve heart health.
Sometimes I season or marinate the tofu before mixing it into the Asian-style stir-fry to complete the meal.
I always drink sparkling water.
Trader Joe’s offers several different flavors of sparkling water, so hydration is the least of my worries this summer.
My husband and I sometimes jazz up our sparkling water by adding lemons, limes, or other fruits for an infused flavor. You can also blend watermelon, strain the liquid, and add it to the water for a refreshing treat.
Trader Joe’s PB&J bars are a great before bedtime snack.
My husband is always looking for a late night snack that is light but not too sweet. I like that the store bought PB&J bars are smaller than the usual ones granola barso they fit our criteria perfectly.
This chewy snack would also be great with nuts or seeds for added protein.
I add Green Goddess seasoning mix to all kinds of dishes.
Trader Joe’s seasoning mixes are great toppings for saucy vegetables, pasta dishes, or a morning bagel.
There are many varieties to choose from, but I like that the Green Goddess seasoning mix is a little lower in sodium.
It’s nice to have burritos in the freezer on busy nights.
We both have busy schedules, especially on weekends, so frozen burritos Help us eat regular meals every day.
As a bonus, beans provide fiber to aid digestion and keep your bowel movements regular.
Spicy Shrimp Fried Rice is another quick meal.
Shrimp fried rice is a great starter.
Adding vegetables like mushrooms, peppers, onions and spinach will increase the fiber content of your meal.
I use the multigrain blend with vegetables to round out dinners.
Trader Joe’s Frozen Grain and Vegetable Mix is high in fiber, so it pairs perfectly with lean proteins like salmon, shrimp, chicken or eggs.
I particularly like to pair it with sautéed shrimp to add volume and balance to the meal.
Seafood burgers are a fun twist on the classic dish.
We love seafood, so when I first saw Trader Joe’s shrimp and seafood burgers, I immediately checked the sodium content. Each patty has less than 300 milligrams of sodium and contains heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which is a plus in my opinion.
My husband loves to grill, but he’s tired of eating chicken, turkey burgers, and beef. These patties are a great change from summer.
I add chopped greens to everything.
Chopped green vegetables are perfect for soups and stews in winter and smoothies when the weather warms up.
I like to eat at least two to three portions of vegetables per day, and frozen spinach helps me reach that goal.
The store-bought sweet potato fries are delicious right out of the oven.
Regular Sweet potatoes are great, so sweet potato fries are fantastic.
I like to bake them in the oven with a drizzle of oil and serve them as a side dish with burgers and other dishes.
I love sprinkling low-fat shredded cheese on foods to give them a little protein.
Cheese is one of our favorite and convenient sources of protein, so finding a low-fat shredded version is a win for us.
Blue corn tortilla chips are one of my favorite sources of fiber.
When people think of fiber, potato chips might not come to mind. But Trader Joe’s Blue Corn Chips tortillas Put 3 grams per serving. That’s almost as much as a serving of brown rice.
Grab a bag for your next barbecue and serve them with a tasty salsa.
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