25 Hot, Healthy Items to Buy at Trader Joe’s!

After a very taxing work week and an overall tough week in general, I was in desperate need of a pick me up. Thankfully for me, that came in the form of a much needed stress relieving shopping trip to Trader Joe’s last Friday. I always find perusing the Trader Joe’s aisles to be an almost immediate pick me-up. And last Friday didn’t disappoint. I walked out of the store not only in a better mood but with a cart full of Trader Joe’s healthy foods and fun finds.

By me, the Trader Joe’s stores close at 9 p.m. I have found that the best time to shop at the store is anytime after 8 p.m. The last several times I shopped there, I arrived around 8:15 p.m. and the store was practically empty each time. There were literally no lines at the cash registers and at most the aisles had just one or two other shoppers. It was a stark contrast to shopping at Trader Joe’s on the weekends, which is always a mad house. I have given up shopping at Trader Joe’s on the weekend; it is just not worth the hassle and time.

What’s most exciting about Trader Joe’s is that new products seem to pop up every month, and I have found some great ones lately. This further makes it nearly impossible for me to leave Trader Joe’s with anything less than a full cart. And, I can confirm that my cart was pretty much full my last few visits. I always leave the store with some exciting and most importantly delicious Trader Joe’s healthy food and beverage finds. Here are 25 of the healthiest foods at Trader Joe’s that I picked up during my recent visits, which include a mixture of new and old favorites. Of course, they are all gluten free, dairy free and contain no or low added sugar.

1. Organic Blueberries

Trader Joe’s definitely carries some quality organic produce options, but I wish they offered more. I try to pick up their organic blueberries whenever they have them in stock. My store usually offers a couple of different sizes. Since I eat a lot of blueberries and include them in my daily smoothies, I most often purchase their 18-ounce container of organic blueberries, which usually lasts me a whole week. The 18-ounce container is sold for $7.99 at my store, which is a great deal for organic blueberries at that size. (Prices may vary based on location.)

2. Organic Creamy Cashew Cultured Yogurt Alternative

I have expressed my love for this yogurt alternative before, and this is something that I almost always purchase at Trader Joe’s. It is one of the healthiest, tastiest yogurt alternatives available with no sugar added at all. It has the creamiest texture and pairs well with the organic blueberries mentioned above. Since the yogurt alternative is unsweetened, I will sometimes add a touch of honey for a little sweetness.

3. Frooze Balls

Speaking of sweetness, I can’t leave Trader Joe’s without purchasing at least three little bags of these tasty treats. My Trader Joe’s carries two different flavors: Peanut Butter and Jelly and Caramel Choc Peanut Butter. The peanut butter & jelly variety is my favorite and truly makes the perfect healthy afternoon snack. Each bag includes 5 double filled Frooze bags, which is the perfect amount to satisfy my afternoon hunger pains.

If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s near you, you can also order Frooze Balls on Amazon and they are also carried at other stores. Check out their store locator for locations.

4. Organic Apple Mango Fruit Sauce Crushers

I picked this item up thinking it would be more like traditional round containers of apple sauce; these, however, are pouches, which are probably more suitable for children. So, I will bring them up to my 4 year old niece next weekend when I visit for Easter. If you have children, these are worth picking up. The ingredients are all natural (just organic puree and vitamin c for freshness) and make a health snack. At my store, they offer several varieties, including Apple, Apple Banana, and Apple Strawberry.

5. Trader Joe’s 100% Ginger Juice Drink Mix

I am not sure if this is a new product or not, but I discovered it for the first time during my last visit to Trader Joe’s. In my store, this drink mix was located in the juice aisle near the Match tea singles. Ginger drinks are great for any stomach issue or when you are feeling under the weather. That was the case for me the other day. I woke up with massive congestion, which is par for the course for me when the temperature fluctuates so dramatically in early Spring. I used one of the packets in the drink mix (it comes with 7 packets) to make an immunity boosting drink that definitely helped. See below for the recipe.

Ginger Immunity Drink

Ingredients

• 1 packet of Trader Joe’s 100% Ginger Juice Drink Mix
• 1/2 lemon
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 6 fresh mint leaves
• Hot water

1. Boil water.’
2. Pour 8-12 ounces of the hot water into the mug.
3. Add the Trader Joe’s ginger mix packet to the water.
4. Squeeze half a lemon into the mug.
5. Add the tablespoon of honey and fresh mint leaves.
6. Enjoy!

6. Trader Joe’s To the Power of Seven Red Organic Juice Beverage

Trader Joe’s sells a couple of quality and healthy shelf stable juices. Their To the Power of Seven Red Organic juice is a must try. As the name suggests, it is packed with seven fruits, vegetables and even a flower. The ingredients include beets, apple, cranberry, watermelon, strawberry, elderberry and hibiscus. It’s slightly sweet, although there is no added sugar. It’s great alone or mixed with seltzer.

7. Organic Ground Beef

I don’t eat red meat too often … maybe once a week. When I do eat ground beef, I try to eat grass-fed and/or organic beef whenever possible. Trader Joe’s sells certified organic beef at a pretty good price. I love to use this ground beef when I make tacos or my amazing gluten free baked ziti dish. Click here for that recipe.

8. Grass Fed Organic Top Sirloin Beef Steak

Speaking of quality beef, Trader Joe’s also has a few organic grass-fed steak cuts/options. I usually opt for the top sirloin beef steak because it is the perfect size for me. I can’t eat huge steaks – so this 6 ounce steak is perfect. It is small and quick to cook or grill. I usually just sprinkle a little bit of Himalayan sea salt and coconut aminos to the steak for a kick of flavor.

9. Trader Joe’s Overnight Oats – Peanut Butter

If you are looking for a healthy, high-fiber breakfast, overnight oats are a fabulous option. Sure, you can make them yourself but why not save some time and pick up a container or two of Trader Joe’s Overnight Oats. While I have an affinity for the peanut butter flavor, they also offer strawberry and vanilla flavor options. I think I even prefer Trader Joe’s Overnight Oats to the more well known overnight oats brand, MUSH.

10. Mango Blueberry Chia Bowl

This is one of my favorite recent Trader Joe’s healthy finds. If you are looking for a tasty, new twist on breakfast, head to the freezer section of Trader Joe’s for this Mango Blueberry Chia Bowl. This bowl can be thawed in 75 minutes on your counter or in your refrigerator overnight. To speed up the process, you can also defrost the bowl in the microwave in under a minute. It is a sweet yet satisfying breakfast with no added sugar. The ingredients are beyond simple, as the bowl only includes Mango puree, water, Mango, coconut cream, black chia seeds, blueberries and passion fruit juice.

11. Trader Joe’s Freeze Dried Fig Slices

I must admit that I was a little skeptical to try these freeze dried fig slices. I didn’t know how they would taste. I am pleased to report that I really enjoyed these crunchy freeze dried fig slices. This is a great snack option, especially when you may be craving something crunchy that may be not so good for you. The taste might not be for everyone, though. Thankfully, Trader Joe’s offers several other quality freeze dried fruit slice options, such as strawberry, blueberry and banana.

12. Trader Joe’s Egg Wraps

I’ve seen many social media influencers and nutritionists discuss egg wraps as a healthy alternative to other bread and wrap options for a few years now; however, I haven’t tried them until recently. I was excited to see that Trader Joe’s offers their own egg wrap option and I picked these wraps during one of my recent shopping sprees at the store. The wraps are larger in size than most gluten free wraps that I usually buy and are a bit flimsy; however, these guilt-free wraps taste great and work well with many different sandwich fillings.

13. Suja Organic Cold-Pressed Lemon Ginger Cayenne Juice

As I mentioned previously, I was feeling a bit under the weather during my last trip to Trader Joe’s. So, this Suja Organic Cold-Pressed Lemon Ginger Cayenne Juice was perfect for me to add to my cart. This tangy cold-pressed juice is definitely good to have on hand during cold and flu season. This drink will clear your sinuses with its spicy kick. I always feel a little bit better after drinking this juice.

14. 100% Red Tart Cherry Juice

I add tart cherry juice to almost all of my evening smoothies. Tart Cherry juice is rich in antioxidants and contains melatonin naturally, which certainly helps with sleep. I didn’t realize until recently that Trader Joe’s sells their own 100% Red Tart Cherry Juice. While I usually pick up organic tart cherry juice at Whole Foods, the Trader Joe’s 100% Red Tart Cherry Juice is a much cheaper option. I do wish this Trader Joe’s tart cherry juice was organic, but it is otherwise a great healthy juice option.

15. Matcha Green Tea Unsweetened

I love this single-serve matcha green tea, which has been available at Trader Joe’s for quite a while. Matcha green tea is one of the healthiest teas that you can drink, as matcha contains high levels of catechins, a class of plant compounds that act as natural antioxidants. Matcha is also high in epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), that studies are showing may have potential anti-cancer properties. This Trader Joe’s Match Green Tea is unsweetened, which is right up my alley. If the taste is too strong for you, you can always pour this into a cup and add plant-based milk or honey.

16. Stumptown Original Cold Brew Coffee

I can’t go more than a few days without cold brew. Thankfully, Trader Joe’s offers a few cold brew options in their coffee section (shelf stable) and within the refrigerated section by the juices – so I can always leave the store with coffee to satisfy my cold brew fix. One of the Trader Joe’s concentrated cold brew coffees was recalled recently, so I have been hesitant to purchase the Trader Joe’s brand. I do love this Stumpton unsweetened cold brew option, though, which is available in the refrigerated section. At $3.49 for a 10.5 ounce glass bottle, this Stumptown Original Cold Brew Coffee is considerably cheaper than a tall nitro cold brew at Starbucks.

17. Trader Joe’s Green Goddess Dressing

I have never been a big salad dressing person, but this Trader Joe’s Green Goddess Dressing is top tier. Made with Hass avocados, green onions, apple cider vinegar, herbs, olive oil, garlic, sea salt and peppers, it pairs well with so many salads and even works great as a marinade. Many salad dressings in supermarkets are made with seed oils, so it always refreshing to find a good tasting salad dressing made with an olive oil base like this one.

18. Trader Joe’s Organic Oven Roasted Chicken Breast

It is hard to find a high quality lunch meat. I love that these oven roasted chicken breast slices are organic and made from chickens raised without antibiotics or added hormones. Plus, you can’t get much cleaner than the ingredients, which includes just organic chicken breast, water, organic potato starch and sea salt. The Trader Joe’s Green Goddess Dressing also pairs very well with these chicken breast slices to make highly satisfying sandwiches. I often will make a wrap with this Trader Joe’s Organic Oven Roasted Chicken Breast and add some avocado, arugula and a little green goddess dressing.

19. Trader Joe’s Beef Birria

I’m not sure how long this delicious slow cooked beef has been available at Trader Joe’s, but I first discovered it about a month ago. To say I was pleasantly surprised by the taste is definitely an understatement. The beef is cooked in a delectable broth made of crushed tomatoes, dried chiles, and spices, giving the perfect combination of savory and spice. I use this beef for taco night, which definitely saves a lot of time usually spent cooking the ground beef. I do wish that this beef was organic or grass-fed, but you can’t win them all!

20. Trader Joe’s Wild Sockeye Smoked Salmon

I have been making a conscious effort to include more fish in my diet; however, I hate how cooking fish stinks up my home for a bit. Trader Joe’s offers a lot of smoked salmon options which helps me avoid that issue. Unfortunately, most of Trader Joe’s smoked salmon products use farm-raised salmon vs. wild salmon. There are so many reasons why wild salmon is better for you than farm-raised salmon, so I will only purchase the former. This wild sockeye smoked salmon was the only wild salmon option at my store. While it is a bit more expensive than the farm-raised smoked salmon option, I am willing to pay the price for this higher quality smoked salmon.

21. Trader Joe’s Organic Frozen Strawberries

Unfortunately my Trader Joe’s does not carry organic fresh strawberries, but these organic frozen strawberries are always in stock. These frozen strawberries are perfect to add to your blender for smoothies or defrost them slightly to top your yogurt, waffle, or pancakes. Trader Joe’s also carries organic frozen blueberries and organic wild blueberries, among other frozen fruit options.

22. Trader Joe’s Sesame Crunch Chopped Salad

Chopped salads are available everywhere these days, and Trader Joe’s offers a few great options.My go-to lately has been the Trader Joe’s Sesame Crunch Chopped Salad Kit. It is a lot crunchier than other chopped salads, and features a mix of chopped bok choy, savoy cabbage, red cabbage, carrots, and cashews. I never add the sesame sticks or nori seaweed flakes that come with this kit and always add my own dressing (e.g., the Trader Joe’s Green Goddess Dressing or a homemade vinaigrette to make the salad a bit healthier).

23. Trader Joe’s Baby Broccoli

Baby broccoli is one of my favorite sides these days. I love the crunch you get when cooking or grilling the baby broccoli. It pairs well with most entrees, but I especially love to have it with a grass fed-steak. I typically will cook it with coconut aminos sauce or a zesty curry sauce.

24. Trader Joe’s Coconut Aminos

Truth be told, I was really hoping to include Trader Joe’s Thai Peanut Satay Sauce on this list, but it looks like this sauce already has been discontinued. Or at least it is no longer sold at my store. It is such a bummer because it was one of my favorite new finds at Trader Joe’s. So, instead, I will focus on one of my tried and true, old school favorites at Trader Joe’s, their coconut aminos. This sauce, which has been around for years, is so multi-functional and tasty. Unlike most sauces and marinades, it is gluten free. I love it so much that I even wrote a whole article about it a few years ago. Check that out here!

25. RXBAR

I am choosing to end this list with the OG of healthy protein bars, the RXBAR. I have been consuming these bars for years now and always consider them one of the best protein bar options in the market. They are a wonderful alternative to a candy bar when you are craving sweets and pretty much any protein bar available in stores. My Trader Joe’s carries 4 different RXBAR varieties at a price point better than most grocery stores in my area. My favorite is the chocolate sea salt variety. The ingredients are so simple and the taste is magnificent, especially for a healthy bar.

In Closing

Well, that is it for now. Trader Joe’s never disappoints! In addition to this eclectic group of healthy Trader Joe’s foods and beverages, I have also found a few other spectacular non-food items in their beauty and household products aisle. For starters, I am loving their fragrance-free body butter – which would be a wonderful gift for those sensitive to fragrance. And, I am obsessed with the Trader Joe’s Peppermint Multi-Purpose Castile Soap. It is one of my favorite new products and is half the price of Dr. Bronner’s castile soap!