19 Foods Nutritionists Always Buy at Trader Joe’s

Looking for healthy food shopping inspo? Get the inside scoop on what's in a registered dietitian's grocery cart at Trader Joe's.

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The healthiest Trader Joe’s foods

Trader Joe’s has a cult-like following for convenient, tasty, and reasonably priced food. That’s why nutritionists love shopping at this store. In fact, they have go-to healthy Trader Joe’s food that they always buy—and that you should add to your cart, too.

cauliflower pizza crust from trader joe's
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Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Gluten-free pizza, anyone? “I love this low-calorie pizza crust made from cauliflower and corn flour, as it is a great substitute for a typical high-calorie food,” says registered dietitian Amy Goodson, RD, a sports dietitian in Dallas, Texas. “With only 80 calories a slice, you can decorate it with whatever veggies and toppings you want to give it a nutrient-rich twist. My favorites are spinach, mushrooms, and pesto.” (Here are more healthy pizza crusts.)

everything but the bagel seasoning trader joes
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Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend

This seasoning has so many uses beyond the bagel. “I just discovered this, and I can’t believe I didn’t find it sooner,” says Jennifer Bowers, PhD, a registered dietitian in Tucson, Arizona. “It contains white and black sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion, dried garlic, and salt. My favorite way to enjoy this seasoning is atop mashed avocado toast.” Also use it to flavor air-popped popcorn, roasted chickpeas, grilled tofu, and more.

Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto
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Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto

“I love this pesto as a dip, marinade, or tossed with whole-grain penne pasta,” notes registered dietitian Angie Asche, owner of Eleat Sports Nutrition in Lincoln, Nebraska. “It’s so flavorful and a great time saver when I don’t have the time to make my own sauce from scratch.” Pesto also tastes great tossed with zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, or these other healthy pasta alternatives.

Frozen raspberries in a glass bowl - top view - isolated on white background
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Frozen Raspberries

“Trader Joe’s sells some of the best frozen fruits and veggies—they often look like they did while they were fresh, and they are flavorful,” says registered dietitian nutritionist Bonnie Taub-Dix, author of Read it Before You Eat It. The frozen raspberries have just one ingredient: raspberries. “It’s best to read labels carefully to be sure you’re not buying items that have added sugar,” says Taub-Dix.

Organic Grass Fed Ground Beef
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Organic Grass Fed Ground Beef

This 85 percent lean meat is a favorite of Kate McGowan, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Brooklyn, New York. “There are leaner options sold at Trader Joe’s, but to me how the cattle are treated is more important,” she says. “This ground beef comes from cattle that are never given antibiotics or artificial growth hormones,” McGowan says. “They are 100 percent grass-fed, which contributes to full-flavored, well-marbled beef. This beef makes delicious burgers, so fire up the grill!”

Bruschetta Sauce
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Bruschetta Sauce

“Bruschetta is a fantastic sauce to put over most proteins like chicken, fish, pork, and steak,” says registered dietitian nutritionist Sarah Koszyk, author of 365 Snacks for Every Day of the Year. Also use it to flavor vegetables like roasted asparagus or zucchini, or sautéed green beans. “The sauce is very low in calories and high in flavor, while also providing antioxidants and vitamin C,” she says.

Mixed raw quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa). Red, black and white seeds in wooden bowl isolated on white background
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Organic Sprouted Tricolor Quinoa

“I always have a bag of this quinoa in my pantry,” says Asche. “It’s so easy to boil a pot of quinoa and use it in a variety of different recipes!” One of Asche’s favorite recipes to whip up is a grain bowl with quinoa, tofu, and roasted veggies. (Check out these other creative quinoa recipes.)

Balsamic vinegar cream isolated on white background. Italian salad dressing, sauce.
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Trader Giotto’s Balsamic Glaze

“One tablespoon of this balsamic glaze adds just 40 calories and goes a long way, whereas one tablespoon of oil contains around 130 calories,” says Taub-Dix. She enjoys decoratively drizzling the glaze on a large salad or atop melon. It’s also delicious atop grilled peaches.

Mini Brie Bites
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Mini Brie Bites

Ever stared at the cheese section at TJ’s? Then you’ve seen many, many options. “Trader Joe’s does some pretty amazing things with cheese, like packaging brie into mini-single serve bites,” says registered dietitian nutritionist Karen Ansel, author of Healing Superfoods for Anti-Aging. “Not only are these mini bites already portion-controlled, but they’re individually packaged so you can toss them in your bag for smart snacking on the run.”

beet on white background
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Cut Beets in Vinaigrette

“I am obsessed with these beets, which are packaged in a glass jar,” says Therese Bonanni, a registered dietitian nutritionist at Navesink Wellness Center in Rumson, New Jersey. “They’re a simple, sneaky way to add a pickled food into my lunch salad for an added probiotic benefit, and a serving contains less sodium than a traditional pickle or sauerkraut. Their deep hue also means they’re full of antioxidants that fight inflammation.”

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Organic Reduced Fat Coconut Milk

This lightened-up version has almost half the fat of the full-fat version. “The TJ’s version is inexpensive, and I keep a can in my pantry at all times because it’s perfect for quick curry meals,” says Bowers.

Brownie Crisp Coffee Ice Cream Sandwiches
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Brownie Crisp Coffee Ice Cream Sandwiches

“One of my favorite things about Trader Joe’s is its single-serve frozen desserts, which make it easy to have a treat without overdoing it,” says Ansel. “Right now, my freezer is stocked with at least three different kinds of these frozen desserts. But if I had to name my all-time favorite, it would be these ice cream sandwiches. They combine two of my favorite things in the world—coffee ice cream and brownies—for just 180 calories.”

veggie burger on white background
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Hi-Protein Veggie Burgers

Some veggie burgers are pretty low in protein, with 5 grams or less. But not this one. “It makes a fast, easy, and satisfying vegan meal with 25 grams of plant protein coming from pea protein and black beans,” says Tammy Lakatos Shames, RDN, CFT and Lyssie Lakatos, RDN, CFT, co-authors of The Nutrition Twins’ Veggie Cure. “So it’s packed with protein and fiber to help you maintain a healthy weight and improve overall health.”

Cauliflower Rice

Organic Riced Cauliflower

Go ahead and embrace the trend: Use riced cauliflower in lieu of rice in a grain bowl, or combine it in a one-to-one ratio with brown rice. “This riced cauliflower has become a new favorite in my house,” says registered dietitian nutritionist Samantha Cassetty in New York City. “Along with the obvious use as a substitute for grains, I use it to add more fiber, vitamins, and minerals to ground turkey dishes like tacos.”

mixed nut butter
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Mixed Nut Butter

“This is my favorite nut butter!” says Asche. “It’s a blend of almonds, cashews, walnuts, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, and pecans. Each nut has its own unique nutrient content, so by consuming a variety you get a much wider range of nutrients.” Spread nut butter on whole-grain toast, use it in an energy bite recipe, or blend it into a smoothie.

Tasty muffins with blueberry on white background
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Blueberry Bran Muffins

These are a favorite of Koszyk’s. “They are full of fiber, at 12 grams per muffin,” she says. “Fiber fills us up and keeps us full for longer. Eat them as a hearty snack or pair them with a hard-boiled egg for protein as a breakfast on the go.”

japanese style fried rice
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Japanese Style Fried Rice

“When I’m not in the mood to cook, I turn to Trader Joe’s frozen entrees,” says registered dietitian Stephanie McKercher, a recipe developer at The Grateful Grazer. “My favorite is the Japanese Style Fried Rice. I love the combination of flavors from soy sauce, sesame oil, and seaweed.” Add extra shelled edamame for extra protein, just like McKercher does. “This meal helps me feel good for hours!” she says.

A ball of chocolate chip cookie dough isolated on a white background.
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Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

“The dough is pre-portioned into 16 servings, so I keep it in the fridge to quell a warm cookie craving for only 120 calories,” says Bonanni. “I usually bake only one or two servings as needed, so there aren’t a dozen cookies sitting in the kitchen! Plus, the dough is made without preservatives, artificial colors, or sugar substitutes.” Flatten each cookie with a spoon prior to baking for a crunchier cookie, suggests Bonanni.

closeup of colorful spring flowers bouquet isolated on white background. pink roses, red gerbera, yellow tulips, blue anemone
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Floral Bouquet

“I always stop by the floral section when I shop at Trader Joe’s,” says McKercher. “Setting the table with fresh flowers helps me slow down, eat mindfully, and feel more satisfied after meals.” The bouquets are pretty budget friendly! Next, check out the foods nutritionists always get from Costco.

Sources

Amy Gorin, MS, RDN
Amy is a nationally-recognized registered dietician nutritionist (RDN) and journalist who’s worked in digital and print media since 2006—and today, she has a media reach surpassing 3 billion. She regularly writes for The Healthy, Food Network, and Everyday Health and has been a featured expert for print, digital, and television outlets such as Women’s Health, US News, The Washington Post, People, CNN, and many more. Amy previously held editorial roles at Health, Weight Watchers, Parents, and American Baby magazines and has contributed to several nutrition books and cookbooks. In addition to her media work, Amy provides nutrition counseling to individuals, couples, groups, food companies, and corporations through her private practice, Plant Based with Amy.