Trader Joe's may seem like a kitschy neighborhood grocery store, but it's actually a multi-billion dollar chain with more than 500 stores across the United States.
Luckily, despite its business success, it's still a great place to buy organic, nutritious staples at affordable prices.
As a nutritionist married to a personal trainer, here are some of my favorite things to buy at Trader Joe's this summer.
I love Asian stir fried vegetables.
Trader Joe's stir fry kits are unique in that they contain fresh vegetables instead of frozen ones.
We often use the make-ahead packets when we run out of ideas for the evening, or on days when we want to make a 20-minute stir fry with tofu, chicken, or shrimp over white or brown rice.
Chicken meatballs can be anything.
Trader Joe's Chicken Meatballs, found in the refrigerated section, are not just a delicious addition to pasta.
My husband and I love using it to make lean meatball sandwiches because it's low in sodium and high in protein.
You can also make sweet and sour meatballs to add variety to your meal.
Organic firm tofu is an excellent plant-based protein.
Air fried tofu is a favorite in our house.
Tofu enhances the flavor of any ingredient, so you can enjoy it in a variety of cooking methods. Plant Protein Are known Improves heart health.
Sometimes I season or marinate the tofu before tossing it in an Asian stir fry to round out the meal.
I always buy carbonated water.
Trader Joe's has several flavors of sparkling water, so staying hydrated is less of a worry this summer.
My husband and I sometimes mix our sparkling water with fruit like lemon or lime to add extra flavor, and we also blend watermelon in a blender, drain the liquid, and add it to water for a refreshing taste.
Trader Joe's PB&J bars are the perfect pre-bedtime snack.
My husband is always looking for a light, not too sweet midnight snack, and he loves that their PB&J bars are smaller than most. Granola BarsSo it was perfect for us.
This chewy snack is also great paired with nuts and seeds for extra protein.
I use Green Goddess Seasoning Blend on all my cooking.
Trader Joe's seasoning blends are the perfect topping for vegetable soup, pasta dishes, or your morning bagel.
There are lots of varieties to choose from, but I like Green Goddess Seasoning Blend because it's a little lower in sodium.
Having burritos in the freezer is great for busy nights.
We are both busy, especially on weekends. Frozen Burritos It helps you eat regular meals every day.
Additionally, beans contain fiber, which aids digestion and keeps bowel movements regular.
Spicy shrimp fried rice is another easy meal to make.
Shrimp fried rice is a great meal starter.
Adding vegetables such as mushrooms, peppers, onions, and spinach will increase the fiber content of your meal.
To bulk up your dinner, use a multigrain blend along with some veggies.
Trader Joe's frozen grain and veggie blends are packed with fiber, making them a great pairing with lean proteins like salmon, shrimp, chicken, and eggs.
I especially like pairing this with stir-fried shrimp to balance out and make the meal more filling.
The seafood burger is a fun twist on a classic dish.
We love seafood, so when we first saw Trader Joe's Shrimp Seafood Burger, we immediately checked the sodium content. With less than 300 milligrams of sodium per patty and plenty of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, it's a big hit with me.
My husband loves to grill but gets bored of eating the same old chicken, turkey burgers and beef, and this patty is the perfect change of pace for the summer.
I add chopped veggies to everything.
The chopped vegetables Soups and stews Iced coffee in the winter, smoothies when it warms up.
I like to eat at least 2-3 Amount of vegetables I try to eat frozen spinach every day, and frozen spinach helps me achieve that goal.
Their sweet potato fries are great straight from the oven.
usually sweet potato The is amazing and the sweet potato fries are the best.
I like to roast them in the oven with a drizzle of oil and serve them as a side dish to burgers or other meals.
I love sprinkling some low-fat shredded cheese on top for some extra protein.
Cheese is one of our favorite convenient sources of protein, so finding a low-fat shredded version is a big deal for us.
Blue corn tortilla chips are one of my favorite sources of fiber.
When you think of fiber, chips might not be what springs to mind. But Trader Joe's Blue Corn Tortilla chips 3 grams per serving, roughly the same amount as one serving of brown rice.
Be sure to pick up a bag of these for your next BBQ and enjoy them with some delicious salsa.
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