陽光下的遠行

Health experts love this Hawaiian-themed grocery store. Discover the products they can't live without.

9 Foods Nutritionists Buy at Trader Joe's

By Carey Rossi

Medically Reviewed by Kelly Kennedy, RD

Trader Joe’s, or “TJ’s” as some affectionately call it, is a haven for healthy food on a budget. Among the Hawaiian shirts and tiki motif are aisles of good-for-you — and some not-so-good-for-you — choices. Either way, nutritionists love this Monrovia, California-based grocery store.

In fact, they adore it so much that the five nutritionists we spoke to had a hard time naming just one of their favorite foods to buy there. (One even gave us her entire Trader Joe’s shopping list!) Read on to discover exactly what they put in their red carts.

1. Frozen Garlic

Los Angeles-based chef Beth Saltz, RD, MPH, of Nutrition in the Kitchen, has a long Trader Joe’s list, but one of her favorite things to buy is Dorot frozen garlic squares. “They’re perfect for busy nights when you don’t have time to peel and mince garlic,” she says. “Throw them into a sauté pan with hot oil to melt them; then, add steamed veggies and some salt and pepper, and you’ve got a healthy side dish.”

2. Mirepoix

Another purchase that makes Saltz’s kitchen life easier is TJ's Mirepoix. “It’s a mix of freshly diced celery, carrots, and onions that's the base of many recipes,” she says. “I use it in my lentil soup, favorite slow-cooker Mediterranean chicken, and many other soups and stews.”

3. Cheese

“There are too many choices to mention, but my all-time favorite is the mini brie bites,” says Karen Ansel, RDN, coauthor of The Calendar Diet: A Month by Month Guide to Losing Weight While Living Your Life. “The person who designed these is a true genius. It’s the first brie I’ve ever had where the rind tastes good! Plus, they’re perfectly portioned so you know when to say when.”

4. Nuts

“TJ’s has an extensive nut department,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, an Everyday Health columnist and author of Read It Before You Eat It. “And some even come in 100-calorie packs to help you control portion sizes and calories.”

She adds their whole roasted unsalted almonds to her roasted veggie recipes, uses their sliced almonds to top her muffins, and tosses the slivered almonds into coleslaw (she toasts them first).

5. Broccoli Slaw

When Elizabeth Ward, RD, a nutrition consultant who blogs at Better Is the New Perfect goes to Trader Joe’s, she heads straight to the produce department to pick up the broccoli slaw. “I can make a side dish in minutes with it: I use chopped red onion, dried cranberries, a mayonnaise-Greek yogurt mixture, and sliced almonds,” she says. “Also, their frozen wild salmon is a favorite!”

6. Seed and Grain Blend

Ansel also loves Trader Joe’s Super Seed & Ancient Grain Blend. “It’s loaded with different seeds like sprouted buckwheat groats, sprouted millet, chia, flax, red quinoa, hemp, and amaranth, so it’s packed with fiber,” she says. “It also gives you a huge omega-3 boost. I stir it into oatmeal or yogurt to add more nutrients.” You can also eat it on its own as a cold or hot breakfast cereal.

7. Chocolate Caramel Wedges

Even nutritionists have a sweet tooth. Mitzi Dulan, RD, author of The Pinterest Diet: How to Pin Your Way Thin and team nutritionist for the 2015 World Series champions, the Kansas City Royals, reaches for Trader Joe’s chocolate caramel wedges when she's craving something sweet. “They give me the chocolate fix that I sometimes need,” she says. “I love the small portions — they’re only 35 calories each — and the tiny tin they come in. I often carry it in my purse.”

8. Salsa

“I’m a huge fan of their salsa verde,” says Ansel. “With 10 calories per 2 tablespoons, it’s as close as you can come to a calorie-free food, but it’s got huge flavor. I love it on their green chili tamales, which you can find in the freezer section, or on top of quesadillas.”

9. Organic Chicken Breast Tenders

Saltz bases many of her family’s meals on what she buys at Trader Joe’s. One of her favorites is their Organic Chicken Tenders. “At least once a week I quickly toss these in a mix of flour, salt, and pepper, and then sauté them in canola oil,” she says. “In 10 minutes, family dinner is done.”