Healthy Trader Joe's Meal Plan & Shopping List (2024)

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By Kelli Shallal MPH RD 10 Comments

I may be compensated through affiliate links in this post. All opinions are my own. .

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A quick and easy 7-Day Healthy Trader Joe’s Meal Plan and shopping list!

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I freaking love Trader Joe’s and by the response to some of my TJ’s recipes and recent grocery hauls, you guys do too! So, for today, I thought I’d share a quick and easy 7-day healthy meal plan and shopping list for Trader Joe’s.

Keep in mind this is just a snapshot of a typical meal plan I would throw together when I go to Trader Joe’s. For more ideas you may want to check out:

  • Trader Joe’s Staples – a list of healthy grocery staples I get at Trader Joe’s
  • Healthy Trader Joe’s Snacks
  • Healthy Trader Joe’s Recipes
  • Trader Joe’s Dinner Ideas
  • Trader Joe’s Recent Grocery Haul

The way this meal plan is built is similar to how I build my What to Eat? Healthy Meal Plan Subscription, enough for one person for breakfast and lunch, enough for 2 people for dinner. You may want to scale up or down accordingly!

Current email subscribers can find the downloadable and printable version of this meal plan and shopping in my library of resources. Not subscribed yet? Use the form below or click here to get access!

Now, let’s get to the recipes and grocery items!

Breakfast Recipes

  • Anti-Inflammatory Instant Oats

Made with all ingredients that can be found at TJ’s, these delicious oatmeal bowls can be made as overnight oats or instant oats. They pack 25 grams of protein and 13 grams of fiber, filling healthy breakfast for the win!

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  • Healthy Breakfast Quesadillas

I’ve mentioned before that one of my favorite items to get at TJ’s is their brown rice tortillas. These tortillas are not good for wrapping as they are rather rigid, however, they are great for quesadillas. I just love the way they get light and crispy when pan-fried. I usually make these healthy breakfast quesadillas with them.

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Another option, that I almost included, but didn’t, is my recipe for five-ingredient healthy egg muffins. Those are made with all TJ’s friendly ingredients and are meal prep friendly.

Healthy Snacks

  • Trader Joe’s Almond Butter & Coconut Greek Yogurt
    • Feel free to sub another whole milk greek yogurt here. I picked this one because I like the flavor and the macro breakdown. If you chose something non-fat, make sure to add some healthy fat to it like nuts or nut butter.
  • Hummus & Baby Carrots
    • Any hummus works, our favorite is the Trader Joe’s brand Mediterranean hummus.
  • Cookie Dough Energy Bites
    • Made with TJ’s cashew butter, so freaking yummy and only five-ingredients!

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Lunch Recipes

Sometimes I pick up a couple of their “healthier” frozen foods. Of course, frozen foods are packed with sodium, but since I only go to Trader Joe’s once a month I think it’s fine! You do what’s best for you!

  • Turkey Bacon Ranch Bowls
    • Another one of my favorite items from TJ’s is their uncured peppered turkey bacon. These strips of turkey bacon are without harmful preservatives but, still full of flavor. I like that they are thick-cut so they pack more protein per slice then typical turkey bacon. I like to throw them on a sheet pan with some roasted veggies to make turkey bacon ranch bowls.

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  • Sheet Pan Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi

One of my most popular recipes on the blog and for good reason! It’s delicious, only a few ingredients, and gives you the secret to cooking cauliflower gnocchi from Trader Joe’s!

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  • Frozen Sriracha Shrimp Bowl
  • Frozen Chile Relleno

Dinner Recipes

Just a heads up, you may have already noticed but one of my favorite items to get from TJ’s is the pre-bagged steam in the bag broccoli. You’ll see it in a ton of my recipes but feel free to sub out other veggies where needed if you don’t want to eat broccoli all week.

Trader Joe’s recently announced that their Everything But the Bagel seasoning is one of their most sold items. What can’t you do with that delicious blend of salt, pepper, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds? I don’t know but I like to throw mine on salmon!

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You’ll never guess the secret Trader Joe’s item that makes up part of the crust in this parmesan-crusted chicken. Delicious, crunchy, and found only at Trader Joe’s!

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  • Trader Joe’s Chicken Chili Bowl with Cauliflower Rice
    • I love to grab a can of chicken chili and mix it with some cauliflower rice (defrosted on the stove really fast) for a quick and easy lunch. Now that I know about their cornbread chips, I’d eat some of those along with this meal too!

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  • Gluten-Free Cheese Pizza Cauliflower Crust
  • Trader Joe’s Mediterranean Salad Kit
    • They have so many great salad kits, feel free to sub a different one!

Dessert

  • I didn’t add this to the meal plan but some of my favorites are:
    • Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
    • Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds
    • Trader Joe’s 72% Dark Chocolate

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Healthy Trader Joe's Meal Plan & Shopping List (11)

About Kelli Shallal MPH RD

Kelli Shallal MPH RD is a Phoenix, Arizona based Registered Dietitian with a Masters in Public Health from Loma Linda University. She is a blogger behind the popular blog and nutrition practice Hungry Hobby. She is also the owner and creator of What to Eat? Meal Plans.

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  6. […] (yes, I’m obssesed with Trader Joe’s, see 35+ Healthy Trader Joe’s Recipes and Healthy Trader Joe’s Meal Plan and Shopping List), but for best results, those all need the gnocchi to be defrosted before cooking. Now, […]

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  10. […] recipes every single time I make TJ’s cauliflower gnocchi. Which is every time I go to Trader Joe’s using my healthy Trader Joe’s Meal Plan and Shopping List. Still, this time I finally tried something different. I threw sausage, gnocchi, and spinach […]

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Healthy Trader Joe's Meal Plan & Shopping List (2024)

FAQs

Is Trader Joe's considered a healthy grocery store? ›

Trader Joe's is a great place to stock up on staples like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, lean proteins, and healthy fats. With low prices and attractive packaging, it's also easy to grab certain items that may not be nutritionally sound.

Is Trader Joe's clean eating? ›

Whether you're trying to eat more mindfully or you have some high-maintenance food sensitivities like me, I'm sharing a handful of good-for-you options I always buy at Trader Joe's. And as you'll see, eating clean can still include some of those fun snacks and treats that TJ's does so well—it's all about balance.

What is the most popular item at Trader Joe's? ›

Best Overall Trader Joe's Item: Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips. When it comes to Trader Joe's products, there's one that shoppers believe is a cut above the rest—snack category winner Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips.

Is Trader Joe's oatmeal healthy? ›

Unsweetened Instant Oatmeal

There's no sugar added, unlike most instant oatmeals, and they've got flax and chia seeds added for an omega-3 boost. They also have ancient grains—quinoa and amaranth—for extra fiber and plant protein,” says Whitney English, R.D.N.

Who is Trader Joe's main competitor? ›

Trader Joe's competitors include H E B, Whole Foods Market, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market and NatureBox. Trader Joe's ranks 2nd in Product Quality Score on Comparably vs its competitors.

What is America's healthiest grocery store? ›

Here are the true standouts.
  • Whole Foods. 279 stores in 38 states and Washington, D.C. ...
  • Safeway. 1,700-plus stores nationwide. ...
  • Harris Teeter. 176 stores in the Southeast. ...
  • Trader Joe's. 300-plus stores in 23 states and Washington, D.C. ...
  • Hannaford. 165-plus stores in the Northeast. ...
  • Albertsons. ...
  • Food Lion. ...
  • Publix Super Markets.

What are some weaknesses of Trader Joe's? ›

Trader Joe's Weaknesses
  • Product recalls. Trader Joe's has had some product recalls in the past that hurt its brand image. ...
  • Geographical limitation. Trader Joe's has heavily invested in the American market and has about 560 stores across U.S. states. ...
  • Lack of deliveries. ...
  • Discouraging customer reviews.
Mar 17, 2024

How much cheaper is Trader Joes than other grocery stores? ›

We did some math to find out which of these beloved budget grocery chains is cheaper. In a previous edition of We Do the Math, we compared Trader Joe's and a conventional grocery store, and the data was clear: Trader Joe's is cheaper than your average supermarket by about 33%.

Is Trader Joes chemical free? ›

Trader Joe's does not sell any product containing chemicals in excess of the levels allowed by the FDA or any other law.

What's so special about Trader Joe's? ›

We buy direct from suppliers whenever possible, we bargain hard to get the best price, and then pass the savings on to you. We buy in volume and contract early to get the best prices. If an item doesn't pull its weight in our stores, it goes away, making room for another innovative new product.

What is the Trader Joe's controversy names? ›

The petition adds: "The Trader Joe's branding is racist because it exoticizes other cultures — it presents 'Joe' as the default 'normal' and the other characters falling outside of it — they are 'Arabian Joe,' 'Trader José,' and 'Trader Joe San. '"

How much does the average person spend at Trader Joe's? ›

The Average Trip to Trader Joe's

Now when it comes to average spending, Americans are dishing out about $66.00 every time they go to Trader Joe's.

Do celebrities shop at Trader Joe's? ›

Timothée Chalamet's Go-To Trader Joe's Product

We know that celebs love Trader Joe's just as much as we do. Tiffani Thiessen, shops there and then puts her favorite snacks in the front seat to munch on while she drives home.

What is the busiest Trader Joes store? ›

Most locations averaged between 10,000 and 15,000 sq ft (1,400 m2). California has the largest number of stores with 193 open in the state. The chain's busiest location is its 72nd & Broadway store on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Does Trader Joe's have health benefits? ›

Trader Joe's is dedicated to making an investment in and for you. All Crew Members currently receive up to a 20% discount on all products in our stores. We offer exceptional medical, dental and vision plans to eligible Crew Members.

Is everything in Trader Joe's organic? ›

In fact, more than 20% of the products customers purchase from us are organic, a trend we see continuing to grow. All the while, we've remained focused on only providing products (organic-certified included) that are an exceptional value, which to us means they must be great quality and a great price.

Are Trader Joe's cookies healthy? ›

TJ's cookies aren't organic, and all are made with white flour and contain natural flavors. Trader Joe's cookies also tend to be very sweet, with upwards of 10 grams of sugar per serving. Trader Joe's gluten-free cookies all contain rice flour.

Why is it good to shop at Trader Joe's? ›

Trader Joe's takes pride in its private label products, which aren't just cheap knock-offs of the brand-name counterparts. A lot of product development and fine tuning goes into perfecting each item, and a team of Trader Joe's executives have to approve all of them before they hit the shelves.

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