8 MUST-HAVE TRADER JOE’S MACRO-FRIENDLY ITEMS FOR FLAVORFUL, HEALTHY MEALS
Focusing on making healthful nutrition changes does not have to equal making food taste boring: let’s put the idea of needing to eat boiled chicken breast and mushy vegetables in order to successfully pursue health goals to bed once and for all! On the contrary, by ensuring that we’re actually enjoying the health-promoting foods that we’re aiming to make staples in our diets, we’re far more likely to make change sustainable and, in turn, results retainable.
Whether you’re looking to liven up your protein prep, make veggies more attractive to reach for or play around with new flavor profiles, here is a list of some of our favorite ways to insert flavor from Trader Joe’s.
Tzatziki Creamy Garlic Cucumber Dip
Macros per 30g serving: 0p/2c/2f, 30 calories
What we love about it: Light and refreshing with pieces of cucumber mixed into the nonfat sour cream base, it makes for a tasty condiment that compliments rather than overpowers. Try it with diced protein and veggies of your choice in a pita for a well-rounded meal or snack!
Vegan Buffalo Style Dip
Macros per 29g serving: 1p/3c/3f, 40 calories
What we love about it: This stuff is magic in plant-based dip form! Spicy, but not too; creamy, but with enough texture to feel substantial. If you’re looking to up your raw veggie snack game, this is one you’ll want to add to your next Trader Joe’s shopping list, especially for anyone vegan or dairy free!
Guacsalsa
Macros per 30g serving: 0p/2c/1.5f, 20 calories
What we love about it: Like the container says and name suggests, this is as if tomatillo salsa and guacamole had a baby: cooling, smooth, and tangy. It’s the perfect way to change up your usual burrito bowl or tacos or put a fun twist on an egg-based breakfast. Also, because it is not just avocado, it is lower in fat while still giving you a creamy, delicious guacamole experience.
Cold Pressed Salad Dressings
Macros per 30g serving:
For green goddess dressing: 0p/1c/2f, 20 calories
For vegan creamy dill dressing: 0p/1c/6f, 60 calories
For vegan Caesar: 0p/2c/7f, 70 calories
What we love about them: These are the Trader Joe’s equivalent to Bolthouse Farms salad dressings (another KLN favorite!) in that they are lower calorie options compared to other common bottled salad dressings. We are especially about them being plant-based though for all of our vegan friends! While they all obviously work great for salads, other unique ways to use them are on grain bowls and in wraps.
Sweet Chili Sauce
Macros per 15g: 0p/5c/0f
What we love about it: A little can go a long way with this Asian-inspired sauce. Try it added to a protein-forward stir fry or as a simple topper for your protein prep for the week.
Hot & Sweet Jalapeños
Macros per 28g: 0p/9c/0f
What we love about them: An absolute must if you like crunchy, sweet, and spicy in your meals! A serving of these alongside the Guacsalsa in a burrito bowl or taco salad is a match made in heaven.
Red Pepper Spread with Eggplant and Garlic
Macros per 30g: 0p/4c/2f, 30 calories
What we love about it: The umami that this spread delivers by way of its sweetness and acidity is unlike most anything you’ll find on other store’s shelves. It’s a way to make sandwiches more fun beyond the usual mustard and mayo and crudités something you’ll want for every snack.
Trader Joe’s Macro-Friendly Seasonings
Macros per serving: varies, but most likely negligible
What we love about them: Trader Joe’s, in general, is a great place to shop if you’re staying budget-conscious, but their seasonings are an especially great bang for your buck when looking to expand your flavor repertoire since they’re shelf stable and will last you through many meal preps and recipes! Above are several of our top picks: try the Cuban Style Citrusy Garlic on pork tenderloin; the Mushroom & Company Multipurpose Umami in eggs/omelets; the Everything but the Elote on popcorn; the Green Goddess on chicken breasts or thighs and mixed into green salads; the Salmon Rub on salmon, of course, but also great for chicken and pork; and the Ranch stirred into nonfat Greek yogurt for a lighter ranch dressing or dip option, or combined with Frank’s Red Hot Sauce and chicken breasts in the Crock Pot or Instant Pot for easy shredded buffalo chicken protein prep.
For absolute simplicity when it comes to tracking your macros, make sure to grab a free copy of Everyday Macros: our macro-friendly meal prep cookbook. It’s full of simple recipes, batch prep tips, and insight into how to make your nutrition as seamless as possible.