In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleUnsweetened Coconut ChipsCanned Fish and SeafoodFreeze-Dried FruitSeasoningPlantain ChipsTandoori Naan
In This ArticleView All
View All
In This Article
Unsweetened Coconut Chips
Canned Fish and Seafood
Freeze-Dried Fruit
Seasoning
Plantain Chips
Tandoori Naan
Close
Photo:Eating Well/Getty Images/Trader Joe’s
Eating Well/Getty Images/Trader Joe’s
In the wide world of grocery stores, Trader Joe’s is its own happy little island. The quirky chain has set itself apart with recognizable branding and a shopping experience unlike that at larger, more traditional stores. It’s incredibly popular and busy. Seriously, the Trader Joe’s down the street from where I live is always—always—busy. And for good reason. The small shop has great prices, welcoming employees, very inexpensive wine and an inviting shopping experience.
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You can get an assortment of nuts like almonds, pecans and peanuts at a very reasonable price. Even dried fruit is a good buy. Around the holidays, I’ll pick up turkey stock, crackers, cheeses and jams. For my kids, I like to buy Greek strained yogurt and the dark chocolate peanut butter cups (OK, maybe that one’s really for me). But I want to share with you my absolute favorite underrated things to buy at Trader Joe’s that all cost less than $5.
1. Unsweetened Coconut Chips
Eating Well/Amazon
When it comes to trail mix and homemade granola,coconutis one of my go-to healthy mix-ins, and I love TJ’s unsweetened coconut chips. It’s essentially large unsweetened flakes of dried coconut, but the texture is pleasantly crisp and the flavor is all tropical coconut. I’ll use it as a topping forSunday morning pancakes, sprinkle it on my green salad for lunch or grab a small handful for a snack. I can pick up an 8-ounce package from TJ’s for $2.49—typically less expensive than the comparable flakes I can find at my larger local grocery chains.
2. Canned Fish & Seafood
Eating Well/Trader Joe’s
3. Freeze-Dried Fruit
Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of being an astronaut. That’s odd because I was (and still am) terrified of amusement-park rides, so I’m not sure how flying in a spaceship would work. The real reason I wanted to be an astronaut was for the freeze-dried food. When I chomp into some freeze-dried blueberries, raspberries or tart cherries, it’s almost like eating that astronaut ice cream I had as a kid. Today I like to add some to my morningparfait, homemadegranolaandtrail mixes. At TJ’s, the freeze-dried fruit is $3.99 for a 1.2-ounce bag. That package size may seem small, but they are packed with flavor and a little goes a long way. The freeze-dried tart cherries are my favorite. I especially love them ground to a fine powder and stirred into yogurt or evenno-churn ice cream.
4. Seasonings
I am aware that Trader Joe’s seasonings may already be well known and even popular, but I need to rave about them a bit. Specifically, I use their seasoning blends for one very specific thing: popcorn. It’s my favorite snack, and while I’m a traditionalist with simple melted butter and salt, once in a while I get a little wild and add Pizza Sprinkle Seasoning Blend ($2.99), Ranch Seasoning Blend ($2.99) or Everything but the Elote Seasoning Blend ($1.99). And for breakfast or a midmorning snack, I love some whole-wheat toast topped with mashed avocado and a healthy sprinkle of Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend ($1.99).
5. Plantain Chips
Like popcorn, plantain chips are another one of my favorite snacks. The plantain chips from Trader Joe’s come from Peru, where the plantains are picked ripe and slightly sweet, sliced thin and fried insunflower oil. What is a chip doing on a list like this? Well, aside from these plantain chips having a bit less saturated fat compared to most potato chips, they are also delicious for more than just snacking. I love roughly chopping a small serving of plantain chips and piling them on a simple dinner of brown rice andblack beanswith slices of avocado and some torn cilantro leaves. It’s a quick and delicious meal, and the plantain chips give it a satisfying crunch and unique flavor. Grab a 6-oz. bag for just $1.99.
6. Tandoori Naan
Of all the delicious frozen treats, dinners and sides at Trader Joe’s, my favorite is the Tandoori Naan. I made homemade naan for many years until I discovered that Trader Joe’s frozen naan is, well, better than mine. You simply pop it in a hot oven for a few minutes to reheat it and enjoy that pillowy soft, chewy toasty flatbread. It is perfect for scooping up a hot bowl of heartyvegetable dalorchickpea stew, and my family loves a quick weeknight naan pizza (even aBreakfast Naan Pizza). I wish there was awhole-wheat option, but since I typically pile on the fiber in my main dish I see no problem enjoying TJ’s tandoori naan. A 12-ounce package of 4 sells for $2.99.
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