Trader Joe’s Grocery List (+ 7 meal ideas)

 

Making a complete + realistic grocery list is truly the first thing I do every Monday (sometimes Sunday if I have my life together.) As a 25-year-old who just wants to eat healthy, save money, and spend 30 minutes tops cooking dinner, Trader Joe’s has become my go-to grocery store. Not only is everything pretty low cost, but their products and meals use simple ingredients (you should still read the label of everything you buy.) I get quite a few questions about what I get at the grocery, but I also get many questions about quick, easy, and healthy(ish) meals. To make this post a one-stop shop, I’ve put together my typical Trader Joe’s grocery list and also included 7 meals from the items purchased.

Fresh Produce + Grocery

• Arugla/Spinach mix
• Southwest Chopped Salad Kit
• Green Goddess Dressing
• Broccoli Florets
• Bell Peppers (we get the tri-color bag of 3)
• Green Apples
• Lemon/Limes
• Avocados
• Spaghetti Squash

Dairy + Fresh Meat

• Vegan Cream Cheese (the best I’ve tried)
• Almond Milk Coffee Creamer – hazelnut or vanilla
• Crumbled Goat or Feta Cheese
• Shredded Mexican Blend (they offer a dairy-free shredded cheese but it’s not my favorite)
• Ground Turkey
• Chicken Sausage – Spicy Jalapeno, Maple Apple, and Garlic are all so tasty

Frozen*

• Boneless + Skinless Chicken Tenderloins (trust me on this)
• Cauliflower Rice
• Mandarin Orange Chicken
• French-Cut Green Beans (if you get anything, this is it)
• Cauliflower Pizza Crust
• Sweet Corn or the pre-made Mexican Street Corn

*It’s easy to go crazy in the frozen aisle. They have many options of pre-made meals. If you don’t like to cook, this can be the place for you. However, be mindful of the ingredients and preservatives. Although the frozen bolognese, quesadillas, and macaroni are all delicious, you can easily make a lot of these meals yourself with half the ingredients! Just remember – if you can’t pronounce an ingredient, it’s probably not good for you. 

Pantry

• Coconut Aminos (sub to soy sauce)
• Pizza Sauce
• Taco Seasoning
• Any of the hundreds of salsas
• Low-Sodium Chicken Broth
• Sweet n Spicy Pecans
• Vodka Pasta Sauce
• Dry Pasta – whole wheat fusilli, whole wheat penne, chickpea and lentil pasta
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Fire Roasted Tomatoes
• Green Chilis

Honorable Mentions

• Pre-Cut Seasoned Brussel Sprouts
• Turkey Bacon
• Frozen Whole Grain Frozen Waffles
• Frozen Cauliflower Stir Fry
• Frozen Chimichurri Rice
• Quinoa Cowboy Veggie Burgers (love eating these with just avocado spread on top)
• Sriracha Barbecue Sauce
• Steak filets (if I’m making a fancy dinner)

Meals

Orange Chicken Bowls 

Frozen mandarin orange chicken (comes with the sauce) + cauliflower rice or stir fry + frozen green beans (on the stove top with coconut aminos, garlic, and butter) + broccoli

Stuffed Peppers

Bell peppers + frozen chicken (baked on the stove with seasonings and shredded with a fork) + salsa + vegan cream cheese + cayenne and cumin

Southwest Chopped Salad with Taco Meat

Southwest chopped salad kit (comes with dressing) + ground turkey + taco seasoning

Creamy Pasta with Protein + Veggies

Any of the dry pasta or spaghetti squash (watch how to cook one) + vodka sauce + steamed broccoli (it steams in the bag it comes in) + chicken sausage or chopped turkey bacon + goat or feta cheese

Spicy Cauliflower Pizza

Cauliflower crust + pizza sauce + choice of shredded cheese + chicken sausage or turkey bacon + cilantro + topped with goat cheese + dipped in Sriracha barbecue sauce

Sweet n Spicy Chicken Salad*

Arugula/spinach mix + shredded chicken + diced green apples + sweet n spicy pecans + goat or feta cheese + green goddess dressing

*the photo below has strawberries, too

Spicy White Chicken Tortilla Soup in the crockpot

Chicken broth + chicken tenderloins + heavy whipping cream + corn + fire roasted tomatoes + green chilis + cumin + cayenne + paprika + garnished with avocado