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Top 10 Trader Joe’s Finds for Clean Eating!

I am almost halfway through my first *official* Whole30! I did a near Whole30 in February in Tanzania, but didn’t exclude legumes and some other things, just because I didn’t have access to as much as I do in the U.S. I’m feeling really good about my June Whole30- and seeing results on-and-off-the scale! I am always searching for great Whole30 compliant food to make my life easier, and Trader Joe’s has a TON of great options! So I thought I’d share my TOP 10 with you today (in no particular order!).

1. Bagged & Prepped Veggies

I love these because they save me prep time! The broccoli is the same price as a bunch of broccoli, and it’s already cut up. #nobrainer! I love me some roasted brussel sprouts- so all I need to do with these is cut them in half, season them, and pop them in the oven. #done! I don’t get the squash and potatoes a lot, because they’re more expensive. But I can see them being SUPER useful on those nights when you don’t have a lot of time!!
2. Avocados & Tomatoes
I’m cheating by putting these together! They’re my “eat every day on every meal in every way” foods that add flavor and yumminess without any of the processed stuff! TJ’s has the BEST grape tomatoes in my opinion. They’re super plump and juicy! And the bags of four avocados are way cheaper than purchasing them individually! You save almost TWO DOLLARS. That’s huge!! #frugalshopper

3. Mixed Nut Butter

This stuff is PRICEY but DELICIOUS!! It’s very liquidy, but I love the mixture of nutty flavor it gives. Perfect for dipping apples or bananas in, or for a quick smoothie! It’s definitely worth the splurge! Plus, you just saved $2 by buying your avocados in bulk! 🙂

4. Turkey Burgers

This is my newest discovery! The Chili Lime Chicken Burgers are also Whole30 approved, but I’m not such a fan of chili. The turkey burgers are an easy option if you need something fast (they take about 15 minutes to cook). Also, that price can’t be beat! They’re tasty and you can even break them apart to add to your meal if you need more protein.

5. Potatoes

I looooove that I can eat potatoes on the Whole30! #lifesaver! These Organic Gold Potatoes are my FAVORITE. The best part is that you don’t have to peel them!! #winning I chop them up and roast them in the oven with some sweet potatoes, or slice them thinly for a delicious Potatoes Au Gratin! Even pop them in the microwave for a quick baked potato!

6. Coconut Aminos

This is the best substitute for soy sauce, and it adds great flavor to your dish! It doesn’t have as much of a salty taste, but it’s super yummy for all those Asian dishes. I made a beef stir-fry with it this week and it totally satisfied my Asian-food-cravings! $3 can’t be beat!

7. Riced Cauliflower and Broccoli

I was super skeptical about cauliflower rice before my Whole30. But I actually love that it soaks up the sauce of any dish and takes on its flavors! TJ’s has done the ricing for you, and makes it super easy to cook! Just make sure it doesn’t sit in your fridge too long before you cook it-it can get pretty stinky pretty fast!

8. Everything But the Bagel Seasoning

This is one of my FAVORITE seasonings of ALL TIME. It tastes SO good on EVERYTHING- eggs, veggies, salads, meat, etc. It adds a delicious flavor without overpowering the dish. It literally sits on my stovetop all the time because I use it for almost every meal. #MUSTTRY

9. Vegetable Broth

This is Whole30 approved and super cheap. It’s hard to find chicken broth that is super clean, so I have been sticking to veggie. It’s great because you can use it for beef or chicken dishes! Also, I used it in my Potatoes Au Gratin this week and it made it look cheesy! So that’s a bonus! 😉 I’ll usually add this to my pan after I sautee the cauliflower/broccoli rice for a few minutes and simmer until the liquid is gone. It plumps it up and adds some flavor!

10. DIY Trail Mix – Dried Fruit and Nuts


So I’m kinda cheating on this. But I’m okay with that! I’ve created my own trail mix from these bits and pieces, and it’s awesome! I love the unsweetened coconut chips-they add an interesting texture. The nuts are all awesome, and I do a mixed assortment. I think this time I used cashews, almonds, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds. Just remember to read the labels- and make sure if you choose roasted nuts they’re roasted in a compliant oil. I usually use raw nuts. The dried fruit is a yummy component. But again, it is SO important to check that they didn’t add extra sugar! I’ve found that the dried cherries, some dried mango, and the dried pears are good because they don’t have any added sugar. I do NOT like raisins, so I don’t even pick up those bags to look at the label! 🙂 I just mixed these three things in a big ziploc bag, and have it on hand for when I need a snack! The options are endless! 😀

HONORABLE MENTIONS – These aren’t as high up on my must-have list, but I thought I’d share them with you!
This Purple Crush Juice is delicious!! It’s sweet, but not too sweet, and is really good for you too. It’s a yummy treat to have that won’t get you off track.

Obviously, the sugar is NOT part of this list, but TJ’s has great almond flour. Or get the Almond Meal and save your self $1.50! I’m going to use this on chicken this week, so I’ll let you know how it turns out!
I love the Nutritional Yeast too- I like to sprinkle it on top of my dishes for another level of flavor.

Unsweetened Applesauce is another great sweet treat to have every once in a while! I like it when it’s really cold, especially on hot days! Just remember to look for the UNSWEETENED part. No added sugar!

I love all the options TJ’s gives for the bagged lettuce mixes! One of my favorite is the Cruciferous Crunch! But they’re all super yummy and make an easy salad or even addition to a stir-fry! Baby spinach is awesome for breakfast too!

I hope you enjoyed traveling through the grocery store as I share my top picks with you! Trader Joe’s has become my FAVORITE grocery store. I love the small-town feel and the awesome prices! I hope you found some new ideas here. I would love for you to share your favorite TJ’s purchase with me in the comments!! Also, pin this on Pinterest so you can reference it for the future!

Until next time,