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I’m a dietitian from New York City who buys snacks at Trader Joe’s.
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I love Trader Joe’s papadum chips and sparkling strawberry juice drinks.
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The chain’s popcorn and flavored peanuts are smart snacks.
I’m a dietitian from New York City and I turn to Trader Joe’s when I need to stock up on snacks.
Trader Joe’s is one of the largest grocery chains in the US, and the average customer spends just under $42 per trip. I wouldn’t be surprised if a large portion of that budget goes toward the retailer’s impressive selection of crackers, candies and nuts.
Here are some of my favorite snacks at Trader Joe’s.
Bamba is a lighter alternative to some chips and cheese puffs.
These puffed peanut and corn snacks are light and fluffy. They contain a hint of dark chocolate for added minerals such as magnesium, zinc and iron.
This snack has a serving size of about 16 pieces, which I think is a reasonable handful. With a little fiber (2 grams per serving) and protein (3 grams per serving), they are an excellent choice for a chocolate fix.
Fill your chip and dip dishes with papadum chips.
These lentil and chickpea chips from Trader Joe’s are a hearty snack option. Chips made from legumes are usually a good choice because of their increased protein and fiber content.
Each serving of 14 chips contains 5 grams of protein and 3 grams of dietary fiber.
If you don’t mind dipping chickpeas in chickpeas, you can pair this with hummus, but I would probably opt for some guacamole.
Trader Joe’s apple and mango bars consist of two ingredients.
These fruit bars from Trader Joe’s are basically just apples and mango mixed together, but they’re much tastier than they sound.
You can easily throw them in a bag when you need a boost of vitamin C, which is found in apples and mangoes. I’ve also seen these bars in a few other varieties, like apple and banana, apple and coconut, and apple and strawberry.
The sour cream and onion flavored rings are a good choice.
Trader Joe’s flavored rings, made from lentils and rice, are tastier and higher in protein than typical sour cream-onion chips.
They are baked instead of fried, so they also contain slightly less fat. Each serving of approximately 24 pieces contains 4 grams of protein.
Enjoy sparkling strawberry juice this summer.
Trader Joe’s Sparkling Strawberry Juice Drinks are a great option when you want a refreshing summer drink.
Strawberry juice is the first ingredient in this, which means it is the most prominent ingredient by weight. In addition, the drinks contain 60 calories per can and contain no added sugars.
Trader Joe’s also sells Barebells protein bars.
Protein bars are an easy way to consume more protein without much preparation. Most Barebells bars contain 15 to 20 grams of protein.
Most of the bar’s protein source comes from whey protein, the protein from the liquid that separates from the curd during cheese production. It has been shown to be very effective in helping build muscle mass.
This can be a great snack to have on hand before or after training if you can’t eat a full meal in a reasonable amount of time.
I enjoy the Mini (Almost) Everything Bagel Sandwich Crackers with cream cheese filling.
The Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend is a Trader Joe’s classic and I’m glad it’s made its way to the snack aisle.
These little bagel bites are low in sugar (3 grams of added sugar per serving) and even contain a little protein (2 grams per serving).
I also like the crackers with Everything but the Bagel seasoning.
Just like the bagel bites, these crackers contain little sugar (2 grams of added sugar per serving) and slightly more protein (3 grams per serving) and fiber (2 grams per serving).
These pair nicely with cheese, peanut butter, or a little cream cheese to make them even more satisfying.
For an after-meal fix, reach for the chocolate-covered peanut butter crispy rice bites.
I tend to gravitate toward peanut butter snacks because they can be more satisfying.
Each of these appetizers is quite large, and I like to have one as an after-dinner treat. I also keep mine in the freezer because I love cold chocolate, which adds an extra layer of texture to the snack.
I always grab popcorn at Trader Joe’s.
Popcorn is a whole grain, so it’s a fiber-rich snack that you can enjoy on its own and still feel full.
Trader Joe’s has many types of popcorn, but I like the one with extra virgin olive oil because it’s versatile, among other things. I use it to make trail mix with things like nuts, seeds, pretzels, dried fruit, and peanut butter chips.
Trader Joe’s Crispy Chili Onion Peanuts are high in fiber.
The crunchy chili onion peanuts have a delicious flavor and can be a great snack to grab when you’re feeling hungry.
Rich in fiber, protein, and healthy fats, these bags are super satisfying to dig into and easy to take on the go.
Each ¼ cup serving contains 3 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein.
Click to keep reading Trader Joe’s diaries like this one.
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