Quick Trader Joe’s Lunches for an Easy Balanced Meal
It may not be the most easily accessible store for me, but man, do I love me some Trader Joe’s products. After seeing TikTok after TikTok of minimal ingredient, easy Trader Joe’s meals, I decided I needed to try some out and make my own round up for tasty Trader Joe’s lunches. Of course these could be for any meal of the day, but lunch tends to be the meal that I need no-fuss, quick and easy options to either prep in advance or quickly heat and eat.
Why Trader Joe’s Lunches?
This blog series started because we love the variety of prepared and frozen food options available at Trader Joe’s. If you have a Trader Joe’s accessible to you, then I highly suggest stopping by to add some variety to your meal plan. I love stocking up one some frozen meal starters to have on hand in case I need a change up or a plan b meal.
I personally don’t frequent Trader Joe’s that often because I don’t live near one. However, there are some staples that I will gladly make the drive for. Outside of my pantry and freezer staples, I also have some snack, fun food, and seasoning blends that I just have to stock up on. And whenever I see online reviews and social media posts about TJ products that look great, I add it to my list to try next time I make it there.
Are Trader Joe’s meals healthy?
Now a hesitation to convenience foods like Trader Joe’s products, but also from other stores (like rotisserie chickens as an example) is concern for the sodium content. Yes, there is a likelihood that convenience options are going to be higher in sodium. However, if you do not have a medical condition that requires limiting sodium, there’s a good chance it’ll be just fine. Even if you do have a medical condition that limits your sodium intake, my question would be, what’s the alternative meal if you don’t utilize convenience options? Is it to get fast food or take out? It’s very likely that any restaurant meal you choose is going to be higher in sodium than a convenience food from the grocery store.
Another downside to take out and restaurant meals is they are often low in fiber. The benefit of taking some convenience items and putting them together into a meal at home, is the opportunity to increase the fiber. That may be choosing a high fiber carbohydrate to pair with it (whole grains, legume-based products) or add extra fruit or veggie to increase the fiber.
So what would I get for my lunches when going to Trader Joe’s? Well you certainly could check out these two blogs to see other favorites:
- 8 Trader Joe’s Meals: Dietitian-Approved Meal Series: Prepared Foods
- 10 Trader Joe’s Dinner Ideas: Easy Dietitian-Approved Meal Series: Frozen Foods
But here I’ve rounded up more delicious ideas inspired by my excessive TikTok scrolling.
Tasty and Convenient Trader Joe’s Lunches
Sourdough Toast with Burrata
Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad
Mediterranean Orzo Soup
Tomato Soup with Rice, Black Beans, and Corn
Creamy Tomato and Gnocchi Soup
Falafel Bowl
Lemon Chicken with Burrata and Arugula
Chicken and Roasted Corn Rice Bowl
Chicken Soup Dumplings with Crunchy Chili Onion
Miso Crunch Salad Kit with Sriracha Baked Tofu
I recently tried this miso crunch chopped salad and it is so good. I love the crunchy cashews and chow mein noodles. And I love a cabbage based salad kit because it stays fresh much longer than more delicate lettuces. I also have loved this sriracha baked tofu for awhile now. It’s not spicy but is a flavorful vegan protein to easily add to meals.
Southwestern Chopped Salad with Quinoa Cowboy Veggie Burger
The simplest version of this meal would be to pair half the salad kit with a veggie burger. However, if you have avocado, even better. If you happen to have a street corn dip on hand, *chef’s kiss*. TJ’s has their everything and the elote dip. But another winner is Rojo’s, which I get at Costco.
Fueling your body can be simple
If you are looking for Trader Joe’s lunches, there are so many tasty frozen and prepared foods to help make meal time happen, and keep things interesting! Variety is so helpful in the sustainability of meal planning and prep. We often get bogged down in what is the “best” choice or “most nutritious” or “least processed” when sometimes it comes down to how can you fuel your body? How can you make mealtime happen? How can you incorporate a balanced meal of protein, fat, carbohydrate, and fiber? Convenience options do not need to be demonized and can be a part of a balanced diet!
Get Started on Your Health Journey: Contact Our Dietitian Today!
An award winning recipe developer, Dietitian Kaitlin’s mission is to empower others to reach their health goals by encouraging them to get back into the kitchen. Co-author of Nourished: 10 Ingredients to Happy, Healthy Eating and Cooking with Diabetes.