Ya know, I never used to be that big into snacks… Then Trader Joe’s entered my life. Now I’m that person who carries food in her purse at all times. ?
I’m actually 100% in favor of my in-between meals because I’m definitely less hangry when there are snacks around, and because I try to keep them healthy (for the most part), they don’t obliterate my daily meal plan.
These Honey Wheat Pretzel Sticks are my favorite snack right now.
I like the combo of salty and sweet, and crunchy foods are always so satisfying… Plus, they’re low-fat!
Speaking of crunches, sometimes I’ll add a handful of TJ’s (TJ’s’s?) Ancient Grains and Nuts Granola into some Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, along with some blackberries or strawberries, and add a drizzle of maple syrup.
Mmm…
But if I don’t have time to actually sit down and have a snack, these One Maple Glazed Doughnut Bars are fab. They have 20 grams of protein, each! That’s like three eggs! Those things carry me for a few hours.
Oh, and the Matcha Green Tea Greek Whole Milk Yogurt is a revelation, as is the Golden Oolong Tea, which tastes like…my childhood. Totally brings me back to going to Chinese restaurants with my family on the weekends and sipping hot oolong tea from tiny cups.
Also, did I mention that I’ve been trying to eat more protein? Because this sliced Rosemary Ham helps with that! Unlike making a protein powder smoothie or frying a couple eggs, nibbling on a slice or two of this doesn’t feel like a chore. Sometimes I’ll just eat them plain with a stick of TJ’s Organic String Cheese.
(Those Sweetened Orange Slices, BTW, taste just like candy.)
Also good for when you’re in the mood to crunch: the 3 Seed Sweet Potato Crackers (dip them into the Trader Joe’s Tomato Basil Hummus) or the Mini Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers.
I crack up every time I see the phrase, “The Fancy Medjool Dates.” ?
Sometimes I slice one or two open, take out the pits, and then fill the insides with a dollop of peanut butter.
I’ve yet to have one of the Freeze Dried Raspberries because Connor always finishes the bag before I get my hands on them…
The crunchy Inner Peas and Pinks & Whites Cookies are bomb, by the way.
El Hub loves the Candied Ginger (they’re a little too spicy for me) and the Black Mission Figs, which totally taste like Fig Newtons.
Ah! Now I’m super hungry!
What are your favorite TJ’s snacks?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Chelsea says
I definitely need to hit up TJs! I also hear they sell a good probiotic.
I’m tempted to try those One bars, I see them at my normal store, Fresh Thyme, but usually artificial sweeteners give me headaches. Maybe I’ll try one at a time where a headache won’t be the end of the world.
Hilary says
Ah love seeing people’s TJ’s recommendations. We love their dried fruit, especially the dried baby pineapple and the just mango. They taste like candy but don’t have any added sugar! From a less healthy perspective, their dark chocolate pretzels and cheddar rockets are delicious. The cheddar rockets are like cheesier (mildly less junky) goldfish. They also have the best popcorn selection- the olive oil and herb are my favorite!
Rachel says
I’ve been trying to find Greek yogurt without a lot of added sugar and the plain Fage isn’t too bad! Of course you could throw some granola in there to sweeten it up a bit.
Karen says
I like Fage yogurt. I usually end up tossing a handful of berries and a drizzle of maple syrup because of my sweet tooth. 🙂
mylinda says
I was really glad to see this post because it’s good to know that I’m not the only woman over 40 who walks into Trader Joe’s to buy snacks. When my children are in tow, we’d grab things like those Pinks & Whites, Caramel Popcorn, the organic mini cheese sandwich crackers ( I see you get the peanut butter but my kids aren’t into it), box upon box of the frozen macarons both in the dozen variés and the chocolate and vanilla, and my personal favorite: reduced fat cheese crunchies. We also hoard the Italian breadsticks. Once a week I make salmon poke bowls at home so I like to have seaweed snacks and the rice cracker medley on hand. I slice the seaweed into smaller strips and crush the rice crackers and top the bowls with them.
Have you bought anything from their frozen breakfast section? We like the Belgian waffles and the meatless breakfast patties. The Classic British Muffins also get top marks at my house ?
Karen says
Hi Mylinda,
I’ve bought their blueberry waffles before and liked them. Haven’t tried the Belgian waffles or the breakfast patties and now I want to!
BTW have you seen their summer flier yet? They now have a spicy version of those baked crunchies.
mylinda says
The waffles are mainly for the children. After toasting, I dress them with syrup and fruit. They’re thicker in width though so I hope you have a toaster that works for bagels because they won’t fit on a regular toaster.
I prepare the meatless breakfast patties a la McMuffins. Toast TJ’s Classic British Muffins, bake the patties in the oven (they can be heated a number of ways), add a slice of cheese and one egg. Done!
Technically not snacks but we also like their Chicken Shu Mai and Cha Siu Bao. When the itch strikes and I don’t want to drive out to Philly… it does the job 🙂 I’m gonna try those Inner Peas you got there 😉
Java Junkie says
Coconut Sesame Seed Clusters!
Karen says
I’ve never seen those at my store! Where do you usually find them?
Linda Libra Loca says
Can I just say once again that I miss having TJ´s in Germany? I want one of each! Well, not one of the ginger things, I am not into spicy, but one of the rest.
Kim says
Inner Peas are my absolute fave. 🙂 I’m also partial to TJ’s Kettle Chips and sweet potato chips. I like the honey pretzel sticks, too. Their version of jalapeno cheddar Cheetos and their version of Fritos are also pretty good. I’m normally not a popcorn fan but a handful of their Kettle Corn is always yummy. 🙂 I didn’t take part in our office xmas TJs snack haul this past year since I had begun the low carbing. It was a sad time and the bags were all staring at me from the filing cabinets outside my office. It was like The Birds but less scary and more tempting. HAHA!
kellly says
OMG Matcha green tea yogurt? I’m there! Leaving work right now!!!
Georgia says
The Pumpernickel Pretzels are my faves! And lately I’ve been dipping everything into TJ’s Zhou sauce (it’s like a spicy cilantro pesto). Inner Peas are my faves too!
For a sweet treat, I like their ice cream bon bons or frozen mango cream bars
Melissa says
I always pick up a bag of the salt and vinegar chips along with the white cheddar popcorn, but they recently came out with some spicy cheese crunchies that are so good! I know this doesn’t constitute as snacks, but I totally recommend the yuzu hot sauce. It the best thing my buds have tried in such a long time! I have so many other recommendations but I’ll save them for another day ?