Help Me With My Trader Joe's List!


(Janet) #21

A long list but I keep it up to date, Not everything is “keto”, it started more LC/Paleo and changed over the years. TJ has been adding frozen vegetable pasta substitutes, like zucchini spirals.

Trader Joe’s Low Carb/Keto/Paleo Shopping List

Vegetables and Fruit

  • Fresh vegetables and fruits depending on season and price.
  • Broccoli Slaw mix, Organic Cole Slaw, Kale Slaw. Saute any Slaw mix as a “starch” replacement.
  • Cauliflower (Whole and Riced in bag), Riced Broccoli, Spaghetti Squash, Cabbage to replace starches. (pre-shredded makes a quick pasta substitute)
  • Canned tomatoes, tomato sauce (Rustico is 4 net carbs), paste, sun-dried tomatoes in jar for EveryDay Paleo Chicken recipe, https://sarahfragoso.com/sun-dried-tomato-chicken-bake/
  • Artichoke hearts, hearts of palm, organic pumpkin in season (buy ahead, only in fall)
  • Frozen berries (fresh blueberries are a good price all summer)
  • Frozen vegetables (frozen spinach, broccoli and multi-pepper mix for Skillet Pizza)
  • Frozen haricot verts (thin green beans), Misto Grilled Eggplant & Zucchini, Bean So Green mix, new a green vegetable mix,
  • Frozen Riced and Grilled Cauliflower, quick and often less expensive than fresh, always on hand
  • Frozen zucchini spirals, always adding new frozen vegetable starch subs.
  • Fermented vegetables in cool case near hummus.
  • Dried fruits -use sparingly if need weight loss. Can use some in recipes.

Protein Foods

  • Cooked turkey breast and roast chicken (“Simply” line found in fresh meats)
  • Eggs- Organic, Cage-free, and new: Carol’s Pasture Raised http://carolseggs.com
  • Fresh chicken, grass-fed beef, ground beef and steaks, some Australian beef, pork, uncooked chicken in individual packets (can pull out just one from freezer or fridge) Look for Grass-Fed.
  • Ham & Bacon, inc. uncured bacon. Applegate organic, uncured Hot Dogs
  • Canned seafoods - tuna, crab, salmon, sardines, etc.
  • Smoked salmon in packages
  • Sausages - best prices on chicken sausages, have both fresh & fully cooked. Carb counts vary by flavor but quick meals
  • Lunch Meats (no nitrates) and uncured salami, imported
  • Frozen fish, shrimp, salmon burgers and fillets, some marinated varieties (check carbs). Wild Pacific salmon is great price. Frozen Chili-Lime Burgers.

Dairy Products

Good prices and have Kerrygold butter and French Cultured Butter from grass-fed cows, organic cream and sour cream, etc. Also:

  • FAGE and Trader Joe’s Yogurts - low carb but check
  • Do NOT buy Low-Fat yogurts, nor added sugar. Add fresh berries, heavy cream.
  • Cottage cheeses, sour cream, cream, 1/2&1/2, whipped and block cream cheese
  • Cheeses - GREAT selection & GREAT prices (shredded Quattro Formaggio for pizza, grated parmesan cheese from Argentina in tubs, goat cheese, marinated mozzarella, many raw and grass-fed milk cheddars, slices for “crisps” in microwave, blue and feta cheese crumbles)
  • Cheese & salami packs for travel (Citterio brand little snack packs, or larger selection packs)
  • Hummus & dips.
  • Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk in dairy case, rich & creamy. Also coconut milk for drinking
  • Coconut cream in cans for baking or as a creamer sub if doing Paleo without Dairy

Nuts and Seeds

  • Flax seed meal - have a high turnover so fresh
  • Almond meal - good price. Costco bigger bag and blanched
  • Almonds, Pecans, Walnuts and other nuts - raw better or “lightly salted” roasted nuts.
  • Peanut Butter & Almond butter
  • Stevia (little packets or extract…small bottle, lasts a long time)
  • NEW. Norwegian Crispbread in regular and gluten-free, 3 net carbs.

Other Canned and Bottled Foods

  • Olive and other oils at GREAT prices, all vinegars and mustards good. Avocado Oil is much cheaper at Costco
  • Vanilla - very good quality
  • Marinara and other pasta sauces (Rustico & Three Cheese is 4 NC), paste and sauce
  • Kosher Pickles (no sugars) and Olives (Queen and Kalamata)
  • Soups–have bouillons in Tetra-pacs if need the salt. Small Bone Broth box. expensive but good.
  • Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, spices, baking powder, Himalyan Pink Salt, Pepper mills. Pumpkin Pie spice only in fall, stock up if like pumpkin muffins, etc.
  • Creamy Greek salad dressing (blue label), Tuscan Italian, Champagne Vinegrette, etc.
  • Salsa Verde (slow cook pork in it and serve on steamed cabbage or mashed cauliflower
  • Dark chocolates…82% has low sugar. Montezuma is 100% chocolate, still has carbs!

Beverages

  • Protein Powder (Designer Whey 4NC) add to smoothies & flaxmeal for “hot cereal”
  • Coffee…GREAT prices and fresh beans. Grinder in stores.
  • Teas…all kinds, flavored teas used in place of snacks or desserts
  • Flavored Sparkling Water (all flavors very good)
  • Wine…GREAT Prices (and flowers, cards, and herbs in pots come spring)

Food Supplements

TJs has high-quality, low cost supplements. Also Costco and Walmart. We buy:

  • Multi-Vitamin Adult w/o iron

(Victoria ) #22

Wow! Thanks for the time you took on this. It’s a great starting point!