What A Dietitian Buys at Trader Joe's

As a dietitian, it’s my job to make eating healthy easy and accessible for everyone. One way I do this is by teaching my clients how to read and understand food labels to help them make better food choices and identify nutrient-dense products at any grocery store. Sauces and dips, for example, are a great way to enhance the flavor of any meal but can be packed with unwanted ingredients like excess sodium, sugar, and preservatives. With the Trash Panda app, my clients can now easily spot these sneaky ingredients and find healthier alternatives at the touch of their fingertips!

Today, I am sharing a few incredibly healthy AND delicious #trashpandaapproved sauces and dips. All of these can all be found at my favorite grocery store- Trader Joe’s! Trader Joe’s is a great place to shop because they have so many nutritious and affordable items and there is always something fun and new to try.

Trader Joe's Vegan Kale, Cashew and Basil Pesto is one of my favorite sauces that Trader Joe's offers. It’s a vegan twist on classic pesto using kale and cashews and is delicious with pasta, rice, cauliflower gnocchi, and roasted or raw veggies.

Coconut aminos is a pantry staple in my kitchen. It is made from fermented coconut palm sap and is soy-free, gluten-free, slightly sweet, and much lower in sodium than regular soy sauce making it a great alternative.

I love Trader Joe’s Organic Tahini so this was a must try when I saw it. The addition of parsley, garlic powder, and chili flakes gives this sauce an incredible flavor. I often have it as a dip with cucumber slices or as a spread on sandwiches and wraps.

Trader Joe’s Olive Tapenade is made from kalamata and chalkidiki olives from Greece and is fantastic as a dip or spread. Olives are also an excellent source of monounsaturated fats, Vitamin E, and antioxidants that are essential for our overall health and skin.

This dressing is a go-to addition with my lunchtime salads! Trader Joe’s Green Goddess Dressing can be found in the refrigerated section and is free of preservatives, processed oils, and sugar making it a healthy and delicious option.

This is another go-to dressing of mine found in the refrigerated section at Trader Joe’s. It has hints of lime juice, cilantro, and ginger and is great way to add a spicy kick to salads, wraps, sandwiches, buddha bowls, and more.

With only one ingredient – organic Valencia peanuts – and sold at an incredibly affordable price, this is my go-to nut butter. The texture is super creamy and great in oatmeal or added to smoothies.

Check out my page @chandlerrayrdn for easy whole food recipes, nutrition tips, wellness advice, and more! You can also find out more about my practice and book a one-on-one in-person or virtual session with me by checking out my website.

Don’t forget to download the free Trash Panda app below to make finding healthy choices easy!