best trader joes food

How could you even pick the best Trader Joe's food? There are SO MANY OPTIONS. Seriously, sometimes when I feel like I need some recipe inspo I just go to Trader Joe's. I spend a lot less and come home with tons of delicious food! I built a bunch of the recipes in the Holiday Survival Guide & Recipe Book off of Trader Joe's favorites and my list of their best foods and holiday must haves just keeps growing!

Plus, Trader Joe's is great when you're in a hurry — something that seems to be a thing, for sure, during the holidays — and want something healthy. Their grab-and-go salads are really solid. I'll even get one on the way to a holiday party where I know there will be lots of food temptation. Eating before I head in helps me keep myself in check. I can still have a few bites of my favorite indulgence foods without feeling like total junk later.

Okay, salads aside, let's talk about the things that have been catching my eye at Trader Joe's this weekend.Ps - if you want my regular Trader Joe's haul you can watch it here!

The best Trader Joe's foods and seasonal items

Best Coffee

Gingerbread Coffee

Speaking of energy, this gingerbread coffee is such a fun way to get in your morning dose of caffeine. And because the coffee itself is already flavored, you don't need to add sugar to feel like you're really treating yourself.

Almond Nog

Almond milk nog is the hero we all need. It gives you all the creaminess of a regular eggnog without the digestive issues, insane amounts of sugar, and . And this Almond Nog kicks it up a notch with some great holiday flavor and less than half of the sugar of the regular or light eggnog. I love eggnog in my coffee and this one is amazing in the gingerbread coffee. Or if you're feeling wild make it a traditional nog and add a little bourbon with nutmeg on top! Basically, it's a perfect way to enjoy the holiday feels and none of the guilt.

Best Trader Joe's Snacks

Nuts About Rosemary Mix

We all know Trader Joe's does seasoned nuts like non other… I mean, the Everything But the Bagel one's are ridiculous, but these are NEXT LEVEL! You'll want to portion these out because one you open them, it's going to be hard to stop! The Nuts About Rosemary Mix is a combo of roasted almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, and pecans, blended with a rosemary-sea-salt blend. They do have a touch of sugar, but it's not bad at all (less than 1g per serving) and believe me, WORTH IT!

Thanksgiving Stuffing Seasoned Kettle Chips

These chips are just dumb. Chips are my weakness, but I am not typically a potato chip person at all! Tortilla chips or bust! That said, I could eat this entire bag in one sitting if I didn't want to save some room for cocktails and pie. The Thanksgiving Stuffing Seasoned Kettle Chips are the salt crunchy equivalent of mixing everything together on your plate. Sounds gross, but is stupidly delicious!

Oven-Baked Cheese Bites with Truffle

Have you guys tried these oven-baked cheese bites? Oh man. They're seriously decadent!

Honestly, that's part of why I love them so much. They have a super strong truffle flavor, so much so that they're delicious but I'm usually satisfied with just a few. And since a whole package contains just over 300 calories, you don't have to feel too bad even if you do overdo it.

Technically, a serving size is a half bag, and that gets you 12 grams of protein. Just make sure you choose this snack in moderation. There's quite a bit of saturated fat in these little guys.

Cranberry Chevre Fresh Goat Cheese

Speaking of creamy, delicious options with less tummy trouble, let's hear it for goat cheese. I'm such a fan because it totally scratches the cheese itch but goat's milk is generally much easier for your body to process.

And for the holidays, I think one of the best Trader Joe's food options has to be their Cranberry Chevre. Serve this with some gluten-free crackers and a glass of wine for a perfect holiday happy hour.

Best Sides

Mashed Cauliflower

You'll literally never care about missing out regular potatoes again. This mashed cauliflower brings all the texture and creaminess of real mashed potatoes with different cuts of cauliflower to mimic the classics. It's a perfect alternative if you're trying to save time or just want to reduce the insane amount of carbs you'll eat on Thanksgiving.

Riced Cauliflower Stuffing

I've been making a similar side dish for years, but I have to be honest, this is WAY easier and just as good! The new riced cauliflower stuffing is the perfect alternative to traditional stuffing, plus vegan! It's made with riced cauliflower, sweet carrots, and dried cranberries, leeks, onions, celery, and savory seasonings that don't disappoint - we'll leave that for Aunt Karen's pumpkin pie.

Creamed greens

Looking for a sorta healthy, fast side dish to bring to a holiday gathering? TJ's new creamed greens are definitely worth putting on your radar. They do contain gluten and a good amount of dairy, so go easy on them, but they also have fiber and protein to balance them out.

This dish is sort of like creamed spinach, but spinach gets swapped for a combo of much tastier and more texturally complex Brussel sprouts and kale. Would definitely recommend.

Let's be honest, the list of the best Trader Joe's food for the holidays could go on and on. Just make sure you're checking labels as you shop and steering clear of trans fats, saturated fats, and excess sugar.

Get more delicious guilt-free recipes here and don't forget to download your Holiday Survival Guide & Recipe Book!

What's your favorite holiday TJ's pickup? Let me know in the comments!