Additional Coverage:
- I’m a personal trainer who shops at Trader Joe’s. Here are 11 things I buy for easy meal prep. (businessinsider.com)
As a personal trainer, fitness instructor, and yoga teacher balancing a busy schedule, Emily Roethle relies on Trader Joe’s for convenient, nutritious meal prep options that fit her active lifestyle. With a focus on high-protein and plant-based foods, she shares her top picks from the store that help keep her fueled throughout the day.
One of her favorite finds is Trader Joe’s crunchy chili-onion hummus, prized for its creamy texture and spicy kick. It pairs perfectly with Mediterranean bowls or as a dip for fresh veggies and crackers. Tofu also makes regular appearances in her meals; she crumbles firm tofu, tosses it with coconut aminos and seasonings, then bakes it for a flavorful plant-based filling in pita wraps.
For a quick grain base, Emily turns to Trader Joe’s frozen brown rice, which heats up in just three minutes. She combines it with beans, fajita veggies, salsa, and cheese for easy taco bowls or pairs it with roasted vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, and tahini for a nutrient-packed power bowl.
When it comes to sauces, Trader Joe’s Guacsalsa is a go-to. This blend of tomatillo, avocado, jalapeños, and cilantro tastes like a cross between guacamole and salsa verde, making it a perfect topping for burrito bowls. For a comforting, speedy soup, Emily adds frozen gyoza to the store’s miso-ginger broth along with whatever vegetables she has on hand.
Frozen broccoli is another staple-flash-frozen at peak freshness, it’s an easy addition to grain bowls or a side for grilled proteins. She also recommends Trader Joe’s vegan kale, cashew, and basil pesto, which boasts simple, wholesome ingredients and works well on pasta, grilled vegetables, halloumi, or sandwiches.
For creamy curries and sauces, Trader Joe’s coconut milk offers a smooth texture without overwhelming coconut flavor. Greek yogurt is a refrigerator essential, particularly the thick and creamy strained variety, which Emily uses for post-workout bowls with berries and granola or as a sour cream substitute on burrito bowls.
Marinated chickpeas packed with parsley and cumin provide a protein- and fiber-rich option ready to eat straight from the container-ideal for Greek salads or grain bowls. And while Emily primarily follows a vegetarian-forward diet, she occasionally adds Trader Joe’s precooked chicken meatballs, which deliver 16 grams of protein per serving and can be customized with marinara, Buffalo sauce, or Japanese barbecue flavors.
For those seeking reliable and tasty meal prep ingredients, Emily’s Trader Joe’s favorites offer a practical and delicious solution to busy days.