12 Healthy Trader Joe’s Items That are Tasty and Cheap

If you're looking for ways to tackle high grocery prices like many of us, you have to be a bit more mindful of how you shop. 

That's even more challenging if you want to eat healthy, which can often be more expensive than the alternative. Enter Trader Joe's, a funky grocery store with one-of-a-kind products. You can save money at Trader Joe's both on staple items and healthy snacks and desserts.

Let's take a look at some healthy pantry staples, snacks, and main dishes that won't break the bank.

Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may also vary by location.

It contains garlic, onion, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and salt flakes to round it out. A 2.3-ounce container only costs $1.99. The blend uses both white and black sesame seeds, and it's certified kosher.

You can use it to season meat, add it to dips, or take your breading to the next level. The possibilities are endless. 

Trader Joe's suggests sprinkling it on grilled chicken, buttered popcorn, baked potatoes, salad dressings, pasta, and mac and cheese. It's also a tasty topping for avocado toast and eggs.

Although fresh produce can be hit or miss at any grocer, we're a huge fan of Trader Joe's sugar snap peas. A 12-ounce microwavable bag is a mere $2.99, and that's just one way you can prepare these healthy and sweet green vegetables. Trader Joe's says they're ready in about two minutes in the microwave, right in the bag.

You can also add them to stir-fry dishes and salads or artfully arrange them raw on a crudités or charcuterie platter. We're also not above eating them directly out of the bag on their own. For a quick side, saute them with a little olive oil and sliced garlic.

If you're not familiar with the nutritional value of edamame, it's recommended by many dietitians because it's quite healthy. 

Soybeans are a great source of protein and fiber, and they also offer a variety of amino acids. And what's even better is that they can be enjoyed in a variety of different ways.

A nine-ounce package of shelled edamame at Trader Joe's is only $3.99, which you can enjoy right out of the package. The beans come precooked and lightly seasoned with sea salt, and each half-cup serving has 9 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber. As with snap peas, you can also add them to salads, stir-fry, and more.

Hot on the heels of edamame is Trader Joe's steamed lentils, another favorite of dietitians.

For just $3.29, these legumes are also a healthy source of protein, meaning they can serve as a filling alternative to red meat. The 17.6-ounce package holds about five half-cup servings, and each serving has 10 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber.

What's great about this product is that it's already cooked, so you save hours in the kitchen. They're great curried, in stews and salads, and in tacos. The small lentils are produced in France and steamed with a bit of seasoning. Enjoy them hot or cold, and if you add them to a recipe, just shorten the cooking time.

The latest in pasta alternative trends, Trader Joe's sells a nine-ounce package of hearts of palm pasta for $3.49. What's magic about this food is that it replaces less nutritious carb-laden pasta. Each serving has just 20 calories and 4 grams of carbohydrates, and nothing is added to the noodles, which are cut into thin, white strands.

You're not limited to tossing this with marinara sauce; you can use it in chicken soups or Asian noodle dishes. The product is also sustainably sourced as an added bonus. According to Trader Joe's, its supplier in Ecuador uses palms grown specifically for harvesting hearts, and the trees aren't cut down in the process.

Fewer meats pack the nutritional punch of tuna when it comes to lean protein, and few products in this category compare to Trader Joe's canned solid white albacore tuna.

One five-ounce can (four ounces drained) costs $1.99 and has a whopping 29 grams of protein and only one gram of fat. Not only is this product shelf-stable for long periods of time, but the tuna is sustainably caught with minimal by-catch. 

Trader Joe's says its albacore is caught using circle hooks and nylon leads, which reduces the chance of catching other sea life. A no-salt-added version is also available for the same price.

This is hands-down our favorite grab-and-go lunch option out there. Trader Joe's makes a variety of fresh salads, such as the lemon chicken arugula salad ($5.99, 9.2 ounces), among others. This one pairs lemony chicken and peppery arugula with Moroccan-inspired couscous, red quinoa, parsley, mint, and sweet currants, plus a packet of spicy red pepper dressing so you can add as much or as little as you like.

All of these salads have a wonderful balance of textures and flavors, along with healthy nutritional profiles. That's certainly better than what you can get for that amount at a fast-food restaurant! Check out Trader Joe's selection of bagged salads, too.

If you want a healthy and affordable family-style main course, Trader Joe's makes an excellent Italian-style turkey meatloaf. A 24-ounce container costs $8.99, which is a great deal for this revamped version of their original. The ground turkey is mixed with garlic, onion, oregano, basil, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan cheese, then formed into individual meatloaves by hand, baked, and topped with a thick tomato sauce.

To prepare the dish, all you need to do is slice some off and serve it with pasta and a salad. And because it's made with turkey, it's a lighter bite than its beefy counterpart. Leftovers also make a great meatloaf sandwich.

Another great option is Trader Joe's all-natural chicken drumsticks, which is only $1.99 per pound. What sets their chicken apart is that their birds are not raised fast or fed antibiotics. Rather, they enjoy a more slow-paced environment for healthy growth. The chicken is also vegetarian-fed, and each package has about five drumsticks, or roughly a pound and a half, so you don't have to buy in bulk to get a good price.

Roasting chicken is another easy and classic family dinner option, especially for a laid-back Sunday dinner. As for sides, you'll find plenty of options at Trader Joe's. You can also grill or fry them.

A staple to have in the pantry, chicken broth can be used in so many healthy dinner recipes. This is especially true when it has this kind of quality and is just $2.19. The low-sodium option is also available for the same price. Each 32-ounce carton is made from organically raised chickens and organic vegetables like celery, onions, and carrots, and it's gluten-free. 

A one-cup serving has just 10 calories. Use it to cook rice, make mashed potatoes, or build sauces, gravies, and soups. It's especially handy to have on hand during the colder months, when soups and stews are on regular rotation.

Here's a quality, fairly priced, and waste-free option. The bag of teeny tiny avocados only costs $3.99, and it comes with six counts of perfectly sized avocados. They're Hass avocados, just in a smaller, single-serving size.

As Trader Joe's website says, "No more letting unused avo-halves brown in the fridge, folks!"

A healthy option that can work for breakfast, lunch, snack, or even dinner. Make avocado toast, guacamole, and smoothies with these buttery teeny avocados that last surprisingly long. You can also slice them into salads, burrito bowls, and tacos, or halve one and sprinkle it with Everything But the Bagel seasoning for a quick snack.

Where else can you get organic, hormone-free, all-vegetarian feed and free-range chicken nuggets for less than $5? Trader Joe's delivers on the price, the healthy option, and the cute packaging as usual. Try it in the air-fryer and make it extra crisp and healthy. A 12-ounce package costs $4.99. 

The lightly breaded nuggets are made with organic chicken breast and rib meat, and they come fully cooked in Trader Joe's fresh foods section, so you can also heat them in the oven. In a hurry? Trader Joe's says you can microwave them and have hot nuggets in under a minute. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauces for an easy lunch or snack.

Shopping at Trader Joe's can be an excellent way to find affordable, healthy options if you're trying to save money on groceries. 

Many of these items not only have high nutritional value, but they're also incredibly easy to make and serve as a convenient meal prep option.

Keep in mind that Trader Joe's also stocks a ton of sweet treats, including cookies and cakes. So, when in doubt about whether or not an item is healthy, read the label.

Many of these healthy finds are also under $5, so they're easy to work into your weekly grocery budget. Stock up on a few at a time to keep healthy meals within reach.