Trader Joe’s Whole30 Shopping List
Whole30 can feel overwhelming, especially if it is your first time. Recipes feel complex, there is a lot of reading of labels, and if we’re being honest here, the food can become boring. Eggs? Again? Things nearly everyone who has ever done a Whole30 has said.
Enter: Trader Joe’s.
I love to wander around Trader Joe’s tossing things into my basket on a whim, whether I mean to do so or not. You know how it is – you go in for cauliflower gnocchi, you leave with three kinds of candy, an assortment of frozen goods, and the entire seasonal selection, especially if it happens to be fall.
Trader Joe’s and Target have to be in cahoots.
Trader Joe’s Whole30 options are plentiful. If you can put on the blinders to the good stuff – they were sampling chocolate gluten-free muffins during my most recent visit and I was not only on Whole30, but hungry, too, it was torture – you can find some great pantry, fridge, and freezer staples to get you through those thirty days.
I’ve put together a list of my favorite Trader Joe’s Whole30 options for you. Want an easy reference? Print this downloadable version and take it with you!
Dry Goods/Condiments
Ghee – Trader Joe’s has ghee at a great price and it’s an excellent option for cooking eggs and sauteing vegetables on Whole30
Almond Flour – Again, Trader Joe’s has a great price on almond flour and you’ll find yourself using it in things like compliant meatballs – it is not a bad idea to have a bag on hand!
Coconut Aminos – Coconut aminos is a great alternative to soy sauce and – once again – Trader Joe’s has it for a better price than most grocery stores.
Nut Butter – While there’s no peanut butter allowed on Whole30, you can have all other nut and seed butter. Trader Joe’s has a big selection of compliant options (check the labels to make sure there is no added sugar!) and pick your favorite. And, of course, the price is right. Sensing a theme here?
Salsa – Trader Joe’s has several compliant salsa options throughout the store, some fresh, some in a jar. My personal favorite is the ‘Salsa Autentica’ found in the chip aisle. The Salsa Verde is also delicious! Don’t forget to check the refrigerated section for compliant options!
Green Goddess Salad Dressing – I love this salad dressing and find it’s delicious with not only salads, but as a sauce for any combination of meals. I recently drizzled it over steak and highly recommend it!
Oils – A lot of Whole30 recipes call for oils you may not have on hand normally. Trader Joe’s has a great selection of compliant oils at – you guessed it – a reasonable price.
Produce
Jicama Wraps – I love these things. They have a nice crunch and make an excellent taco shell. When I’m using them for something warm – like tacos – I’ll lay them flat on a plate and pop them in the microwave for one minute.
Ready Stir Veggies – I eat a lot of stir frys in general but especially on Whole30. The Ready Stir Veggies at Trader Joe’s – found in the produce section with all the bagged salads – is my go-to veggie mix. I saute it in a pan with olive oil.
Dates – I love, love, love a date with almond butter and find it to be the perfect after dinner snack on Whole30. Trader Joe’s has a big pack of the freshest dates for about five bucks. You can buy them pitted for a dollar or so more as well.
Fresh Meat/Deli
Oven-Roasted Turkey – I’m not a huge fan of lunch meat, but I buy it on occasion to dice up and mix into omelets. Lunch meats are one of those things that you must read the label on, but the Trader Joe’s brand of oven roasted turkey is both compliant and delicious!
Chicken Sausage – Finding sausages that are compliant can be a task. Trader Joe’s private label has a couple of options, just be sure to read the label. I tend to use more sausage when I’m on Whole30 and I know I can always find it at TJ’s.
Bacon – Compliant bacon is another protein that can be hard to find. Trader Joe’s has an uncured bacon that fits the Whole30 bill.
Meat – Something I’ve noticed recently? Trader Joe’s has good prices on meat. It may not always be *the* cheapest option, but it is competitively priced. Their ground turkey is $3.99 (!!!) and I always snag a pack or two to keep in the freezer. Their pre-cooked chicken (be mindful of the ingredients in the pre-seasoned options) are also great to toss on salads or in stir frys.
Freezer
Cauliflower Gnocchi – While compliant, this is a “hot button” issue for the Whole30 purists as they say it is merely a substitute for pasta which is “not allowed.” I say eat the cauliflower gnocchi. It’s excellent in the air fryer.
Frozen Vegetables – I keep frozen veggies in my freezer at all times – they come in clutch often. Trader Joe’s has an excellent selection, along with some unique options. I like the rainbow cauliflower, multicolor coin carrots, and riced cauliflower especially. Those carrots are *chef’s kiss.*
Frozen Turkey Burger Patties – Trader Joe’s discontinued an all-time favorite of mine – chicken chili lime burgers – and so I grabbed a box of their frozen turkey burger patties in a pinch and it turns out, they are fantastic. They are unseasoned, so as they cook, I do recommend adding a bit of flavor of your choice. They’re a great option for a quick lunch!
Frozen Angus Beef Burgers – After my success with the turkey patties, I picked up a box of angus beef burgers to see if they were up to snuff. I tend to find frozen patties not as great as fresh meat. These? They’re excellent. Another great option for lunch or even dinner.
Frozen Fruit – Are you tired of hearing me talk about Trader Joe’s cost-effectiveness yet? Not in this economy, you aren’t. I’ve always been a fan of TJ’s frozen fruit options. I’ll buy a few bags and use those in smoothies when I need something on the go. Just double check the ingredients to ensure no added sugar!
Frozen Meat – Don’t skip the frozen meat section of Trader Joe’s either. Here you’ll find chicken, shrimp, salmon, and other options that are good to have on hand during a Whole30.
Snacks
Chomps Sticks – I’m a huge fan of Chomps beef and turkey sticks and they are one of the few beef sticks/jerky I’ve found that doesn’t have sugar in it. I grab several of these each trip to keep on hand for busy days.
Plantain Chips – If you want to start a riot, suggest eating these on the Whole30 Reddit. There’s a whole thing about not snacking and not reaching for compliant foods that mimic non compliant foods. In this case, these plantain chips would be like eating potato chips. I say you do what you need to do to make Whole30 work for you.
Nuts – Trader Joe’s has a huge selection of nuts and they’re almost always cheaper than what you would find at the grocery store. Nuts are a great snack option when you’re on Whole30 – just remember, no peanuts!
Drinks
Vanilla Almond Beverage – This is just unsweetened vanilla almond milk, but it is compliant and great for those above mentioned smoothies or even as coffee creamer if Nutpods aren’t doing it for you.
Sparkling Water – I find it hard to find things to drink on Whole30 and I get tired of plain ol’ water day in and day out. Trader Joe’s has a big selection of sparkling waters to stock up on. I’m a big fan of the cranberry-lime and lemon-ginger seltzer waters.
Orange Juice – Know what isn’t especially easy to find in the grocery stores? Sugar-free orange juice. Trader Joe’s has it. It’s a bit costly – $6 – but if you’re craving OJ, this is the place to get it.
This list of Trader Joe’s Whole30 finds is in no way exhaustive. There are plenty of other Whole30 treasures to be found. Tomato sauces, canned goods, and bars come to mind. And of course, their produce section is ripe (pun intended!) for the picking at any time, but especially when you’re in the midst of a Whole30. You can download this list of Trader Joe’s Whole30 finds right here.
What’s your favorite Trader Joe’s Whole30 find?
