Starting a new diet can be gruesome, but starting the Whole30 is an entirely different feat. With so many options, so many guidelines, and so many boundaries, your average trip to the store can easily become daunting as you try to navigate the ins and outs of a new meal plan. Even though Trader Joe's is known for its magical and often sweet treats, it's also the perfect place to start a small Whole30 shopping list.
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If you haven't noticed from the online boards in reference to the Whole30, Trader Joe's is the place to be for compliant foods, making it a staple shopping extravaganza for those partaking in a Whole30, along with Whole Foods.
With your sharp eye on the ingredient lists of everyday items while grocery shopping, you'll start to become aware of the Whole30 meal plan, inevitably pushing you to step outside of your norm and hit up good ole' Trader Joe's for the essentials to your Whole30 survival, completion and overall success.
So grab your grocery list - here are the six items from Trader Joe's that are must-haves for meal planning your Whole30 experience.
And the best part is that shopping for veggies at Trader Joe's is fairly inexpensive due to the generic labeling process that allows them to drop the highfalutin price tags of everything from plantain chips to coconut flour.
6 Items That Should Be On Your Trader Joe's Whole30 Shopping List
1. Larabars
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Yes, these exist at most supermarkets, but since Trader Joe's will be your one-stop shop for all things Whole30, it's nice to know that they have these suckers fully stocked and loaded for you. Did we mention the flavors galore that these bars offer? There's truly a flavor for everyone.
One of the great things about these bars is that most of them are refined sugar-free, and they're all vegan. These are great for days on the go when you have little time to fully prep.
Pro Tip: Check the list of compliant flavors for the Whole30 before scoring some sweet chocolate or apple pie Larabars that you won't be able to enjoy for 30 days.
2. Riced Cauliflower
Trader Joe's has taken the stress and effort out of ricing your own heads of cauliflower and has made it into a prepackaged side just for you. Meal prep was reinvented when this product debuted.
This makes sticking to the rules even easier and allows you to utilize this in place of those grains you can't have, whilst still enjoying the flavors of any rice dish that you love.
Pro Tip: Pick up some coconut oil while you're at Trader Joe's for a delicious alternative to olive oil for frying it up.
3. Meats
If you thought you couldn't get away with pre-made patties on the Whole30, think again. Trader Joe's has three options in frozen burger patties that are compliant: Turkey Burgers, Chili Lime Chicken Burgers & Grass Fed Angus Beef Burgers.
Now, don't get us wrong, you can't enjoy these with buns, or grains of any kind, but now's a good time to get used to that whole lettuce wrap craze you keep seeing.
Pro Tip: Trader Joe's has an excellent selection of chicken sausage that is a Whole30 favorite and though a few brands can be found at your local grocery store, TJ's offers a great variety.
4. Ghee (Clarified Butter)
What is ghee, you may be asking? Well, ghee is butter with the milk proteins taken out of it, otherwise known as clarifying the butter. Thus, creating clarified butter, as you'll see it labeled as on the shelves of Trader Joe's.
Since there's no dairy allowed in the guidelines of the Whole30, that puts a limitation on your use of butter-y goodness. Thankfully, they have the gem that is clarified butter to hold you over—and potentially make a new best friend.
Pro Tip: Ghee in a pan with chickpea flour, thickened with coconut milk, is the perfect Whole30-approved roux for paleo and vegan macaroni and cheese.
5. Nut Butters
It's crucial to remember that peanut butter is not allowed on the Whole30. The reason for this is that peanuts, while they do have the word nut in them, aren't actually nuts. That's right; peanuts are actually legumes, or pods that contain food on the inside, like a peanut and a bean.
Luckily for you, Trader Joe's has an endless selection of other nut butters, such as Cashew Butter and Almond Butter, that have no added preservatives or other ingredients, thus making them Whole30-compliant.
Pro Tip: Not only will these nut butters provide sustenance, they're also a great source of healthy fats.
6. Flour, Nuts, and Sauces
Just because you're on a Whole30 doesn't mean flours and pasta sauces have to be out of your realm. With their no-preservative marinara sauce that has straight ingredients, to their almond flour/meal for "breading" chicken tenders when you get the craving, Trader Joe's has you covered.
Don't forget about their extensive collection of various nuts, too! This is helpful in the making of your own trail mix, seeing as most of them that are pre-made will have non-compliant ingredients in them.
Pro Tip: As for the marinara sauce, roast some red peppers and blend together for a super creamy, thick sauce that's worth a few vegetable servings. Throw it on some spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles.
