We interrupt our regularly scheduled Ask Hungry Girl email to talk about one of our favorite grocery stores... Trader Joe's! The popular supermarket chain recently announced the winners of its 12th Annual Customer Choice Awards, inspiring us to reveal some of our (and your!) must-haves.
Best Knockoff of an HG Favorite
Hearts of Palm Pasta
1/3 of package: 20 calories, 0g total fat (0g sat. fat), 0mg sodium, 4g carbs, 2g fiber, 1g sugars, <1g protein --
SmartPoints®
value 0*
We LOVE Palmini (the original hearts of palm noodles), and we’re happy to see the trend catching on. Anything that gets more easy pre-cut veggie noodles into our kitchens is a win in our book! Rumor has it, availability has been limited due to this product flying off shelves. Good thing we can always
order Palmini on Amazon. (It’s super popular too, so order fast!)
Runners-up: Cauliflower Thins, Pretzel Slims
Longtime Love Award
Grilled Chicken Strips
3 oz.: 100 calories, 1.5g total fat (0.5g sat. fat), 170mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars, 21g protein --
SmartPoints®
value 1*
We love that Trader Joe’s has a large supply of precooked protein options, and this refrigerated find is a top pick! The chicken is juicy, versatile, and perfect for last-minute meals. What can we say? We're suckers for grill marks on our meat. Pssst… For a 3-ingredient meal featuring this winner and TWO other finds in today’s email,
check out this speedy demo!
Runners-up: Pineapple Salsa, Chicken & Vegetable Wonton Soup
Standout Ready-to-Eat Meal
Southwest Salad
1 container (salad plus dressing): 200 calories, 9g total fat (3g sat. fat), 560mg sodium, 23g carbs, 5g fiber, 8g sugars, 8g protein --
SmartPoints®
value 7*
Not to be confused with the (also great) bagged Southwestern Chopped Salad, this classic is part of the grab-n-go salad lineup. It's a great light selection, and it's totally easy to add on your protein of choice. (You're up, Grilled Chicken Strips.) These ready-made salads are the ideal item to grab when you want to chow down the minute you get back from the store! Shopping makes us hungry...
Runners-up: Mexicali Inspired Salad, Crisp Pasadena Salad with Chicken
Breakout Condiment
Creamy Cauliflower Jalapeño Dip
2 tbsp.: 40 calories, 3.5g total fat (2g sat. fat), 120mg sodium, 1g carbs, 0g fiber, <1g sugars, 1g protein --
SmartPoints®
value 2*
Calling this fridge-find merely a dip is a disservice.
Creamy Cauliflower Jalapeño Dip also makes an awesome sandwich spread, protein topper… We've even heard of HG fans using it as salad dressing! It's not too spicy, either -- just enough kick to balance the creamy flavor. An absolute must-have!
Runners-up: Romesco Dip, Truffle Dip
Heat & Eat Highlight
Stuffed Peppers
1 stuffed pepper: 200 calories, 7g total fat (2.5g sat. fat), 380mg sodium, 20g carbs, 3g fiber, 6g sugars, 14g protein --
SmartPoints®
value 6*
When it comes to healthy comfort food that we don't have to make ourselves, this one’s a home run. The peppers are large, and when they say stuffed, they're not kidding -- no skimping on filling here! The seasoned ground turkey and rice make this dish really satisfying. Pair with a side dish for a full meal, or eat both peppers if you're good 'n hungry.
Runners-up: Riced Cauliflower Bowl, Reduced-Guilt Mac & Cheese, Vegan Jackfruit Crabless Cakes
Hungry Girl Fan Favorite
Bamba Peanut Snacks
40 pieces: 160 calories, 10g total fat (2.5g sat. fat), 115mg sodium, 14g carbs, 2g fiber, <1g sugars, 5g protein --
SmartPoints®
value 5*
Not only did these make the official TJ’s awards list, they also rose to the top of the HG fan favorites! Adults love them, kids love them... and what's not to love? A serving size is 40 puffy pieces, they're coated with peanut butter, they're low in sugar, and they taste absolutely incredible.
Bamba, you're the bomb(a).
Runners-up: Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend, Vegetable Bird's Nests, Chicken Cilantro Mini Wontons
HG FYI: Trader Joe’s stock varies by location… Give
your local TJ’s a call before shopping to confirm availability.
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*The WW Points® values for these products and/or recipes were calculated by Hungry Girl and are not an endorsement or approval of the product, recipe or its manufacturer or developer by WW International, Inc., the owner of the Points® trademark.
Questions on the WW Points® values listed? Click here.
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