As a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and yoga teacher who also works full-time at a nonprofit, my schedule is packed. Meal prepping is essential as I juggle classes, meetings, and more.<\/p>\n
Trader Joe's has been my go-to store for high-protein, nutritious meal prep essentials for more than a decade. Plus, as someone who generally eats a plant-based diet, Trader Joe's has plenty of options.<\/p>\n
Here are some of the items that always make the cut when I'm meal-prepping.<\/p>\n
Trader Joe's has a wide selection of hummus, but the crunchy chili-onion flavor is my favorite. This hummus is delightfully creamy, and the pepper adds texture and a spicy kick.<\/p>\n
It's great served in a Mediterranean-inspired lunch bowl or scooped up with raw vegetables or crackers.<\/p>\n
My favorite way to prep Trader Joe's firm tofu is to crumble it \u2014 no pressing needed.<\/p>\n
I toss it with coconut aminos (which is similar to soy sauce) and seasoning, bake it, and then stuff it into pita bread with veggies and hummus for a delicious, plant-based wrap.<\/p>\n
I'm all about saving time where I can. Luckily, Trader Joe's frozen brown rice uses a steamer bag to heat up in just three minutes.<\/p>\n
I like to pair it with beans, fajita vegetables, salsa, and cheese for a DIY taco bowl \u2014 or alongside roasted veggies, hard-boiled eggs, and tahini sauce for a power bowl.<\/p>\n
If I'm not prepping a sauce at home, I'm buying one with simple ingredients, like Trader Joe's Guacsalsa \u2014 made with tomatillo, avocado, jalapenos, cilantro, lime juice, garlic, and salt.<\/p>\n
True to its name, it tastes like a cross between guacamole and salsa verde. I love to drizzle this on burrito bowls for extra flavor.<\/p>\n
For an easy soup, I like to pop some of Trader Joe's frozen gyoza into the store's miso-ginger broth, along with whatever vegetables I have on hand.<\/p>\n
Or, if I'm not meal prepping, I pan-fry them and serve them alongside a homemade soy-sauce-based dip.<\/p>\n
Frozen vegetables are typically packed at peak ripeness and flash frozen within hours, so they deliver the same nutritional benefits as their fresh counterparts.<\/p>\n
One of my favorite options to buy is frozen broccoli, which I add to a grain bowl or serve alongside a grilled protein.<\/p>\n