The Only Trader Joe's Whole30 Shopping List You'll Ever Need

A list of everything you need for your Trader Joe's Whole30 visit! From dips to snacks to pre-prepped veggies, a shopping trip to Trader Joe's will make your Whole30 go more smoothly than you ever thought possible.

When it comes to Whole30, Trader Joes is the perfect go to.

If you know where to look and what to look for, they have great paleo and Whole30 options throughout the store that will help make your Whole30 so much easier.

Here's a breakdown of your best bets for Trader Joe's Whole30 shopping!

Jump to:

• How To Navigate Trader Joe's
• Fruits & Veggies (Fresh and Frozen) 
• Meats
• Dry Goods
• Snacks! 
• Seltzer, Sauces & Dips
• Whole30 Trader Joe's Shopping List

How To Navigate Trader Joe's

I remember my first few times shopping at Trader Joe's - I went in, wandered around, wondered where all the brands I knew were, bought a few random snack items that had been strategically placed in order to capture my eye and my wallet (which were clearly well done, since I bought them), and went home still in need of actual groceries.

If you're not familiar with it, Trader Joe's can be a tough store to navigate. From using their own labels and packaging to a unique store layout, it might look like a foreign landscape the first time you set foot inside.

And if you're trying to do a Whole30 while shopping at Trader Joe's for the first time? You might just turn around and walk out. But don't give up so quickly! I'm here to help clear a path for you.

Now that I'm more familiar with the Trader Joe's brand and their store layout, it's actually one of my weekly go-tos.

And if I'm doing a Whole30, a lot of their products cannot be beat for convenience and value. And as always, if your store has something that's not listed here, share it in the comments so everyone can benefit from your nugget of knowledge!

Fruits & Veggies (Fresh and Frozen) 

When it comes to pre-prepped veggies for your Whole30, Trader Joe's takes the cake. (Ugh, I know, why am I referencing cake when you're  on a Whole30? Stay the course - I promise there's no actual cake in this post.)

In the fresh section, there are a ton of options. They have pre-riced cauliflower, which I buy and use in both my Buffalo Chicken Casserole and Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole, as well as pre-riced broccoli.

I've never actually riced broccoli on my own, but knowing the mess the cauliflower makes, I'm happy to just buy this one in a bag.

They also have a number of other pre-cut vegetables that I'm grateful that someone else cut up. When you're on a Whole30, the food prep and meal planning can get overwhelming.

The fact that I can buy peeled and cubed butternut squash in a bag is a game changer on the hard days! I'll dump a bag of that on a sheet pan with some sausage and a diced onion, bake it, and call it dinner.

HEADS UP! Whole 30 Trader Joe's Recipe idea: Trader Joe's butternut squash chunks, Trader Joe's Spicy Italian chicken sausage (sliced), chopped onion, and a cored and sliced apple. Spread on a sheet pan, drizzle with oil and bake at 350° for 20-30 minutes until vegetables are tender.

Trader Joe's also has some other convenience items for your Whole30.

They do have basic things like shredded carrots and chopped mirepoix, but they also have fun things like sweet potato ribbons, butternut squash zig-zags, and other ways to liven up an otherwise boring meal. The best part is they're all grouped together, in the fresh produce section, in bags.

They have lots of other organic and non-organic veggie options, tons of salad greens (just make sure you don't buy the salad mixes with croutons and dressing!) and lots of fruit options as well.

We always get organic apples at Trader Joe's, as well as bananas and a bag of mandarin oranges.

Those make a great snack on Whole30, and can be a huge help when you're fighting the sugar dragon and want to reach for something way worse for you.

HEADS UP! Whole30 Trader Joe's recipe idea: Try peeling and sectioning the mandarin oranges, then drizzle with a bit of coconut milk and a sprinkle of cinnamon when you're in need of something sweet.

Meats

Remember, any meat without ingredients is Whole30 compliant. At Trader Joe's, they have lots of options for this. They also have a few options that I consider great finds!

They have two chicken sausages: Spicy Italian, which are pre-cooked, and Sundried Tomato, which are not. Be careful, there are other flavors of both of these types of sausages, and none of the other flavors are Whole30 compliant.

They also have grass-fed beef in the frozen section - both ground and strip steaks, neither one with the outrageous price tag you might find on grass-fed beef at other health food grocery chains.

Dry Goods

This is the section where your Trader Joe's Whole30 trip is going to shine!

Trader Joe's is always coming out with something new. They pay attention to trends, and then release a less expensive version of something that everyone is currently buying.

Example - coconut aminos. For as long as I can recall, the only coconut aminos I was able to find was this one by Coconut Secret.

With that price tag, it's not really a sustainable option for the long haul. Trader Joe's to the rescue, though: organic coconut aminos touting a $2.99 price tag. Yes, please.

They also have an organic vegetable stock and an organic chicken stock, neither of which have added sugar, and their ingredients are all Whole30 approved.

I know everyone recommends making your own, which I do often, but let's face it, you don't always have that kind of time on your hands. When you're already doing this much food prep, having pre-made stock is a beautiful thing.

Some of my other favorites in this category include:

• coconut flakes
• nut butters to include cashew and almond
• salsa with no added sugars
• jarred pickles and olives (great for snacking or toppings)
• any kind of nut you could imagine (raw, roasted, and salted)
• spices and seasonings

In the baking section, they sell both almond meal and almond flour. While we're not doing any true baking on Whole30 (that falls into the SWYPO category!) this can be handy for thickening soups and stews, among other things.

Snacks! 

I know, they always say you're not supposed to "snack" on Whole30.

Here's the problem I have with that - you need to eat at regular intervals to keep your blood sugar steady. Sometimes, you're caught up in the daily hustle, can't make a real meal happen, and need something to eat.

Having something that's Whole30 approved on hand can be a lifesaver when you're stuck in a land with vending machines as far as the eye can see.

Tuck one of these convenient Trader Joe's Whole30 snacks into your purse/car/bag/murse/diaper bag/whatever suits your fancy, and you're golden during snackmergencies.

Some of my Trader Joe's favorites here are:

• Turkish Dried Apricots
• Grainless Granola (I just eat a handful!)
• Lara Bars
• Rx Bars
• Chomps Sticks
• Epic Bars
• Plantain Chips

Whole30 Tip: Obviously watch your dried fruit consumption, as they are just concentrated sugar, but they can be handy in a pinch!

Seltzer, Sauces & Dips

I'm a big fan of the sauce on Whole30. Sauces can make or break a meal, and they can add a ton of flavor to an otherwise bland dish.

Trader Joe's has an awesome Kale, Cashew and Basil Pesto sauce that I've used on zoodles before, or even just tossed any random veggies into.

They also have pre-made compliant guac - a spicy one and a regular one! Try these with some (homemade) plantain chips, or some cut raw veggies if "chips" are too much SWYPO for you.

More recently I've found a Spicy Jalapeno Almond Dip, which is also super tasty!

Almost all of the beverage and juice options at Trader Joe's are a no-go on Whole30 due to added sugar. That being said, their seltzer selection is great.

They have plain, but also a huge variety of other flavors, and are only 79 cents a bottle. These can help jazz things up when water gets boring, and LaCroix is too expensive!

Whole30 Trader Joe's Shopping List

I put together a quick printable for you, with ideas of things to look for on your next Trader Joe's Whole30 shopping trip. Even if they don’t have the exact things listed here, it will give you some ideas of where to look and what to look for.

Happy shopping!

Don't miss my other Whole30 Shopping Lists:

Aldi Whole30 Shopping List

Costco Whole30 Shopping List

Amazon Whole30 Shopping List

Something on your Whole30 Trader Joe's must-have list that you don't see here? Share it in the comments for everyone!

Enjoyed this post? Be sure to also check out our Top 10 List for on-the-go Whole30 snacks, Tips & Tricks for an Easy Whole30,  & Whole30 Q&A. Or, head over to the Whole30 resources roundup to find all things Whole30!