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    Home » Whole30 Resources

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

    Published: Jan 23, 2018 · Modified: Oct 23, 2023 by Jessica · This post may contain affiliate links · 29 Comments

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    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!

    Trader Joes Whole30 grocery items with text overlay
    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) 

    fresh bags of cauliflower rice
    bags of riced broccoli
    shelf of prepared and pre cut veggies
    bags of mandarin oranges
    frozen bags of bell peppers and onions
    frozen bags of cauliflower rice

    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

    sundried tomato and basil chicken sausage
    frozen grass fed beef steak
    spicy italian chicken sausage

    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

    organic vegetable stock
    bottles of organic coconut aminos on shelf
    organic chicken stock in box
    bag of organic flake coconut
    jars of cashew butter on shelf
    jars of double roasted salsa
    shelf of olives and pickles in grocery store
    shelf of assorted nuts and seeds
    bags of blanched almond flour

    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! 

    bags of organic turkish apricots
    shelf of various Lara Bars
    gluten free grain free granola
    shelf of Rx Bars

    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

    kale, cashew and basil pesto
    chunky spicy guacamole
    prepared guacamole
    shelf of seltzer water bottles

    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!

    More Whole30 Resources

    • Is Breakfast Sausage Gluten Free?
    • Why No Peanuts on Whole30?
    • The Best Whole30 Protein Powders: 5 Great Options for Your Next Whole30
    • A Whole30 Timeline: 11 Powerful Milestones to Expect

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Bleulinus

      March 08, 2022 at 11:40 am

      Graininess granola shouldn’t be in this list of it has coconut sugar, right? You’re not supposed to have any added sugar. I’m not sure about tapioca syrup either but that may not be acceptable either.

      Reply
      • Jessica

        March 10, 2022 at 7:31 pm

        Hi there! Thanks for your comment. You are correct, coconut sugar and tapioca syrup are NOT Whole30 compliant. At the time I wrote the post, the Trader Joe's grainless granola in the red bag, as pictured, had the following ingredients: Dates, dried bananas, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, dry roasted cashews (cashews, sea salt), cinnamon, vanilla powder. THAT version was Whole30 compliant. It appears as if they have changed their recipe, which makes it no longer compliant. I will be sure to update the post to reflect the change!

        Reply
    2. Merilee Litchfield

      April 10, 2021 at 12:50 am

      Where do I get the shopping lists please?

      Reply
      • Jessica

        April 10, 2021 at 8:01 am

        Hi Merilee,
        I'm so sorry for any confusion! You can gain access to all the shopping lists by signing up for access to my resource library. They are all located in there!

        Reply
    3. Vev

      July 20, 2019 at 10:33 am

      Trader Joe’s is my favorite store since I started Whole 30.

      Love it! On my way there in about an hour.

      Reply
    4. Gloria

      January 12, 2019 at 10:48 pm

      Was wondering about the green plant juice. I did t see anything on the ingredients that showed added sugars. Please let me know.

      Reply
      • Jessica

        January 13, 2019 at 9:10 am

        Hi Gloria! I'm not familiar with the green plant juice. If you can send me the ingredients, or snap a photo of the label, I'd be happy to take a look!

        Reply
      • PB

        January 26, 2021 at 12:47 pm

        @Jessica, The ingredients list: kale juice, spinach juice, green apple juice, water, cucumber juice, celery juice, lemon juice, ginger powder. I don't see any sugar or sweetener, but not sure if this crosses the line for whole30. It feels too good to be true!

        Reply
        • Jessica

          February 17, 2021 at 8:25 pm

          If those are the only ingredients, it looks good to go!

          Reply
    5. Carlos Felicien

      November 06, 2018 at 10:10 am

      Thanks for sharing..

      Reply
    6. Suzy

      July 06, 2018 at 9:25 am

      That’s what I thought, but just wanted to confirm! You are awesome...thanks!!!

      Reply
    7. suzy

      July 05, 2018 at 7:48 pm

      Hi! Is the chile lime seasoning whole 30 approved?

      Reply
      • Jessica

        July 06, 2018 at 9:12 am

        Hi Suzy - it's not. The ingredients have "rice concentrate" listed. This is likely just to keep it from caking, but rice is a grain, so it's a Whole30 no-go. You could easily make your own chili-lime, with some chili powder, lime zest, salt, and fresh lime juice while on W30!

        Reply
    8. Meghan

      July 04, 2018 at 10:46 am

      Jess! I just discovered their Green Goddess Salad Dressing in the refrigerated section, it’s delicious! Vegan and no added sugars that many brands sneak in there. Go try some if you haven’t already!

      Reply
      • Jessica

        July 06, 2018 at 9:12 am

        I know! It's so good. I'm working on a DIY version of it !

        Reply
    9. Renee Dukes

      June 03, 2018 at 7:06 pm

      Thank you so much for this helpful shopping list and the pictures. Doing well on day 10 of my first round for Whole 30. Your article will help with my success❣️

      Reply
      • Jessica

        June 04, 2018 at 9:18 am

        You're so welcome, Renee! I'm glad it's helpful. Stay strong through your Whole30 and let me know if you have any questions, I am here to help!

        Reply
    10. Gia

      May 26, 2018 at 8:46 am

      Just as an FYI the Sundried Tomato sausage has turbinado sugar in it.

      Reply
      • Jessica

        May 27, 2018 at 9:16 am

        Hi Gia! The uncooked Sundried Tomato sausage at our Trader Joes don't contain any added sugars of any kind, which is why I included them in this list. Different stores carry different items, which is why I always tell people that reading your ingredient labels is the most important part. Sounds like your store might carry a different variety than ours. Thanks for letting other readers know so they can be sure to check their ingredient labels also!

        Reply
    11. Melissa

      April 29, 2018 at 12:10 pm

      Do you have any suggestions for what to put the cashew butter on and salsa we are able to eat since we can’t have grains?

      Reply
      • Jessica

        April 30, 2018 at 9:59 am

        Hi Melissa! I love putting the cashew butter on apple slices or banana. (Or, if I'm being honest, eating it with a spoon...)

        As for the salsa, you can put salsa on most anything. I put it on top of eggs with my sweet potato breakfast hash recipe, add it to my beef taco casserole recipe, or just make your own plantain chips or similar and dip 'em like tortilla chips!

        Reply
    12. andre laplume

      April 11, 2018 at 7:47 pm

      Did you try the coconut aminos? Awful, just awful.

      Reply
      • Jessica

        April 17, 2018 at 12:49 pm

        Huh...I'm sorry you didn't like them! I haven't had any issues with them from our store!

        Reply
      • Nina

        April 24, 2018 at 1:54 pm

        Andre, I thought I was the only one! They're terrible. It doesn't taste like soy sauce at all, not even close.

        But Jessica, thank you for the awesome list; it's been very helpful.

        Reply
        • Jessica

          April 30, 2018 at 10:00 am

          Haha, guess I need to taste the aminos by themselves! You're quite welcome Nina, glad it was useful.

          Reply
    13. A Maine

      March 31, 2018 at 5:04 pm

      Aren't the grain products and snacks off limits on Whole 30? Mini-meals (protein+vegetable+healthy fat) like guacamole/pesto, carrots or celery and a protein - beef jerky/hard boiled eggs sound more on-plan.

      Reply
      • Jessica

        April 02, 2018 at 9:06 pm

        Hi there! I'm not sure what grain products you're referring to, but grains are not allowed on Whole30 and I haven't included any grain products in this list based on that. While the act of "snacking" isn't recommended on Whole30, sometimes we get caught in a pinch and need to have something on hand. I'd much rather people have something compliant on hand than be caught in a tight spot and end up in a drive through somewhere. 🙂

        Reply
    14. Dell

      February 27, 2018 at 12:42 am

      Thank you for all the helpful information you provided. I am about to start the Whole30 and you made it so much easier for me.

      Reply
      • Jessica

        March 09, 2018 at 12:46 pm

        Hi Dell, you're very welcome! I'm glad it was helpful.

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a former cereal addict turned health food blogger. I live in Charleston, SC with my husband and son, and probably eat more ice cream than most would consider "a reasonable amount."

    More about me →

    Most Popular Posts

    • White plate of roasted shishito peppers with pan in the background
      Easy Oven Roasted Shishito Peppers
    • Quick and Easy Breakfast Sausage Recipe | PaleoScaleo.com
      Quick & Easy Breakfast Sausage Recipe
    • bowl of chicken, greens, and avocado being drizzled with olive oil
      Healthy Autoimmune Healing Bowls
    • Simple and Delicious Pan Seared Canned Green Beans Recipe

    Browse by Season

    • Spring
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    • Winter
    what's really in your olive oil

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