The Best and Worst New Trader Joe’s Summer Foods — Eat This Not That

By Ghuman

Introduction

If you’re looking for the best and worst new Trader Joe’s summer foods, you’ve come to the right place. From frozen treats to snacks and drinks, we’ve got you covered. We’ve rounded up the best and worst new Trader Joe’s summer foods so you can make the most of your summer shopping trips. From healthy snacks to indulgent treats, we’ve got the scoop on the best and worst new Trader Joe’s summer foods. So grab your shopping list and get ready to stock up on the best and worst new Trader Joe’s summer foods.

The Best and Worst New Trader Joe’s Summer Foods — Eat This Not That

Summer is here and Trader Joe’s has released a slew of new products to help you beat the heat. From frozen treats to savory snacks, there’s something for everyone. But with so many options, it can be hard to know which ones are worth trying and which ones you should avoid. To help you out, we’ve rounded up the best and worst new Trader Joe’s summer foods so you can make the most of your grocery shopping trips.

The Best

  • Mango & Cream Bars: These frozen treats are a delicious mix of mango sorbet and creamy coconut milk. They’re the perfect way to cool off on a hot summer day.
  • Organic Watermelon Fruit Spread: This spread is made with real watermelon and is a great way to add a sweet and fruity flavor to your toast or yogurt.
  • Organic Summer Corn & Tomato Salad: This salad is a great way to get your veggies in during the summer months. It’s made with organic corn, tomatoes, and a light vinaigrette.
  • Organic Summer Squash & Zucchini Noodles: These veggie noodles are a great way to get your daily dose of veggies without all the carbs. They’re perfect for a light summer dinner.
  • Organic Summer Berry Smoothie Bowl: This smoothie bowl is a great way to start your day. It’s made with organic berries, banana, and almond milk.

The Worst

  • Organic Summer Fruit Salad: This fruit salad is made with a mix of organic fruits, but it’s not very flavorful. It’s best to stick with fresh fruit instead.
  • Organic Summer Veggie Chips: These chips are made with a mix of organic veggies, but they’re not very flavorful. Stick with regular chips instead.
  • Organic Summer Fruit & Veggie Popsicles: These popsicles are made with a mix of organic fruits and veggies, but they’re not very flavorful. Stick with regular popsicles instead.
  • Organic Summer Fruit & Veggie Juice: This juice is made with a mix of organic fruits and veggies, but it’s not very flavorful. Stick with regular juice instead.
  • Organic Summer Fruit & Veggie Snack Mix: This snack mix is made with a mix of organic fruits and veggies, but it’s not very flavorful. Stick with regular snack mix instead.

Summer is the perfect time to try new foods, but it’s important to know which ones are worth trying and which ones you should avoid. With this list of the best and worst new Trader Joe’s summer foods, you can make the most of your grocery shopping trips and enjoy the best of summer.

Trader Joe’s is known for its ever-changing roster of all-star products. Sometimes the shelves look different after bidding farewell to old favorites. More often, however, the neighborhood grocery store drops new bites for customers to discover – and it just released these new products for the summer.

But which ones should you actually add to your cart? Not all food is created equal, especially when considering your health. We talked to Eat This, Not That! Medical Expert Board member Lisa Young, PhD, RDN, author of Finally Full, Finally Slim, nutritionist in private practice, and adjunct professor of nutrition at NYU. Young shared with us which three summer items you can feel good about bringing home and which three you might want to avoid.

RELATED: These Are Costco’s Most Popular Items Right Now

Items to skip

Trader Joe's Gluten Free Double Chocolate Muffins
Courtesy of Trader Joe’s

Per 1 muffin: 430 calories, 25 g fat (4.5 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 390 mg sodium, 47 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 23 g sugar, 4 g protein

For those with a gluten intolerance, it can be tough to find baked goods. But made from a combination of rice flours and potato and tapioca starches, buttermilk, sour cream, and two types of chocolate, one of these muffins isn’t going to do the trick.

“I’d skip this muffin with over 400 calories,” Young says. She notes that one muffin contains more than 20% of the daily recommendation for saturated fat and nearly half of the recommendation for added sugar. Although, maybe if you cut it in half, this could make a nice occasional treat.

Trader Joe's 4 Cheese Pastry Rolls
Courtesy of Trader Joe’s

Per 1 pastry: 220 calories, 14 g fat (9 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 170 mg sodium, 20 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 8 g sugar, 4 g protein

Cheese seems to make everything taste better – but at a cost to your nutrition. And this flaky croissant is stuffed with cream cheese for an oozy, warm bite that Young warns against making your daily breakfast add-on. “One pastry roll contains 9 grams saturated fat, almost half of your recommendation for the day so I’d skip it.”

Trader Joe's Gluten Free Cheese Ravioli
Courtesy of Trader Joe’s

Per 1 cup: 230 calories, 7 g fat (4.5 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 310 mg sodium, 31 g carbs,  g fiber, 2 g sugar, 11 g protein

Some more bad news for the non-gluten foodies: this wheatless pasta isn’t the holy grail substitute it appears to be. Young warns to be wary of this alternative because of how processed it is.

“This ravioli may be gluten-free, but buyer beware—it is not much healthier than the regular varieties,” she says. “It has about the same number of calories as regular ravioli, tapioca starch, and a very long ingredient list.”

Trader Joe’s new items to try!

Trader Joe's Dill Pickle Mini Falafel
Courtesy of Trader Joe’s

 

Per 10 pieces: 200 calories, 8 g fat (1 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 550 mg sodium, 22 g carbs, 7 g fiber, 2 g sugar, 8 g protein

The pickle-flavored falafel is a great side for those avoiding meat because it’s made with protein-filled chickpeas. You can heat it up from frozen and add it to a mezze platter or a bowl of rice and fresh vegetables. And the best part – it’s also guilt-free, according to Young.

“This is a yummy combination for a plant-based dish,” she says. “It is a good protein alternative and also high in fiber making it a good pick.”

Trader Joe's Crispy Crunchy Peanut Butter Cookies
Courtesy of Trader Joe’s

Per 6 cookies: 130 calories, 6 g fat (2.5 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 160 mg sodium, 15 g carbs, <1 g fiber, 9 g sugar,3  g protein

Looking for a way to satisfy your sweet tooth without overdoing it? This tub of mini cookies should do the trick.

“Since we all love an occasional treat, I’d indulge in one serving of these crunchy peanut butter cookies,” says Young. “6 cookies is a serving size and peanut butter cookies are my favorite!”

Trader Joe's Artichoke Timbales
Courtesy of Trader Joe’s

Per 1 piece: 130 calories, 9 g fat (3 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 550 mg sodium, 7 g carbs, 5 g fiber, <1 g sugar, 4 g protein

These artichoke cups topped with cheeses, spices, onion, garlic, and spinach fly in the face of the saying, “don’t play with your food.” In fact, maybe you should be looking for more ways to make eating your vegetables more exciting. 

Young calls this an interesting twist on the appetizing artichoke. “I’d enjoy this dish. It’s high in taste and also contains important nutrients including fiber, calcium, and potassium.”

While all six of these items are new, the grocery chain has to make room for them—and so Trader Joe’s Is Discontinuing These 4 Items.