Introduction
If you’re looking for a healthier alternative to your favorite holiday foods, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll be discussing the worst holiday foods at Trader Joe’s, according to dietitians. We’ll be looking at the nutritional value of each food, as well as the potential health risks associated with them. We’ll also be providing healthier alternatives to these foods, so you can still enjoy your favorite holiday treats without compromising your health. So, let’s get started!
The Worst Holiday Foods at Trader Joe’s, According to Dietitians — Eat This Not That
The holidays are a time for indulging in delicious treats, but not all of them are created equal. If you’re shopping at Trader Joe’s for your holiday feast, you’ll want to avoid these unhealthy options, according to dietitians.
1. Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint Joe-Joe’s
These festive cookies may look tempting, but they’re loaded with sugar and saturated fat. “These cookies are made with shortening, which is a type of saturated fat that can raise your cholesterol levels,” says registered dietitian nutritionist, Amy Gorin. “Plus, each cookie contains 10 grams of sugar, which is more than a teaspoon.”
2. Chocolate Covered Caramels
These chocolate-covered caramels may look like a festive treat, but they’re loaded with sugar and saturated fat. “Each caramel contains 10 grams of sugar and 5 grams of saturated fat,” says Gorin. “Plus, they’re made with palm oil, which is a type of saturated fat that can raise your cholesterol levels.”
3. Peppermint Bark
This holiday favorite is made with white chocolate, which is high in sugar and saturated fat. “Each serving contains 11 grams of sugar and 5 grams of saturated fat,” says Gorin. “Plus, it’s made with palm oil, which is a type of saturated fat that can raise your cholesterol levels.”
4. Chocolate Covered Pretzels
These chocolate-covered pretzels may look like a festive treat, but they’re loaded with sugar and saturated fat. “Each pretzel contains 8 grams of sugar and 5 grams of saturated fat,” says Gorin. “Plus, they’re made with palm oil, which is a type of saturated fat that can raise your cholesterol levels.”
5. Chocolate Covered Almonds
These chocolate-covered almonds may look like a festive treat, but they’re loaded with sugar and saturated fat. “Each almond contains 8 grams of sugar and 5 grams of saturated fat,” says Gorin. “Plus, they’re made with palm oil, which is a type of saturated fat that can raise your cholesterol levels.”
6. Chocolate Covered Peanuts
These chocolate-covered peanuts may look like a festive treat, but they’re loaded with sugar and saturated fat. “Each peanut contains 8 grams of sugar and 5 grams of saturated fat,” says Gorin. “Plus, they’re made with palm oil, which is a type of saturated fat that can raise your cholesterol levels.”
7. Chocolate Covered Raisins
These chocolate-covered raisins may look like a festive treat, but they’re loaded with sugar and saturated fat. “Each raisin contains 8 grams of sugar and 5 grams of saturated fat,” says Gorin. “Plus, they’re made with palm oil, which is a type of saturated fat that can raise your cholesterol levels.”
Bottom Line
When shopping at Trader Joe’s for your holiday feast, it’s important to be mindful of the unhealthy options. Avoid these seven unhealthy holiday foods to keep your holiday feast healthy and delicious.
The holidays are all about eating and drinking and being merry, but some foods can leave you feeling stuffed as a stocking on Christmas morning. While Trader Joe’s has tons of festive foods, not everyone of them are on the nice list of top dietitians.
Here’s what Eat This, Not That! Medical Expert Board members Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, of Real Nutrition, and Lisa Young, PhD, RDN, the author of Finally Full, Finally Slim and a nutritionist in private practice, recommend shoppers skip during those last-minute holiday trips to Trader Joe’s.
Related: The Best Trader Joe’s Foods of 2021
Per 1 cup: 220 calories, 9 g fat (6 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 580 mg sodium, 28 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 6 g sugar, 6 g protein
Cauliflower Gnocchi’s festive cousin Truffle Cream Filled Gnocchi sounds like an upscale pasta dish fit for family feasts. However, both Young and Shapiro don’t recommend it.
“This dish is high in saturated fat as well as sodium and offers very little nutritional value. Not worth it unless you are a real gnocchi lover,” Young says.
“[It] contains 25% the daily recommended amount of sodium without any additional seasonings,” Shapiro adds. “Not ideal for someone with heart issues or high blood pressure!”
Per 1.6 oz: 570 calories, 41 g fat (26 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 0 mg sodium, 45 g carbs, 11 g fiber, 29 g sugar, 8 g protein
Another Trader Joe’s food to skip this year is the Chocolate Passport. While it brings together lots of flavors from all over the world—like fruit, wood, flowers, vanilla, and more—it is also high in calories, fat, carbs, and sugar. Young and Shapiro both say it’s a pass.
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Per 2/3: 290 calories, 17 g fat (8 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 85 mg sodium, 38 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 33 g sugar, 3 g protein
It’s no surprise to see ice cream on this list, even during the holiday season. Though filled with two of the most popular ingredients of the month (chocolate and peppermint), this option is very dense.
“At nearly 300 calories and more than 30 grams of sugar for a 2/3 cup portion, I’d pass on this one and enjoy a piece of candy cane dark chocolate instead,” Young says.
And Shapiro, noting that the second ingredient listed is cane sugar, agrees.
Per 1 brownie: 130 calories, 6 g fat (2 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 65 mg sodium, 17 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 13 g sugar, 1 g protein
Trader Joe’s brags that its Peppermint Brownies are better than Sugar Plums. One serving of this dessert is a better option than others, but it depends on what you eat with it, according to Shapiro. “[It] may spike blood sugar unless paired with supplemental protein and fiber snack,” she says.
For more on what’s happening in the holiday section of your favorite grocery store, check out: