I went to Trader Joe's! :) And now I'm here to share what I picked up~ all Whole30 friendly (which can get tricky).
Before heading off to the store, I write a list organized according to the sections of the grocery store. Nerdy? Maybe... but it makes my trip much more efficient. I try to think about each meal of the day + snacks, and what I can easily prep into meals to keep ready-to-go in the fridge.
I'm back in full swing of my crazy schedule for my last semester of grad school... finishing off strong with a full time internship during the day, followed by night classes & a 45-minute commute each way. Surprisingly, completing a Whole30 & staying on track with my eating habits has become very easy- even while constantly on the go. I've found that by choosing the right items at the grocery store, I can have quick tasty meals that are convenient for grab & go during my hectic week.
Hope this gives you some ideas & that you find it helpful! Let me know if you would like recipes for anything :)
MEAT
- Organic Free-Range Chicken Thighs~ I bake these with a ton of spices & ghee (clarified butter), then eat on my salads for lunch.
- Garlic Herb Chicken Sausage~ One of the few sausages at Trader Joe's with no added sugar or bad stuff; therefore Whole30 friendly. Great with breakfast or dipped in spicy brown mustard.
- Ground Turkey~ I switch off between this & ground beef so I don't get burnt out on either one. I used this in my crockpot chili & also like it for meatballs/meatloaf, veggie-loaded turkey burgers, & meat sauce!
VEGETABLES
- Cruciferous Crunch~ This is a blend of shredded broccoli, kale, red cabbage, & brussels sprouts. I like it sautéed with garlic as a side dish or mixed in with salad greens for crunch.
- Broccoli Slaw~ A mix of shredded broccoli & carrots perfect for adding flavor & vitamins to your salads.
- Romaine Salad~ My third mix-in for the perfect salad greens :)
- Mini Heirloom Tomatoes~ Super sweet & delicious! I like them on my salads & as a snack.
- Persian Cucumbers~ Another great snack/salad topper... crunchy & refreshing :)
- Sweet Potatoes~ Can't live without. I microwave mine, then top with coconut oil, cinnamon, & a pinch of sea salt... tastes like dessert!
FRUIT
- Raspberries, Blueberries, Strawberries~ I cut up the strawberries, then washed & dried these. I keep them stored in a large bowl & eat a serving each morning with my breakfast. Delicious! Great for dessert too.
- Bananas~ I buy mine perfectly ripe, then slice & freeze right away. Great to have on hand for snacking, mashing, blending, etc.
- Lemons~ These are my "condiment" of choice. I use lemons to dress my salads & seafood, and love them sliced in water or tea.
PANTRY ITEMS
- Roasted Plantain Chips~ These were my treat for the week :) The ingredients are plantains, sunflower oil, & sea salt (not bad!) & they have a savory flavor (unlike banana chips). Would be great with guacamole!
- Unsweetened Apple Sauce~ Do yourself a favor & skip the cups... the straight up jarred sauce tastes the best!
- Larabars~ The best snack ever. I got Cherry Pie, Apple Pie, & Cashew Cookie (their flavor selection is sad).
- Organic Diced Tomatoes & Tomato Sauce~ Picked these up for my "All-American Crockpot Chili".. dinner done for the week!
- Light Coconut Milk~ This goes into a mason jar in the fridge & is my go-to coffee creamer.
Let me know if you pick any of these items up! Also, if you're in the market for a new body lotion... Trader Joe's brand "Midsummer Night's Cream" is an amazing unscented lotion with good ingredients! Give it a try!
I can't remember... Did you just change your diet cold turkey or did you start easing your way into it?
ReplyDeleteYou buy exactly what I do at TJ's, love that store. Was doing a search for their newer product "Cruciferous Crunch" and found you. I LOVE that combo, just roasted at 350 degrees for 10-15 min with olive oil, garlic, and TJ's pink Himalayan sea salt. Great veggie to have on hand for an on-the-go flight attendant lifestyle like mine. :)
ReplyDelete@Mackenzy~ I always ate pretty similar to Paleo when I was being "good" with my eating... but when I first really heard about Paleo & wanted to go all in... I went all in. Like I threw away anything non-Paleo & started over. :)
ReplyDelete@Susan~ Grocery twins! :) How fun. I love the idea of roasting the Cruciferous Crunch... definitely going to give that a go! Thanks for the tip.
Thanks for the post! I was googling and found your page. I recently started Whole30 and am finding it hard to find some info (I'll search for recipes, but they'll be Paleo as opposed to Whole30). You list of items you bought helped me plan my list. Tonight, we'll be trying the Cruciferous Crunch (sauteed in Olive Oil w/ garlic). Unfortunately, my Trader Joe's did not have the sausages you listed, and all the others had added sugar :(
ReplyDeletedo you have a chili recipe for whole 30?
ReplyDeleteI do! Search for "All-American Crockpot Chili"... it's my favorite!
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I love tjs, but am bummed to find that the plantain chips are roasted in Sunflower oil. Since seed oil is a no-no on whole 30, these aren't compliant. :(
ReplyDeleteSunflower oil is in the "limited" list, and not in the never oil list. So, I believe the plantains are fine in moderation.
ReplyDeleteI would like to try out the whole 30 diet but I thought coconut milk was off limits?
ReplyDeleteSuch yummy ideas. Thanks for giving us a peek at what you purchased. I would definitely have those roasted plantain chips.
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