Six healthy frozen foods to get on your next Trader Joe’s run


We all have those days when we’re in our dorm room studying, and just don’t have the energy to run down to the dining hall. When those times come up, ordering on food delivery apps like Postmates and Doordash don’t always sound like the best choice either — delivery costs add up. After a fair share of those days, I’ve realized that the cheapest, most convenient option (at least for lazy students like me) is to pop a frozen meal in the microwave and wait a few minutes. Luckily, Trader Joe’s offers a variety of healthy frozen meals and snacks that really do satisfy cravings. Below are a few of their best frozen foods.

1. Stir Fry Vegetables.

Vegetables might not be your idea of a delicious snack, but this low-calorie vegetable mix actually tastes good. It’s also packed with vitamin A and vitamin C and extremely easy to make.

Photo courtesy of Culinary Mamas

Photo courtesy of Culinary Mamas

2. Greens, Beans and Grains. This microwavable meal is a mixture of kale, garbanzo beans, couscous and peanuts. It has tons of nutrients including calcium, iron and fiber. After eating this, you’ll just feel healthier.

Photo courtesy of Trader Joe’s

Photo courtesy of Trader Joe’s

3. Vegetarian Masala Burger

This meatless burger is definitely not In-N-Out, but it’s more filling and much healthier. It’s packed with vitamin A and is made of carrots, green beans, bell pepper, potatoes and Indian spices.

Photo courtesy of Trader Joe’s

Photo courtesy of Trader Joe’s

4. Mandarin Orange Chicken

This frozen entree is said to be Trader Joe’s best selling product. And with high protein and calcium, it’s a better option than greasy takeout Chinese food!

Photo courtesy of @barefeetkitchen

Photo courtesy of @barefeetkitchen

5. Reduced Guilt Mac & Cheese

Any meal with “reduced guilt” in the name is a meal for me. This cheesy comfort food has less fat and fewer calories than the traditional mac and cheese. You can find this in my freezer.

Photo courtesy of Club Trader Joe's

Photo courtesy of Club Trader Joe’s

6. Spinach and Artichoke Dip

This creamy dip is a blend of artichokes, spinach, Swiss and Parmesan. It goes with almost every random type of cracker or chip lying around my dorm room. Added bonus: it’s low fat!

Photo courtesy of Food Network

Photo courtesy of Food Network