Easy Trader Joe's Meals!

because sometimes self-care looks like freezer food 🤷‍♀️

Hello! In a month focusing on self-care, sometimes it’s good to give yourself a break and make some easy food, am I right? But eating Pop-Tarts every day isn’t really going to help you feel good, and opting for UberEats often can do some damage to your budget…so let’s try to find a happy medium of eating healthy-ish and cheap-ish with minimal effort.

Trader Joe’s can really help you find a happy medium and help you feel confident as a cook again. If you don’t live near Trader Joe’s, it might be worth packing an empty cooler, making a little trip out of it, and stocking up 😊 (As always, this post isn’t sponsored. I just really appreciate Trader Joe’s for being there in all seasons of life!)

Breakfast

Roasted Potatoes

These come frozen and already have oil and seasonings in them, so you kind of get to just dump them out and sauté. (I recommend you put a lid on top to steam, then remove to crisp, because the bigger potato chunks can take awhile to cook through.) You also might want to add salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Maybe pair with eggs and avocados?

I love being able to offer an impressive breakfast without even having to use a knife or cutting board!

Lunch

Balela and Naan with Zaatar and Halloumi

Slice Halloumi and fry it on both sides. (Maybe rub around a bit of oil.) While the pan is still hot, quickly heat up naan or Indian flatbread on both sides with garlic olive oil and zaatar (and maybe some salt). Then open up some balela and you’ve got a whole feast!

If you have a stovetop griddle, you can make all of this stuff at once! (You can cook two batches of naan in the time it takes to fry the halloumi; perfect timing!)

Kitchen pictures just never look pretty but boy is this good 😅

Frozen Indian Meals

Pictured: Butter Chicken and Vegetable Biryani

Have you noticed that you can eat a ton of Indian food and still feel great after? (Maybe not, if it was more spicy than you can handle 😅) TJ’s premade frozen meals can feel like comfort foods but also have ingredients you’re not opposed to. Easy yes.

This is a great type of meal for lunchtime on your weekly Day of Rest.

Cheese Board

It’s not too hard to make a pretty cheeseboard! Our favorite items: mini peppers, mini Brioche toasts, Unexpected Cheddar, Creamy Toscano Soaked in Syrah, Marcona Almonds with Rosemary, apples, grapes, and an herb like sage or rosemary for garnish and aroma.

I use the cutting board as a platter and start by slicing the apples, peppers, and cheese and putting them in little piles. Then I start adding color where needed. Grapes take up a lot of space and dried cranberries make a nice filler, too. I scooped some jam into the lid and served it straight from there. Then I topped with some pretty herbs because when my kids see this, I want them to feel loved and worthy.

Dinner

Carnitas and Broccolini Bowl

Pictured: Broccolini, Carnitas, Pre-Peeled Garlic, Fire Roasted Corn, Citrusy Garlic

Broccolini (or “baby broccoli”) is easier to eat and prepare than regular broccoli because the stems are really narrow. For a quick and tasty meal, break apart and sauté some Traditional Carnitas and broccolini, add chopped pre-peeled garlic and some frozen corn, and add some cumin, salt, and smoked paprika (and/or Citrusy Garlic seasoning if they have it.)

Fried Rice + Teriyaki Stir Fry

Pictured: Frozen Rice Medley, BBQ Teriyaki Chicken, Gochujang Vegetable Stir Fry, 1/2 Bag of Frozen Peas, 6 Eggs, some Sesame Oil

If you have a good wok—or even better, a Blackstone grill!—this meal should be done in no time and it makes huge portions. Add whatever vegetables and meat you want, and use the sauce from one of the packages at the end—like the BBQ Teriyaki chicken pictured here— to season the whole thing.

Dessert

You don’t need me to make dessert suggestions because Trader Joe’s has so many good ones. The issue is restraint, not inspiration 😅

Some of our family’s favorites are Hold the Cone, Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, and Gone Berry Crazy!

A Couple Notes About Trader Joe’s

Don’t be frustrated if you can’t find something. They change a lot of their items seasonally and introduce new things frequently—which is great!—so I apologize if you can’t find some of the items mentioned here. Don’t hesitate to ask an employee where something is or even ask for recommendations; they’re super friendly!

Also, while shopping, invite your kids to look for the store’s hidden stuffed animal mascot. If they tell the cashier about it when you’re checking out, they’ll get a lollipop or sticker! Our store’s mascot is a raccoon, and at other stores we’ve found a frog, a pelican, a manatee, and more!

And regarding grocery budget: paying more for healthier groceries is a form of preventative health care and saves you money on medical bills in the long-term. Plus, even if you’re paying more to have pre-made salad kits or frozen meals, it’s cheaper than eating at a restaurant and probably even cheaper than fast food, too. If you get a combo meal, McDonald’s is pricey!

Hopefully you found this helpful! There are some other really good ideas on Pinterest, too, but really you can just wander the aisles and find plenty of inspiration. I’d love to hear some of your favorites!

Warmly,

Hope from Family Scripts