"“I can’t imagine going back to school,” said my 7-year-old about a month into being home in self-isolation. “We only get two snacks there.”
Yes, the snacking for both my kids and for my husband and I has been constant. Turns out, kids home from school and parents working from home eat a lot. So much so that every time I go to the grocery store, my credit card initially declines thinking it’s a fraud purchase. I’ve never spent so much on food at once, but it’s different now that we’re stocking up for a longer period each visit.
And Trader Joe’s continues to be my favorite grocery stop. I’m very willing to wait in line during the current one-in-one-out policy because some items are always on my family’s shopping list. Here is a round-up of some of our favorite Trader Joe’s snacks—savory, salty, and sweet.
Savory
Insalata Caprese
- Tomato
- Basil (buy the full plant or the fresh packaged)
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Ciliegine Mozarella
Assemble, drizzle with oil and vinegar, and add a little salt and pepper for a fresh treat.
Cheese and Wine Pairing
Trader Joe’s has so many cheese options. For a quick snack, I like the Spanish Cheese Tapas Sampler with their Savory Thins. My husband prefers the Pub Cheese spread onto TJ’s Everything Pretzel Thins or Pita Crackers as well. For Happy Hour, add a glass of one of my favorite under $10 wines—14 Hands or Trader Joe’s exclusive Tribunal Red Blend.
- Spanish Cheese Tapas Sampler
- Savory Thin Rice Crackers
- Pub Cheese
- Tribunal Red Blend Wine
- 14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon Wine
Pastry Pups
My kids love these for snacks or for a super easy at-home lunch option. Try dipping them in one of TJ’s delicious mustards or, in my kid’s case, ketchup works too.
Organic Sandwich Crackers
These buttery crackers with peanut butter or cheese fillings are so good. I love to snack on a handful of these sandwich crackers as much as my kids do.
Salty
50% Less Salt Dry Roasted Almonds
These are my favorite snack from Trader Joe’s wall of nuts, dried fruit, and energy bars. They’re roasted with just enough salt for flavor, and I tend to eat a handful mid-morning and mid-afternoon.
Chips and Pico de Gallo
Trader Joe’s Mild Pico de Gallo is one of those products I buy every visit. We use it for snacks, taco toppings, and in scrambled eggs. Trader Joe’s Guacamole is another favorite easy dipping snack.
Sweet
PB&J Bars
For a quick grab-and-go snack, these PB&J Bars are a hit in our house. I confess we also count them as breakfast some days.
MYO Yogurt Parfait
My 7-year-old loves these Organic Creamy Cashew Vanilla Bean flavored yogurt cups topped with a few mini-chocolate chips. She says they taste like ice cream (probably because they have 13 grams of sugar). But since I’m trying to expand snack and breakfast options for my kids, I’m happy yogurt is at least on their menu now. For an option with less sugar, I like the Trader Joe’s 0% Greek Yogurt topped with slivered almonds, granola, or fresh fruit (and the occasional chocolate chip).
- Organic Creamy Cashew Yogurt
- Chocolate Chips
- 0% Greek Yogurt
- Granola
- Dry Roasted Slivered Almonds
- Fresh Berries
Hold the Cone! Mini Ice Cream Cones
Our Trader Joe’s now carries three flavors of my favorite sweet treat: Hold the Cones! These mini ice cream cones coated in chocolate are the perfect size for little hands and for a perfect portion size for me too. Spoiler alert: each one comes with a little chocolate at the bottom of the cone too.
Read More: One Editor’s Under $100 Trader Joe’s Haul for Easy Stay-at-Home Meals and Snacks