Trader Joe's (TJ's) has always been my go-to grocery store, but now that I've discovered my intolerance to gluten, I somehow love it even more. After trying many gluten-free (GF) items and ruling out the bad ones, I have found the best GF foods at Trader Joe's. Trader Joe's offers incredible gluten-free products at low price points, which is perfect for a health-conscious college student on a budget. Here are my top 10 recommendations for gluten-free products to buy at Trader Joe's:
1. Whole Grain Bread
This is one of the best gluten-free breads I've tried and has a comparable price - if not cheaper - than most brands. This bread isn't too dense, and I love the variety TJ's offers. Whole grain is my favorite along with cinnamon raisin, but they also have white bread and various types of bagels.
2. Bamba Peanut Snacks
These peanut butter puffs are my new obsession. Imagine a cheese puff in texture but with peanut butter flavor (aka heaven). These snacks have no sugar added and are low-calorie, so don't feel too guilty if you eat the whole 99 cent bag in one sitting.
3. Pumpkin Bread Mix
You HAVE to try this gluten-free version of TJ's pumpkin bread mix. I made pumpkin muffins and added in chocolate chips, and it turned out so moist and delicious. The pumpkin and spice flavors really come through and adding chocolate chips made it even more luxurious. It's a seasonal item, so go get some before it's gone!
4. Cauliflower Gnocchi
Despite the recent cauliflower craze, I personally don't think cauliflower can beat flour. I was skeptical to try this gnocchi, but it turned out great! I would recommend pan-frying the gnocchi so it doesn't get too mushy. Although it doesn't taste the same as regular gnocchi, this is an awesome low-carb, gluten-free substitute for regular pasta.
5. 3-Seed Sweet Potato Crackers
These crackers go great with so many things, from hummus to cheese to guacamole - even plain. Many gluten-free crackers have a rice base, but these are mostly made of corn, almost like a tortilla chip. The flax, sesame, and chia seeds add in a bit of extra flavor and fiber to boot.
6. Mac & Cheese
I was expecting this mac & cheese to be mushy like other gluten-free pastas, but it was actually perfectly al dente. The texture of the noodles is perfect, and the cheese is rich and gooey like it should be.
7. Chicken Nuggets
These babies get golden brown and perfectly crispy. You honestly cannot tell that they are gluten-free. Pro tip: they go well with TJ's blue cheese mustard.
8. Brownie Crisp Coffee Ice Cream Sandwiches
I had no idea these were gluten-free until I checked the ingredients since they aren't advertised as GF. The brownie isn't so much of a crisp, but rather a thin, chewy brownie. I love coffee ice cream and chocolate flavors, so the combination of the two is an A in my book. The small portion size is perfect for a treat without being too filling.
9. Oven-Baked Cheese Bites
I used to ask my mom to make me crispy fried cheese when I was little (Nobody else? Just me?), so cheese has always been one of my favorite snacks. These crispy, salty bites are made entirely out of cheese, so they are zero-carb and pretty high in protein.
10. Falafel Mix
Not the best falafel I've ever had, but it is super easy to make these - just add water to the mix and bake! Be sure not to bake them for too long or they'll dry out (I learned that the hard way). These have great flavor and add a boost of protein to salads, rice bowls, or just dipped in hummus.
There are so many other naturally gluten-free items, but I wanted to showcase some of the foods celiac/gluten-intolerant people normally can't eat. I hope you agree that these are some of the best gluten-free foods at Trader Joe's.