Trader Joe’s is great! It’s hype. It’s organic. It’s innovative. It’s affordable. And most importantly, it’s a place to meet hot people who are mature enough to do their shopping and eat healthy food. What a place!

I have been a student on a budget with a Trader Joe’s at a close distance for enough time to have tried most of their food, and know by heart the rest of it. I love cooking and experimenting, and during the years of my Trader Joe’s obsession, I have come to the following conclusion:

Love for cooking + healthy lifestyle + being broke + Trader Joe’s food = Perfection

Please, let me introduce to you my favorite simple, healthy and delicious recipes made with Trader Joe’s products ONLY (Yes, I will be hyphenating this word every time I mention it).

Let this food epiphany begin!

1. Joe's Tuna Salad on Crispbread

Ingredients

1 can of Trader Joe's Albacore Tuna in Water (Half Salt)                 2-3 tbsp Roasted Garlic Hummus

Celery                                                                                                  Red Onion                                                                                           Wild Arugula                                                                                       Dried Cranberries                                                                               Capers                                                                                                 Trader Joe's Sriracha

Crispbread             

How it works:

1. Mix all ingredients but the Crispbread together

2. Spread the ready tuna salad on the Crispbread

3. Enjoy your HELLA HEALTHY tuna salad

2. Protein-Intense Oatmeal with Fruits and Almond Butter

Ingredients:

Any Trader Joe's Oatmeal                                                   

Almond beverage 

Glazed Walnuts

Cacao and/or Maca Powder 

Almond Butter

Honey                                                                                                  Any fruit your heart desires (berries are perfect here and always)

How it works:

1) Put oatmeal in a microwave-friendly bowl

2) Put cocoa and maca powder in as well as your almond beverage

3) Stir and microwave according to instructions (2-3 minutes)   

4) Glaze with honey and almond butter

5) Top with fruits and walnuts

6) Have the best start of your day ever

3. Vegan Pizza with "chorizo" and pesto

Ingredients

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Soy Chorizo 

Wild Arugula                                                                                       Trader Joe's Vegan Mozzarella Shreds          

Sun-dried tomatoes                                                                           Vegan Kale, Cashew and Basil Pesto

How it works:

1) Preheat oven to 450°F. Remove all packaging from the crust and bake for 10-12 minutes, flip crust over and bake another 10-12 minutes                                                                                       

2) Spread the vegan pesto, put sliced chorizo, and bake for 10 more minutes

3) Put the "mozzarella inspired" shreds on top, and put the pizza back in the oven until the cheese melts.

4) Take the ready pizza out of the oven and cover it with sun-dried tomatoes and arugula

4. Indian-inspired Cauliflower Rice 

Ingredients:

Thai Green Curry Simmer Sauce  

One of Trader Joe's Frozen Indian Dishes

Vegetarian favorite: Palak Paneer (Indian cheese with spinach)                   or Channa Masala (chickpeas cooked with spices)

Meat-lover favorite: Chicken Tikka Masala, or  Lamb Vindaloo           Riced Cauliflower  

Coconut Oil                                                                                         Onion                                     

How it works:

1) Heat coconut oil and add chopped onion and riced cauliflower.  Saute for 7-10 min.

2) Season with salt, cumin and black pepper                                  3) Cook frozen Indian meal according to instructions on the package

4) Put the ready “rice” in a bowl, top with the already cooked Indian dish

5) Drizzle the dish with some Thai sauce and you are ready!

5. MahiMahi Corn Tacos with avocado and asparagus

Ingredients:

One package of frozen MahiMahi burgers

Trader Joe's Chunky Guacamole

Corn Tortillas

Grilled Asparagus Spears 

Red Sriracha sauce

Any shredded cheese you find

How it works:

1) Take the corn tortilla and head up on a pan/in the oven

2) Heat a pan and grill the mahimahi burgers according to instruction on the packaging. After it cools off a little, cut diagonally.

3)  Prepare the asparagus according to instructions on the packaging

4) Get all the pieces of this delicious puzzle together: Take a warm tortilla and fill it with the chunky guacamole. Put a couple of pieces of the grilled mahimahi, asparagus and top with sriracha and cheese. Serve and enjoy.

6. Chia Seeds with tahini and granola

Ingredients:

Chia Seed

Tahini

Trader Joe's ancient GRAINS and nuts granola

Rasberries and bananas 

Any type of milk

How it Works:

1) Put 2-4 tbsp of chia in a mason jar/something with a lid. Pour milk and put the chia in the fridge overnight

2) On the following day, put the ready chia in a bowl and top with granola and fruits. 

3) Add as much tahini as you wish (It's irresistible!)

So these are some of the recipes I have been obsessed with recently. They are healthy, delicious and extremely easy to make.

So what are you waiting for? Go to Trader Joe's, buy some of their mind-blowing products, and get crazy in the kitchen.

I am so freaking excited for you!