Trader Joes Supplies students with delicious snacks
We all know and love Trader Joe’s, so I made it a mission to find the best easy after school options. With such a wide selection of food and a location so close to our campus, Trader Joes is a fantastic option to pick up an after school snack. I chose to rate my favorites, my friends’ favorites and some employee’s favorites and let me tell you, they do not disappoint!
Starting off strong with a 10/10, I tried the beloved Chili Lime Tortilla Chips. Many people say these taste like Takis but I argue they taste better. They are spicy, crunchy and have a nice lime flavor, perfect for a quick after school pick-me-up. I also tried the new Piquant Popcorn which has nutritional yeast, onion and other seasonings. It tastes cheesy and garlicky but could do with more seasoning. I do like the cheese-like flavor of the nutritional yeast and I think it could be an awesome substitute for someone with a dairy allergy. The Piquant Popcorn scores a 7.5/10 in my opinion.
Moving on to quick meals, some of my all time favorites are Trader Joe’s ready made salads. They usually taste super fresh and are a great healthy option for a grab and go meal. My preference is the BBQ chicken salad which contains chicken, corn, beans, lettuce, cheese, tortilla chips and sauces.This salad also has a good amount of protein from containing both chicken and beans. It’s quick, easy and refreshing. I rate it a 9/10. I also tried the tofu spring rolls, which consist of tofu and vegetables wrapped in rice paper. These were okay, a little dry, but still pretty good for the amount you get at the price point. I will say they are much better with the dipping sauce which has peanut flavoring and is a bit vinegary. The spring rolls are cold and refreshing and are a solid 8/10 when paired with the dipping sauce.
Trader Joe’s also carries canned sparkling waters. I tried the Yuzu Coconut flavor and I can truthfully say it is the worst flavor of the options available, coming in at a 3/10. It reminds me of sun lotion and I do not recommend it. Finally, I tried the Super Sour Scandinavian Swimmers, which are fruit gummies covered in sour sugar. These were really good and a great sweet treat at a 9/10.
Trader Joes has great options especially if you’re in a time pinch and need something quick and easy.
