13 Healthy Smoothie Ingredients You Should Be Buying at Trader Joe’s
Smoothies are an efficient, tasty way to seriously bump up your produce intake as well as your intake of healthy fats, fiber, and other hard-to-get nutrients. We love taking them on-the-go with us to work or while traveling, and they are the perfect reward for a tough workout.
But smoothies can be expensive—really expensive—if you’re buying them from a local cafe or juice bar. And if you don’t know what to buy, smoothies can even be expensive to make at home. Unless you’re shopping at Trader Joe’s.
It makes sense that the grocery chain that's known for some of the best and lowest-priced packaged and frozen goods would be a haven for smoothie staples, but even so, we were pretty amazed at what we could get on a budget. Here are some of the best healthy, delicious, and most budget-friendly finds from Trader Joe’s:
Greek Yogurt
Trader Joe’s has a pretty stellar yogurt section for being such a small grocery store. We are partial to Greek yogurt, as it has more protein and a creamier texture for making the best smoothies. This Almond Butter Coconut flavor will not only help your smoothie taste phenomenal, but it adds a great probiotic boost as well. And it’s only 99 cents!
Organic Açai Packets
Discovering this gem in the frozen section has saved me so much money, as I can now make my own açai bowls at home instead of paying $12 for one at a shop. A pack of four açai packets costs $4.49 and with all these other delicious well-priced ingredients, you can make an amazing bowl yourself for half the price or less.
Organic Green Kale
One of the best parts of Trader Joe’s is that I can actually afford to shop organic here. And at $3.49, this organic green kale is no exception. Plus, it's pre-shredded and ready to go right into your blender, so now you have no excuse not to throw a handful in there Just please, wash it first—yes, even if it’s organic!
Non-Dairy Milks
A lot of people who drink cow’s milk still like having almond or cashew or coconut milk in their morning smoothies—the nutty flavor tastes good with a mix of fruits and veggies. TJ’s one-quart cartons of plant-based milks are perfect for occasional use or if you live alone. And this one is fortified with calcium, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E—which is nice for vegans who may struggle to get these in their diets otherwise.
Interested in learning more about our favorite healthy products from Trader Joe’s?
Seeds
Seeds no one had ever heard of before are now some of the most popular superfoods in the game these days—don’t try to tell me you knew alllll about chia before a wellness influencer introduced them to your Instagram feeds. These tiny seeds are nutritional powerhouses, packing in tons of healthy fats, fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals, but they can be pretty expensive. Luckily at Trader Joe’s an eight-ounce bag of hemp seeds is only $5.99, and we’ve often seem them hit double-digits elsewhere.
Organic Frozen Mixed Berries
Man, oh man, do I love a good frozen berry blend for sweetening my smoothies. A 12-ounce bag of organic strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries only sets me back $2.99, so this product is pretty much always guaranteed a spot in my grocery cart.
Manuka Honey
I know we’re stepping into total weird wellness territory here, but what can I say, I like TJ's manuka honey. While we aren’t 100 percent sure about the legitimate health benefits of this variety of honey, you’ll likely find the best price in town on it at Trader Joe’s. It’s only $13.99 at TJ’s, and I’ve seen prices as high as $30 at your standard, run-of-the-mill grocery chains.
Granola
If you need a little crunch in the morning with your smoothie, a little handful of granola is perfect for decorating a beautiful bowl or just plopping into a glass. This Almond Butter Granola from Trader Joe’s is especially delightful (as things with almond butter tend to be), plus it offers a nice fiber, protein, and iron boost. You’ll find a 12-ounce bag for only $3.49!
Coconut Water
Coconut water makes a delicious liquid base in smoothies, but it can often be pretty pricey. I love this one-quart carton to fill up my blender with throughout the week, as it only sets me back $1.99. Plus, the hint of aloe vera adds a nice flavor.
Frozen Pineapple
Is it just me, or is frozen pineapple really hard to find on its own? I love this one-pound bag of frozen “pineapple tidbits,” as Trader Joe’s calls it, and they run out quick, so I’m constantly stocking up. Frozen pineapple also makes a tasty snack on hot days! You can buy a pound of ‘em for only $1.79.
Super Seed & Ancient Grain Blend
If you’re trying to avoid granola, this awesome blend from TJ’s could be the answer to adding some crunch to your smoothie. Made with buckwheat, millet, chia seeds, flax seeds, red quinoa, hemp seeds, and amaranth, you don’t have to decide which seeds to use that day (or buy all of them in bulk) and can just have it all! An eight-ounce bag costs $4.49.
Matcha Green Tea Powder
Matcha is a powdered form of green tea that is thought to pack even more of an antioxidant punch—and it can be pretty pricey! Luckily at Trader Joe’s, you can buy matcha powder in small packets, because who wants to spend $40 on a giant jar unless you use it every day? This box of seven single-serve matcha packets only costs $6.99.
Protein Powder
A lot of us have feelings about whether or not we should be adding protein powder to our smoothies—or pancakes, or muffins, or pretty much everything else influencers use it in. However, protein powder can be a great tool for weight loss and reaching other health goals, and you can find some good options at good ole TJ’s to help. This organic, hemp-based one only costs $9.99, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find any of them there over $25.
