- I'm a registered dietitian who follows a high-protein, Mediterranean diet.
- The store's chicken lettuce wraps and lemon-rosemary chicken are great sources of protein.
- I also love picking up the Ready Veggies, Mediterranean-style hummus, and butternut squash zig-zags.
As a registered dietitian, I strive to follow the Mediterranean diet, which prioritizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, fish, nuts, and seeds, while limiting red meat and ultra-processed foods.
But since I'm also focusing on building lean muscle mass, I make sure to consume lots of protein-packed foods to facilitate muscle growth.
Luckily, I can get everything I need to follow a high-protein Mediterranean diet from Trader Joe's. Plus, as a busy mom, I appreciate products that make snacking and meal time easier.
Here are some of my favorite Trader Joe's products.
I love Trader Joe's ranch-seasoned cashews.
Kristen Carli
I'm a big fan of anything ranch-flavored, so when I spotted these, I knew they were going to become a quick favorite.
Cashews are high in healthy fats and also contain plant-based protein, making them a great option for a filling snack on a busy day.
I like to keep things interesting with marinated chicken.
Kristen Carli
Chicken can get boring day after day. That's why I love buying pre-marinated chicken to make meal time both easy and delicious.
Trader Joe's sundried tomato and basil chicken tenders cook quickly and pair great with spaghetti squash for a plant-forward take on pasta night.
Trader Joe's Ready Veggies make dinner easy.
Kristen Carli
Instead of buying several different whole vegetables, I love grabbing this bag of pre-sliced veggies that includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, red cabbage, kale, carrots, and snow peas.
I toss these in a quick tofu stir fry or roast them on a sheet pan with salmon for an easy dinner.
Trader Joe's chicken lettuce wraps are a great source of protein.
Kristen Carli
The prepared food section at Trader Joe's is popular for a reason. The store is always rolling out new innovative products that make lunchtime eats easy.
For example, the chicken lettuce wraps are quickly becoming a favorite of mine, packing 29 grams of protein in just 300 calories.
The store's Mediterranean-style hummus is great with raw veggies.
Kristen Carli
Although Trader Joe's has an impressive selection of hummus to choose from, my favorite is the Mediterranean-style version.
The slightly whipped texture pairs beautifully with raw vegetables like baby carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers for a nutritious snack.
Trader Joe's lemon-rosemary chicken is the star of my sheet-pan dinners.
Kristen Carli
I'm constantly looking for new ways to switch up my dinner offerings without spending hours in the kitchen. Luckily, Trader Joe's spatchcocked lemon-rosemary chicken is delicious and can be roasted on a baking sheet for an hour.
I pair it with roasted potatoes and broccoli for an easy sheet-pan meal.
I rely on the Trader Joe's fresh mozzarella cheese snackers for a quick source of protein.
Kristen Carli
The Mediterranean diet allows for moderate portions of cheese, and Trader Joe's fresh mozzarella makes it easy for me to nourish myself throughout the day.
With 5 grams of protein per serving, these mozzarella cheese snackers are a great when paired with whole fruit, like apples or bananas, for an afternoon snack as I'm rushing out the door.
The lemon-chicken and arugula salad is delicious and keeps me feeling full.
Kristen Carli
Whole grains, like quinoa, are a good source of fiber and key to the Mediterranean diet. That's why I'm always on the lookout for prepared salads with protein and whole grains.
Trader Joe's lemon-chicken and arugula salad, loaded with ingredients like red quinoa and couscous, fuels my body with complex carbohydrates that keep me feeling full.
My family likes Trader Joe's Unexpected cheddar chicken sausage.
Kristen Carli
My family loves the taste of sausage, but I try to avoid red meat whenever possible, especially since I follow the Mediterranean diet. So, I like to buy chicken sausage instead.
Trader Joe's has many different varieties to choose from, but my personal favorite is the Unexpected cheddar chicken sausage. However, because it's a processed food, I enjoy this one in moderation.
I love having the store's precooked chicken breast in my fridge.
Kristen Carli
Having cooked, sliced, and chilled chicken at-the-ready in my fridge is key to supporting my daily protein goals. Luckily, Trader Joe's Just Chicken strips make it easy to bump up the protein in most meals.
My toddler loves the butternut squash zig-zags.
Kristen Carli
Butternut squash is nutritious and delicious, but it can be a real pain to slice yourself. So, if it's on my shopping list, I always look for the pre-chopped version.
Trader Joe's carries these fun zig-zags that are a real hit with my toddler. I find that kids turn into veggie-lovers when cut into fun shapes.
I prefer Trader Joe's chicken burrito bowl to Chipotle's version.
Kristen Carli
Trader Joe's frozen chicken burrito bowl contains brown rice, black beans, and red quinoa, which are all nutritious, Mediterranean diet-friendly foods. As for the cheese? I see it as a little treat.
With 22 grams of protein, 9 grams of fiber, and only 370 calories, this frozen meal is a quick lunch I feel good about.
The post I follow a high-protein Mediterranean diet. Here are 12 items I always buy at Trader Joe's. appeared first on Business Insider