Meal Planning with Trader Joe’s
Graphic by Anneli Paulson
Taking care of your meal plan is one of the hardest things to adjust to in adulthood. Trying to balance learning how to make food for yourself that tastes good and is balanced and semi-healthy.
Along with managing your budget for grocery costs, especially in the last few years, costs of living have gone up and it is tricky to balance all of the things that go into your spending.
One thing that I have found that is very cost-effective and very good is the grocery store Trader Joe's. They have a variety of unique options that can be frozen meals or you can combine ingredients to make a more complex dish. The options available account for many different types of diets and cooking levels.
To make a meal from Trader Joe's does not require a lot of talent in cooking which is something that I need. Generally, the most anyone needs to do is to heat something on the stove making it quick and easy.
If you ever find yourself in a Trader Joe's looking at some meal planning these are some easy recipes that I have tried and loved.
Creamy Tomato Soup with Pesto Gnocchi
1 32 oz container of Trader Joe's package of Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Soup
4 oz mascarpone
⅓ package of potato gnocchi
4 tbsp Trader Joe Giottos Pesto alla Genovese
Salt and pepper
Heat the soup in a saucepan and mix in mascarpone. While the soup heats, bring a small pot of water to boil and add the gnocchi until they pop up to the surface. Scoop them out and set them aside and season soup to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls and add gnocchi and pesto to taste in each serving.
Orange Chicken and Fried Rice:
This simple combination has been one of my favorite meals and it only requires two ingredients and is super easy to make. Heat oven to 400 degrees and cook chicken for about 18-20 minutes. In a saucepan melt sauce and when the chicken is cooked combine both in a separate bowl. In a skillet put about 2 tbsp of olive oil and heat up and stir rice for about 7 minutes and mix with orange chicken.
Along With simple combinations and recipes they also have a great selection of snacks and frozen meals: