Now that a new year is here, more and more people are going to start looking for new foods they can enjoy on a weight loss journey.
One of the most popular grocery stores is Trader Joe’s, and they’re well known for their wide array of frozen and premade foods that are flavorful and easy to prepare. However, some people think they’re not a good choice for weight loss, as premade foods are typically made with a lot of additives and can contain excess calories. Still, health and nutrition experts, including dietitian and content creator Marissa Karp, MS, RD, CDN, have found some “great” options for slimming down safely. Read more about three premade meals Marissa “loves” from the famous grocery chain below.
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1. Chicken Tikka Masala
If you love the flavorful and hearty experience of eating Indian food, you can still enjoy it by grabbing a box of the Trader Joe's Chicken Tikka Masala, which is sold in their frozen foods section. Although the frozen meal comes with Basmati rice, Marissa suggests beefing up its nutritional value by mixing in some added vegetables.
"I am an Indian food lover, and this tikka masala tastes great mixed with frozen green beans and riced cauliflower to up the fiber!" wrote Marissa in the caption of one of her Instagram reels.
2. Beef Birria
Birria tacos took over the internet a few years ago, and fans were thrilled when they saw that the famous grocery chain was selling their own prepared birria for dishes, as it can be a rather time-consuming dish to make. To make things even better, Marissa says it's one of her favorite items in the store, and can be used for way more recipes aside from tacos.
"The ingredients here are just beef, onions, tomatoes, and spices," she noted. "A simple and flavorful way to add protein to any dish!"
3. Bean & Cheese Burritos
Sometimes, when you don't have time to cook, aren't feeling great, or need to eat something quickly, frozen burritos can come in clutch. However, some premade burritos can be high in sodium and other more risky ingredients, making them a not-so-great choice for weight loss. Still, Marissa is a fan of the bean and cheese, or beef, bean, and cheese burritos sold at Trader Joe's, as she notes they still have some health benefits.
"These have 7 grams of fiber and 13 grams of protein and are ready in minutes," she wrote. "LOVE."
