Vegan Essentials From Trader Joes

Ellice Ellis ‘20

When the long-awaited USC Village opened, nothing excited me more than the new Trader Joes. The organic grocery chain is known for their relatively cheap prices, great frozen food selection, and friendly staff. 

In addition to this, Trader Joe’s is a vegan’s paradise. There are a lot of products on the shelves of TJ’s that are essential to a great vegan meal. 

As a TJ’s fanatic and a vegan, I’ve come here to share my top 5 products from the store that will rock your little vegan belly.

1. Super Burrito

The $3.29 burrito can be found in the produce aisle and it is a great on-the-go snack or quick meal. It is packed with sweet potatoes, a sweet Peruvian sauce and for you kale fanatics, yes it has kale. 

I would suggest heating it up in a toaster oven or regular over so the tortilla gets crispy. If you don’t have time for that, follow the microwave directions and throw it in the broiler for 10 seconds on each side. 

2. Vegan Mozzarella Style Shreds

Any vegan knows finding good meltable cheese is hard…well Trader Joes solves that pain. Their mozzarella cheese shreds are a great addition to any Italian-style meal.

The bag is priced at about $3.00 and should last you for about 3-5 meals. I personally use an entire bag when making pasts casseroles like baked ziti or homemade pizza. The product also pairs well with Trader Joe’s cauliflower pizza crust. 

3. Soy Creamy Mini Vanilla Sandwiches

For my dessert lovers out there, this pack of dairy-free ice cream sandwiches are great after a long night of studying or an hour in the gym. 

There are 8 sandwiches in the pack which will cost you $2.99. My favorite part of this snack is the sandwich is the perfect portion size. The sandwiches also do not have the typical soy aftertaste. Many of my friends did not even know they were vegan. 

4. Coconut Creamer

For all my coffee lovers, the Coconut Creamer should be in your refrigerator. The subtle coconut flavor tastes amazing in iced coffee and in recipes that require heavy cream. 

The carton will run you about $1.99 and although I do not personally drink coffee, my best friend who is a coffee fanatic and a vegan says it lasts her up to a month. 

5. Meatless Meatballs

This $3.00 bag of meatballs should be on your grocery list month after month. The pack comes with a ridiculous amount of meatballs which can be used for a plethora of meals.  

I typically heat them up on the stove top and add my favorite sauces and seasonings.

I’ve used these meatballs to make vegan marinara subs, meatballs and gravy and baked ziti. 

Well, that is it for today. Check back later for when I scout the best vegan options at the Village Target. Happy Grocery Shopping! 

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