The Tastiest, Healthiest Meals Hidden in Trader Joe's Freezer Section

Trader Joe's freezer section is an oasis for folks who want a little variety with their lazy food prep, an arctic sea full of pizzas, Greek cheese spirals, mac & cheese, pot pies, and other artery-hugging fare. But it's also stocked with healthier meals, with a selection of entrees that would give even the most avid home chef a workout to prepare otherwise.

You’re probably thinking “who are you to tell us what’s healthy?” You’re absolutely right to question me: I've eaten deep-fried double bubble gum at the county fair, so I officially have zero credibility. But you know who does? Registered dietician Sheila Flavin, M.S., R.D.N. So we asked her to weigh in on the best healthy options at TJ's.

“I’ve definitely recommended Trader Joe’s food to clients,” said Flavin. “It’s much better to have foods like these ready to go in your freezer than to get take out when you’re starving, busy, or in a rush.”

Keep an eye out for these frozen gems at TJ's. Having them around might just justify your county fair binges.

Through some modern miracle of food science, people have turned veggies into a pasta that still tastes a lot like the real, delicious deal. You can kind of taste the cauliflower flavor here, but the consistency tastes like real, creamy potato gnocchi. Just throw together a cup of the cauliflower gnocchi with some red sauce and a sprinkle of parm on top. Pro tip: Pan fry them first… boiling them turns them into little balls of mush.

This protein-packed vegetarian dish is simply a delicious, filling combination of green and red lentils, garbanzo beans, plump tomatoes, a drizzle of olive oil, and a pinch of salt. It’s nutritious and hearty with a mild flavor, leaving room to enjoy it as is or to throw in strong spices if you choose. “This is the real superstar,” said Flavin. “This is exactly what you should be eating. It’s high fiber, low fat, low sodium, and a great source of protein.”

How they make this healthy dish taste so rich and creamy is nothing short of a miracle, but let’s just roll with this sorcery. You can cook this dish in the microwave, the oven, or the stovetop and pour the saucy scallops over some zucchini noodles or rice. The scallops are tiny but tender, and the cheese sauce is super thick, creamy, and somehow healthy.

Traditionally, this popular Italian dish is a pretty pricey seafood stew in a tangy wine sauce made with tomatoes and fresh fish, so to find an inexpensive version of cioppino at Trader Joe’s was quite a surprise. “Although it’s generally pretty healthy, this dish is really high in sodium,” explained Flavin. “If you’re going to indulge in this, just know that it should be your one high-sodium food for the day. You’re supposed to have 2,400mg in a day, so this is almost a third of what you should have.”

A lot of Chinese takeout is extremely salty, but these are low in sodium, fat, and calories. You can pan fry them, put them in the microwave, or heat them on the stovetop with some greens and low-sodium chicken broth to make wonton soup. Amid Trader Joe's -- sorry, Trader Ming's -- huge collection of east Asian fare, they're a rare bite that manages to be delicious without overloading you with calories, sauces, or carbs.

Trader Joe’s has a wide variety of frozen Indian dishes, but if you’re going for a healthy option you’ll want to grab the channa masala. Chickpeas are cooked until tender with garlic, bay leaves, cilantro, tomatoes, a splash of milk, and a variety of spices like turmeric and mango powder to create a flavorful Indian dish in the comfort of your own home. “It’s a little bit higher in fat than some of the other options, but that’s ok,” said Flavin. “Try balancing it with a grain like quinoa, brown rice, or couscous for a balanced dish.”

This is an intensely flavored dish, so you really don’t need to do much else besides cook it while you queue up Cool Runnings. The savory, charred grilled chicken meshes well with the sweet, fruit-based sauce.

“No one eats a whole pizza,” explains Flavin. (Writer's Note: Strongly disagree.) “Honestly though, even if you did, it’s a reasonable meal packed full of veggies.” The creamy mozzarella, fresh sauce, seasoning, garlic, and a little olive oil gives this veggie-loaded meal great flavor. Once in awhile you just have to splurge for the real thing, but this is a much healthier alternative if you crave it regularly.

Perfect for dinner or to split as a side dish, this low-fat, protein-packed macaroni & cheese gives you the same taste of the popular smooth and creamy comfort food without destroying your hard work at the gym. Yeah, that’s right. Healthy (ish) mac & cheese. Let that soak in for a minute. Throw in some grilled, shredded chicken breast or chicken sausage (also available at Trader Joe’s) to add even more protein.

Trader Joe’s version of the traditional casserole goes heavy on the peas, carrots, and tender shredded meat. The dish is traditionally made with a very thick layer of potato, but this version has a ton of filling with just a thin layer of mashed potatoes that get really crispy and brown in the oven. The beef broth keeps the meat really juicy and makes it easy to pull apart.

“This dinner is an excellent source of protein and great source of fiber,” said Flavin. Mexican cuisine can become unhealthy pretty quickly if you load on the sour cream, queso, guacamole, and fatty beef, but this dish offers a healthier alternative that’s equally delicious. The bowl combines seasoned chicken breast with filling red quinoa, mild cheddar, hearty black beans, brown rice, sweet corn, and a chipotle style sauce to tie it all together.

“This dish is super high in protein with a reasonable amount of sodium and a good source of iron and vitamin C,” explained Flavin. The dark meat chicken is combined with flavors of tangy ginger, green onions, garlic, and white pepper to give the stir fry a punch without a General Tso-level of fat. The shiitake mushrooms have a naturally earthy flavor and soak up a ton of tasty sauce, and you can serve this over browned up cauliflower rice for a nutritious, filling dinner.

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