24 Trader Joe’s Products Nutritionists Never Add To Their Carts (2023)

Sure it's convenient, but "between the canola oil and the syrup blend, I would suggest something else," says Lindsay Wandzilak, CEO of The Daily. Look for a different Trader Joe's product that isn't as full of processed foods: "If you are aiming for an Indian-inspired meal, try marinating chicken in one of the many curry sauces that Trader Joe's carries with fewer and more natural ingredients."

Popcorn can be a healthy alternative to snacks like potato chips...when it's prepared correctly. This Caramel Ginger Popcorn doesn't make the cut. "What makes the Caramel Ginger Popcorn really bad is the sugar combined with the caramelization," says Glen Wilde, CEO and founder of Diet to Success. "The sugar alone is bad enough, but the caramel makes that sugar stick to your teeth, making it a cavity-inducing snack. A single one-cup serving contains just 110 calories, but a whopping 19g sugar. That's equivalent to half a can of Pepsi."

Trader Joe's has got the seasonal items on lock, which is what inspires treats like this Organic Watermelon Fruit Spread. Enjoy 'em sparingly because they don't quite equate to an every day indulgence. "These don't get a passing grade when it comes to containing added sugars and the ever broad 'flavored with other natural flavors,'" says John Fawkes, NSCA-Certified personal trainer, Precision Nutrition-certified nutritionist, & Managing Editor at The Unwinder. "Natural flavors can just mean so many things."

Turmeric and coconut are two buzzy words in the wellness community, so this boxed turmeric drink sounds like a healthful hit. Not so much: "The big marketing draw of this drink is that it contains turmeric, ginger and it's vegan-friendly. So, many people may think that it's healthy because it has antioxidant power and it's dairy-free, but the big turn off is that it contains 5g saturated fat," Amanda A. Kostro Miller, RD, LDN, and advisory board member for Fitter Living, tells Delish. "It also lacks protein and fiber, so you may not feel too satisfied after drinking it."

Grabbing an already-made burrito from Trader Joe's makes dinner super easy and super fast, which is great. But while it may be delicious, the ingredients leave something to be desired. "The label contains a whole host of unnecessary additives like monoglycerides, cellulose gum, sodium acid pyrophosphate, and powdered cellulose," says Serena Poon, CN, CHC, CHN, leading chef, nutritionist, and founder of the method ofCulinary Alchemy®, explains to Delish. "The high sodium levels, as well as the side effects of these additives to our digestive system, far outweigh the benefits."

It's fruit and organic grains, what could be wrong with this? Apparently, a lot! "I'm not one to quickly judge, but this was a straight up no within seconds," Dr. Nadia Rizzo, N.D., tells Delish. She notes the high amounts of milk, soy, and gluten, so if you have food sensitivities to any of these things, this won't react well with you. "Soy and wheat are commonly genetically modified. If that doesn't ruffle your feathers, carry on, unless you have reason for concern when it comes to blood sugar management, weight management or energy levels," she continues. "This product is high carbohydrate and high sugar, coupled with low protein. This is a straight up no across the board."

Mandarin Orange Chicken is a classic and a favorite among many Trader Joe's customers, so it pains us to say that it's not the ideal dinner for anyone who is watching what they eat. "This chicken has been coated in a refined grain flour batter and the first ingredient in the sauce for this chicken is sugar," Summer Yule, MS, RDN, tells Delish. "Speaking from personal experience, it can be very difficult to stick to the serving size on the package for this product!"

Muffins are not the picture of health, but "protein" is a magical word here that makes these seem much better. "While these beauties sound and taste like the most delicious seasonal treat, the dark chocolate muffin contains 13g of added sugars (totaling 26% of your recommended daily amount) and the maple version contains 14%," holistic nutritionist Jessica Groff, M.S., M.Ed, tells Delish. "And they both contain around 15% of your recommended daily amount of salt! Homemade overnight oats is a much better option."

Another quick meal option, this Chicken Pot Pie actually seems pretty decent when you give the nutrition facts a quick glance. But look closer: "Half of this small pie is 380 calories, meaning the whole thing is over 700 calories!" Wandzilak says. " If these were nutritious calories that would be fine, but the ingredients list shows that the second most-used ingredient is pie crust (i.e. flour, vegetable shortening and oils)." Try making your own chicken pot pie in the slow cooker for a fast and healthier option.

Many people assume that a label with splashy "dairy-free!" and "vegan!" phrases on it equates to "this is good for you!" That really couldn't be further from the truth, and these Coconut Cream Lattes are proof. "This drink is packed with sugar (9g added sugar) and saturated fat (7g)," Miller says. "It's definitely more of a dessert than a daily coffee!"

It's just broccoli! With eggs! It has to be good for you! "Think again. This quiche packs in 460 calories and 15 grams of saturated fat (practically an entire day's worth!) in just one serving," dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, author of Belly Fat Diet For Dummies, tells Delish. "So skip this one and take home some eggs and broccoli to whip up a healthier omelet instead."

For vegetarians looking for a fast and satisfying dinner, these Fully Cooked Falafels are great, at least when it comes to taste. "I feel like you'd be better off getting your falafel fix from a street vendor," Jamie Hickey, personal trainer and nutritionist of Truism Fitness, tells Delish. "The fat is a killer here, with 29% of your daily recommended value of total fat, and 15% of your daily value of saturated fats. But even more despicable is the amount of sodium. These falafels pack 490 mg per serving, which is an astounding 20% of your recommended daily value. Oh, and did I mention that the serving size is only three pieces?" Let's be real: who's going to stop at three of these?

All of those veggies have got to make this one a pretty decent option, right? Wrong. "This 'Venice original' pie/pizza sounds like the perfect treat, but a third of the package contains 11g of fat (14% of your recommended daily amount) and 810mg of sodium (35% of your RDA)," Groff says. Eat this one sparingly.

This is candy, so of course no one is assuming it's good for you. But the addition of peanuts may lead you to believe it's not too bad. "Sure, peanuts and dark chocolate can both offer health benefits, but this snack option is packed full of added sugar (it's the first ingredient and appears four times in various forms on the ingredient list!)," Palinski-Wade says. "So skip these guys and make your own mix of dry roasted nuts and dark chocolate instead."

Take note: organic does not always mean healthy. "The first three ingredients in this snack are forms of added sugar with very little actual fruit inside," Palinski-Wade says. Basically, these really are just fruit-flavored, with no actual fruit. You're better off with dried real fruit instead.

A burger is a burger, right? Nope. Hickey tells Delish that the ingredients in these frozen patties are "horrible." She explains, "For each patty, you're consuming 290 calories, 80 mg of cholesterol, and 23 grams of fat, nine of which are saturated fats. Sure, that doesn't seem too harmless right? But these numbers don't take into account the percentages of the fats in comparison to daily recommended values. These burgers not only give the consumer 35% of their daily fats, but 45% of their daily saturated fats. That's as much fat as two burgers form Burger King." You're better off with a more lean brand!

The term "fresh squeezed" makes this drink seem a lot healthier than it actually is. "An 8oz serving of their fresh squeezed lemonade contains 28 grams of sugar!" Poon says. That's a lot of sugar for a beverage, making this more like juice. If you need a lemony fix, try squeezing actual fresh lemon into your water.

Pita chips are often thought of as a better chip than potato chips, but that's really only if you're making them yourself and baking them. "Sure, they sound healthy, but pita chips are made from refined carbohydrates and this variety piles it on by adding additional sugars," Palinski-Wade says. "This means you won't feel satisfied for long after eating these, and they may cause unhealthy spikes in blood sugar as well."

A ready-to-go flavored canned coffee is delicious and easy to grab while you're having a busy morning. If you're going to get this, though, you may want to opt for the unflavored option. "The flavored varieties like French Vanilla and the seasonal Caramel Spice Coconut Cream boast 10 grams of sugar, 9 of which are added," Fawkes says. "You're better off buying plain cold brew, then adding your own coconut cream or milk, then mixing in some spices for a final flavor kick."