We love Trader Joe’s for so many different staples that we use on a daily basis. We often stock up on their soy milk, whole wheat lavash, cruciferous crunch, frozen artichoke, frozen charred corn, and more! It is not often that we purchase convenience packaged foods, so in this video we went over a few of the plant based and oil free options we found at Trader Joe’s that would be great when traveling or for emergency meals!

Sometimes you have days where making a meal just is not possible for a variety of reasons. On a SOS free and whole food plant based diet finding a fast, prepared, and compliant meal is almost impossible. That is why we wanted to go over some of the best options we could find at Trader Joe’s that are plant based and oil free.

We chose 5 different items (and maybe a couple bonus items) that we have never had before to discuss. We will go over the ingredients, the salt content, and the sugar content of each item. We will even have a taste test and let you know if we think it is worth purchasing!

#1 - Organic Split Pea Soup

The first item we tried was the canned Organic Split Pea Soup. We love that this soup is made with only whole food plant based items like organic green split peas, organic onions, organic celery, organic carrots, and more. On the other hand, this soup is chock-full of salt and in just one can there are 1200mg of sodium.

The verdict? This soup is much too salty to enjoy on its own as a soup. It would be much better enjoyed as a sauce on a baked potato or grains. In summary, it is a good option if you are looking for something really fast, but it will be very salty enjoyed on its own.

#2 - Pulled Jackfruit in Smoky BBQ Sauce

The second item we tried was the Pulled Jackfruit in Smoky BBQ Sauce. The great thing about this product is that it is in a microwavable pouch, so there is no need for dishes. Another great thing about this product is that it is fairly clean and mostly contains real food. Although there is soy sauce, there is only 810mg of sodium in the entire package, which is much less than the split pea soup. There is a good amount of sugar though.

The verdict? This BBQ jackfruit is way too sweet for our liking. This item is really great though if you only have a microwave available like at a hotel or in a dorm. It is also very convenient as there is no need for any extra dishes and can be made by simply microwaving the bag. If you are at home though, we suggest simply buying a can of jackfruit, rinsing it well, and tossing it in a pan for a few minutes with Well Your World BBQ Sauce for an easy sos free version!

#3 - Gnocchi

The third item we tried was the Gnocchi. We were surprised to see that this product contains no added salt or sugar and just a few ingredients! To prepare this gnocchi all you have to do is drop it into boiling water for two minutes, making it really simple. We tried this product with our sos free Marinara Magnifica Pasta Sauce.

The verdict? This gnocchi was just not good. It wasn’t until after tasting it that we realized it was refined white flour and not whole wheat flour making it processed junk. Not to mention, the taste and texture were both underwhelming. We don't suggest purchasing this product even in a pinch and instead use whole wheat, lentil, or chickpea pasta.

#4 - Mango Jicama Slaw

The fourth item we tried was the Mango Jicama Slaw with a Lime Mango Vinaigrette. This slaw has mango, jicama, cabbage, and cilantro. It is important to note that the vinaigrette is full of salt, oil, AND sugar, but we will not be using it. Oftentimes, if we are really in a pinch we will purchase a premade salad like this, toss the dressing, and throw on one of our Well Your World Spice Blends or Dressings.

The verdict? This salad was very tasty and the flavors went extremely well with our Chili Lime Seasoning Blend. Although, now that we know the flavors work together well we would make this salad at home in a larger portion! All in all, the salad itself is really great if you need something fast on the go, just be sure to have your own spice blends or dressing on hand!

#5 - Dill Pickle Mustard

The fifth item we tried was the Dill Pickle Mustard. This mustard is a traditional mustard with dill pickle pieces. Like any mustard (except WYW Sweet Mustard) it is very high in sodium. We tried this pickle mustard on carrot dogs to give it a fair trial.

The verdict? This mustard tastes good and is best described as a mustard with a relish flavor. We say give it a try if you are a fan of mustard and pickles!

Bonus #1 - Super Spinach Salad

The first bonus item we tried was the Super Spinach Salad with a Carrot Ginger Miso Dressing. This salad has a great combination of ingredients like quinoa, carrots, cranberries, chickpeas, edamame, and pumpkin seeds. Although, there is a touch of oil on the cranberries which is very common. For this salad we threw away the dressing (like with the slaw) and added Well Your World Sweet Heat.

The verdict? This salad has a great combination of flavors and ingredients. This salad is great to bring along on trips and toss with your own dressing. In the future though, we would buy it once to see if we like the flavors and then recreate it ourselves at home.

 

 

Bonus #2 - Gochujang

The second bonus item we tried was Gochujang which is a Korean fermented red pepper paste. Gochujang is commonly enjoyed with Bibimbap and other various dishes. We were surprised to see that Trader Joe’s has made their own version. It is important to note that much like miso paste, Gochujang is very high in sodium. We tried this product by tossing it on the Mango Jicama Slaw.

The verdict? Trader Joe’s made an authentic tasting Gochujang! We suggest only using a small amount because of how much sodium it contains. In summary, it is a good product to have on hand!

That is all for this Trader Joe’s haul! We hope we were able to show you some new products that can be helpful when traveling, in a pinch, or as an emergency meal. Let us know if you have tried any of these products and what you thought! And please let us know if you have any plant based and oil free Trader Joe’s recommendations!