Trader Joe's Rice Bites with Quinoa & Cranberries: To be honest, I'm not a big fan of quinoa, and dried cranberries are probably my least favorite dried fruit. So why exactly did I purchase these grain + fruit bites from Trader Joe's? I blame it on my curiosity for this growing food trend of bite-sized squares, in both chewy and crunchy varieties, that appeal to health-minded consumers yet are not actually so healthy from a pure calorie and sugar-intake perspective. Trader Joe's take is simply not good. It has a cloying, artifical sweetn... (read more) 2.5/5.0
traderjoes rice bites quinoa cranberries 2.5
Trader Joe's Caramel ginger popcorn: A fresh spin on caramel popcorn, TJ's caramel ginger popcorn has a solid spiced flavor that you immediately identify as ginger. Unfortunately, it is far too sweet, with each piece coated in a thick sheen of buttery sugar. While popcorn is generally a healthier snack option, this one is far from it. Still, if you like ginger, chances are you will like this snack, as long as you don't eat too much in one sitting. 3.0/5.0
traderjoes caramel ginger popcorn 3.0
Trader Joe's Petite Pumpkin Spice Cookies: A seasonal version of Trader Joe's Pink & Whites (which, in turn, are knock-off animal crackers with sprinkles), these yogurt coated shortbread cookies are more distinctive, with a spiced ginger flavor and pumpkin-pie-flavored coating. They're really sweet, but given that the serving size is 4 cookies, you probably won't eat much at a time. I'm sure they graced many Halloween parties this season. Happy Halloween! 3.0/5.0
traderjoes halloween seasonal petite pumpkin spice cookies 3.0
Trader Joe's Candy Corn Popcorn: Even though I don't particularly like candy (you may notice I review very little of it here), I still like Halloween because it's the only time of the year I can have Butterfingers. And I actually do like candy corn in small quantities, even though it essentially tastes of pure sugar. I bought this Candy Corn Popcorn on an impulse buy at Trader Joe's in Brooklyn, where the lines snake very intentionally around the snack aisles. The snack tastes like caramel popcorn, except instead of just... (read more) 2.0/5.0
traderjoes candy corn popcorn 2.0
Trader Joe's Ghosts & Bats Crispy Potato Snacks: These thinly-sliced potato crisps are light and definitely more like crispy crackers than potato chips. Very strong potato flavor. They taste the most like french fries of any potato snack I've purchased off the shelf largely because it has an aftertaste that is reminiscent of fried foods. The shapes are super cute and perfect for the Halloween season. If I were to bring snacks to a Halloween party, this would be it. 3.5/5.0
recommended halloween holidays traderjoes ghosts bats crispy potato snacks 3.5
Trader Joe's Matcha Almond Beverage: I was really excited to see this Matcha-flavored almond milk at Trader Joe's because I've recently become accustomed to making chia-seed pudding at home, which requires the use of non-dariy milk. As a beverage on its own, it's just ok - the matcha doesn't have the distinct bitterness of a quality matcha drink, but it does taste familiar. They're like the Trader Joe's Matcha Joe Joes - they're perfectly enjoyable as a snack but the matcha flavor is not very good if you really judge it solel... (read more) 3.0/5.0
drinks greentea nondairy traderjoes matcha almond beverage 3.0