I eat the beefless bulgoggi regularly. It is far more flexible than just for stir fry. I have used it for bbq sandwiches, where I add bbq sauce. But, my favorite is to create a cheesesteak sandwich and add grilled onions and peppers with vegan cheese on a hoagie bun. Also, cooking it in a skillet is superior to using the microwave and doesn’t really take much longer. Big fan of Trader Joe’s. Thanks for this video.
Thanks for those ideas! I use a cast iron skillet haven't tried the beefless bulgogi yet. I look forward to making the "cheesesteak" sandwich in addition to stir fry!
Thanks for the tip on the cheesesteak! My son has requested vegan cheesesteak every year for his birthday since he was little. He'll be 32 next month. This year, I'll use the bulgogi from TJ's. :)
I used to love TJ’s. But… After several years eating plant-based, my wife and I weaned ourselves from prepared foods, whereas in the first two years of this radical diet change, we depended a lot on certain Trader Joe’s products. Now about 70% of our cooking is done in batches using such ingredients as dry legumes and fresh vegetables in an instant pot. So much less oil and sodium, more nutrients, and fuller flavors than store-bought vegan junk; and so easy on a person’s time schedule. Just reheat a portion whenever you get hungry! (Cheaper too!)
@@jeffvick6523 . . . 💯💯💯 so agree with you . . . plus, it feels so good knowing exactly what's in your food . . . as opposed to knowing that our govt regulations mostly protect the financial interests of big parma & big food by allowing so many toxic prods in our foods - so much so that even other countries don't allow their people to use them....making our country among the sickest in the world . . .🥰🥰🥰
I am a little late adding this comment BUT...excellent video...learned sooo much from your demos...I have to tell you one of my pleasures getting up on Saturdays is knowing there will be a new video from Plantwhys...truly...excellent tips and recipes. ..watch lots of vegan videos to avoid all the politics on TV and yours are up there in the top 3!! Will be trying some of these with of course...added veg thx to you!!
The meatless Bulgogi is better in a cast iron pan. If you let it to frost and then just let it brown with little bits of water added to it in the PAN period it's great!
Great video. I am a vegetarian (30+ years) and a big fan of Trader Joe's inventory, and so happy to see these great options being shared with the community.
I’ve had the Vegan Enchilada Casserole, because I miss enchiladas. While it was frozen, I moved the entire frozen “chunk” into a glass casserole dish the same size and baked it in my Breville mini smart oven. It tasted MUCH better than nuking it in the microwave. The frozen potatoes, mushrooms and green beans are better cooked in a skillet than dried out on a sheet pan. Drain a can of chickpeas and cook them in some veg broth and any seasoning you like for a bit; then mix them in with the potatoes and mushrooms. Chickpeas are awesome and can stretch and improve anything, so you will have a better meal. The spinach cashew ravioli is better with a creamy sauce. Either make your own cashew or chickpea creamy sauce, or try it with Primal Kitchen’s Alfredo vegan sauce. Mmmm! She has some good items that can be seriously improved by combining them with different things or adding some sauces from the online vegan cooks and chefs. There are some truly awesome vegan chefs online these days.
I loved your comment about that we sacrifice something for convenience food-maybe a little bit of health. This will be something for me to remember as I reach for the convenience items.
It's so hard sometimes right! I try to eat mostly whole food plant-based but sometimes you just need something fast. And some days it's worth it for the emotional weight off your shoulders, but other days you have the energy and can easily make something from scratch. It's just about not getting into the habit of mindlessly doing it. Love you! Thanks for being here!
Loved the salad ideas from TJ… as sometimes I just can’t face pulling out all the fixings to make it from scratch. I’ll check my store. The rest I gave up 2 years ago when I went totally no ultra processed food and no added sugar and no alcohol. I feel years younger. I love shopping at TJ because they have random veg and spices and nuts that I love. Their sprouted tofu is so good ..I love it with some liquid aminos and cut into small pieces..bake at 400 till crispy. 👍 I enjoy watching your kids eating veggies and the mushroom sandwich and enjoying it. So cute. Edit.. this was my first video that I’ve ever caught of yours. It was suggested for me randomly. It caught my eye with the Trader Joes mention in the title. I subscribed and I’m looking forward to watching some of your videos. You have some excellent ideas! can’t wait to see what else you have in store for me!
Thank you for doing this. Even though we are usually WFPB it’s good to have some easy meal ideas for when we are in a hurry or want to keep it simple. I really appreciated this video. I hope you are ignoring some of the rude comments I’ve seen 😢.
To really have healthy meals microwave prepared foods in glass or ceramic dishes and bowls - take the frozen foods out of the plastic or paper looking containers they come in which contain unknown chemicals and some forever chemicals.
Great Trader Joe’s ideas. Here’s 2 more I have done: #1 - stir fry 1 pack of stir fry veggie blend. Add 2 pouches of cooked squiggly knife cut noodles with sauce packets. Top with sriracha or teriyaki baked tofu. #2 - one cooked Taiwanese green onion pancake folded with one serving of Korean beef less bulgogi. Goes great with any salad from Trader Joe’s.
I absolutely love Trader Joe's Japchae glass noodle stir fry! You're the first person I've seen who has bought this in a vegan Trader Joe's haul. Thank-you!!
Still watched even though Trader Joe's isn't available in the UK Ali. Fantastic vegan meals and hopefully there are alternatives in the UK. Love 🥰 the video and love ❤Ali & family.
You can absolutely shop whole food plant based at Trader Joe's and save money. Very affordable if you are careful about the number of specialty items you buy whether vegan or not. Their produce is very high quality and often less than my regular grocery store. Their spices are $1.99 and organic. Eating WFPB is so easy. Rice, pasta, beans, potatoes and veggies. Tofu....all very inexpensive and organic at Trader Joe's.
@annefrazer6629 Im from Australia.. no Trader Joe's.. I have been vegan for 10 years and know that it can be very simple to eat on a budget but with 4 small children who also love to snack through the day id love a full grocery shop and then the meals and snacks for the week to go along with it in a video. I would find it really helpful.
What a fun video!!! I love that your children are part of the taste test! They are so cute! I need to try the beefless bulgoggi. Love your tip to add frozen veggies to the canned soups. Love the vegan ravioli. Like you, I did not like the soup dumplings. A recent find was the Italian lemon juice in a bottle. I found it near the mayonnaise. I add little bit to my water and it taste like lemonade. Sometimes I will add a bit of pineapple juice, it is such a refreshing drink. Love the Marula facial oil!
One tip for the beefless bulgoggi is to just airfry it. They get crispy and it completely mellows the extreme artificial smoke flavor. From there, pair it with sides like you would a "meat and potatoes" meal instead of a rice or stir fry that will just add so much more sodium. I've put the beefless bulgoggi on top of baked potatoes with brocoli and greek yogurt and it's such a comforting meal.
I drive 45 mins to the nearest TJs with two of their freezer bags.😊 WFPB since 2017. Salad dressings are a must, lentils and many of what you tried out but you need to try the frozen Spanish rice. And the miso ginger broth. Also the Japanese white sweet potatoes!❤
I didn’t even think to look for Japanese sweet potatoes. Those are my favorite!!! And I want to try out the Spanish rice and broth too! Thanks for the tips!
@@plantwhysI make an awesome veggie rice “soup”. Or maybe it’s a stew. Heat the miso ginger broth in a large pan. Add some brown rice-it can be per cooked or not, maybe a half cup. Meanwhile I stir fry a package of broccoli slaw and some sliced mushrooms, peppers, garlic and onions. Or whatever other veggies need to be used. Add these to your soup and top with some tofu or other protein. Filling, delicious, and the broth gives it really good flavor. New subscriber here!
This was excellent !! So helpful ! I live in Indianapolis and our two Trader Joe's don't offer as wide a selection. But those two cold salads are both winners !! Do you have a video about why you and your family went plant based ?
Thanks for this! I just yesterday picked up the kimbap and the cauliflower gnocchi. I boiled the gnocchi and they were fine, but am stoked to try them in the air fryer!
You and your family are great reviewers! Thanks - I look forward to trying the Beefless Bulgogi. I don't use a microwave, so I've poured that Enchilada Casserole into a medium pot to heat it, then poured it into a bowl or onto a plate. It's good (and doesn't taste microwaved!). But I don't often purchase it, because of the high salt/fat. I often use TJ's canned organic black beans, but I rinse the beans in a colander before using them, to rid them of excess salt. I used to use TJ's Beefless Beef all the time in soups, etc., but found that Abbot's plant-based beef is healthier (although, unfortunately, more expensive - so I don't get it often).
@@plantwhys I recently twice tried the Beefless Bulgogi - and wow! I love it. In my cast iron pan, I sauteed some slices of fresh, colorful bell peppers and chopped leek, then added the Bulgogi. I also liked it with some rice or buckwheat kasha. Like you, I wasn't fond of the high sodium content, plus I didn't want the sugars they added. While I prefer to steer clear of processed foods and nearly always cook from scratch, I'll consider this an indulgence once or twice a month. Thanks for the recommendation!
I enjoy these videos where you combine different things to make a meal. Finding recipes is easy, but putting different things together to make a meal is not always so straightforward...
Amazing, I love ur videos, love the fact u r talking about sodium, fat, in these foods. TJs us my store when I shop every week , so these things now go in my list! Thank you for doing this! U rock!
Ice things to know about TJ. They stock their stores regionally so you might not find your fav items in a different store. SoCal was better than NorCal stores. The closest TJ to me now is in Little Rock and it's missing lots of international flavors.
Thank you, Lots of timesaving ideas! I feel like the mushroom sandwich is plain, would want to add cheese/vegetables or vegan cheese to it... but sounds like you give it a very good recommendation
Great ideas! I love TJs and shop there every week. These are super quick and tasty ideas I will try. I usually eat much healthier options as well, but instead of take out, these would surely hit the spot :)
Howdy, I went to Trader Joe's in Northern Virginia and they told me many of these products are only available in California or on the west coast. Just FYI to those in other locations.
@@plantwhys Me too! I love that you can give me scoop on all the good sources for vegan options, along with fabulous fruits and vegetables, in the area! One store I like in Vienna is Trace, The Zero Waste Store. It's at 140 Church Street NW, in Vienna. They have bulk foods and spices, along with clean soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and many handy zero waste tools. It's definitely worth a visit. If you have empty glass jars, take a bunch with you to fill up.
I’m a frequent shopper of Trader Joe’s, and please make sure you’re reading all the nutritional labels! I have found that a lot of their meals are processed, and often are full of saturated fats and also sodium! I make a list and I know exactly what I’m buying from them before I go. Not all of their stuff is healthy! Read the nutritional value on the back of the package! If it comes in a package and it’s frozen, more likely than not it is a processed food!
It is so true. I honestly felt ill after trying so many processed foods in such a short period of time. But I really wanted to know which ones were actually worth it and which ones were not.
I live rural. Always have. However I never consider how rural until I tried to locate the nearest Trader Joe's. 4 hrs 10 minutes 🤣🤣 Aldi's is closer, its only 2 hours 47 minutes 🙈
Great point! I was honestly in a rush to finish filming. It was a lot of food I had to make in a short period of time! Also my kids would have picked off the veggies. They will eat veggies, but just not on pizza. (for whatever reason. kids are weird.)
When I worked at Trader Joe’s in college I used to eat the refrigerated lentil soup with tortilla chips on my lunch break a bunch lol that stuff was good I don’t even think I was vegan yet back then
No Trader Joe’s within absolute hours of me, but love them so much I watched anyway! lol (My germy-ocd self says 😬 honey, clean your microwave, and all those appliances in fact - but then, I don’t have kids 😂) Great vid as usual! (ps it’s cha-batta - never knew myself until this rural gal started baking bread a few decades ago)
Kyabatta…that’s a pronunciation I’ve never heard, made me laugh🤣 Dirtiest kitchen of any UA-camr I’ve ever seen, but with 6 kids I’m glad she chooses to share her fabulous tips, tricks and recipes over cleaning😊 Almost impossible to keep a clean kitchen with a bunch of kids running around anyway😉
Ha ha I filmed this during summer and it was miracle I was able to do that. Summer with 6 kids is no joke. That microwave was not getting cleaned first. ha ha I loved that you noticed though. I'm all about real life over here.
One of the tenets of a WFPB diet is to stay away from processed foods. So, while this food may be convenient, it is the exact opposite of what your diet should be. I can see using one of these on occasion or to help people making the leap from a SAD diet to a WFPB diet. But, making this the basis for what you eat is the wrong way to go.
I don’t agree. Except for the sodium content, and with adding fresh vegetables, these meals are pretty healthy. And there should be no “shoulds” when it comes to food (as long as it’s plant based).
@@ajvintage9579 There should be no "shoulds" when it comes to food (as long as its plant based)? Are you serious? Look at Dr. Greger's videos where he talks about the fact that it's certainly possible to eat only plant based foods and have an unhealthy diet. How about exclusively eating bowls of white rice, bowls of processed white flour pasta, sauced with oil and garlic, Impossible burgers, Just Egg, Mock chicken etc., and then some oreo cookies as dessert? Healthy?
Not sure how you prepared the Gyoza(pronounce Gee O Zah), but I air fry them at 400 for about 5 minutes. Use the TJs chili plum sauce. Yum. Never thought to make a mushroom sandwich. Why not? I love the Japchae on its own. The tofu, not so much. The soup dumplings were ok. Not my fav. I like the gyozas boiled in a veggie soup as well. I was vegan for many years. I am NOT a fan of vegan cheese. I’d rather go without vegan cheese on a pizza. I would probably add mushrooms and tomato and some other veggies. Like onions and roasted garlic and olives
. . . first of all, you look much too young to have 6 little angels....and they are each so, so cute, too...and, lastly, thx so much for this great "not-the-healthiest, but-at least cruelty-free & planet friendly" samplings . . . God Bless You & your Beautiful "Angelitos" . . . 🥰🥰🥰
I was so disappointed in Trader Joe’s chickenless orange chicken. Does anyone find it tastes like chemicals and is mushy? 🧐 I will definitely try the 10/10 salads you tried! 😀
I do not normally eat processed food but this is good to know for an emergency. I feel badly making a negative comment because I love your content and think you are adorable. However you should not gleefully mention that you spent $300. That is the monthly budget for many families.
Great point and something I don’t ever do. I would never just regularly go to a store and buy every vegan thing they have. My hope was to help the viewers save money by knowing what’s actually worth it, and what’s not.
My cart was full. I actually bought more food and just ran out of time making it all for the video. I keep finding vegan trader joe items in my freezer from this video actually ha ha.
That's the point. While I don't doubt there are things that taste good, without even looking, I'm willing to bet that even though they are vegan, they are not healthy.
please let your kids eat meat... at least once in a while. their growing bodies will struggle in the coming years without some animal products. I've been seeing so many more overweight plant' based children lately because they aren't satiated and keep eating any and all "plant based" that generally means higher carbs and they gain weight... I understand the concerns, truly I do, but I don't think it's worth the experimentation on your children.
I eat the beefless bulgoggi regularly. It is far more flexible than just for stir fry. I have used it for bbq sandwiches, where I add bbq sauce. But, my favorite is to create a cheesesteak sandwich and add grilled onions and peppers with vegan cheese on a hoagie bun.
Also, cooking it in a skillet is superior to using the microwave and doesn’t really take much longer.
Big fan of Trader Joe’s. Thanks for this video.
Thanks for those ideas! I use a cast iron skillet haven't tried the beefless bulgogi yet. I look forward to making the "cheesesteak" sandwich in addition to stir fry!
Thanks for the tip on the cheesesteak! My son has requested vegan cheesesteak every year for his birthday since he was little. He'll be 32 next month. This year, I'll use the bulgogi from TJ's. :)
These are amazing tips! Now I need to go back and buy some!
This was fun and your kids are adorable! You are feeding them right!☺️❤️
Awe. Thank you!
I used to love TJ’s. But… After several years eating plant-based, my wife and I weaned ourselves from prepared foods, whereas in the first two years of this radical diet change, we depended a lot on certain Trader Joe’s products. Now about 70% of our cooking is done in batches using such ingredients as dry legumes and fresh vegetables in an instant pot. So much less oil and sodium, more nutrients, and fuller flavors than store-bought vegan junk; and so easy on a person’s time schedule. Just reheat a portion whenever you get hungry! (Cheaper too!)
Yesssss! Thats exactly how we all should be eating plant based, but I love how you mentioned that’s where you started. It’s definitely a journey.
@@plantwhysnot everyone should be eating like this exactly.
Definitely reduce seed oils for better health
@@jeffvick6523 . . . 💯💯💯 so agree with you . . . plus, it feels so good knowing exactly what's in your food . . . as opposed to knowing that our govt regulations mostly protect the financial interests of big parma & big food by allowing so many toxic prods in our foods - so much so that even other countries don't allow their people to use them....making our country among the sickest in the world . . .🥰🥰🥰
Thank you for doing the hard work for us... I love that the kids all chime in and are willing to try and give their honest opinion
I am a little late adding this comment BUT...excellent video...learned sooo much from your demos...I have to tell you one of my pleasures getting up on Saturdays is knowing there will be a new video from Plantwhys...truly...excellent tips and recipes. ..watch lots of vegan videos to avoid all the politics on TV and yours are up there in the top 3!! Will be trying some of these with of course...added veg thx to you!!
You just made my day!!! Thank you so much!!
The meatless Bulgogi is better in a cast iron pan. If you let it to frost and then just let it brown with little bits of water added to it in the PAN period it's great!
Great video. I am a vegetarian (30+ years) and a big fan of Trader Joe's inventory, and so happy to see these great options being shared with the community.
I’ve had the Vegan Enchilada Casserole, because I miss enchiladas. While it was frozen, I moved the entire frozen “chunk” into a glass casserole dish the same size and baked it in my Breville mini smart oven. It tasted MUCH better than nuking it in the microwave.
The frozen potatoes, mushrooms and green beans are better cooked in a skillet than dried out on a sheet pan. Drain a can of chickpeas and cook them in some veg broth and any seasoning you like for a bit; then mix them in with the potatoes and mushrooms. Chickpeas are awesome and can stretch and improve anything, so you will have a better meal.
The spinach cashew ravioli is better with a creamy sauce. Either make your own cashew or chickpea creamy sauce, or try it with Primal Kitchen’s Alfredo vegan sauce. Mmmm! She has some good items that can be seriously improved by combining them with different things or adding some sauces from the online vegan cooks and chefs. There are some truly awesome vegan chefs online these days.
I loved your comment about that we sacrifice something for convenience food-maybe a little bit of health. This will be something for me to remember as I reach for the convenience items.
It's so hard sometimes right! I try to eat mostly whole food plant-based but sometimes you just need something fast. And some days it's worth it for the emotional weight off your shoulders, but other days you have the energy and can easily make something from scratch. It's just about not getting into the habit of mindlessly doing it. Love you! Thanks for being here!
Loved the salad ideas from TJ… as sometimes I just can’t face pulling out all the fixings to make it from scratch. I’ll check my store. The rest I gave up 2 years ago when I went totally no ultra processed food and no added sugar and no alcohol. I feel years younger. I love shopping at TJ because they have random veg and spices and nuts that I love. Their sprouted tofu is so good ..I love it with some liquid aminos and cut into small pieces..bake at 400 till crispy. 👍
I enjoy watching your kids eating veggies and the mushroom sandwich and enjoying it. So cute.
Edit.. this was my first video that I’ve ever caught of yours. It was suggested for me randomly. It caught my eye with the Trader Joes mention in the title. I subscribed and I’m looking forward to watching some of your videos. You have some excellent ideas! can’t wait to see what else you have in store for me!
Thank you for doing this. Even though we are usually WFPB it’s good to have some easy meal ideas for when we are in a hurry or want to keep it simple. I really appreciated this video. I hope you are ignoring some of the rude comments I’ve seen 😢.
I use the ciabatta for pizza, slice in thirds then slice each in half lengthwise.
To really have healthy meals microwave prepared foods in glass or ceramic dishes and bowls - take the frozen foods out of the plastic or paper looking containers they come in which contain unknown chemicals and some forever chemicals.
My favorite hack with the frozen French potatoes is add frozen green beans
Great Trader Joe’s ideas.
Here’s 2 more I have done:
#1 - stir fry 1 pack of stir fry veggie blend. Add 2 pouches of cooked squiggly knife cut noodles with sauce packets. Top with sriracha or teriyaki baked tofu.
#2 - one cooked Taiwanese green onion pancake folded with one serving of Korean beef less bulgogi. Goes great with any salad from Trader Joe’s.
Love these!! Thank you for sharing!
I seriously love Trader Joes! Their beefless grounds are my favorite 😊
They are yummy!
I absolutely love Trader Joe's Japchae glass noodle stir fry! You're the first person I've seen who has bought this in a vegan Trader Joe's haul. Thank-you!!
The Japchae is one of my favorites!
Yay! That's awesome!
Found your channel recently and am loving your videos! So cute how your kids taste test and review everything. Looking forward to trying your recipes!
Thank you!! I am so grateful you are here!
Can you PLEASE make a knock-off of the Chickpeas, Kale and Crispy Red Rice Salad?!?!?!?
BRILLIANT! Next video!
This is so cool! I can't wait to write these down on my grocery list.
Yay! I am so glad!
No Trader Joe’s near me. 😢. Please do a review of Amy’s frozen meals or any others found in regular grocery stores. Love your videos!
...same here. Hey Myrtle Beach...we want a Trader Joe's!!!!
Just a note. Be careful with Amy's. Some of Amy's is very high salt. I love Amy's though. ❤
That's actually a really great idea!
@@janesilvertooth3895dr McDougall said it’s listed with oil.
I love the veggie dumplings, I eat them every few weeks.
Thank you for doing this for us. You Rock!!
You are so welcome!! You rock too!
Ok that Chickpea Kale Salad is the yummiest thing inside TJs. THE BEST and much more filling than you think. The dressing is AMAZING.
Agreed! It was my favorite meal of everything!
These are awesome tips. Thank you so much!
Still watched even though Trader Joe's isn't available in the UK Ali. Fantastic vegan meals and hopefully there are alternatives in the UK. Love 🥰 the video and love ❤Ali & family.
Awe. Thanks for watching anyway!! You are the best David!
you are soooooooooooooooooo inspirational!!
You seriously just made my day!!
I would love a budget family weekly grocery shop video 😊
You can absolutely shop whole food plant based at Trader Joe's and save money. Very affordable if you are careful about the number of specialty items you buy whether vegan or not. Their produce is very high quality and often less than my regular grocery store. Their spices are $1.99 and organic. Eating WFPB is so easy. Rice, pasta, beans, potatoes and veggies. Tofu....all very inexpensive and organic at Trader Joe's.
@annefrazer6629 Im from Australia.. no Trader Joe's..
I have been vegan for 10 years and know that it can be very simple to eat on a budget but with 4 small children who also love to snack through the day id love a full grocery shop and then the meals and snacks for the week to go along with it in a video. I would find it really helpful.
Brilliant idea!!
What a fun video!!! I love that your children are part of the taste test! They are so cute! I need to try the beefless bulgoggi. Love your tip to add frozen veggies to the canned soups. Love the vegan ravioli. Like you, I did not like the soup dumplings. A recent find was the Italian lemon juice in a bottle. I found it near the mayonnaise. I add little bit to my water and it taste like lemonade. Sometimes I will add a bit of pineapple juice, it is such a refreshing drink. Love the Marula facial oil!
I'm excited to try the Italian lemon juice! Thanks for the tip!
One tip for the beefless bulgoggi is to just airfry it. They get crispy and it completely mellows the extreme artificial smoke flavor. From there, pair it with sides like you would a "meat and potatoes" meal instead of a rice or stir fry that will just add so much more sodium. I've put the beefless bulgoggi on top of baked potatoes with brocoli and greek yogurt and it's such a comforting meal.
Fantastic review and i love to hear the kids’ opinions too. Great video , thank you!!
Awe thank you!
I drive 45 mins to the nearest TJs with two of their freezer bags.😊 WFPB since 2017. Salad dressings are a must, lentils and many of what you tried out but you need to try the frozen Spanish rice. And the miso ginger broth. Also the Japanese white sweet potatoes!❤
I didn’t even think to look for Japanese sweet potatoes. Those are my favorite!!! And I want to try out the Spanish rice and broth too! Thanks for the tips!
@@plantwhysI make an awesome veggie rice “soup”. Or maybe it’s a stew. Heat the miso ginger broth in a large pan. Add some brown rice-it can be per cooked or not, maybe a half cup. Meanwhile I stir fry a package of broccoli slaw and some sliced mushrooms, peppers, garlic and onions. Or whatever other veggies need to be used. Add these to your soup and top with some tofu or other protein. Filling, delicious, and the broth gives it really good flavor. New subscriber here!
Need to add ginger on the Kimbap and dip in soy. Yumm.
Brilliant!
This was excellent !! So helpful ! I live in Indianapolis and our two Trader Joe's don't offer as wide a selection. But those two cold salads are both winners !! Do you have a video about why you and your family went plant based ?
Thanks for this! I just yesterday picked up the kimbap and the cauliflower gnocchi. I boiled the gnocchi and they were fine, but am stoked to try them in the air fryer!
Air fryer is a game changer!!
You and your family are great reviewers! Thanks - I look forward to trying the Beefless Bulgogi. I don't use a microwave, so I've poured that Enchilada Casserole into a medium pot to heat it, then poured it into a bowl or onto a plate. It's good (and doesn't taste microwaved!). But I don't often purchase it, because of the high salt/fat. I often use TJ's canned organic black beans, but I rinse the beans in a colander before using them, to rid them of excess salt. I used to use TJ's Beefless Beef all the time in soups, etc., but found that Abbot's plant-based beef is healthier (although, unfortunately, more expensive - so I don't get it often).
I've never tried Abbot's beef, I'll look for it!
@@plantwhys I recently twice tried the Beefless Bulgogi - and wow! I love it. In my cast iron pan, I sauteed some slices of fresh, colorful bell peppers and chopped leek, then added the Bulgogi. I also liked it with some rice or buckwheat kasha. Like you, I wasn't fond of the high sodium content, plus I didn't want the sugars they added. While I prefer to steer clear of processed foods and nearly always cook from scratch, I'll consider this an indulgence once or twice a month. Thanks for the recommendation!
My work gets very demanding a few months out of the year and many of these are lifesavers and keep me from ordering takeaway
I enjoy these videos where you combine different things to make a meal. Finding recipes is easy, but putting different things together to make a meal is not always so straightforward...
Great point! Thanks so much for noticing!
I love that sunscreen.
I love TJ’s stir fry and frozen brown rice!
Amazing, I love ur videos, love the fact u r talking about sodium, fat, in these foods. TJs us my store when I shop every week , so these things now go in my list! Thank you for doing this! U rock!
Thank you! You rock too!!
the marula oil is fantastic! I actually use for my hair.
For you hair! What! That's so cool I had no idea!
Ice things to know about TJ. They stock their stores regionally so you might not find your fav items in a different store. SoCal was better than NorCal stores. The closest TJ to me now is in Little Rock and it's missing lots of international flavors.
Thank you, Lots of timesaving ideas! I feel like the mushroom sandwich is plain, would want to add cheese/vegetables or vegan cheese to it... but sounds like you give it a very good recommendation
It had a lot of flavor. Those mushrooms came flavored in the bag. And the bread was so good.
Great ideas! I love TJs and shop there every week. These are super quick and tasty ideas I will try. I usually eat much healthier options as well, but instead of take out, these would surely hit the spot :)
Exactly. Better than take out! And cheaper. But WFBP real foods are definitely the best--When you have time/energy.
Howdy, I went to Trader Joe's in Northern Virginia and they told me many of these products are only available in California or on the west coast. Just FYI to those in other locations.
That’s interesting! I actually went to a store in northern Virginia.
I went to the one in Bailey’s crossroads!
@@plantwhys Wow! I went to the one at Tysons Pimmit, across from Whole Foods. Thanks for letting me know!
@@cltinturkey I love that we are neighbors!
@@plantwhys Me too! I love that you can give me scoop on all the good sources for vegan options, along with fabulous fruits and vegetables, in the area! One store I like in Vienna is Trace, The Zero Waste Store. It's at 140 Church Street NW, in Vienna. They have bulk foods and spices, along with clean soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and many handy zero waste tools. It's definitely worth a visit. If you have empty glass jars, take a bunch with you to fill up.
I’m a frequent shopper of Trader Joe’s, and please make sure you’re reading all the nutritional labels! I have found that a lot of their meals are processed, and often are full of saturated fats and also sodium! I make a list and I know exactly what I’m buying from them before I go. Not all of their stuff is healthy! Read the nutritional value on the back of the package! If it comes in a package and it’s frozen, more likely than not it is a processed food!
It is so true. I honestly felt ill after trying so many processed foods in such a short period of time. But I really wanted to know which ones were actually worth it and which ones were not.
I live rural. Always have. However I never consider how rural until I tried to locate the nearest Trader Joe's.
4 hrs 10 minutes 🤣🤣
Aldi's is closer, its only 2 hours 47 minutes 🙈
Oh. My. Goodness. That is rural. Very impressive.
TJ’s Gyoza is delicious! So versatile. It could be something went astray in preparing it.
Thank you
Thanks for listing all the meals that you tried. I have tried a bunch of Indian meals. Can you do a review of Indian meals too?
That's a great idea! The chana masala I think is super oily and too spicy for my kids which is why I didn't buy it this round.
I have breaded the ravioli and Put it in the air fire!
the pizza is off to a decent start....but why not add veggies? mushrooms?
Great point! I was honestly in a rush to finish filming. It was a lot of food I had to make in a short period of time! Also my kids would have picked off the veggies. They will eat veggies, but just not on pizza. (for whatever reason. kids are weird.)
When I worked at Trader Joe’s in college I used to eat the refrigerated lentil soup with tortilla chips on my lunch break a bunch lol that stuff was good I don’t even think I was vegan yet back then
That's so awesome! Did you get a discount since you worked there?
@@plantwhys yes mam! 🤑😆those were the days!
I really enjoyed your video 💜 thanks for sharing and your children are little sweethearts little tasters 👍⭐️⭐️⭐️💜🌹😋👍
They definitely had a good time eating everything ha ha.
The bread loaf is pronounced chi bat ta. 😊
Thank you!! I can always use help when it comes to pronouncing things. My mom always makes fun of me when it comes to stuff like this.
Also, "gnocchi" is already plural. Kind of like "spaghetti". 🙂
Super finds🎉
I buy the cauliflower gnocchi all the time
It is so good air fried!
I haven't seen the viral video of the bruschetta. Sounds yummy:) Could you make a better WFPB no oil, low sos version for us?
Great idea!
Thank you for doing this Now I don't have to wander around tj finding these things myself! By the way ciabatta is pronounced cha-batta
Oh my gosh thank you for that!!!! I never know how to pronounce these things!
No Trader Joe’s within absolute hours of me, but love them so much I watched anyway! lol (My germy-ocd self says 😬 honey, clean your microwave, and all those appliances in fact - but then, I don’t have kids 😂) Great vid as usual! (ps it’s cha-batta - never knew myself until this rural gal started baking bread a few decades ago)
Ha. You're so lucky to even have that store, even if it's not that close to you. I'm in México and have to cross the border in order to go to one!
Kyabatta…that’s a pronunciation I’ve never heard, made me laugh🤣 Dirtiest kitchen of any UA-camr I’ve ever seen, but with 6 kids I’m glad she chooses to share her fabulous tips, tricks and recipes over cleaning😊 Almost impossible to keep a clean kitchen with a bunch of kids running around anyway😉
Ha ha I filmed this during summer and it was miracle I was able to do that. Summer with 6 kids is no joke. That microwave was not getting cleaned first. ha ha I loved that you noticed though. I'm all about real life over here.
Great video. it's pronounced Cha-batta (bread)
Thank you! I need all the help I can get!
One of the tenets of a WFPB diet is to stay away from processed foods. So, while this food may be convenient, it is the exact opposite of what your diet should be. I can see using one of these on occasion or to help people making the leap from a SAD diet to a WFPB diet. But, making this the basis for what you eat is the wrong way to go.
I don’t agree. Except for the sodium content, and with adding fresh vegetables, these meals are pretty healthy. And there should be no “shoulds” when it comes to food (as long as it’s plant based).
@@ajvintage9579 There should be no "shoulds" when it comes to food (as long as its plant based)? Are you serious? Look at Dr. Greger's videos where he talks about the fact that it's certainly possible to eat only plant based foods and have an unhealthy diet. How about exclusively eating bowls of white rice, bowls of processed white flour pasta, sauced with oil and garlic, Impossible burgers, Just Egg, Mock chicken etc., and then some oreo cookies as dessert? Healthy?
Not sure how you prepared the Gyoza(pronounce Gee O Zah), but I air fry them at 400 for about 5 minutes. Use the TJs chili plum sauce. Yum. Never thought to make a mushroom sandwich. Why not? I love the Japchae on its own. The tofu, not so much. The soup dumplings were ok. Not my fav. I like the gyozas boiled in a veggie soup as well. I was vegan for many years. I am NOT a fan of vegan cheese. I’d rather go without vegan cheese on a pizza. I would probably add mushrooms and tomato and some other veggies. Like onions and roasted garlic and olives
TJ’s has pizza sauce and vegan mozzarella
. . . first of all, you look much too young to have 6 little angels....and they are each so, so cute, too...and, lastly, thx so much for this great "not-the-healthiest, but-at least cruelty-free & planet friendly" samplings . . . God Bless You & your Beautiful "Angelitos" . . . 🥰🥰🥰
Thank you!! I really appreciate the love so much! I really does mean a lot!
I was so disappointed in Trader Joe’s chickenless orange chicken. Does anyone find it tastes like chemicals and is mushy? 🧐 I will definitely try the 10/10 salads you tried! 😀
What are the ingredients?
The beefless bulgogi wrap: priorities differ from diner to diner 😂
Lots of yummy meals! Nice you mention salt and calories. Just don't like all the packaging.
pretty sure our TJs doesn't have even half of these items
Where in TJs is the tofu in packages,,please?
In the refrigerator section near the cheeses but a team member at the store will help you if you ask.
@@FrugalCouponer thanks…..yes, they are always so helpful…
I do not normally eat processed food but this is good to know for an emergency. I feel badly making a negative comment because I love your content and think you are adorable. However you should not gleefully mention that you spent $300. That is the monthly budget for many families.
Great point and something I don’t ever do. I would never just regularly go to a store and buy every vegan thing they have. My hope was to help the viewers save money by knowing what’s actually worth it, and what’s not.
"Brew-sKETTA" the correct pronunciation
THANK YOU! I need all the help I can get!!
The refrigerated lentil soup is not oily. It’s delicious on its own don’t add extra stuff to,it. Green peas aren’t a high protein food
I'm kind of disturbed that it costs $300 for that amount of food. It's only like 20 items
My cart was full. I actually bought more food and just ran out of time making it all for the video. I keep finding vegan trader joe items in my freezer from this video actually ha ha.
You missed more vegan meals for sure Palak paneer, Tiki masala
Yeah I need to do an Indian haul next time.
You have to fry up the Bulgogi beef and then it is AMAZING!!! DONT microwave it.
Got it!!
Gyoza = gee o zuh
Thank you!!!
😊❤
Not wanting to eat meat but cooking food that looks like meat is crazy.
So many are microwaved in the containers…Don’t you worry about the plastics leeching into your food?
Yes. That definitely crossed my mind. But I don't do that on a regular basis.
Trader Joe’s frozen meals are much too high in fat for me. I don’t think they’re healthy.
❤❤❤❤
You must have been really hungry
You have time, they just haven’t created the time. We all have time, don’t give me that bs lol. It’s lazy or poor planning.
Prepared foods??? Hard NO. Too unhealthy.
Only rich people shop at Trader Joes.
So much wasted plastic
Sushi is so yuck!
Wow that kid in a red sweatshirt is so obnoxious
tell us which Vegan products-does not have unhealthy seed oils!!! Bet only 5% if that.
That's the point. While I don't doubt there are things that taste good, without even looking, I'm willing to bet that even though they are vegan, they are not healthy.
Seed oils are actually not unhealthy, per Dr. Greger and others.
@@buckets212veganism is not a diet. I think you meant whole food plant based.
“Dr. Cate’s hateful 8 “Seed oils are the reasons many people have heart attacks and diseases many diseases so do what you want. I gave you the info.
@@ajvintage9579 I'm not going to quibble about semantics. I'm sure you understood what I was saying.
These are all largely processed foods! I love TJ's but..... They aren't healthy. Occasional indulgence ok but
please let your kids eat meat... at least once in a while. their growing bodies will struggle in the coming years without some animal products. I've been seeing so many more overweight plant' based children lately because they aren't satiated and keep eating any and all "plant based" that generally means higher carbs and they gain weight... I understand the concerns, truly I do, but I don't think it's worth the experimentation on your children.