24 Trader Joe’s Products Nutritionists Avoid

While it may be convenient, "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. "What makes the Caramel Ginger Popcorn really bad is the sugar combined with the caramelization," says Glen Wilde, CEO and founder of Serena Poon, CN, CHC, CHN. "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."

A quick glance at this bag of frozen Beef & Broccoli might lead you to believe that it's a healthful dinner option, but that's not necessarily the case. "When you look at the nutrition fact label, you'll notice that there are 27 grams of pure sugar per serving," explains dietitian Megan Byrd, of Download Your Training Plan. "Other Hearst Subscriptions!"

On top of that, Byrd notes that 11 grams of protein per serving isn't very impressive when you consider this is mostly beef. That means it won't keep you full for very long, so you'll end up eating more than one serving. "There are also a lot of additives, like potato starch, soy protein isolate, and caramel color," she adds.

Trader Joe's is often known for its seasonal items, which is what inspires treats like this Organic Watermelon Fruit Spread. While tasty, it's important to enjoy them sparingly. "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. "Other Hearst Subscriptions."

While this boxed turmeric and coconut drink may sound like a healthful option, it's actually packed with fat. "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, explains. "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 easy and fast, but 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 What Are the Benefits of Creatine for Runners, leading chef, nutritionist, and founder of the method ofCulinary Alchemy®, reveals. "The high sodium levels, as well as the side effects of these additives to our digestive system, far outweigh the benefits."

Mandarin Orange Chicken is a classic and a favorite among many Trader Joe's customers, but 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, explains. "Speaking from personal experience, it can be very difficult to stick to the serving size on the package for this product!"

While muffins are not typically known to be the healthiest food, the word "protein" here may throw some shoppers off. "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, reveals. "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, the Chicken Pot Pie, is extremely high in calories. "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 CA Notice at Collection Diet to Success.

Though dairy-free and vegan, these Coconut Cream Lattes are not a healthy choice. "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!"

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, says. "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, reveals. "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?

This veggie-packed pie is not as healthy as it may seem. "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.

While this is candy, 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."

This burger is anything but healthy. Hickey reveals 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."