Navigating a low-carb diet [1] can be tricky, but when you're pressed for time in the kitchen [2], these foods from Trader Joe's can help. Of course, there are lots of reasons to shop for fresh foods [3] and make your meals from scratch — less sodium and fewer additives, for starters — but in the real world, sometimes the only thing keeping you out of the drive-through is a stop in the frozen foods aisle. Fortunately, Trader Joe's [4] has a fairly large selection of low-carb items that make preparing meals at home much simpler [5]. From grab-and-go soups to frozen stir-fry, you'll find something to sustain you on this list.
Kettle Cooked Chicken Soup ($5)
For a ready-made meal (work lunch [6], perhaps?), drop by the refrigerated section for a cup of this veggie-packed soup. A 1-cup serving has just five grams of net carbs [7].
Meatless Breakfast Patties ($3)
If you're cutting carbs as a vegetarian [8] or vegan, you'll love these meatless patties — they come in at just two grams of net carbs, with no sugar.
Riced Cauliflower Bowl ($3)
Who said frozen meals have to be boring? This delicious vegan bowl is made with chickpeas, sweet potatoes, tofu, roasted onions, and tahini sauce, and it'll cost you roughly 20 net carbs if you eat the the whole thing.
Hi-Protein Veggie Burger ($3)
These frozen veggie burgers [9] are beloved by Trader Joe's regulars — and for good reason. In addition to 26 grams of protein, each patty contains only eight grams of net carbs.
Turkey Meatballs ($4)
For a quick weeknight meal, toss these fully-cooked turkey meatballs into a bowl of whole-grain pasta or courgette noodles (TJ's has those, too!).
Courgette Spirals ($3)
Courgette noodles are a low-carb staple [10], but if they sometimes go bad before you can cook them, try buying them frozen.
Carrot Spirals ($3)
They're not quite as virtuous as courgette, but these carrot spirals are still only six grams of net carbs per serving, and the perfect substitute for pasta.
Mahi Mahi Burgers ($7)
It doesn't get much better than these seafood burgers, which contain only one gram of net carbs per patty.
Cioppino Seafood Stew ($6)
This tasty stew is packed with seafood — mussels, cod, shrimp, scallops — and in spite of the tomato base, a serving contains just 10 grams of net carbs.
Misto Alla Griglia ($4)
For a quick side [11], try this mix of grilled aubergine, courgette, and red pepper. A serving — which is about a quarter of the package — is only three grams of net carbs.
Organic Superfood Pilaf ($4)
Get your whole grains and veggies [12] in one delicious side, with this mix of quinoa, sweet potatoes, kale, and carrots. The starchy veg and grain bring it to 22 net grams of carbs per serving, but that won't matter when you serve it alongside a simple protein.
Salmon Burgers ($7)
Whether you serve it on whole-grain bread [13] or a pile of greens, the salmon patty alone will cost you only two grams of net carbs.
Greek Style Chicken ($7)
As packaged entrees go, this one — made with orzo, spinach, and feta cheese — is pretty tasty. Just make sure you have room in your daily budget, as it contains 25 grams of net carbs.
Shrimp Stir-Fry ($5)
Like any stir fry, this one contains some sugars — four grams, to be exact — but it's flavourful and ideal for a busy weeknight.
Palak Paneer ($3)
The cheese adds some saturated fat, but a serving contains only four grams of net carbs (including some sugars), so it's worth adding to your cart when you're craving Indian food.