When you walk into Trader Joe’s and load up your cart, it’s easy to assume everything looks healthy—after all, the store has a reputation for interesting, higher-quality foods.
But if you’re trying to snack smart, there are a handful of snacks that nutritionists say they never buy because they’ll undo your efforts faster than you think.
“This Strawberry Walks Into a Bar” cereal bars
These look like a convenient grab-and-go snack, but dietitians say they fall flat nutritionally. One expert pointed out the bars have less than 1 gram of fiber and only 2 grams of protein—meaning they’ll leave you hungry soon after eating.
When a snack fails to keep you full and spikes blood sugar, it’s more of a liability than a convenience.
Joe’s O’s cereal bars
Another cereal bar at Trader Joe’s shows up on nutritionists’ “avoid” lists. Even though they have a familiar look, the nutrition profile is weak: low fiber, low protein, and high in refined carbs.
If you’re substituting a bar for a mini-meal, you want more substance than that.
Speculoos cookie butter
It’s delicious—and that’s part of the problem. This spread from Trader Joe’s is high in added sugars and saturated fat, and virtually zero fiber or meaningful protein. Nutritionists say it’s a treat, not a snack staple.
When something tastes like dessert and is marketed like a pantry staple, you need to treat it like dessert.
Sweetened green mango slices
Dried fruit can be a smart snack, but when it’s sweetened, the math changes. These mango slices from Trader Joe’s contain added sugar, which turns a healthy idea into a less helpful choice.
It’s easy to forget that “dried fruit” doesn’t automatically mean “good for you” when sugar is added.
Mac and Cheese Bites
If you buy these thinking “a little convenience won’t hurt,” nutritionists caution you to think again. One serving contains a relatively high amount of saturated fat, sodium, and doesn’t offer strong nutritional value.
When your snack adds hidden strain (salt, fat, refined carbs) instead of helping you feel better, it’s worth reconsidering.
Chiles Rellenos con Queso
Another frozen comfort-food item that looks fun, but nutritionists flag it for saturated fat and sodium content that make it a skip in their carts.
If a snack or meal looks tempting but carries a heavy load of “less healthy” nutrients, it’s not the smart standby you think it is.
Joe-Joe’s Granola Cookies & Crème
Granola sounds healthy—until you read the label. These cookies rely on added sugar and saturated fat and don’t offer enough fiber to offset the impact. Nutritionists say marketing can be misleading here.
The takeaway: sweets in snack form are still sweets.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
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