Photo credit: Phoebe Measer

The sign outside of my local Trader Joes shows their “trading hours” to be from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Greeted by bright colors, handwritten price tags and Hawaiian-shirt-wearing employees, Trader Joe’s is no doubt heaven on earth. “I’ll just try it” comes out of my mouth at least 10 times whenever I am there. I mean, how could it not? There are always countless new options to try, even on top of longtime favorites.

While their snack selection is known to be top-notch, I wanted to experiment with some meals from the beloved grocery store. I am always looking for tasty options that don’t take much preparation. I took a stroll through the store to find appealing meals spanning from breakfast to dinner.

Breakfast

Cheese, Spinach and Kale Egg Bites – 4/10

These egg bites caught my eye immediately, as they looked just like the infamous Starbucks Egg Bites. My favorite are the kale mushroom ones, and these looked like an replica with cheese, spinach and kale. The Starbucks ones go for $5.45, while these are $3.79. I had high hopes but was left disappointed. The texture was more rubbery than I expected and did not have the same light, airy texture as the Starbucks ones. I liked the overall flavor of the cheese, spinach and kale, but I simply could not get behind the texture. If the consistency is not of your concern, they are worth a try, but personally I would not pick these up again.

Vanilla Overnight Oats – 6.5/10

My dad is an avid overnight oats maker, so you best believe my expectations for these were high. I’ve never seen overnight oats sold like this — it reminds me of yogurt packaging. As much as I wish this was a full win for the breakfast section, these are not a new favorite of mine. They tasted pretty good overall, but the oats were a little too chewy and not soft enough for my liking. If someone handed me this for breakfast, I would happily eat it, but I truly believe overnight oats is something that should be made at home. It is so easy and cheap, and it takes so few ingredients— not to mention, when you make them yourself, they are fully customizable. Some of my favorite flavors to make are apple cinnamon, blueberry and oats with chia seeds.

Lunch

Soup Dumplings – 10/10

Nothing can top these soup dumplings. Somebody once heated these up in Archer’s microwave, and, even before seeing them, I turned to my friend and asked, “Who’s cooking Trader Joe’s soup dumplings?” That entirely sums up how good these are. They are shockingly tasty for microwave food, with rich soup and a flavorful filling. When topped with sriracha and soy sauce, they reach another level of divine. And I don’t usually say that for food cooked in the microwave. These will forever be my favorite home-alone meal, after-school snack and everything in between.

Buffalo Chicken Wrap – 8/10

Let’s be honest— this does not look very appetizing. But trust me, once it is out of the package and in your hand, you will want to eat it a lot more. It comes with a blue cheese dressing that is rich and creamy, and the inside consists of chicken with buffalo sauce and celery. This is a great option for a quick grab-and-go meal. I often find myself needing some sustenance — more than just a bag of chips — and this definitely does the job. I do think more people would buy this if the packaging and presentation were more appealing, as the plastic-over-a-cardboard box does not scream, “I’m delicious!”

Dinner

Marinated Chicken Shawarma 10/10

These shawarma chicken thighs are a favorite in my household. Especially when cooked on a grill, these pre-marinated chicken thighs are juicy, tender and flavorful. They go great with pita bread, in a sandwich or on their own. Meals like this are what Trader Joe’s is all about — little to no prep but amazing taste. It’s a hearty meal that will leave you and your family satisfied. If you’re one for meal prepping, I think this would be perfect.