The 7 Best Breakfast Items at Trader Joe's, According to a Food Writer

Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but it’s easy to skip when you’re in a rush. As a frequent Trader Joe’s shopper, I’m always on the lookout for new breakfast items that help me streamline my morning routine while providing boosts of fiber and protein to help keep hunger at bay until lunchtime. Trader Joe’s is also full of interesting options to help diversify my usual breakfast choices—it’s all too easy to get stuck in a breakfast rut. With that in mind, these are my seven favorite breakfast items I always buy at Trader Joe’s.

1. Fruits & Greens Smoothie Blend

Even in the dead of winter, I’m game for a smoothie for breakfast. And I love this blend because it mixes high-fiber berries with nutrient-packed kale and spinach—foods I try to add as much as possible to my diet. Bananas add creaminess and a good dose of healthy carbs for energy in the morning. I like to blend this mix with Trader Joe’s Non-Dairy Oat Beverage with Pea Protein for a protein boost. 

2. Whole Grain Waffles

I like to incorporate childhood favorites like waffles into my breakfast routine, but they must have a bit more substance to them, as I am highly prone to the midmorning carb-crash grumpies. And these waffles fit the bill—30 grams of whole grains give them a delicious, toasty, nutty flavor, as well as over 20% of my daily recommended fiber. These waffles, topped with some nut butter and a sliced banana, are my go-to when I have a particularly busy morning that may delay my lunch break. 

3. Cheese, Spinach & Kale Egg Bites with Whole Wheat English Muffins

OK, these are technically two products, but I almost always eat them together, so to me, they count as one. The egg bites are great dupes for the ones at Starbucks and pair perfectly with a toasted English muffin to make a tasty and filling breakfast. These products are also great on their own, of course. I often slather some nut butter on an English muffin and top with a handful of berries, or make my own scrambled eggs with greens to sandwich inside one. The egg bites are also super convenient to take on the go by themselves.

4. Gluten-Free Organic Rolled Oats with Ancient Grains & Seeds

I’m a huge oatmeal fan. I eat it at least three times per week for breakfast or lunch, and this is my favorite oatmeal. I’ve never been a massive fan of the instant packets because even though they’re loaded with sugar, I don’t find them to be very flavorful. I just buy a big bag of rolled oats (that cook almost as quickly) and just top them with my own toppings—sweet or savory. This blend mixes oats with amaranth, chia, flax and quinoa for a nutritious and textually diverse bite; no flavorless mush here! Top with a soft-boiled egg, sautéed spinach, and chili oil for a savory porridge, or go classic with a handful of berries and a sprinkle of brown sugar.

5. Almond Butter Chia Overnight Oats

Whenever I go to Trader Joe’s, I always grab at least two of these overnight oats cups. They’re perfect for those mornings when I have literally no time to make anything but still need a good breakfast to keep me going. I love the flavor of almond butter and chia in this mix, plus the combo provides a bit more protein and fiber than the other flavors. 

6. Mango Blueberry Chia Bowl

This ready-to-eat bowl is another item I grab a few of each grocery trip to stash in my freezer for those mornings I’ve hit snooze one too many times. They’re ready in a flash in the microwave or, with a little foresight, can be defrosted in the fridge overnight. I love these bowls because they offer a good amount of protein, fiber and healthy fats to keep me going till lunchtime. Blueberries are my favorite fruit, so I usually add an extra handful of blueberries on top and a dollop of Greek yogurt if I’m feeling fancy. 

7. Peanut Butter Protein Granola

I always try to reach for more high-protein breakfasts to stave off midmorning snacking. And one of my favorite ways is with this protein-packed granola because it offers 11 grams of protein per serving. I usually pair it with Trader Joe’s nonfat plain Greek yogurt, which packs in another 17 grams for a whopping 28 grams of protein in one quick and tasty breakfast. I’m a huge peanut butter lover, so you’ll often find me sprinkling this over ice cream after dinner or even just snacking on it straight out of the bag throughout the day. One bag rarely lasts the whole week in my house.