Great Snacking with Trader Joe’s

Like we told you in previous posts, we are working towards making positive changes in out diet. For us, this means that we not only will eat more at home, but ensure that we make better/ more healthy choices about what we eat when we go out.

Enter: The Snack Zone -OK this is really just a plastic bin in the refrigerator that is stocked with a variety of items that are ready-to-eat and ready to-go standing by for us to grab when we are hungry or as we are heading out the door.

Recently we have had a nice selection in the Snack Zone: cheese and crackers and nut mixtures (Trader Joe’s Cashews, Cranberries and Almond) portioned out in small bags. We like to stock the Snack Zone on Friday’s after shopping at Trader Joe’s to get ready for the next week. (This does not always happen, but it is a goal we are working on;)

So this week, with the weather turning a bit warmer (Truthfully…. it is 80+ degrees here in Tucson today…sorry if you are out shoveling snow) we chose a couple of new snack items to add to our weekly menu mix. Two of our requirements of snacks is that they be quick to put together (especially at the last minute) and portable so that we can take them on the road with ease. Also we like to change it up, and these new snack items are just the thing after a number of weeks of cheese and crackers and nuts.

Currently our Snack Zone consists of:

Trader Joe’s Persian Cucumbers
These are petite cucumbers that sorta resemble those long English cucumbers, only smaller. The skins are tender and they are not “Waxed for Freshness” (which often happens to cucumbers-yuck!) so you can eat the peels. They are sweet and tender and simply wonderful.

Trader Joe’s Hummus
This tub of hummus has just enough garlic for a great flavor, with out being too strong and it is blended into a creamy consistency that is not watery.

Trader Joe’s Baby Carrots
What can we say? they are sweet and ready to eat right from the bag. The ultimate Fast Food for busy people.

We have sliced up the cucumbers and poured out the baby carrots into a zip-top bag, and then spooned out the hummus into a small plastic container. So now this snack is ready to go when we are ready to head out the door or just our table.

We are enjoying trying out these new, heather snack options (especially after “taste testing” all that Easter Candy). We hope you get inspired to try those Persian cucumbers or the Hummus the next time you are shopping at Trader Joe’s.