8 Items to Try at Trader Joe’s, According to Food Critic Keith Lee

He gives one snack an 8/10 rating on the spot! (Yes, that’s high.)

Lee: Ethan Miller/Getty Images. Storefront: EatingWell.

Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD

In a year’s time, Keith Lee has become one of the most sought-after food critics in America. His review videos, which he began posting to overcome social anxiety, quickly gained popularity with foodies all over the country and he has amassed a following of over 15 million on TikTok alone. From mouthwatering dishes to impartial opinions and generous contributions to struggling restaurants, his videos have had an impact on businesses across the country.

Recently, the former MMA fighter recorded a spontaneous trip to Trader Joe’s. “I don’t even know what I’m going in there for. I’m just about to grab whatever looks good,” he said while filming from his car in the parking lot. The video has gotten over 3 million views and 335,000 likes on TikTok, prompting comments like, “Now if I go to Trader Joe’s and it’s crowded…”.

While we don’t know if the stores will be more crowded as a result of Lee’s video, it’s best to hurry to your nearest location just in case his picks are selling out fast. Read on for eight of Lee’s top food picks from his Trader Joe’s haul, plus some of our own flavorful recipes to pair with them.

1. Salmon Pinwheels

The first item Lee picked up was 1 pound of Salmon Pinwheels. Wrapped together in the package were two slices of salmon rolled into pinwheels filled with spinach, herbs and feta cheese. Lee said, “[My wife] used to eat these twice a day,” and with that set of ingredients, it’s not hard to understand why. If you buy these or make our healthy rendition at home, pair it with our 10-Minute Broccolini Amandine and thank us later.

2. Corn and Chile Tomato-Less Salsa

“I feel like this is a hidden gem at Trader Joe’s,” Lee said as he picked up a jar of Corn and Chile Tomato-Less Salsa. The product, which can be used as a dip or topping for a number of dishes (like our Beet Chips or 10-Minute Spinach Omelet), is loaded with delicious onion, red bell pepper, jalapeño pepper and spices. He’ll probably scoop up some of this tangy, spicy salsa dip with the Sea Salt Baked Pita Bite Crackers we peeped in his cart.

3. PB&J Snack Duo & PB&C Snack Duo

The renowned food reviewer grabbed a box of some tasty PB&J Snack Duos with no hesitation. It contains small packages of peanut butter-stuffed wafer sticks paired with raspberry dip, which sounds delicious. But, to his surprise, a new Snack Duos flavor also made it onto shelves since his last TJ shopping trip: the PB&C Snack Duos that feature chocolate creme-filled wafer sticks and a peanut butter dip. Lee couldn’t help but stop at a gas station to try the snack on his way home. At first, he wasn’t sure if the peanut mixture was pure peanut butter or an enhanced dip, but after trying it in his TikTok, he said, “Okay, that is a peanut butter dip … It’s creamier and got  more flavor than regular peanut butter … If they put that in a jar, I’d put that on a sandwich.” And in true Keith Lee fashion, he rated the snack an eight and a half out of 10, which is our signal to run, not walk.

4. Turkey Apple Cheddar Sandwich

This pre-packaged deli sandwich swiftly caught Lee’s attention. In between two hefty slices of rustic multigrain bread are turkey, apple, Cheddar, arugula and a mustard-mayo spread. This was one of the first items Lee threw in his cart, and he mentioned it was one of the foods he used to buy from Trader Joe’s fairly often. For those of us who have already gone grocery shopping or don’t have a Trader Joe’s near us, our very own Turkey Apple Cheddar Sandwich is also pretty great. Add arugula and mustard to make this a true copycat recipe.

5. Organic Chicken Nuggets

According to Keith Lee, Trader Joe’s Organic Chicken Nuggets “are fantastic.” This grab was yet another nostalgic pick for Lee who used to film his Trader Joe’s hauls on TikTok. And with 10 grams of protein per serving of four nuggets, these make a great high-protein option that you can throw in the oven or air fryer. Throw these nuggies on our Chicken Nugget Salad for a satisfying, 15-minute lunch or dinner.

Related: How Much Protein Do You Need to Eat Every Day?

6. Mildly Sweet & Spicy Beef & Broccoli

Trader Joe’s Mildly Sweet & Spicy Beef & Broccoli sounds like it would be dreamy on a bed of hot rice. Lee knows this, so—of course—he threw it in his cart. If you’d like something similar but with a more gingery kick, you can skip the trip to the store by making our flavorful Scallion-Ginger Beef & Broccoli.

7. Bambino Microwavable Mini Pizzas

Keith Lee is a family man. He values his wife and two children very highly, and you can see that in his shopping habits. “Perfect for kids,” he said while grabbing boxes of cheese and pepperoni Bambino microwavable pizzas. The pizzas have a simple olive oil crust, topped with pizza sauce and a blend of four cheeses: mozzarella, provolone, Parmesan and Romano. Be mindful that each serving has 650 grams of sodium, which is higher than our recommended nutrition parameters, but they can always make for a quick, flavor-packed snack in moderation.

8. Drinks

Lee holds a firm opinion on Trader Joe’s drinks: “Juice is undefeated at Trader Joe’s if you ask me.” Most eye-catching in the cart were the three boxes of Sparkling Strawberry Juice he picked up before turning the camera on. Plus, he raved about the To The Power of Seven Purple Juice Blend, Country Peach Juice Blend and Sparkling Pink Lemonade that you could use in our crisp and refreshing Sparkling Strawberry-Ginger Lemonade.

Up next: The #1 Most Underrated Produce Item from Trader Joe’s, According to a Food Writer

Read the original article on Eating Well.