By Jennifer Heimlich
Copyright independent
Trader Joe’s has a reputation for making surprisingly delicious snacks. And it turns out many of them are also healthy, dietitian-approved options for fueling your workouts. “I love recommending items at Trader Joe’s for before, during, and after workouts because they tend to be budget-friendly, effective, and easy to find,” says sports dietitian and running coach Amanda Wagner, RDN.
Whether you’re on the hunt for carbs that will give you a quick energy boost before or during your workout (without sending you searching for a bathroom) or the kind of protein-filled recovery foods that your muscles crave after exercise, Trader Joe’s has it all.
I quizzed the experts — Amanda Wagner, RDN, Emily Moore, RD, CPT, and Serena Marie, RD, who are dieticians that work with athletes — to learn about the products they regularly recommend to clients, and put in their own grocery carts. Then I personally tested them all to narrow the list to just the tastiest picks. Here are the 12 most delicious, expert-backed options I found.
How I tested
To find the best workout snacks at Trader Joe’s, I consulted three dietitians about the snacks they regularly eat and recommend to their clients for fuel before, during, or after workouts.
I collated all their recommendations and taste-tested each one myself. To select which to include here and give each a rating from one to five, I judged each product on the following factors:
Digestibility: I noted how well each item sat in my stomach while exercising (or just afterward, depending on when the dietitian suggested eating it). Energy boost: Did it give me helpful zip or weigh me down? Taste and texture: Was it something I actually wanted to eat (even when I didn’t have much of an appetite)?Longevity: I paid attention to how long each product seemed to stay fresh when it got stuck in the back of my cupboard. Portability: I threw each snack in a tote bag or my pockets to see how it held up on the go, and whether I still wanted to eat it after it’d been lugged around a bit.
Why you can trust IndyBest U.S reviews
Jennifer Heimlich has more than a decade of experience as a journalist within the wellness industry — and has written everything from the best fitness trackers to shoes for standing all day. But above all, she is a reliable and knowledgeable voice when it comes to nutrition recommendations. When not writing, she’s a UESCA-certified running coach and hosts running tours, so she takes health and fitness seriously. To find the best Trader Joe’s snacks for workouts, she consulted dietitians to find the top options they personally buy and regularly recommend to clients.
The best Trader Joe’s workout snacks for 2025 are:
Best overall — Trader Joe’s fruit sauce crushers; $3.29, Prontohomedelivery.comBest budget buy — Trader Joe’s organic fruit leather wrap; $0.59, Prontohomedelivery.comBest breakfast cereal — Trader Joe’s organic peanut butter and cocoa crunch; $3.89, Prontohomedelivery.comBest running fuel — Trader Joe’s Scandinavian swimmers: $19.99 for 3 packs, Walmart.comBest hiking snack — Trader Joe’s banana chips; $12.95 for 3 packs, Walmart.com
