Trader Joe’s may not have bulk sizes like Costco or all the keto specialty items like Whole Foods, but they do have good prices for our family’s budget and offer exclusive TJ items you can only find on their shelves. It’s worth the special trip!

What to Buy for Keto at Trader Joe's

1. Fats and Oils

When shopping for oils, we go for cold-pressed, extra virgin, or unrefined varieties to avoid heavy processing. Eating oils in their purest most natural form ensures the health benefits and flavors are still present and you’re not consuming something that’s been damaged in the manufacturing process. 

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil 
• Cold-Pressed Unrefined Coconut Oil 
• Kerry Gold Butter 

2. Grass-Fed Beef 

Though it isn’t necessary, grass-fed beef is your best option when choosing a protein source. It has a better omega-fatty acid ratio in comparison to conventionally raised beef and may have environmental benefits as well. It’s the more expensive option, but Trader Joe’s has the lowest price around for grass-fed ground beef. 

3. Keto Nuts and Seeds 

There’s no better place to stock up on keto-friendly nuts and seeds. Trader Joe’s carries all of our favorites at a great price. We use nuts and seeds in all kinds of gluten free keto recipes and love them as road trip snacks. 

• Hemp Hearts - Keto “Oatmeal” 
• Chia Seeds - Low Carb Grits 
• Walnuts - Keto Blueberry Walnut Pound Cake
• Almonds - Low Carb Biscotti & Nature Valley Bars
• Pecans - No-Bake Keto Cookies and Keto Pecan Cheesecake Bars
• Macadamia Nuts - Cookies & Cream Fat Bombs

4. Pre-Cooked Meats for On-the-Go

One of the hardest parts of being on a keto diet is constantly having a low-carb options at the ready. You can’t find high fat, high protein foods wherever you go like you can find high sugar options. Trader Joe’s has some great on-the-go keto meat options to keep in your fridge whenever you are in a hurry and need to whip up a quick meal. 

• Just Chicken Pre-Cooked Grilled Chicken 
• Ciao Pepperoni Slices - one of our favorite keto snacks!
• Columbus Hard Salami 
• Pre-Cooked Pork belly - Just heat and Serve! 

5. Keto Bars 

There are only a couple low-carb bar options at Trader Joe’s, but luckily they have a ton of flavors to choose from. They carry Quest Protein bars which are very low-carb and Power Crunch bar which are higher in carbs, but aren’t crammed full of fiber. For more info on our favorite keto protein bars, check out our keto protein bar guide! 

6. Cheese 

Trader Joe’s is a cheese lover’s dream come true. Spend some time carefully picking out a few specialty cheeses and make a night of it. Create a keto cheese board along with some sliced meats and olives and you’ve got a delicious date night at home. Our favorites are 1000 Day Aged Gouda and Creamy Tuscano. 

7. Bacon Ends and Pieces 

Bacon is a staple in our household and the fattier the better. Trader Joe’s carries packages of Uncured Bacon ends and Pieces which are rich with chunks of fat and perfect for the keto diet. We add bacon to a ton of our recipes. 

• Cheddar Bacon Soup 
• ​Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
• ​Low-Carb Chicken Chili
• Bacon & Egg Cups 
• ​Bacon Jalapeno Poppers
• Keto Quiche with Flaky Crust

8. Gluten-Free Keto Snacks 

Trader Joe’s has got you covered in the snacks department. Matt loves getting their Kalamata Olives and salami, but Megha is into using their Sunflower Seed Butter to make fat bombs at home. Of course their nut and seed selection makes for great snacks and you can’t go wrong with a Quest bar. 

9. Frozen Organic Spinach 

We’re not intense when it comes to always buying organic items, but when it comes to spinach we go organic because it’s one of the worst vegetables for pesticide use. We add it to Keto Green Smoothies or throw it into our Breakfast Casserole for keto meal prep.  

10. Seafood 

We’re always trying to incorporate more seafood into our keto diet because we want to reap all of the brain benefits of omega 3 fatty acids. 

Smoked Salmon 

We love Trader Joe’s Smoked Salmon as a fatty snack. The macros are great for keto and if you’re a salmon fan, you’ll love the smokey variation. 

Mahi Mahi Burgers 

Paired with some garlic aioli, these Mahi Mahi Burgers from Trader Joe’s are irresistible and convenient. Find them in the frozen food section and pull them out whenever you need a quick meal or have a seafood craving.