With neuromyelitis optica, inflammation of any kind can lead to a relapse, and so one way that I mediate it is by eating as gluten-free as possible. In the beginning that was that difficult for someone who considers themselves actively pro-gluten. But TJ’s came to the rescue, as always. Here are some of the best gluten-free snacks at Trader Joe’s in my humble opinion.
Let’s start with the sweets
I’m a cookie junkie, especially chocolate chip cookies. For the people who like thin, crispy versions, the Gluten Free Crispy Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies are my go-to. They also have a ginger cookie version that’s gluten-free, lightly chewy and has a gentle heat to it because of the ginger candy; it’s very delicious.
Some TJ’s also have Partake cookies, which are a thicker, less crunchy chocolate chip cookie. Equally delicious, and all Partake cookies are extremely accessible to the majority of people with food allergies—the brand doesn’t use wheat, peanuts, eggs, soy, shellfish, tree nuts, sesame, or fish in any of its products, and it’s Black-owned, which is a triple win in my book.
For ice cream, I recommend the mochis! Personally, I’m a tea ice cream girlie so the fact that I can get green tea mochis and thai tea mini mochis in one place is a gift.
Next up, salty
Trader Joe’s Movie Theater Popcorn is my kryptonite. The particular popcorn is perfect for the people who love the classic, movie theater-levels of salt, but without the butter pooling at the bottom of the container. While all popcorns, on their own, are gluten free, some of the flavors that are added may contain gluten.
In general, potato chips are supposed to be gluten-free; however, depending on the factories that they’re made in and/or what they’re flavored with, the salty bite could have a surprise hit of gluten. Luckily, Trader Joe’s has several options that are 100-percent gluten-free and delicious. My personal favorite? The Hawaiian style Hickory barbeque chips. A little sweet, a little savory, a little salty, ugh, they’re the perfect binge-TV snack. Look for the reddish bag and thank me later.
Chips and salsa are an easy and interactive snack that generally is gluten free. Most tortilla chips are made from corn, which is gluten-free, but it’s still worth checking because some companies blend their corn flour with wheat flour. There are several corn tortilla options at TJ’s that can be paired with salsa. My go-to are the Organic Yellow Corn Tortilla Chip Rounds and their Salsa Autentica. That salsa is my perfect mild.
Finally, let’s go through some sour candies
I love a good sour pucker. For my fellow tart treat lovers, here are my recommendations for candies. First is the Sour Scandinavian Swimmers. There’s a regular version, but I bypass that one every time and go straight for my citric faves. The other sour candy that I buy in bulk are the Trader Joe’s Sour Jelly Beans. I usually buy one bag of each when I go grocery shopping.
Personally, I love Trader Joe’s gluten-free snacks because they’re tasty, easy to find, and reasonably priced. Plus, with such a wide variety of flavors and textures, they make it easy to find something to satisfy any craving.
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