I'm a vegan mom with 3 non-vegan kids. Here are 6 of my favorite dinner ideas that only use Trader Joe's products. --[Reported by Umva mag]

I'm vegan, but my three kids aren't. Trader Joe's has made it easier for me to cook dinners that everyone can eat six nights a week.

Oct 15, 2024 - 17:07
I'm a vegan mom with 3 non-vegan kids. Here are 6 of my favorite dinner ideas that only use Trader Joe's products. --[Reported by Umva mag]
bowl of mushroom gnocchi on a placemat
I cook dinner for my mixed-diet family six nights a week.
  • I'm the only vegan in my family, but Trader Joe's makes it easy to cook one dinner for all of us.
  • Prepackaged and prepared ingredients help me make quick but still restaurant-worthy meals.
  • Regular and vegan versions of the same product make it simple to feed everyone.

I cook for my family six nights a week, but I'm vegan, and my husband and three kids aren't. Making one meal to satisfy everyone can be challenging, but I refuse to make separate dinners.

Luckily, Trader Joe's — which has hundreds of locations across 43 US states — stocks some innovative products that make it easier to please everyone without a lot of fuss.

Here are some of my family's favorite dinners that I make with Trader Joe's staples.

Editor's Note: Product availability varies. Some items on this list may not be available at Trader Joe's nationwide.

Homemade ramen is easier to make than you might think.
trader joe's ingredients for homemade ramen in a red cart
I cheat a little bit by buying the store's instant ramen cups for the noodles.

I can make a restaurant-worthy pot of ramen in 20 minutes with just a handful of ingredients.

I use Trader Joe's ginger-miso broth and a couple of the store's miso ramen cups as the base. Then I add some organic baked tofu and fresh produce (bok choi is a classic option).

Each bowl can then be customized with additional toppings, such as a sliced hard-boiled egg, chili oil, or nori snacks (all available at my Trader Joe's).

I like to place the pot of ramen in the middle of the table and surround it with the toppings.

My family loves TJ’s veggie chili.
trader joe's potato tots and cans of vegetarian chili in a red cart
Trader Joe's vegetarian chili is also vegan.

DIY bowls are highly rated in my house — they're a great option for families trying to please a variety of eaters because they're so customizable.

As the weather cools down, I like to bulk up a can of Trader Joe's vegetarian chili (which also happens to be vegan) by serving it over the store's potato tots.

It's so simple. All I have to do is heat the chili, bake the tots, and set everything up on the table.

Like with the ramen, my family sprinkles whatever they want on top. Shredded cheese, salsa, avocado, red onion, and cilantro are some of our go-to garnishes.

Meatball subs are quick and easy — and perfect for game day.
trader joe's ingredients for classic meatball subs in a red cart
I have to buy two different kinds of meatballs and cheese, but it's still the same meal.

Trader Joe's stocks both beef and meatless frozen meatballs and regular and vegan mozzarella, so a classic meatball hoagie is an easy weeknight dinner option.

I like to serve them on ciabatta demi-baguettes. I just slice and top with the cooked meatballs, lots of marinara, and shredded cheese before placing the sandwiches in a toaster oven for 10 minutes.

Garnish with fresh basil for extra flair.

My family always eats their salad when I serve it on pizza.
bag of Caesar salad, two pizza doughs, and an everything bagel seasoning from trader joes
My family refers to it as salad pizza.

My "salad pizzas" are a clever strategy for getting my kids (and sometimes myself) to eat more greens.

Without the cheese, Trader Joe's Caesar-style salad kit is vegan. I toss everything else together with the store's Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend and leave the Parmesan on the side for the rest of my family.

The store's plain pizza dough makes it easy to make individual pies — or vegan and non-vegan versions. I top them with either dairy or nondairy mozzarella (which Trader Joe's stocks plenty of) before baking.

Assembling the salad pizzas is easy. I just pile the Caesar salad on the cooked crusts and add prepared frozen chicken slices to the non-vegan pies for extra protein.

Enchilada skillet is a winner at my table.
trader joe's ingredients for an enchilada skillet in a red cart
I love a meal where you just throw everything in a pan.

My one-pan enchilada skillet is a lifesaver on busy evenings.

It starts with shredded high-protein tofu and Trader Joe's salsa verde. From there, I add layers of tortillas, black beans, corn, and the store's plant-based almond chipotle dip.

Garnish with green onions, cilantro, and lime juice, and serve with more salsa verde. Even though it's totally plant-based, this is always a hit with my kids.

My kids have no idea their favorite gnocchi dish is packed with extra veggies.
ingredients for marsala gnocchi from trader joe's in a red cart
I like to use Trader Joe's cauliflower gnocchi packs.

I'm grateful for Trader Joe's frozen cauliflower gnocchi because it packs in more vegetables without my kids knowing.

I feel like a chef when I throw the premade pasta together with mushrooms, marsala wine, broth, and coconut milk to make my take on mushroom marsala.

It's simple, only takes a handful of ingredients, and works for everyone.

Click to keep reading Trader Joe's diaries like this one.

Read the original article on Business Insider





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