Yay: Shelled Soy Beans Edamame

These are found in the refrigerated produce section of Trader Joe's. They are slightly salted and must remain chilled. While I prefer shelled edamame because a mouthful of soybeans all at once is just too much and I like the act of getting them out of the shells, these are easy to pack in lunches and take on the go because they do not require thawing (frozen shelled edamame require thawing/microwaving). They come in a small, resealable plastic package to keep them fresh.

Yay: Mild Salsa

This is a very tasty salsa, particularly since it lacks all the preservatives of standard brand jarred salsas. You actually find this in the refrigerated section of TJs, compared to typical groceries stores where you find room temperature salsa in the chip aisle. This item is a bit on the thinner, runnier side, therefore I recommend it more as a topping for your Mexican inspired dishes or as a cooking ingredient, as opposed to dipping with a hearty chip. Or you could just find a thinner chip too!

Nay: Roasted Seaweed Snack

Some people love seaweed as as snack; if you do, then ignore this review because it probably doesn't apply to you. For those who are unfamiliar with seaweed as a snack, this stuff isn't so great. While it has the earthy, salty, healthy taste found in seaweed salad or around the edge of a sushi roll, once you eat a piece of this it becomes a texture nightmare. Its gooey, slimy consistency and bizarre lightness (it is sliced paper thin and dissolves in a few seconds) leaves little to be desired.

Yay: Veggie Chips

These are a light, airy snack that satisfies a craving for crunch, salt and carbs. Don't be fooled by the packaging: these are made with vegetables but are potato based. Thus, they have similar fats and calories as regular potato chips. However, they are much tastier than regular potato chips! They are ridged, but cut thicker than standard brand chips, allowing them to hold up well to dips (such as Hummus Dip). They are have a fluffy feel to them while leaving little grease on your hands. Serve them at your next party or keep the whole bag to yourself!

Yay: Baby Spinach

I have yet to purchase a "bad" bag of baby spinach from Trader Joe's. It is always fresh, not wilted, crispy and delicious. Many times I've tried to purchase spinach from a different grocery store with standard packaged brands, and the bottom 1/3 of the bag is nearly useless because the spinach is wet and wilted. At $1.99 a bag the price is comparable too (although your store's pricing may vary). Top with some Candied Pecans and a delicious cheese, and you've got yourself one yummy salad!

Yay: Broccoli Florets

TJs makes cooking easy because they package fresh vegetables that are ready to go. Sure, you'll pay extra for these beautiful florets because they are cut and ready to use, however each floret is perfectly fresh, giving you about the same amount as two full heads of fresh broccoli. These can be microwaved in the bag, however I have not cooked them this way because microwaved broccoli is mushy. Toss them into stir-fry, add to salad, eat as a healthy raw snack, or steam and season as a delicious side dish.