Sometimes I think I should have dedicated my blog to Trader Joe’s. I <3 that place! And, I can’t believe that I only started going there this year. What the H-E double hockey stick (hi Greg!) was I thinking? I try to only go there once a week, but it’s hard when there are literally three within walking distance from my house and another that is five minutes from my yoga studio (and I’m at my yoga studio almost every day of the week). And when I’m in a Trader Joe’s, I try to stick to my grocery list and buy only what I need in order to not overspend and in order to NOT spend over an hour in there. Sometimes it works, and sometimes, I just have to succumb to the power that is Trader Joe’s.
And like Heather, while I’m at Trader Joe’s, I like to always try a fun, new item in addition to my ‘necessities’. But because everything seems so fun at TJ’s, I usually have a difficult time choosing the item (hence, my marathon stays there). So after walking up and down every aisle at least three hundred times and having at least five TJ’s employees ask me, “are you finding everything OK, ma’am (gag, don’t they know Healthy Chow likes to me called ‘miss’?)?,” I finally settled on this:
Granted, this little item may not be as ‘fun’ as some of the tempting sweets that stare at me from up above whenever I’m in the frozen food aisles, but I’ve never heard of pea shoots and they looked pretty interesting. Plus, they were organic, nutritious and cheap (I think it was less than $2.50 for this). Sounds like a winner to me! I also admit that I just like saying ‘pea shoots’. I know, I’ m weird like that…
Here are some of the ways I enjoyed my fun, little Trader Joe’s pea shoot treat:
On a salad…(beware, it is a humungo salad…)
Before getting salsa-fied...
And after...along with some whole grain melba toast
Just from another angle...
The pea shoots gave my salad of romaine lettuce, baby spinach leaves, cucumber slices, tomato slices, chopped baby carrots, red kidney beans, adobo powder and salsa a fresh added crunch. I would say that the pea shoots taste like a hybrid of bean sprouts and alfalfa sprouts. I get so used to eating the same things in my salad, that having something unique such as this diddy made my salad special. Plus, as noted on the box, these pea shoots have a good amount of vitamin C. Woot!
In a quesadilla (ish):
In a Joseph's flax pita with mashed red kidney beans, tomato, carrots, baby spinach and a slice of reduced fat provolone (not shown).
All grilled up in the Foreman...
Plated next to a sliced Gala apple
When I pressed my quesadilla in my George Foreman grill, the pea shoots got softened and cooked a bit. While they were no longer as crunchy, the pea shoots still were crisp enough to be noticed in my cheesy quesadilla. Actually, they seemed a tad more sweet after being grilled versus when I had them raw in my salad. This was so yummy and filling! But then again, I think grilling anything in a pita with cheese is divine.
In an omelet (a very large one):
It was quite the stuffed omelet...
I think I've perfected the omelet flip...go Healthy Chow!
Next to an ear of sweet corn...
Take a look at all that yummy goodness!
I think this was by far my favorite way to savor the pea shoots. As I mentioned previously, when the pea shoots are cooked, they taste sweeter. However, when coupled with the sweet peas, the taste is sensational! I love egg white omelets in general – they are less greasy tasting than whole egg omelets and allow for the inside ingredients to really shine through. While my omelet had tomato, baby spinach leaves, adobo and garlic powder and salsa on top, it was hands down the peas and pea shoots that stood out. This combination of the subtly sweet and savory was a.maz.ing! Not to mention corn on the cob (sans butter) is like summer’s candy (oh, I miss you already, summer!). Can you tell Healthy Chow had a good time eating this meal?
Well, I haven’t been disappointed by a Trader Joe’s product yet and I’m happy to report, that is still true. I’m so happy that I selected something from the produce section for my fun, little item versus something from the baked goods (because I was so leaning towards that…). It helped to show me that eating healthy can be fun and having fun while you’re eating doesn’t have to mean eating crap. Also, a little treat for myself doesn’t always have to mean cookies, chips or brownies (although those are all wonderful, too!). I have learned that treating myself to healthy and nutritious foods can be just as enjoyable as having a sugary snack. Don’t get me wrong, I still love me some decadent cookies and cream ice cream, but life can be just as sweet with some pea shoots.
What’s your ideal breakfast? Do you like having breakfast foods for lunch/dinner? If so, what’s your favorite breakfast for lunch/dinner meal?
Namasté,
Nicole
Hi, I'm Nicole and welcome to Healthy Chow. My last name is Chow and this is my journey to living a life that is healthy and well-balanced. That being said, I thought Healthy Chow would be an appropriate name for my blog! I love to eat, I'm growing my love to cook and I'm in love with family, yoga and creating my own jewelry. This blog was started as a way to remind myself (and the world) that there isn't just one definition of healthy. We each just need to find our own meaning. Please join me as I find mine.
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I’m with you on the TJ love! My local TJs actually isn’t too close so I don;t get to go often, which is sort of depressing haha.
I love yogurt and oatmeal for bfast. I’m OBSESSED with omelets but I associate them as lunch and dinner foods, weird? I think this is because I ate them for, like, EVERY meal in college haha
Hi Sarah – You don’t get to go too often to TJ’s? That’s a tragedy! Hahaha, I never ate omelets in college. I think I just drank coffee…Now I love breakfast
!
yum! i love pea shoots and how you can sort of add them to just about any sandwich or salad or veggie dish for extra crunch. they are so versitile and i like how they are a little snappier than bean sprouts, which always remind me of pea shoots…anyway, delish!
Hi Kate! I totally agree! It’s a subtle crunch but so yummy. I never knew they existed until I saw them at TJ’s – I love TJ’S!!!
My absolute favorite breakfast food is steel cut oats with a crispy fried egg, a dash of soy and a drizzle of olive oil. It’s the best! Even better with a few halved cherry tomatoes on top. I’ll have to try the pea shoots, they look delicious!
Hi Susan,
Oh wow! That sounds amazing! Crispy fried egg with a runny yolk? Hmmmmm….
Girl, you’ve got so much creativity when it comes to food
I think it comes with the open-mindedness of trying new things.
I think my comfort breakfast food is oatmeal. However, my favorite breakfasts consist of French toast (made with baguette loaf).. or something special like crepes. Of course, spiced up with delicious sounding glazes, compotes, sauces, syrups and fruits.. what have you!
Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, so I really don’t mind having it more than once in a day lol. Usually after dinner I’ll make myself another breakfast-y meal 
HA! I think it’s funny that you, Katharina, think I am the creative one. Have you checked out some of your own meals? But thanks for the compliment! I am beginning to love breakfast foods more and more
you are a master omelet flipper! hot dang
i LOVE breakfast, and would eat it 3x/day if i could prepare it at home! I usually go for some form of eggs, but sometimes i mix it up 
i also love kombucha, and kinda want to make it myself… let me know if you try it first
And i love all kinds of greek yogurt, although i think tj’s 2% is heads and shoulders above the 0%. Right now I just buy what’s on sale that week… and great apple crisp! (i know, i’ve been under the weather and can’t keep up with my reading!)
Thanks Shannon! Eggs are really such a versatile food. I don’t know what I would do without them. I heart chickens
HA! I’m not sure if I’m talented enough to make kombucha on my own. It looks a tad scary! Thanks for the kind words about the apple crisp – it was soooo good! I hope you are feeling better.
I love pea shoots! Your omelette is gorgeous… it’s one of my favorite breakfast-for-dinner meals to make and (of course) eat. Quick, tasty, and filling! I could eat breakfast foods for all three meals. My go-to morning meal is oatmeal with all the fixins’, and I love a big yogurt bowl for lunch.
Thanks Lauren. I think everyone in the food blogosphere loves breakfast for any meal of the day. But I have to agreee – it truly is the best! Yogurt bowls are fun as well but nothing beats a hot bowl of oats!
i have never ever seen pea shoots!
I love breakfast…anything for breakfast. I wish breakfast could be every meal.
My favorite breakfast is poached eggs on toast with either smoked salmon or Canadian bacon… like Eggs Benedict, but I’ll pass on all the butter and the Hollandaise sauce. I also really like cereal. I can eat it any time of the day.
I love pea shoots. I would have never thought to use them in such creative ways.
Hi Kaytee,
Thanks for visiting. Ohhh, smoked salmon and Canadian bacon – I totally forgot about them. And I agree about the Hollandaise sauce – I don’t need it either . I like salsa with my eggs
how do you compare trader’s to whole foods?
Hi Quisha,
There’s no comparison. Trader Joe’s is fun, affordable and they have all sorts of cool things. WF is nice as well but it’s just so darn expensive. I like both but Trader Joe’s is my true love!
I’m the same way at TJs – I have no self control and love trying at least one new product! Love all the ways you used those pea sprouts – yum!
Thanks Kerstin! I don’t know what I would do without my TJ’s
You know that idea/myth/truth that men think about sex every 30 seconds? Well I probably think about TJ’s every 30 seconds!! There’s ALWAYS something new to purchase there. Thanks for sharing your pea shoots creations!!
Oh Allie! You crack me up, girlie! And I love the fact that they have that ‘what’s new at TJ’s’ shelf/display. Makes it so much easier for me! You are welcome. Glad you liked them
Hi Nicole, thanks for the shout out. I’m catching up on my Healthy Chow blogs, while watching the Patriots game. Carolyn and Colby say hi. Awesome time last night.
You should have your own cooking show! Move over Rachel Ray Healthy Chow is in the house.
Awww! Thanks Greg. You are truly the best! Tell C & C I said hello.
I am really enjoying reading your well written articles. It looks like you spend a lot of effort and time on your blog. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles. Keep up the good work!
Aw, this was a really quality post. In theory I’d like to write like this too – taking time and real effort to make a good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and never seem to get something done.
I wanted to thank you for this excellent read!! I definitely loved every little bit of it. I have you bookmarked your site to check out the latest stuff you post.
I know this is really boring and you are skipping to the next comment, but I just wanted to throw you a big thanks – you cleared up some things for me!
I am really enjoying reading your well written articles. It looks like you spend a lot of effort and time on your blog. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles. Keep up the good work!