Last week we mentioned our desire to seek out more vegan options at the local Trader Joe's grocery store. And while we found a few great finds (as this post will reveal), we found the options limited.  When we questioned the Trader Joe's staff, they noted that many of the products (ie.. Tofurkey) were no longer being offered in the local store.  This did not mean that it can't be found in a Trader Joe's grocery store, just not in our local store.  Our assumption is that per capita, the number of vegans in our area is relatively small comparable to Trader Joe's locations in California, New York, or Washington, DC where vegan items are plentiful.  So, our search for more vegan friend grocery items will expand to other stores in the area including Wal-Mart, Kroger, Publix, and Harris Teeter.

The two lunch options we tried this week were Trader Joe's 99% Fat Free Bean & Rice Burrito ($2.69; 2 in a pack) and Trader Joe's Mildly Spiced Organic Vegetable Burritos ($3.29; 2 in a pack).  The bean & rice burrito was more beans than rice, with a tad bit of cheese, even though it's commonly referenced in the vegan section. It's a quick bite to eat, and at 13 grams of protein and only 250 calories (10 calories from fat), it's a very healthy alternative to a traditional fast-food burrito option.  The vegetable burrito really rocked our world with it's boldness of spice, with a hefty amount of red and black beans and vegetables, including corn, potatoes, bell pepper, and tomatoes. It has 320 calories per burrito, with 100 calories as fat.  As such, the vegetable burritos has more calories, but far lower sodium at 400 mg vs 490 mg when compared to the bean & rice burrito.  Both are viable option, just be sure to brush have a glass of water when eating the vegetable burrito because it is spicy!! 

​​
​We have not had the opportunity to cook like we would like, and have been scouring our favorite grocery store for some of the top Vegan items to eat on the run or for quick meal preparation.  As often as we've visited the store, we weren't prepared for all the items that the store carries that we have yet to try.  We'll try them in the coming weeks, and will offer our own reviews of our best finds.  Here's a short video from World of Vegan of some of the Vegan items that Trader Joe's carry.  We're excited to taste many of the foods suggested, as well as some of our own finds, and can't wait to share from our own personal experiences.