Affordable Eats: Our prepared-meals challenge, Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s?

Last week, I compared the prepared meals at ShopRite and Stop & Shop. This week, we will compare Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, which offer slightly different and perhaps more unique selections.

I started at Trader Joe’s, but I must preface this by saying that I truly love this place! They seem to have everything I would ever need, and their prices are reasonable. They also have some cool products, but we won’t go down that rabbit hole!

I scanned their prepared meals and ended up with a mozzarella and tomato salad ($3.99), a three-layer hummus ($3.99), a black bean and cheese burrito ($3.99) and a lentil and ancient grains soup ($3.99).

I paused at the word, ancient! I’m not sure I want anything “ancient” in my soup, but I’m sure they mean the ancient type of grains. Let’s hope so, anyway. I also got those tiny Hold-the-Cone ice cream cones and some kiwi ($6.99). Hey, You might as well stay healthy, right?

I started with the salad, and it was loaded with tasty fresh mozzarella, lettuce and tomatoes, all with a flavorful vinaigrette dressing. Next was the soup, and thankfully, no taste of anything ancient, and the grains were cooked well. The black bean and cheese burrito was average and a little bland, but the three-layer hummus was terrific. It had garlic and tahini hummus, red pepper hummus, and dill hummus. Each had its own flavor, but when you got a bite with two, it was like a party in your mouth! The chocolate ice cream cones and kiwi were the perfect ending.

On to Whole Foods. I tried to stay within the same price range, but it was challenging. Whole Foods is more expensive.

I got a corn and shrimp chowder ($8.99), stuffed grape leaves ($10.43), almond butter and brownie bars ($4.50), and two pizza slices ($7.50).

I know, that last one is a crime here in New Jersey, supposedly the pizza capital of the world. How dare I buy pizza from a chain grocery store?

Well, I have some news for you: The pizza at Whole Foods is not bad. It’s decent with tasty sauce, toppings and cheese, and the crust is crunchy on the edges and not too thick. The stuffed grape leaves were tasty, but you must realize I’m comparing them to my mother’s grape leaves in Damascus, where I grew up. For American-made grape leaves, they were fine.

The corn and shrimp chowder soup was flavorful, with tons of shrimp pieces, and those little almond butter and brownie bars. They were better than I expected and packed a lot of taste in a little packet.

And the verdict is . . . . drum roll please . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .!!!!

It’s a tie!! The salad and soup were a tad better at Trader Joe’s, but the pizza from Whole Foods made up the difference. Perhaps Trader Joe’s gets another nod due to their affordability.

Next, I’ll compare a couple of farmer’s markets. Which ones should I hit?

Stories by Karim Shamsi-Basha

Karim Shamsi-Basha may be reached at kshamsi-basha@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter & Instagram.

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