Here at PlanetBox, we love snacks. Especially summer snacks. And when it comes to snacks, you already know where we're headed - Trader Joe's. We did a haul of new arrivals in the TJ's snack aisle, plus a few that have been around a while that we'd somehow never gotten around to trying. We tasted everything, argued about some of it, and rated it all. Here's what we're loving and what you can skip.
Triple Chip Crispy Cookies
Thin, crispy cookies loaded with three kinds of chocolate chips. Very sweet. You might find yourself reaching for a glass of milk, but the texture is excellent and the flavor delivers. A crowd-pleaser for kids and adults alike.
Rating: 7.9/10
Papadums
We wanted to like these more, especially given that they're made with lentils and chickpeas. But on their own they're dry and a bit powdery. Paired with a good dip they might have potential, but as a standalone snack they fall flat. Kids might eat a few before losing interest.
Rating: 3.6/10
Sea Salt & Vinegar Avocado Oil Potato Chips
The vinegar flavor is a bit more restrained than some salt and vinegar chips, which we appreciated. Good crunch and a slightly thicker cut than standard chips. We did notice a stale oil aftertaste, could be the bag, could be the chip. Proceed with mild caution.
Rating: 3.9/10
Sweet Chili Black Eyed Pea Tempeh Chips
A pleasant surprise. Made from black eyed pea tempeh, so there's actually some protein and fiber in here. Great flavor, nice crisp texture, and just enough heat to be interesting without being overwhelming. Worth noting: might be a bit spicy for younger or more sensitive kids.
Rating: 7.5/10
Guava Tartlette Cookie
The standout of the haul. The tartness of the guava paired with a buttery, crumbly cookie is genuinely delicious. Kids and adults will love this one.
Rating: 9.1/10 ⭐
Key Lime Pie Inspired Grahams
Graham crackers covered in key lime frosting. In full transparency, most of our tasters are not key lime pie people, which may have influenced things. But even accounting for that, these are very sweet and have an artificial lime scent that some found off-putting. If key lime is your thing, go for it. Kids who like sweet and sour will probably enjoy them.
Rating: 2.3/10
Strawberry Mini Mochi Gummies
Cute, and a small handful makes a satisfying little treat. The first bite is good but the flavor fades fast as you chew. Texture is fun though, and kids will like them.
Rating: 5.4/10
Sweet Onion Style Pretzel Twists
Solid flavor, but we all agreed the texture needed more crunch. If you're okay with a softer pretzel, you'll enjoy these. Kids will probably like them.
Rating: 6.3/10
Buffalo Ranch Popcorn
A polarizing one. The ranch flavor leans heavy and there's a noticeable kick of heat. If that's your thing, you might love it. If not, you'll know by the second handful. We'd leave this one out of the kids' snack rotation.
Rating: 4.5/10
Patio Potato Chips
A mixed bag, literally. Sea salt & vinegar, dill pickle, ketchup, and BBQ all together in one bag. Loaded with flavor, great crunch, and the variety keeps things fun. This one was a group favorite. If your family likes flavored chips, grab these.
Rating: 8.4/10 ⭐
Carolina Gold BBQ Potato Chips
Mixed reviews on texture, a bit oily for some of us. The flavor is fine if you're a Carolina gold fan, but it didn't win anyone over. Kids might eat a few but probably won't be asking for more.
Rating: 4.6/10
Shrimp Chips
Light, airy, made with tapioca starch, and unmistakably shrimpy. If you're a seafood lover, these might be, as one of us put it, shrimply the best. Everyone else, taste at your own risk. Unadventurous eaters are a hard no.
Rating: 5.6/10
Final Thoughts
The real winners this haul were the Guava Tartlette Cookie (genuinely tasty) and the Patio Potato Chips (fun and flavorful). The tempeh chips also earned their place in the cart. On the skip list: the Key Lime Grahams and Papadums, unless you've got a dip situation going on.
Once you've filled your cart, fill your snack container. Our Back to School Sale is running now through September 20 — save up to 50% on parent and kid favorite snack containers.
Happy snacking! 🌞