The Trader Joe's Find I Buy Every Time My Kids Ask for It

I don't usually buy salad kits. I like tossing my own together with fresh, seasonal veggies, homemade dressings, and vinaigrettes. But a couple of years ago, my sister turned me on to an easy lunch hack she was using for herself, which included a bagged salad kit and meal-prepped grilled or roasted chicken.

Sometimes she'd eat them as a salad; other times, she'd toss everything into a wrap. It sounded easy, doable, and totally up my alley. The problem was that I didn't know where to start with finding the best salad kits.

So last year, we held an unofficial "Salad Taste Test" at my house. My husband, my two brutally honest kid critics, and I casually reviewed a lineup of bags from Aldi and Trader Joe's over the course of two weeks of dinners.

I didn't expect my kids to be thrilled about all the salad, but I was wrong. They really enjoyed the "competition" and even designated a clear champion—Trader Joe's Avocado Ranch Salad Kit. Our rating system was simple: did we like it or not? But in this case, my kids literally rated it an 8/10—which is basically Michelin-star status in our house.

Since that evening, this $3.99 kit has become a non-negotiable item in my cart. It's the kind of side dish that gives us a decent veggie side when I'm running on fumes, and the fact that it's kid-approved makes it an absolute essential.

Why I Love Trader Joe's Avocado Ranch Salad Kit

The biggest selling point, without a doubt, is that this specific combination of textures and flavors convinces non-salad eaters to clear their plates. It's a mix of shredded red and green cabbage, lettuce, carrots, kale, and green onions, and it comes with shredded cheddar cheese, crunchy tortilla strips, and a creamy avocado ranch dressing.

The ratio of "fun stuff" (tortilla strips and cheese) to "healthy stuff" (kale and cabbage) is nicely balanced, so the base is hearty and every bite has a satisfying crunch. It also holds up well in the fridge. So I can buy it on the weekend, and it'll still be fresh for Thursday dinner.

How I Use Trader Joe's Avocado Ranch Salad Kits

I love that it's versatile enough to work as both a side and a base for a fuller meal. On taco night, it's an easy, low-effort companion, and on nights when I'm scrambling, I can bulk it up with things like rotisserie chicken, quinoa, rice, and/or beans and call it dinner. One of my kids' favorite tricks is a "salad-topped quesadilla" situation. I'll make a simple bean and cheese quesadilla, cut it into wedges, and pile the salad on top. It's delicious.

It's also easy to elevate it without much effort. Adding a squeeze of fresh lime, chopped cilantro, sliced avocado, or TJ's Mexican-style roasted corn are all easy add-ins that make it a little different or add a bit more flavor or vibrancy. But as a simple salad kit, this one genuinely delivers on taste, crunch, and kid approval.

There are very few sentences that make me, as a parent, stop in my tracks quite like, "Mom, can we buy that salad again?" So as long as they are asking for this bag of greens, I am more than happy to keep tossing it into the cart.

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