I'm a dietitian who used to work at Trader Joe's. Here are 10 of the best things I bought there this year.

I only recently discovered Trader Joe's shredded Unexpected Cheddar.The Unexpected Cheddar block has been one of my favorites (and one of the chain's most popular products) for years. I was excited about the shredded version because it's a convenient way to use one of my go-to products.I love that I can put this in egg sandwiches, throw it on top of chili, or use it in grilled cheese without having to dirty my grater.I've always loved feta cheese and used to buy the pre-crumbled stuff because I figured it'd be more convenient than the big blocks in brine. For whatever reason, I recently felt called to try the authentic Greek feta in brine and I'm never going back.The flavor of this feta is richer, creamier, and definitely worth the hassle of crumbling yourself. I love to use Trader Joe's feta in an Israeli-inspired salad with chopped cucumber, tomato, red onion, olive oil, and lemon juice.In the colder months, I love making a big pot of chili with tortilla chips for meals throughout the week. I still love a nice, crunchy chip to scoop up my chili but I've recently switched to warm cornbread with a slab of butter as my side of choice.I find the contrast between the sweet cornbread and the savory chili to be so satisfying and fulfilling. The meal is also good from a gentle-nutrition perspective, which is about choosing foods that satisfy your cravings while still honoring your health.The chili offers lots of protein and fiber from the beans and the cornbread with butter contains fat and carbs to round out a totally optimized meal.When it comes to cornbread, I don't think there's a reason to reinvent the wheel. Just stick to a trusty mix like this one and it will come out perfect every time.I tend to have cheese and crackers stocked at my house at all times since it's such an easy and satisfying snack to grab between client meetings.However, I get bored of crackers easily — I'll buy a big box and get sick of the flavor I purchased by the time I make it to the end. But Trader Joe's scalloped-cracker trio comes with three sleeves with three different, delicious flavors in each box, the perfect solution to my cracker flavor fatigue.The red-chili flavor tastes slightly like pizza goldfish to me (in a good way), the rosemary variety offers a nice herby freshness, and the garlic cracker adds the perfect savory depth alongside any toppings.I've tried other canned and jarred fruit from Trader Joe's this year but nothing compares to the peach halves. I cut them up, add them to Greek yogurt with granola, and pour a little bit of the peach juice into the bowl for added sweetness.Diet culture suggests that fresh fruit is more nutritious than its canned counterpart but not every food you eat has to be a nutritional powerhouse. You're allowed to eat food, such as these peach halves, simply because it's satisfying.On busy work days when I have back-to-back client calls, I love using Trader Joe's cocoa-almond spread to make what I call a bootleg Reese's'' and get some quick fuel between meetings.To make one, I simply eat some peanut butter and cocoa-almond spread on the same spoon and wash it down with some milk for a delicious afternoon pick-me-up.From a gentle-nutrition standpoint, the protein and fat from the peanut butter help to slow the release of the sugar from the cocoa-almond spread into the bloodstream. This results in more stable and sustained blood-sugar and energy levels.When I struggled with disordered eating, I would've been afraid of the scallion pancakes because they're fried and high in carbs.But now, as an intuitive-eating dietitian, I know that there's nothing wrong with carbs and that every cell in our body needs them to function optimally. Fried food isn't morally good or bad.Though it's not as abundant in micronutrients as broccoli, the scallion pancakes are a great source of easily accessible fuel for the body. I recommend dipping the scallion pancakes in Trader Joe's gyoza sauce (your taste buds will thank you).The prosciutto-wrapped cheese sticks known as Roltinis can be easy to miss since they're so small. But don't let their size deceive you, this snack is incredibly satisfying and filling for its size.I loved having one of these with an apple as a snack during my shift when I worked at Trader Joe's. The meat in the Rolitini contributes protein and fat and the apple offers carbs and some fiber, creating a satisfying, nutritionally optimized snack experience.Plus, the savory meat and cheese stick paired with the sweet juicy apple creates the ideal tasty contrast.Not only does the chili-onion mix contribute spice and savory garlic flavor, but also it adds a unique textural crunch component to any dish.I love to enjoy the crunchy chili onion bits on hard-boiled eggs, ramen, polenta, roasted vegetables, and breakfast quesadillas or as a dip for crusty bread. This product contributes to the satisfaction factor of an eating experience, which helps you to move on after a meal without feeling unfulfilled.I'm the kind of person who craves something sweet most days (which is totally OK because your body can be trusted to handle dessert).Joe-Joe's cookies with a glass of milk are one of my go-to desserts to satisfy that post-meal sweet craving. The Joe-Joe's themselves hit the spot every time but if you want to get creative, crumble some up and mash them into vanilla ice cream for a homemade cookies-and-cream dessert.

I'm a dietitian who used to work at Trader Joe's. Here are 10 of the best things I bought there this year.

The shredded Unexpected Cheddar is an easy way to use one of my favorite items.

The flavor and texture of a block of feta in brine can't be beaten.

Trader Joe's cornbread mix makes the perfect side for a pot of chili.

I never get bored of Trader Joe's scalloped-cracker trio.

Canned peach halves are truly satisfying.

The cocoa-almond spread is a great pick-me-up.

Trader Joe's scallion pancakes go great with dip.

Don't pass up the Roltinis.

Trader Joe's crunchy chili onion can be used in so many ways.

Joe-Joe's are perfect for those with a sweet tooth.