Making its debut in 2021, Trader Joes Organic Rolled Oats with Ancient Grains & Seeds became the newest gluten free fiber packed oatmeal to hit TJ’s shelves.
The oven toasted old fashioned rolled oats were the only organic oat option at Trader Joe’s prior to this. The new oats are definitely a welcomed addition.
After all, the options for a similar superfood blend of whole grains were few and far between. Aside from TJ’s, Bobs Red Mill offers a wide variety of grains and blends. They are commonly found at many national supermarkets today. Bobs is well known for their organic and conventional grain products. They also do offer 5 and 7 grain varieties but nothing with the same combination of oats and grains.
Trader Joe’s tends to find popular products in the market and duplicate them under the TJ’s brand. Large manufacturers such as ConAgra foods and La Boulangerie make many of the products you see on Trader Joe’s shelves.
Its hard to say with certainty who is the manufacturer of the new oat blend. Based on its popularity and its ingredient list it looks like the Superfood Oats by health food company Purely Elizabeth was the inspiration behind the organic rolled oats with ancient grains & seeds.
There are a few key differences between the two. The order of the listed ingredients and the addition of hemp seeds in the Purely Elizabeth blend. Nutritionally, the Purely Elizabeth comes in slightly better per serving, but it’s up to you to determine if that’s worth the large premium you’ll pay for it.
A 10oz bag of the Purely Elizabeth Oats costs $7.88 ($0.79/oz) on Amazon vs a 24oz bag from Trader Joe’s that’ll run you $4.49 ($0.19/oz) ALMOST 4 TIMES THE PRICE!!!
Ingredients
organic rolled oats, organic amaranth flakes, organic quinoa flakes, organic chia seeds, and organic ground flax seeds
Nutritional Facts and Comparison
Nutritionally, the organic rolled oats with ancient grains & seeds are remarkably similar to TJ’s plain conventional rolled oats.
Per ½ cup serving, the organic oats with ancient grains & seeds did offer the highest protein content of the three while also the highest in total calories and fat. You’ll also get 1g more fiber per serving when compared to the oven toasted old fashioned organic oats.
Looking to boost your fiber intake? Both rolled oat varieties are excellent sources of fiber with each containing 5g of fiber per serving. Its helpful to use the rule of thumb that foods considered to be rich in fiber should contain at least 1g of fiber for every 10g of carbohydrates.
The organic rolled oats with ancient grains passed the test coming in at 1.7g for every 10g of carbs.
Organic and Gluten Free
If you want your oats to be organic AND gluten free variety then go with the gluten free organic rolled oats with ancient grains & seeds over the oven toasted old fashioned organic oats. While oats are typically all gluten free, the oats with ancient grains are labeled gluten free while the oven toasted old fashioned oats are labeled that they may contain trace amounts of wheat.
Packaging
The rolled oats and ancient grains come in a thick plastic bag with a zip loc top. This makes it easy and seal and re-use.
Price
Pricewise, the organic rolled oats with ancient grains & seeds are sold at over a 50% premium to TJ’s conventional rolled oats. This is due to the premium for organic vs non-organic but also the variety of grains that the former offers.
You will pay $0.19/oz for the organic rolled oats with ancient grains vs $0.12/oz for the plain conventional rolled oats. The oven toasted old fashioned organic oats were in the middle at $0.17/oz.
How to Use the Organic Rolled Oats with Ancient Grains
Breakfast Ideas
Trader Joe’s has a plentiful selection of cereal and oatmeal. Each of them rivals the large food manufactures brands on taste and are much lighter on the wallet. It is also great to see the selection of organic grains on the shelves growing at a faster pace.
Traditional Oatmeal
Its amazingly easy to make traditional oatmeal with the rolled oats with ancient grains. MICROWAVE (1200 watt): Just add 1/2 cup of the rolled oats with ancient grains and 3/4 cup of water to a microwave safe bowl. Mix together. Heat on high for 1-2 minutes. Remove from microwave and let stand for a minute or two before serving. STOVETOP: Bring 1 cup of water to a boil on medium-high heat. Add 1/2 cup of rolled oats with ancient grains, stirring as you add for 1 minute. Remove from heat and let stand for a minute or two before serving. If you enjoy it a little sweet, you can add a drizzle of honey or nut butter or top with fresh fruit.
Muffin in a Mug
Trader Joe’s made this one super easy and even printed it directly on the bag. Here is the Morning Muffin In a Mug recipe in case you need it. To save time in the morning, prep the dry ingredients the night before and just add eggs, mix and microwave. Make sure to use a mug or bowl that holders 16oz fl oz or more because the mix will rise as it cooks. Here are some photos of our version made in a small bowl.
Breakfast Bars and Overnight Oats
If you want to get even more creative and can prep the ingredients in advance, you can bake Ancient Grains Breakfast Bars or make these super Easy Overnight Oats. Simply substitute the Trader Joe’s organic rolled oats and ancient grains 1:1 for the “rolled oats” in the recipes.
Dinner Ideas
Believe it or not rolled oats and ancient grains are not just a food to start your day with. Advertisers have trained us all so well as to which foods to buy for which meals. Oatmeal and cereal as breakfast foods and rice, farro, couscous and quinoa as “dinner sides”. Consider substituting this grain combo where you would use rice, couscous, or any other commonly used grain as a side dish.
Savory Baked Oats
Many of us never think of using oats this way but preparing a savory version of the muffin in a mug in a casserole dish is a great side to pair with a protein. Add a rich sauce to the protein that the oats can absorb to bring even more flavor.
Savory Cooked Oats
Because the oats can absorb a lot of liquid, another way to add a savory flavor to the oats is by cooking them with salt water or vegetable, chicken or beef broth.
Rice Substitute
You can also enjoy the cooked rolled oats with ancient grains as a substitute for rice under a bed of butter chicken or Chinese beef with broccoli.
The wholesome oats are filling, nourishing and make an amazingly flavorsome side dish to just about any main course.
Overall
The organic rolled oats with ancient grains were a hit in our house and turned out to be an extremely versatile addition to our pantry. They are now in the regular rotation as both a breakfast delight and a dinner side.
You can find the organic rolled oats with ancient grains in the same aisle as the cereal and instant oatmeal products.
If you are into rolled oats and have tried similar five grain combinations from other brands you should check out Trader Joes brand organic rolled oats with ancient grains & seeds. If you have never tried them and are curious, now you have several different ways to cook with them. Let us know what you think in the comments below!
