I'm a dietitian who hates meal planning. Here are 12 things I buy at Trader Joe's to make feeding my family easier.

These are a lifesaver on busy nights — once the tiny spinach-and-ricotta-filled ravioli are in boiling water, they need just a few minutes to cook.

I toss them with butter and salt or pesto, add fruit on the side, and dinner's done. I appreciate that the raviolini contain 7 grams of protein per one-cup serving — and get my kids to eat some spinach.

At $3.50 per 10-ounce pack, these are a budget-friendly meal, too.

With minimal meal planning, I don't budget time to marinate meat, so preseasoned proteins like this are convenient staples.

Trader Joe's pollo asado is seasoned with paprika, garlic, onion, lemon juice, and peppers. I throw it in my Instant Pot for 20 minutes (so I can get other things done while it cooks) or grill it for five.

The chicken also freezes well, so I always keep one pack on hand for busy weeks.

Yes, I have a rice cooker — but some days I need rice ready now.

My kids don't always want the carbs I prepare, so having rice that can be on the table within three minutes is good for my sanity.

Trader Joe's offers jasmine, brown rice, and mixed-grain varieties in the frozen aisle — all are great for building up quick dinners or rounding out leftovers.

Vegetables usually take the longest for me to prep and cook — and after a full day, I often don't have the time or energy to do it.

So, I love Trader Joe's microwavable asparagus, which steams right in its container for a few minutes. I pair the asparagus with salmon and rice for a simple, heart-healthy meal.

Since my kids aren't big on sandwiches, I cut and microwave bite-sized pieces of sprouted tofu for them as an easy protein option for lunch.

For an easy dinner, I'll sauté the tofu with garlic and soy sauce. It's a solid choice for the whole family, with 9 grams of protein per serving.

I don't enjoy making salads from scratch, but salad kits from Trader Joe's come together easily.

I like the broccoli and kale slaw option — with crunchy greens, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and a creamy dressing, it pairs perfectly with leftover salmon or chicken for a quick, balanced meal.

Plus, at only $3.49 per bag, it's a lot more budget-friendly than ordering takeout.

These frozen, fully-cooked skewers can be heated up with a grill, oven, or microwave.

I serve the chicken thighs with a salad kit or microwaveable veggies and rice for a fast, complete dinner with minimal cleanup (always a perk).

While I make my kids' lunches daily, I often forget mine. That's why I stock up on Trader Joe's frozen meals. My favorite is the channa masala — chickpeas stewed in a flavorful onion-y tomato sauce.

Each two-serving container has 12 grams of protein and 12 grams of fiber, takes minutes to heat, and keeps me full for the afternoon.

Many of Trader Joe's frozen meals in a bag are an easy, affordable way to enjoy a dinner that tastes home-cooked but requires minimal prep.

When the kids have leftovers and the adults still need dinner, I reach for the shiitake-mushroom chicken with edamame and green beans in a ginger soy sauce.

It cooks in one pan, can be served on its own or with rice, and packs 20 grams of protein per cup — all for under $5.

With 15 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber per serving, this lentil pasta is filling enough to enjoy on its own with no extra protein needed.

I pair it with a sauce and veggies for a straightforward meal.

I keep a few in the fridge for a grab-and-go breakfast, snack, or even a last-minute dinner.

Each single-serving container has about 15 grams of protein with only 5 grams of added sugar — less than what I've found in similar yogurts. At $1.19, it's quite affordable too.

If I don't have time to pack fruit before heading out, I grab a bag of Trader Joe's unsweetened freeze-dried mango.

The pieces are just fruit, making them a sweet, satisfying snack for both kids and adults. Plus, they're not a bad way to get extra fiber with about 2 grams per serving.