If you have recently started a strict diet regime such as the Whole30, keto or SCD, then it’s important to be aware of what kinds of foods you can and can’t eat. When it comes to coconut milk, it’s important to make sure that you are looking for selections that only contain coconut and water and don’t have any additional ingredients such as additives, gums or preservatives.
There are plenty of options available at Trader Joe’s that you can choose from but it’s important to remember that not every option they have is suitable for the Whole30 diet. In this guide, we’ll be taking you through the variety of options that Trader Joe’s have to offer and what you can purchase and what you should avoid.
Coconut milk that is filled with an array of different preservatives and other additional ingredients can actually do more bad than good when it comes to your diet so make sure to keep an eye out for the ingredients and make sure that they are Whole30 compliant.
Is Trader Joe’s coconut milk Whole30 compliant?
Trader Joe’s offers three options of canned organic coconut milk and they are compliant with the Whole30 diet. The options can be easily identified by their different colored cans which are blue, pink and tan and they all contain coconut and water. Knowing which one is the best depends on what you want to get from your diet.
For example, the unsweetened coconut milk option is compliant with the Whole30 diet but they do contain some additives and gums which mean that it isn’t the healthiest choice and should only be consumed in moderation. There are numerous coconut milk options located throughout the store so knowing where to look for the good ones will prevent you from getting tempted by foods and drinks that are not compliant with the Whole30 diet.
Which Trader Joe’s Coconut Milk is best?
In this section, we’ll be guiding you through the various options so you can see which choices are ideal for you and which ones you shouldn’t consider. Here are the different types of coconut milk you may come across in your local Trader Joe’s:
Trader Joe’s Organic Coconut Milk
Trader Joe’s Organic Coconut Milk is made in Sri Lanka and is the tan can option. It is the original coconut milk and has a limited amount of additives making it ideal for those who are on the Whole30 diet and want to limit the amount of preservatives and artificial ingredients that are added in the milk. If you are stuck on which option is best for you then this is definitely the one to choose.
This is because there are only two ingredients in this milk making it extremely healthy and beneficial without worrying about what it contains. The downside to this option is that it doesn’t have consistency and it does lack in flavor where other options have added sweeteners.
However, for those who want their coconut milk to be free from any gums or other additives, this is great. The lack of gums in the milk can cause the coconut and water to separate in cold temperatures so make sure you milk it before opening it and pouring.
The ingredients for this option are organic coconut milk which is made from organic coconut extracts 48% and filtered water.
- Trader Joe’s Organic Reduced Fat Coconut Milk
Trader Joe’s Organic Reduced Fat Coconut Milk is found in the pink can option and is great for those who want to minimize the fat content of their food and drink. Again, this milk is a product of Sri Lanka and is a great choice for those on the Whole30 diet.
This coconut milk is an ideal option for those who love to make soups of smoothies as it can help provide a thinner consistency while also reducing the fat content as much as possible. Since the milk does have a reduced fat content, it does mean that you get less organic coconut and more water which is why you will see that it isn’t as thick as the original option.
Buying the reduced fat means that it will last a little longer than the original coconut milk as it has more water in it; however, it’s important to bear in mind that the lifespan of coconut milk overall is limited compared to other milk options.
The ingredients for this option are organic coconut and filtered water.
- Trader Joe’s Coconut Milk Beverage, Unsweetened
The Trader Joe’s Coconut Milk Beverage, Unsweetened is found in a carton and is suitable to keep on the shelf. This coconut milk actually contains more ingredients although it remains unsweetened but despite its long ingredient list, this option is compliant with the Whole30 diet.
That being said, there are better options that do have less ingredients such as the aforementioned choices above but this coconut milk contains more gums which helps to keep it more consistent and locked together.
The ingredients for this option are the organic coconut base which is made from organic coconut cream and water while it also features the following additional components: calcium phosphate, folic acid, guar gum, l-selenomethionine (selenium), magnesium phosphate, vitamin A acetate, vitamin B12, vitamin D2, xanthan gum and zinc oxide.
- Trader Joe’s Non-Dairy Coconut Beverage, Unsweetened
This option is similar to the previous choice as it contains more ingredients alongside the coconut base which is made from coconut cream and water; however, while these ingredients are Whole30 compliant, there are healthier options that are available. This milk is found in the refrigerated section and great for those who get through their milk quickly.
The ingredients for this option are the organic coconut base which is made from organic coconut cream and water while it also features the following additional components: calcium phosphate, folic acid, guar gum, l-selenomethionine (selenium), magnesium phosphate, vitamin A acetate, vitamin B12, vitamin D2, xanthan gum and zinc oxide.
- Trader Joe’s Non-Dairy Coconut Beverage Vanilla with Natural Flavor
This option is also another refrigerated choice and is sold as ½ gallon meaning you get plenty of milk to last a while. However, where this milk becomes problematic as the vanilla flavoring contains a lot of sugar as well as the cane syrup which means that this is not suitable for the Whole30 diet so it should be avoided.
The ingredients for this option are the organic coconut base which is made from organic coconut cream and water while it also features the following additional components: calcium phosphate, folic acid, guar gum, l-selenomethionine (selenium), magnesium phosphate, organic dried cane syrup, vanilla with other natural flavors, vitamin A acetate, vitamin B12, vitamin D2, xanthan gum and zinc oxide.
Trader Joe’s Coconut Cream
The original Trader Joe’s Coconut Cream is not Whole30 compliant but they do sell other options which can be purchased as part of the Whole30 diet. This means that you don’t have to worry if you are wanting to include it in your diet.
Here are some examples of the coconut creams that you can purchase:
- Trader Joe’s Organic Coconut Cream
Trader Joe’s Organic Coconut Cream is the best option on the market for those who want a coconut cream as part of their Whole30 diet. Made from two ingredients only, this coconut cream is a product of Sri Lanka and is the blue can option. Similar to other canned coconut milks available at Trader Joe’s, this coconut cream has a higher coconut content which makes it thicker than milk which is great for adding to soups.
The ingredients in this coconut cream are: organic coconut and water
- Trader Joe’s Original Coconut Creamer Non-Dairy
The other option you may consider is the Trader Joe’s Original Coconut Creamer Non-Dairy which unfortunately is not Whole30 compliant. This is due to the dried cane syrup which is refined sugar and is not allowed on the diet at all. Other components such as the xanthan gum are allowed but are not recommended.
The ingredients in this coconut cream include the organic coconut milk which is made from organic coconut cream and water with the following additional components: dipotassium phosphate, dried cane syrup, titanium dioxide which provides the coloring and xanthan gum.
Are Trader Joe’s Coconut Beverages The Same As Other Coconut Milks?
There aren’t many differences between the coconut milk that Trader Joe’s sells and other coconut beverages. This is because Trader Joe’s canned organic coconut milk options are made using organic coconut and water only meaning that it is as natural as possible while also ensuring that it boasts the same health benefits as other coconut milks.
The advantage to purchasing Trader Joe’s coconut milk is that they are much cheaper than other options so you don’t have to worry about breaking your bank account. If you purchase your coconut milk from elsewhere then always be sure that you are looking at the ingredients as they may contain additives that are not allowed on certain diets.
It’s important to understand that not all coconut milk is made the same and that you need to make sure that they don’t have any sulfites or added sugars that can affect the result on whether they are Whole30 compliant or not.
Is Trader Joe’s Coconut Milk BPA Free?
One thing that concerns a lot of customers when it comes to purchasing canned goods is whether there are BPAs involved in the manufacturing process. However, all of Trader Joe’s organic coconut milk options are BPA free which means that you don’t have to worry about them. Thanks to their limited ingredients, you can be assured that this milk is the healthiest option there is thanks to the fact that there are no gums.
You may be tempted to purchase their refrigerated coconut milk but they contain gums which may not be suitable for all diets. Therefore, you can always be sure that the Trader Joe’s canned coconut milk options are suitable for the Whole30, Keto and SCD diets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Kind of Coconut Milk is Whole30?
Coconut milk is compliant with the Whole30 diet if it has been made using minimal ingredients such as coconut and water and doesn’t contain any additional ingredients such as sugars and sulfites that are not allowed on the diet.
As you can see from the various options we have looked through, the ones that are not suitable include those that contain ingredients such as vanilla extract and dried cane syrup.
Is Trader Joe’s Coconut Milk Keto Friendly?
If you are following the Keto diet then be sure to consider some of the unsweetened Trader Joe’s options as they only contain a small amount of natural sugar.
The three organic coconut milk that Trader Joe’s offers are all suitable which includes the original, coconut cream and reduced fat options as well as refrigerated and shelf stable unsweetened coconut milks as well.
Is Trader Joe’s coconut milk SCD legal?
If you are following the SCD diet then you are in luck as some of the choices are SCD legal. This includes all three of the Trader Joe’s organic coconut milk cans with the original, coconut cream and reduced fat being available for consumption.
This is because they only contain organic coconut and water so they should be fine. However, any coconut milks or creams that contain gums or any other similar additives are not SCD legal so bear this in mind.