Vegetable Fried Rice — OKAY
Munch or Dump rates Vegetable Fried Rice by Trader Joe's OKAY — score 70/90.
Genuinely vegetable-forward: rice plus carrots, edamame, corn, peas, leeks and bell peppers do most of the work. The seasoning is light — soy sauce, a little canola oil, sugar and sesame oil, with only a trace of xanthan gum and dextrin in a seaweed extract. A reasonable weeknight base, held back by white rice, added sugar and a high sodium load.
Why this verdict
- Real mixed vegetables and edamame make up most of the list
- Additives are minimal and only in trace seaweed-extract form (xanthan gum, dextrin)
- Refined white rice base with added sugar keeps it out of MUNCH territory
- High sodium from soy sauce and added salt
Ingredients (7)
- Cooked rice (moderate) — Refined white rice base — fine, but a fast-digesting carbohydrate.
- Carrots, corn, peas, leeks, bell peppers (safe) — A genuine spread of real vegetables.
- Edamame (soybeans) (safe) — Whole soybeans adding real plant protein and fiber; soy allergen.
- Soy Sauce (moderate) — Seasoning that carries much of the sodium; contains wheat and soy.
- Sugar (caution) — One of two added sugars; the product is high in total sugar.
- Canola oil and sesame oil (moderate) — Refined and finishing oils used at 2 percent or less.
- Xanthan gum / dextrin (moderate) — Trace thickeners inside a seaweed-extract flavoring; the only real processing markers.
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