Got a Picky Eater? This Trader Joe’s Snack Could Be the Fix You’re Looking For

I write about food for a living. You know that. But I don’t just do it for the money. I love food. I love all food (unless it’s gum or something filled with goo that explodes in your mouth). So it felt like the universe slapped me in the face when my second child immediately showed signs of pickiness—particularly when it came to vegetables.

Videos by Sporked

So much for my fantasies of him plucking cherry tomatoes from our vine or making veg heavy stir-fries for the family or having the ease of throwing carrot sticks into his lunch. Nope! That kid wasn’t interested in eating anything that could be stored in a crisper. I had to find new ways to get some veg-based nutrients into his tiny body.

Then, one fateful day, I was talking with another mom who also had a picky eater. She pointed me to Trader Joe’s Crispy Crunchy Okra, which her notoriously picky child happily scarfed down.

Now, I love okra. (Again, I love most food.) But I know it has a bit of a reputation for being slimy and a bit of an acquired taste. So I was skeptical, but I picked up a bag nonetheless and passed one of the long, freeze-dried okra pods to my kid. He crunched the whole thing down without hesitation. It was a miracle. And it made packing lunches and snacking so much easier. I didn’t have to rely solely on fruit and seaweed (the only other green thing he would eat) to ensure a semi-balanced diet.

Nowadays, he eats some vegetables: broccoli (cooked only), carrots (raw only), the occasional corn (on the cob only—whereas my other kid will only eat it off the cob, kids are fun). But Trader Joe’s Crispy Crunchy Okra remains a big part of his diet. He will polish off a whole bag in 20 minutes flat, no problem.

There’s still an issue, though. Trader Joe’s often runs out of its Crispy Crunchy Okra. And then what?? Right now, for example, we’re in a Crispy Crunch Okra drought. I have not been able to find a dupe. Other dried okras are oily and crumbly and too salty. Trader Joe’s dried okra stays whole and intact. It’s not oily at all. It’s simply pure, okra flavor.

So, I guess I’m writing this essay for two reasons: first, to help out any other parents with picky kids who are desperate for options and second to plead with Trader Joe’s to BRING BACK THE CRISPY CRUNCH OKRA. My child’s diet depends on it.

About the Author

Hi! I’m the editor-in-chief of Sporked. I will never turn down a fresh-shucked oyster but I’ll also leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and I love a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients. Why you should trust me: I have been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and am an avid at-home cook and snacker. I began my career writing about fine dining and recipes, moved into cocktails and spirits, and now I talk about groceries. If you can eat it or drink it, I’ve probably written about it. What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s dried okra. Appleton Farms prosciutto from Aldi. Some sort of Trader Joe’s cheese (I’m into the aged gouda at the moment). Frozen waffles (usually the Eggo Cinnamon Toast Minis). Spindrift water (loving the Cosmopolitan right now). Favorite ranking: Smoked salmon. Imagine me as Scrooge McDuck but instead of coins I’m diving into a vault of slippery smoked salmon slices. Pure joy. I also found some real steals in that taste test! Least favorite ranking: Canned oysters. I had such high hopes for this but it quickly became a chore. The kitchen smelled like an uncleaned aquarium.