Trader Joe's
Is Trader Joe's Buffalo Style Chicken Meatballs With Monterey Jack Cheese healthy?
Buffalo Style Chicken Meatballs With Monterey Jack Cheese
Longevity Score
75/100
Food Integrity Score
79/100
Enjoy in Moderation
Nutrition and ingredient quality are both respectable, but this is better as a balanced choice than an everyday default.
Quick answer
Enjoy in Moderation
Trader Joe's buffalo style chicken meatballs with monterey jack cheese is rated enjoy in moderation overall, with a Longevity Score of 75 out of 100 and a Food Integrity Score of 79 out of 100. Protein-rich with some processing and sodium concerns. Strengths include high protein content and simple whole-food ingredients, while main considerations include moderate sodium level and processed seasoning mix.
Longevity Score 75/100Food Integrity Score 79/100
What helped the score?
- High protein content
- Simple whole-food ingredients
What held the score back?
- Moderate sodium level
- Processed seasoning mix
Ingredients
Ingredient list
Chicken, Monterey Jack cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, microbial enzyme), buffalo style seasoning (cayenne pepper sauce, maltodextrin, rosemary extract), sea salt, encapsulated citric acid, vinegar powder, dehydrated garlic, dehydrated onion, dried citrus pulp, cane sugar, paprika, black pepper, cayenne pepper, tomato powder, chipotle pepper powder, ground celery seed. Contains milk.
Formulations can vary — check the package label for the final word.
Key nutrition
Per serving: 85 g (85g)
- Calories1709% DV
- Protein14g28% DV
- Total Carbs3g1% DV
- Fiber0g0% DV
- Total Fat11g14% DV
- Saturated Fat3g15% DV
Source data, GTIN, and Healthy Food Guide analysis details
Product facts
- Product
- Trader Joe's Buffalo Style Chicken Meatballs With Monterey Jack Cheese
- Brand
- Trader Joe's
- Category
- Meat & Poultry (source: Meats And Their Products)
- GTIN / UPC
00000000832298- Serving size
- 85 g (85g)
- Source data — ingredients
- Ingredient list from product label data (see Sources)
- Healthy Food Guide analysis
- Independent Longevity and Food Integrity scorecards. See methodology under Sources.
- Data last verified
How this product may fit different goals
The same food can look different depending on what matters most to you. Here is a general preview of how this product may align with several common goals.
Low-Spike Stability
SupportiveMetabolic Health
For someone prioritizing Low-Spike Stability, the available data suggest this product may align in helpful ways.
A supportive signal: Lower net carbs (3g)
This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.
Heart-Healthy Eating
Watch-outsMetabolic Health
For someone prioritizing Heart-Healthy Eating, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Higher sodium (490mg)
This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.
GLP-1 Eating Support
SupportiveMetabolic Health
For someone prioritizing GLP-1 Eating Support, the available data suggest this product may align in helpful ways.
A supportive signal: Higher protein (14g)
Low Sugar Lifestyle
MixedMetabolic Health
For someone prioritizing Low Sugar Lifestyle, the same nutrition and ingredient data show both supportive signals and tradeoffs.
A supportive signal: Low sugar (0g)
Appetite & Portion Awareness
SupportiveMetabolic Health
For someone prioritizing Appetite & Portion Awareness, the available data suggest this product may align in helpful ways.
A supportive signal: Helpful protein (14g)
Athletic Fueling
Watch-outsAthletic Performance
For someone prioritizing Athletic Fueling, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Lower carbs for fueling (3g)
Workout Recovery
SupportiveAthletic Performance
For someone prioritizing Workout Recovery, the available data suggest this product may align in helpful ways.
A supportive signal: Recovery protein (14g)
Strength & Protein Focus
SupportiveAthletic Performance
For someone prioritizing Strength & Protein Focus, the available data suggest this product may align in helpful ways.
A supportive signal: Moderate protein (14g)
Vegetarian
Watch-outsDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Vegetarian, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Meat/seafood ingredients (Mentions "chicken". See ingredients for details.)
Vegan
Watch-outsDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Vegan, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Animal-derived ingredients (Mentions "chicken", "milk", "cheese". See ingredients for details.)
Plant-Based
Watch-outsDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Plant-Based, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Animal-derived ingredients (Mentions "chicken", "milk", "cheese". See ingredients for details.)
Pescatarian
Watch-outsDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Pescatarian, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Land-meat ingredients (Mentions "chicken". See ingredients for details.)
Low-Carb Lifestyle
SupportiveDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Low-Carb Lifestyle, the available data suggest this product may align in helpful ways.
A supportive signal: Lower net carbs (3g)
This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.
Keto-Style Eating
SupportiveDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Keto-Style Eating, the available data suggest this product may align in helpful ways.
A supportive signal: Very low net carbs (3g)
This product has 2 additional signals for this goal.
Minimally Processed Eating
Watch-outsDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Minimally Processed Eating, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Common ultra-processed markers (Mentions "maltodextrin". See ingredients for details.)
Whole-Food Focused Eating
Watch-outsDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Whole-Food Focused Eating, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Common ultra-processed markers (Mentions "maltodextrin". See ingredients for details.)
Reduce Ultra-Processed Foods
Watch-outsDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Reduce Ultra-Processed Foods, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Common ultra-processed markers (Mentions "maltodextrin". See ingredients for details.)
Mediterranean-Style Eating
MixedDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Mediterranean-Style Eating, the same nutrition and ingredient data show both supportive signals and tradeoffs.
A tradeoff: Ingredients often higher in saturated fat (Mentions "cheese". See ingredients for details.)
This product has 2 additional signals for this goal.
Paleo-Style Eating
Watch-outsDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Paleo-Style Eating, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Dairy ingredients (Mentions "milk", "cheese". See ingredients for details.)
This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.
Healthy Fat Focus
MixedDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Healthy Fat Focus, the same nutrition and ingredient data show both supportive signals and tradeoffs.
A tradeoff: Ingredients often higher in saturated fat (Mentions "cheese". See ingredients for details.)
This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.
Low Gluten Eating
NeutralDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Low Gluten Eating, the available Longevity and Food Integrity data do not show a strong matching signal for this product.
See how this product fits your goals
Choose what matters most to you and explore a more detailed interpretation of this product's nutrition, ingredients, and tradeoffs.
Common questions about this product
Is Trader Joe's Buffalo Style Chicken Meatballs With Monterey Jack Cheese highly processed?
Food Integrity lists processing level as Moderately processed. That reflects formulation and processing signals from the ingredient analysis — not a medical or regulatory classification.
Why are the Longevity and Food Integrity scores different?
Longevity emphasizes nutrition per serving and longer-term dietary alignment. Food Integrity emphasizes ingredients, additives, processing, and label transparency. The same product can score differently on those lenses.
How much fiber is in one serving?
Trader Joe's Buffalo Style Chicken Meatballs With Monterey Jack Cheese shows about 0g of fiber per labeled serving in the Longevity nutrition facts.
Does it contain added sugar?
Trader Joe's Buffalo Style Chicken Meatballs With Monterey Jack Cheese: 0g total sugar per serving. Confirm the current package Nutrition Facts and ingredient list.
What helped the Longevity Score?
Key positives called out in the analysis include: High protein content; Simple whole-food ingredients.
What prevented a perfect Longevity Score?
Key concerns noted include: Moderate sodium level; Processed seasoning mix.
Who might evaluate this product differently?
People prioritizing different goals (for example lower carbs, higher protein, or minimally processed eating) may weigh the same meat & poultry differently. Use the goal preview on this page, then personalize in KarbCoach for your priorities.
Source data and Healthy Food Guide analysis
- Public label databases (including USDA FoodData Central and Open Food Facts) — Possible sources for package ingredients and nutrition.
- Healthy Food Guide analysis (Longevity and Food Integrity) — Independent Longevity and Food Integrity scorecards.
- How the Longevity Score is calculated
- How the Food Integrity Score is calculated
- Scoring models: KarbCoach Longevity and Food Integrity.
- Independent analysis. No manufacturer affiliation.
- Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions. Full sources and safety details.
Label accuracy and safety information
Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions.
See how this item lines up with your goals
Healthy Food Guide covers this product in detail. In KarbCoach, your goals shape what matters most for your meals.
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