These Trader Joe’s turkey meatballs helped me lose 20 pounds.

By SARA VANDEN BERGE

If, like me, you love meatballs but don’t enjoy the mess that comes with making them, these pre-made turkey meatballs from Trader Joe’s are seriously the best.

I discovered these beauties a couple of years ago when I started Optavia. You can read about my journey on the weight-loss plan here.

Optavia’s list of Trader Joe-approved food items led me straight to this little green bag, which is full of deliciousness.

Each meatball is 50 calories, so on the plan, I got six as part of a lean and green meal.

When I was craving a taste of something a little hearty, I turned to those meatballs for strength

Those little babies helped me lose 20 pounds, and today, they help me stay in maintenance.

Sadly, my freezer had been meatball-free for weeks until a recent trip to Austin took us on a detour to Trader Joe’s to stock up.

Tonight, I’ll open one of those bags, pop them into the microwave and serve them with a side salad and Optavia garlic mashed potatoes.

The next time you find yourself in Trader Joe’s, add a bag of these meatballs to your basket.

You won’t regret it.