Do you shop at Trader Joe's?

Deipneus

We don't have one near where I live. In fact I had never heard of it until MFP, I'm assuming its a discount grocery store similar to Aldi's. I buy my grocery's at Walmart, and sometimes Hyvee.

We have an Aldii'sand a Trader Joe's nearby. There are some similarities, but I think of Trader Joe's as kind of a downscale Whole Foods. Healthy Food at Walmart prices. Aldi's is more like a mini-Walmart. I shop all of them. Trader Joes, Aldi's and Walmart.

ChristinaR720

Yes! But only for COOKIE BUTTER! It's super tasty!

^^^100% this!

dunnodunno

Yes! But only for COOKIE BUTTER! It's super tasty!

Never heard of that, but man that sounds heavenly.

Daisey4522

I love TJ's!

Stuff I buy regularly:
Rustic Sourdough Bread
Frozen Naan (awesome for making individual pizzas on the grill!)
Frozen green beans
Best Ketchup EVER - seriously, better than Heinz!
BBQ sauce!
Relish
Refried black beans
Rice crackers with flaxseed & soy sauce - super tasty snack
Red pepper hummus is delicious!
Tahini sauce (for making your hummus, so grab a can of garbanzo beans, too!)
Dark chocolate covered almonds with sea salt turbinado sugar - heaven!
All their dark chocolate bars are good
Peanut butter (good for dipping squares of awesome dark chocolate!)
Greek yogurt! I get their 2% because it has more protein than the full fat - weird.
Chocolately Cat Cookies
Cinnamon ABC cookies
Dark chocolate chunk & almond cookies
Pop Chips (cheaper than the real brand and taste the same!)
Corn & Chili salsa
Green Salsa
Pineapple Salsa
Multi-grain oatmeal
Dog treats! My dogs beg for them!
Face lotion with sunscreen, I can't remember what it's called exactly...
The wine department is always fun! They have good descriptions for wine newbies like me, and great prices!

Ohhh! I’m glad you mentioned the ketchup. I’m pretty picky about my ketchup, I like Heinz, but if you think the Trader Joe’s one is good, I think I’ll give it a try.

I also wanted to try their BBQ sauce. Which one do you get? I think they have a couple.

Daisey4522

Well I made a shopping list from this board and here is the new stuff I got:

- Cookie Butter: Everyone seems to go crazy for it! How do you eat it? I realize from the spoon is suggested by a lot of you but I’d like to spread it on something or dip it in something.

- BBQ Pulled Chicken: OMG! Delicious!! I love to cook, but there are some days I do not have much time to prepare a meal. This is great on their Whole wheat buns! 140 calories for the Chicken (1/3 pack) and 110 for the bun! Yuuuuummm!

- Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels: LOVE THEM! When I am starving I just eat 3-5 and it helps calm my hunger so I do not binge.

- Cowboy Salsa: It’s a black bean, corn, red pepper salsa. I think it’s only “OK”. It’s spicy and sweet, but the sweetness is a little too much for me.

- Reduced Guilt Guacamole: It’s made with Greek Yogurt. I use Avocado every week so this will be easier to use instead of the avocado. I have not tried it yet. Hope it’s good!

I am sure I am forgetting some stuff, but this is what I got so far. I have a huge list of stuff I want to try.

Thanks for all of the suggestions! Keep them coming if you have anymore

Mrsallypants

Never heard of it.

amann1976

I love TJ's!

Stuff I buy regularly:
Rustic Sourdough Bread
Frozen Naan (awesome for making individual pizzas on the grill!)
Frozen green beans
Best Ketchup EVER - seriously, better than Heinz!
BBQ sauce!
Relish
Refried black beans
Rice crackers with flaxseed & soy sauce - super tasty snack
Red pepper hummus is delicious!
Tahini sauce (for making your hummus, so grab a can of garbanzo beans, too!)
Dark chocolate covered almonds with sea salt turbinado sugar - heaven!
All their dark chocolate bars are good
Peanut butter (good for dipping squares of awesome dark chocolate!)
Greek yogurt! I get their 2% because it has more protein than the full fat - weird.
Chocolately Cat Cookies
Cinnamon ABC cookies
Dark chocolate chunk & almond cookies
Pop Chips (cheaper than the real brand and taste the same!)
Corn & Chili salsa
Green Salsa
Pineapple Salsa
Multi-grain oatmeal
Dog treats! My dogs beg for them!
Face lotion with sunscreen, I can't remember what it's called exactly...
The wine department is always fun! They have good descriptions for wine newbies like me, and great prices!

Ohhh! I’m glad you mentioned the ketchup. I’m pretty picky about my ketchup, I like Heinz, but if you think the Trader Joe’s one is good, I think I’ll give it a try.

I also wanted to try their BBQ sauce. Which one do you get? I think they have a couple.

stick to heinz there is no replacing heinz.

kbmnurse

Don't care for the place.......ugggggggggg.

amann1976

Don't care for the place.......ugggggggggg.

why not??? they have good products at good prices. and most of the stuff is minimally processed gmo free and all that other crap some of you health freaks go crazy over.


I did boycott them for like 3 years when they stopped selling habenero pistachios

dancinrascal

the reduced guilt guac omg....and the frozen Beijing style veggies.

skinnylynnie74

Someone might have said this... I don't have time t read all the precious posts. We love the romanesco and cauliflower frozen blend. It's got garlic seasoning. I cook it with a little water in a sauté pan. Yum! And their eggplant and zucchini slices in frozen foods are divine! Make great sandwiches! Enjoy!

Chelz2013

frozen tri-color peppers are cheap, produce can be cheap, chocolate covered sunflower seeds, they have their own brand of "Pirates Booty", seasonal juices (right now is cherry cider - yum!), pizza veggie burgers (frozen), red pepper hummus, risotto (frozen), red pepper eggplant spread, and so much more! It's a small store, but they have some unique selections.

There was an article recently where someone did a taste test and believes many "Trader Joe" items are actually the real name brand thing, or so close to it, and cheaper. (Like Trader Joe's "O's" cereal)

December they have peppermint Joe-Joe's (cookies)... a few years ago they sold out so people were selling boxes on Ebay. LOL

Myxalplyx

Trader Joe's - Creamy Salted Peanut Butter From Unbalanched Peanuts

I have it really, Really, REALLY bad for them. Always at least 3 jars in my cabinet. (Tears in eyes)
**Looks around** Don't touch my peanut butter...

Daisey4522

Trader Joe's - Creamy Salted Peanut Butter From Unbalanched Peanuts

I have it really, Really, REALLY bad for them. Always at least 3 jars in my cabinet. (Tears in eyes)
**Looks around** Don't touch my peanut butter...

I am a big fan of peanut butter too! But I have been eating their Better'N Peanut butter because it's 50% the calories of regular peanut butter. Great for a preworkout snack!

AmyRhubarb

Another fave non-food item is their Coconut Body Butter! It is divine - I use it every day!

Daisey4522

Another fave non-food item is their Coconut Body Butter! It is divine - I use it every day!

I'll have to add that to my list! Thanks!!

trojanbb

All the frozen Asian food. I used to live on that stuff. Mongolian Beef, Gyoza, stir fries. So good.

bostonwolf

Eggs
Frozen fish and vegetables
Ribeye steak
Nut butters
Kefir.

rochellewilson70

I shop at Trader Joe's often...amazing store. Where do I begin?

Organic bagged lettuce and baby spinach
Fresh organic chicken breasts
Fresh Angus tri-tip
Cheddar Cheese sticks
Fruit (I love their specials on nectarines, kiwis, and bananas)
Joe's O's cereal
Rice Mac N' Cheese
Organic marinara sauce
Organic creamy peanut butter
Psyllium Husks (at a great price!)
Fresh (not frozen) Chicken Tamales (they have them around the holidays)
Frozen Beef tamales
Frozen Enchiladas
Frozen taquitos
Organic cane sugar
Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips
Frozen peas and green beans
Frozen soy corn dogs
Organic ketchup and mustard
WINE!!!
Fresh pressed apple juice (addictive as crack)
Swiss Dark Chocolate bars
Fiberful bars in Apricot
Garlic fries
Organic cage free extra large eggs
Dried cranberries
Individual packages of walnuts and raw almonds
Water (their brand of water is from the CG Roxane source...same as Crystal Geyser)
Cranberry oatmeal


....and probably much more that I'm forgetting. I TJ's!!!

Don't forget the triple ginger cookies and their Sweet and Savory Trail Mix!

Fit_Kenzie

Yes! But only for COOKIE BUTTER! It's super tasty!

THIS^^^ yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

jkmiller82

I just got the reduced guilt spinach and Kale yogurt dip based on suggestions here and...OMG! I'm in love. 2 tbsp for 30 calories? It's amazing! Also got some whole wheat naan and a bag of their Inner Peas crunchy pea fry thingies. They are both delish.

Non-food related-I got a bottle of their SPF 30 Full Spectrum sunscreen for face and body...love it. It's fragrance free and doesn't clog pores. Perfect for my picky skin.

Daisey4522

All the frozen Asian food. I used to live on that stuff. Mongolian Beef, Gyoza, stir fries. So good.

I actually had their frozen chow mein last night. I eat half of the package + half of a package of steamed broccoli that I mix in for a total of 365 calories, which isn't too bad for a dinner! It's so quick and yummy. They use white meat chicken too! I'm not a fan of dark meat.

mnxl

walked in once and walked out with nothing, its fine if you want to pay more for the novalty and make yourself feel special. all items are cheaper elsewhere, if elsewhere doesn't have it, i find something else to eat.

Daisey4522

walked in once and walked out with nothing, its fine if you want to pay more for the novalty and make yourself feel special. all items are cheaper elsewhere, if elsewhere doesn't have it, i find something else to eat.

That is the same thing that happened to me the first time I went in, but then I went in again and really looked around. The prices are less expensive for most items I shop for -- and I compare to many other grocery stores in the area. Maybe it depends on where you live? There are a bunch of posts in the middle of this thread discussing how less expensive Trader Joe's is, so I'm not sure if your first impression is correct. Maybe you'll give it a try another day.

fishsticks913

Pineapple salsa.... hand down my favorite!

The ex boyfriend took me there a few times and I fell in love.., but the closest ones is like 2 hours away

I just wish.., they shipped! Oh how I would "shop" there weekly if they did!

caitlynah12

I went for the first time maybe three months ago as there's one that is a five minute walk from work. The cashier told me my total and I gasped and said "Are you kidding me?!!" He looked alarmed for a second like I was about to throw a tantrum of epic proportions, but no. I just couldn't believe it! I got so much stuff and it cost so little! I then told him "Oh my God I'm COMING HERE EVERYDAY!" Haha. He was probably glad to see me leave. I actually go once a week. I love reading what other people buy there because our TJs gets so crowded and it stresses me out (also the fact that I hate how our store is set up) so I don't spend as much time freely browsing as I should.

Their lettuce & fat free balsamic vinaigrette dressing has totally reignited my love for salads. TJs also introduced me to Better 'N' Peanut Butter which is so much healthier than the Skippys I've been buying! I love to buy their watermelon wedges as well, since I love watermelon but am not about to stand around and hack up a watermelon (too lazy).

On my list of things to try is their hummus, chips & salsa, rice pudding (!!!), and veggie burgers. LOVE TJ's

a_mandolin_

walked in once and walked out with nothing, its fine if you want to pay more for the novalty and make yourself feel special. all items are cheaper elsewhere, if elsewhere doesn't have it, i find something else to eat.

That is strange, I buy most of my stuff there because it is dirt cheap. You must have some really good grocery stores around you! Many things like peanut butter, frozen fish and shrimp ($6 a pound compared to $13), nuts (almonds are $5/lb compared to $7-8), produce (19 cents/banana, a large bag of avocados for <$5, $1.25 a piece at other stores... last year I got a gigantic container of blueberries for about $6, when other places sell them for $3-4 for one of those tiny containers), quinoa (I think it's about $2-3 there, and the same size box at the other grocery store was $6) and cheeses are, no exaggeration, half the price of the chain grocery stores (subsidiaries of Roundys, Safeway and Albertsons) Meats, dairy and eggs, shelf items like sauces and pasta and snacks are much cheaper. From shopping other places while on vacation and visiting people, I see that the prices at the chain stores around me are no more expensive than other places, so that isn't the case.

I don't think I can recall anything off hand that is more expensive there than at the chain stores...

I do have to laugh at your feeling special for buying food comment. Has anybody ever felt anything other than rage and hatred while grocery shopping? What makes somebody feel special for buying food?


Edit: Damn, that sounded like a sales pitch. I'm just a cheap *kitten* and get really excited over cheap things :drinker:

Daisey4522

I went for the first time maybe three months ago as there's one that is a five minute walk from work. The cashier told me my total and I gasped and said "Are you kidding me?!!" He looked alarmed for a second like I was about to throw a tantrum of epic proportions, but no. I just couldn't believe it! I got so much stuff and it cost so little! I then told him "Oh my God I'm COMING HERE EVERYDAY!" Haha. He was probably glad to see me leave. I actually go once a week. I love reading what other people buy there because our TJs gets so crowded and it stresses me out (also the fact that I hate how our store is set up) so I don't spend as much time freely browsing as I should.

Their lettuce & fat free balsamic vinaigrette dressing has totally reignited my love for salads. TJs also introduced me to Better 'N' Peanut Butter which is so much healthier than the Skippys I've been buying! I love to buy their watermelon wedges as well, since I love watermelon but am not about to stand around and hack up a watermelon (too lazy).

On my list of things to try is their hummus, chips & salsa, rice pudding (!!!), and veggie burgers. LOVE TJ's

I LOVE the Better N' Peanut Butter. Half the calories!!!!!

Daisey4522

walked in once and walked out with nothing, its fine if you want to pay more for the novalty and make yourself feel special. all items are cheaper elsewhere, if elsewhere doesn't have it, i find something else to eat.

That is strange, I buy most of my stuff there because it is dirt cheap. You must have some really good grocery stores around you! Many things like peanut butter, frozen fish and shrimp ($6 a pound compared to $13), nuts (almonds are $5/lb compared to $7-8), produce (19 cents/banana, a large bag of avocados for <$5, $1.25 a piece at other stores... last year I got a gigantic container of blueberries for about $6, when other places sell them for $3-4 for one of those tiny containers), quinoa (I think it's about $2-3 there, and the same size box at the other grocery store was $6) and cheeses are, no exaggeration, half the price of the chain grocery stores (subsidiaries of Roundys, Safeway and Albertsons) Meats, dairy and eggs, shelf items like sauces and pasta and snacks are much cheaper. From shopping other places while on vacation and visiting people, I see that the prices at the chain stores around me are no more expensive than other places, so that isn't the case.

I don't think I can recall anything off hand that is more expensive there than at the chain stores...

I do have to laugh at your feeling special for buying food comment. Has anybody ever felt anything other than rage and hatred while grocery shopping? What makes somebody feel special for buying food?

Exactly

dixiech1ck

They sell all natural cherry juice which is something I drink for inflammation. And it's pretty cheap.

Did you know the owner of Trader Joe's is brothers to the owner of Aldi's? You'll find they usually share products, just change the labeling.