Trader Joe's - what do you buy?

brendak76

High protein tofu. Best tofu ever.
Rolled Oats (cheapest gf oatmeal around)
GF pastas (best quality imo and lowest price)
Taco seasoning
Pizza Dough (can't beat it for $1)
Teas
Salsa Verde (we are addicts)

Splurges:
Sweet Potato Chips
Vanilla Meringues (pricy but only 25 calories or so each)
Chocolate chips (way way better than Nestles)
GF Brownie Mix (super splurge when paired with above chocolate chips)

mamasmaltz3

felinasbeads wrote: »

I don't make enough money to shop there.

You can actually find really great deals there. I can usually find a big bottle of EVOO for much cheaper than my local Kroger store.

sofaking6

felinasbeads wrote: »

I don't make enough money to shop there.

You do! Trader Joe's is no Whole Foods, their prices are totally competitive with all of my local grocery chains and their produce is much nicer at all times.

I also love their frozen tamales.
Tarrazu coffee
Honduran coffee
Wine! Amazing deals on lots of CA red blends which are my current fave
Spanish cheese tapas sampler
organic chicken thighs
butternut squash ravioli

lizzocat

salmon jerky! It's my favorite thing at trader joe's ever. I also really like the frozen seafood, meatless items, the organic frozen corn is delicious

CSARdiver

JK Scrumpy Cider - phenomenal!

mom2colbyj

Balsamic Vinegar of Modeno
Frozen organic Super Sweet Corn
Frozen Tri-color Peppers
Handsome Cut Frozen French Fries
Himalayan Pink Sea Salt Grinder
Ruggedly Awesome Cowboy Bark aka Cowboy Crack to my co-workers


There are a bunch of other things I buy and honestly I wish the closest one wasn't 45 minutes away from me. I do go once a month and stock up on my must haves.

Kitship

Love TJs. I love their frozen "Trader Ming's" kung pao chicken meals. So delicious. Also love their desserts. And cookie butter! I also buy basil plants from them.

glassyo

Crack....I mean cookie butter
Contemplate Inner Peas (also very crackish. I often wonder what would happen dipping an inner pea into the cookie butter)
Bananas
Mini chocolate chip cookies
Persian cucumbers
Bagged romaine lettuce
Fage 0% greek yogurt
The light kettle corn in the individual bags
Unsalted pistachios
Animal crackers
Beef taquitos
The cookie butter cheesecake bites
Egg whites in the carton
Large eggs now that they have those back
Low sodium turkey
Uncured chicken dogs
100 calorie mini milk chocolate bar
Unsweetened coconut milk
Mini peanut butter cups
Turkey jerky
Dried broccoli florets
Dark chocolate caramel wedges

KatieK1146

TJ's has the best prices for a chain store for organic produce!! I eat a lot of salads, so I get mixed greens and arugula there. Lots of produce. They sell the KIND bars there for the best prices I have found. Great trail mix options (but good to portion those out in small bags) If you like dips, the white bean and basil hummus is amazing. I am also a fan of the frozen bean and rice burritos and the veggie burgers. (Sometimes it can be fun to see what other people are buying or what is running out on shelves/ is popular.)

Asher_Ethan

They have the best prices on wine...

Cheri1218

There are sooo many things listed here, but the TJs in my area seem kinda small. How can they carry so much? I'll admit I don't shop there, but I might make a list from your suggestions and check it out tomorrow.

roselemonade

Cheri1218 wrote: »

There are sooo many things listed here, but the TJs in my area seem kinda small. How can they carry so much? I'll admit I don't shop there, but I might make a list from your suggestions and check it out tomorrow.

Since they (mostly) only carry their own store brand, there's only one or maybe two versions of everything. Think of a supermarket where you might have 15 different kinds of ham cold cuts; at Trader Joe's there are 2. Instead of an entire aisle for soda, they have one shelf unit. 2 kinds of frozen mac n cheese (regular and reduced calorie) instead of 10 different brands, etc.
Also, they have a lot of seasonal items that are fun to wait/watch for. In the fall they get a lot of cranberry and pumpkin items, later in the winter they get a lot of holiday stuff (and dark chocolate covered peppermint Joe-Joe's (Oreos, basically) which are probably G-d's perfect food.)

McGristy

#BUYALLTHETHINGS

shadowfax_c11

I recently discovered Trader Joe's and was really very impressed with the produce. Their prices are great on fresh veggies and most things are very reasonably priced. I do think their meats are rather expensive. I also like the Thai red curry sauce. Usually I go just for veggies and then enjoy browsing to see what interesting things I can take home to try.

urloved33

dark chocolate, raisins, sunflower seeds and lavender sea salt.....and or course flowers

craftergin

Mild Pico de Gallo. It's to die for! And the frozen Chili Rellano. 350 calories. Just in case I'm too lazy to cook. I also get most of my fruit and veg there.

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slucki01

they have a really good frozen meal -- salmon with orzo, mint and yogurt -- that's really goo, only 30 cals and pretty low in sodium. I keep it in my freezer for those days when I'm in a hurry and nee something quick, easy and good. I also buy wine, greek yogurt, organic milk, and their pecan praline granola.

rushbabe0214

Croissants, Thai peanut sauce, marcona almonds with rosemary, wine.

TheVirgoddess

I feel like the only person ever that was totally underwhelmed by TJ's.

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scastor27

vinegar_husbands wrote: »

TheVirgoddess wrote: »

I feel like the only person ever that was totally underwhelmed by TJ's.

You're not. I was never too impressed with any of their stuff.

Ditto.

panchakshara

their fiber cakes are perfect for dieting (the 80 cal apple cranberry and blueberry ones). the packaged chicken sausages come in handy as well. shishito peppers. reddi egg. their spicy ranchero egg white salad. guiltless chicken salad. rolled oats. spelt bread

workhardtogethard

mamasmaltz3 wrote: »

Uhhh, cookie butter. Lots of cookie butter.

I was disappointed with the cookie butter. Couldn't even get my kids to like the stuff, so I ended up throwing away a nearly full jar.

workhardtogethard

My newest food love affair at Trader Joe's is their creamy asparagus soup. It's 200 calories for the container. It's spicy and tastes a lot like potato soup to me.

professionalHobbyist

Organic coffee

Whatever new kind of dark chocolate

Weird produce and fruit I have not ate/made before

Cool place

illuvatree

The produce at my local Trader Joe's isn't amazing, but everything else is pretty good. I usually get the frozen veggies and rice, organic foursome, their version of rice krispies, some kind of dried fruit (usually the organic Turkish apricots), their multicolored pasta, tofu, tempeh, soy chorizo, whatever I've run out of that week really.

JenSD6

I go for the 85% dark chocolate and maybe get a few groceries while I'm there. lol I usually always grab a frozen spinach and kale pie, some pomegranate yogurt, and a bottle of wine. Hubby loved the beef and broccoli we picked up to try last time, so that'll be on the permanent list. We usually grab a couple of new things to try each time we go.

A cooler bag is definitely a must for my fellow cross-border shoppers. I can get ice cream home without difficulty in mine. I'd recommend having at least a couple.

lesliezimmer

I'm obsessed with Trader Joe's. I used to work there in college and it was the best job I've ever had!

Cherry chocolate chip soy ice cream
baguette
brie cheese
honey
salted butter
TJ's brand greek yogurt
TJ's brand cottage cheese
ground turkey
Vietnamese spring rolls with shrimp
Frozen potstickers
Frozen berries
Frozen chicken legs & thighs
Indian curry packets
Frozen rice
COFFEE!
Mint tea and Ginger tea
Simpler Times Lager
WINE!
Ginger chews
Whole Wheat pita bread
Hummus (the plain traditional style one)
Edamame - frozen
Cuban style black beans
Organic baked beans
Miso ginger broth
Reduced sodium tomato and roasted red pepper soup


I could go on and on and on and on, but that's my typical list

R1rainbows

SoDamnHungry wrote: »

Urban_Princess wrote: »

• Chocolate honey mints
• coconut flour
• stevia
• agave
• sunflower seeds
• bread (if i ever buy it..60-70 cals a slice!)
• salsa (5 cals for 2 TBSP, yes please)
• boxed indian food (the lentils or eggplant mix)
• peanut butter with flax and chia seeds

i'd buy other stuff but it would melt before i hit the border - things like yogurt, cheese, cauliflower rice, etc..

[/list]

My friend, something is missing from your list. Your Trader Joe's insulated grocery bag. I left mine in the car in 100 degree heat for 8 hours and the ice was still frozen. Now GO! Go and buy all the yogurt and cheese that your heart desires!

You are a godsend, rofl!!