What's your favorite food at Trader Joe's?

Vmcd

I'm thinking of going to Trader Joe's this weekend for the first time. I usually just stick to the healthiest things I can find at Wal-Mart, but I'm getting a little bored with the same things. Let me know what you like to buy there! Obviously, only the healthy stuff!!

skinnyack

Tomatillo and roasted yellow corn salsa- I use it for salad dressing, as ketchup, as a drink (not really but seriosuly I think it's that good) and of course on tacos. I also really like their soups like organic lentil and black bean etc. Oh oh and their dark chocolate wedges are very effective at killing my sugar cravings. Oh and their just a handful presized baggies of cranberries and nuts- great to keep in the purse... and I forgot the kettle corn lite packets...

Ugh just friend me and read my diary... :-)

nilisabel

I like their gummy vitamins. Their ready-to-eat selection is good. Also they have inexpensive fruits and vegetables, compared to other big supermarkets.

Rjperron

Oooh so many favorites. I'd say start by stocking up on some of the basics, which you can get cheaper here. Balsamic vin, olive oil, and frozen veggies are always a good start. I also really like their appetizers for portion control. They have these mini pizzas and mini tacos that are great, and you can have several for around 300 calories.

elainecroft

I LOVE trader joe's - and they are super convenient for healthy stuff!

Things that I always have in my fridge/cabinet from trader joes:
String cheese
Ready to eat edamame
100 calorie chocolate bars
Single serving bags of nuts and/or trail mix
Lots and lots of frozen fruits and veggies
Frozen indian/thai meals - they usually have at least 5-6 choices under 400 calories.
POTSTICKERS!
Almond butter
Baked or popped chips.

Trader joe's is a great place if you want to eat healthy b/c they have a lot of tasty flavors that are not too expensive or calorie/fat filled, so you feel like you are eating a 'treat' without the bad parts. My only complaint is that they don't have great selections of fresh fruits and veggies. I think their frozen selection of fruits, veggies and meals is phenomenal though - its great to always have something taht I can pop in the microwave or oven to heat up, but is not over processed, salted, or bad for me. Have a great time and let us know what you find!!

gracefullyjenn

Their almonds, almond butter with flax seed, steel oats, packaged mahi mahi, dried apricots, raspberry vinagerette salad dressing, hummus, etc

gracefullyjenn

oh and 100 calorie chocolate bars

Melis25Fit

They have pb filled pretzel bites that are scrumptious 11 or 12 for about 140 cals.

Like thier almond butter too!

fitinyoga14

i like the cereal selection at trader joe's. I'm a fan of Barbara's cereals, where they have a lot to choose from there. I also enjoy the wider selection of exotic-flavored teas. The frozen seafood (mahi-mahi burgers?!) always looks delicious. Oh, i'm also a yogurt fanatic which they have a nice selection of as well.

cookingcriolla

They have a frozen chicken fajita mix that's good and very low calories. It comes with seasoning, veggies and chicken - it's real chicken breast too. You just have to cook and put it in a shell.

Just make sure you read the nutritional info on some of the packaged stuff, it may sound like a healthy alternative and it probably is healthy but alot of calories.

numberscolors

pretty much everything but their fresh produce! i just was there this week and bought:
frozen veggie and shrimp stir fry
steel oats
whole wheat pasta
bag of pre-measured mixed fruit and nuts (the omega-3 kind!)
bean so green frozen veggies
pollo asado
popcorn
chicken breast strips
evoo
fat free greek yogurt
cereal
and a few low carb frozen meals
and a bunch of other stuff for under $60

jamie1888

The frozen brown rice is nice to keep handy!

Yarnpiggie

I am so glad you asked this! Trader Joe's opened up in my town TODAY and i am nearly pee-my-pants excited to go!

demiahbryant

I love TJ's! It's an adventure going there. Just like most other grocery chains, you're going to get the freshest product around the perimiter of the store (fruit/veggies, meat/poultry/vegan, dairy, etc). There's a sample counter where you can try the free coffee and an entree of the day. I recommend checking the nutrition info, then trying the sample: you'll be shocked that something that tastes that good could be healthy.

What makes TJ exceptional are their food options for a great price. You can get organic veggies, cage-free chicken, and gluten-free foods for a fraction of Whole Foods' prices.

Most of their food options are good if you're a bad cook or don't have a lot of time for cooking. They have a lot of "little things" that can make a simple meal great: a big variety of breads, signature aioli & garlic mustard, and the meat of your choice.

I also recommend their low-sodium red pepper tomato soup: add that with grilled chicken, avocados and/or rice and you have a hearty meal in 5 minutes.

The best thing about Trader Joe's (besides the $2-buck Chuck) is the entire staff is very friendly, courteous, and knowledgeable about the whereabouts in the store. There is no "meat guy" and another "stocker guy" - they all share roles and they all pitch in.

nmpresto

I love love love love Trader Joes! Some of my faves:

Lite string cheese
Chile Lime chicken
Greek Yogurt (the pomegranate is my FAVORITE!)
Raw Almonds
Cheap eggs
Lite White Cheddar Cheese
Morningstar Veggie burgers and sausage patties (you can buy them at any supermarket but they are cheaper at Trader Joes)

Have fun, it is such a fun place to go!

littlewhirl

The things I always buy at TJ's are:

Tamari almonds
Southern Greens
Greek Yogurt
Cucumber wontons
Veggie tempura brown rice rolls
Tofurkey
Earth Balance
Soy ice cream sandwiches (well, not always, but when I'm craving chocolate &/or ice cream I do)

I was just there & they were passing out samples of pumpkin ice cream, of course I caved and had a bite. Worth it though (and I walked there so I don't feel too guilty).

hermosafit

The pre-cooked brown rice pouches are the best out there. No sodium! And they can be used in so many dishes.

We all focus on calories, but all the sodium in the processed foods really adds up, easy to be regularly eating twice as much sodium as we need.

Uncle bens pre-cooked brown rice pouches taste good but have a ton of sodium.

fatherdowling

I'm so in love with the frozen Chicken Tikka masala and the reduced fat chinese chicken salad.

cutmd

the valencia peanut butter - yum! precut/washed organic veggies, pre-cooked chicken breast (if I'm in a rush I just throw it on some precut washed kale and I got a salad), the RICE AND ADZUKI BEAN chips are so light and crispy, don't ever taste them!, the garlic hummus, the frozen meals and veggies, the cheap vitamin supplements... And there is always something new! like someone else said, it's an adventure to go there. Too fun!

lee1960

New find at Trader Joe's -- a bag of already hard boiled eggs -- 6 for $2.50. Not cheap, but a great thing to have in the break room refrigerator at work. Besides -- everytime I hard boil eggs I end up with a little green

jesshasredhair

Trader Joe's is perfect for MFP!

My friends love the blue corn tortillas and "just chicken" with the avocado salsa
The hummus' are all good. (I like the jalapeno Cilantro)
Turkey burger patties are cheap!
Frozen Chicken Tikka Masala meal is great (though any packaged food has high sodium)
The premade salads are great for lunch.
100 cal dark chocolate bars

My shopping list usually includes
Almonds
String Cheese
Turkey Burgers
Veggies of all kinds
Hummus
Bag of carrots/snap peas
Frozen fish

Basically you really can't go wrong!

swimmermama

I'm so jealous! I would KILL for a TJ's in my city. I love everything about Trader Joe's but my current favorite is their goat cheese medallions. I totally stocked up last time I was in Nearby Big City With Trader Joe's. They are 70 calories, 5 grams of protein, and yummy as heck. One of those with carrot and cucumber slices or piece of fruit is a great snack!

WinesAlot

The peach salsa. Good combination of sweet and spicy

Francl27

The Tarte d'Alsace. Sadly not very filling for the calories.
The 100 calorie chocolate bars.
The fresh salsa.

There's a ton of great things that I avoid though (looking at you, frozen croissants and tarts/pies/cakes).

AliceDark

They have the best black raspberry greek yogurt, and I'm in love with their frozen quiche. The one next to me just started selling halloumi cheese, which is totally my new obsession. And their bottled pomegranate blueberry green tea.

fit_rox

Trader Joe's .

-Frozen Bagged Chicken Breasts (Super cheap, typically $2.80/lb)
-Salad Dressing: Fat Free Balsamic, or their Hummus Dressing
-Bagged Salad Mixes: Cruciferous Crunch, bagged Kale, etc.
-Natural Crunchy Peanut Butter
-Sprouted Tofu
-Latin-Style Black Bean Soup
-Canned Turkey Chili
-Organic Sweet Potatoes
-TJ's Greek Yogurt
-Sugar-Free Chocolate covered almonds
-Frozen Quinoa or Brown Rice
-PEANUT BUTTER PUFFINS
-Chia Seeds

writergeek313

The closest TJ's is over an hour from me, but I still go every few months to stock up. I can get a lot of staples there for much cheaper than I can anywhere else around here (99 cents for a can of light coconut milk vs. almost $3 locally). The things I like and look forward to the most are their full-fat Greek yogurts (strawberry vanilla is my favorite), garlic hummus, quinoa, and their snack-size bags of of light kettle corn. Their granolas are a great mix-in for yogurt, and they've got a huge selection of trail mixes and nuts. I didn't have too much room for frozen things last time I went, but I still have some things left in the freezer to use up. Based on the quality of what I tried, I'll definitely take a second cooler along next time I go.

I do allow myself one or two indulgences when I go. Last time I got the English toffee and made a container of eight or ten pieces last two months. Next time I definitely want to get some dark chocolate peanut butter cups.

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sistrsprkl

Love so much but my 2 faves are the european style yogurt (plain, in smoothies, sub for sour cream, & baking!) and their full fat cottage cheese is the best cottage cheese anywhere!
Oh man the flavored nuts, I just have to stay away but those kaffir lime cashews, I don't even know if they still make them but - amazing!!
eta, and the Contandina pinot grigio vivace. Incredible and affordable, great for summer

princesswarrior1

spicy jalapeño chicken sausage

bluehydrangeas

oh my gosh, so many things.

refrigerated:
wine country chicken salad
curried chicken salad
spicy egg white salad
field fresh salad
roasted beet salad
italian salad
reuben wrap
chicken pot pie
chicken marsala with mashed potatoes
precooked bacon

nuts/cereal/bars:
sesame honey cashews
candied pecans
maple pecan clusters cereal
strawberry cereal bars

frozen:
ham & cheese flatbread
roasted vegetable pizza (not as good as amy's but it does the job)
mac & cheese bites
sweet potato fries
poutine
mac & cheese
orange chicken

candy/chocolate:
yogurt covered raisins
yogurt covered pretzels
black licorice
chocolate bar w/ cookie butter
pound plus bars (for baking)

desserts:
chocolate molten lava cake
karat cake (not a typo)
sublime ice cream sandwiches
lemon gingersnap ice cream
salted caramel milk chocolate butter cookies
inside out carrot cake cookies
dark chocolate peanut butter cupcakes
raspberry tarte
lemon bars
croissants (almond, chocolate, plain...)


during thanksgiving/christmas time, they have even better items...
gobbler wrap
turkey pot pie
roasted sweet potatoes
cornbread stuffing
scalloped potatoes
pumpkin ice cream
pecan pie ice cream
pumpkin croissants
pumpkin bread pudding
pumpkin butter
pumpkin bagels
pumpkin cream cheese
pumpkin muffins with cream cheese frosting
butterscotch cupcakes
pumpkin cereal bars
chocolate covered assorted jojos
dark chocolate shortbread star cookies


and of course, cookie butter.