Trader Joe's?

lina1131
lina1131 Posts: 2,246 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
One opened up 15 minutes from my house. My sister and I went last Friday and bought a few things and I loved everything I bought and tried.

Eggplant Hummus - Freakin' YUM!
Regular Hummus - Very good
Cranberry Oatmeal coffee dunkers - I'm obsessed. I don't know if I can really buy these again because they are all I want to eat. So good.

I still have the chicken fried rice, frozen grilled eggplant and zucchini, and a few other things to try.

What do YOU recommend from Trader Joe's that I must try?!
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Replies

  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    I would suggest saving the money and going somewhere else. Just my opinion.
  • Jena_72
    Jena_72 Posts: 1,057
    Their $3 wine is pretty good!:wink:
  • Jena_72
    Jena_72 Posts: 1,057
    I would suggest saving the money and going somewhere else. Just my opinion.
    I agree I think Fresh & Easy is a much better store but similar to trader, although quite a few of them will be closing soon :grumble:
  • ladynocturne
    ladynocturne Posts: 865 Member
    I live at Trader Joes. I'm not sure why some people have the opinion that it's "expensive" because it isn't. They cut out the middle man on a lot of products and repackage them so they are cheaper. I save money shopping there.

    Things I love:

    Roasted Vegetable Pizza (dairy free)
    Thai Vegetable Pot Stickers
    Masala Simmer Sauce
    Tofu Edamame Nuggets
    Quina duo with Vegetable Malange
    Spicy Lentil Wrap
    Baked Tofu - Savory
    Minestone Soup
    Black Bean Soup
    Paneer Tikka Masala
    Wasabi Seaweed Snacks

    I could go on forever.
  • eas1950
    eas1950 Posts: 9
    I too love the trader joe's! They have some tasty reduced guilt frozen meals. Their multigrain pullman bread is one of my favorites.Love their low sodium tomato soup. I have to drive an hr. and a half to Nashville to stock up. So worth it!
  • deb2799
    deb2799 Posts: 45
    See I really like Trader Joes and think Fresh N Easy is not so great ...

    I like the

    less guilt Mac N Cheese
    breaded chicken tenderloins
    100 cal cookie packs
    pita chips
    frozen veggies
    Fig Bars
    for a treat, cookie butter
  • majope
    majope Posts: 1,325 Member
    I think Trader Joe's is terrific! I like the frozen organic brown rice (great to accompany something from the crock pot when you don't get home until late), their grated parmesan/asiago/romano blend, turkey meatballs, Half-Baked ciabattini rolls, simmer sauces, olive oil, cheap wine and beer. Their cheeses are often half the price of the identical cheese at Whole Foods. Also check their vitamin and supplements aisle for some great deals.
  • Joreanasaurous
    Joreanasaurous Posts: 1,384 Member
    I love Trader Joes... Fresh and Easy not so much.

    The appealing thing with Trader Joes is all of their own products are nonGMO which I really like. Add to the fact they pay their employees a decent wage and they win. Plus everyone I go I find something new and delicious to fall in love with.
  • fougamou
    fougamou Posts: 200 Member
    DO NOT try the Carrot Cake Inside Out Cookies.

    DO NOT buy extra boxes to put in the freezer, just so you have some on hand.

    DO NOT eat them frozen

    Seriously, just do not look at them. I am pretty sure the calories will just jump on you for looking at them.


    THEY ARE SO GOOOD!


    When I go to Trader Joe's I always hit the wine sampling. A lot of decent wines at low cost, and with the sampling you can make sure that you like them first.

    The have a wonder selection of cheese at very reasonable prices.

    They also have a delicious tomato based seafood soup (the name begins with a C and I think is Italian) in the freezer section that we love.
  • lina1131
    lina1131 Posts: 2,246 Member
    We don't have Fresh and Easy. We have Whole Foods and Whole Foods is really expensive. I found the prices at Trader Joe's to be better.

    I can't wait to go back and see what else I can try from there.
  • abetterluke
    abetterluke Posts: 625 Member
    I don't know why people seem to think its expensive. It's actually very cheap compared to whole foods, etc.

    I will say this...I won't buy their meat anymore. It's gone bad wayyyy before the expiration date everytime. The produce is good. I love a lot of the things in the frozen section. Their hummus is fantastic. I love buying the frozen bags of edamame. Great prices on cheese. Their "vintage" beer is realllllllyyyy good.
  • jamiek917
    jamiek917 Posts: 610 Member
    their chicken apple chardonnay sausage is delicious. 2 links, with a pepper, onion, zucchini blend with a little olice oil and light soy sauce= delicious!
  • paleo_caveman
    paleo_caveman Posts: 14
    frozen roasted bell peppers
  • _Thanatos_
    _Thanatos_ Posts: 166
    I wish there were Trader Joe's down here....
  • LoosingMyLast15
    LoosingMyLast15 Posts: 1,457 Member
    96% lean ground hamburger
    whole wheat bread
    whole wheat english muffins
    low sodium chicken stock
    pizza dough
    chicken and cilantro mini wontons (frozen)
    garlic hummus
  • EmilyOfTheSun
    EmilyOfTheSun Posts: 1,548 Member
    Try their "Reduced Guilt Mac & Cheese". I like to mix a can of tuna and some bacon bits into it. It's good by itself too.
  • mrogus
    mrogus Posts: 94
    The frozen steel cut oats are great!! You get 2 servings in a box for $1.60. I like the fruit leathers too. Kind of like a fruit roll-up but its all natural. The red pepper hummus is awesome. And I like thier egg white salad! The container is 2 servings and its very low calorie.

    There is one not too far from me and I tend to go once a month just for the oatmeal :)
  • Rosytakesoff
    Rosytakesoff Posts: 321
    Lots of stuff, but I make a special trip across town for the Bay Blend coffee.
  • angelh1908
    angelh1908 Posts: 175 Member
    I haven't tried Trader Joe's yet, mainly because I only recently heard of it. That was AFTER I spent money at Whole Foods....SO wishing I had known about it before hand. Thanks for all the favs listed here, I'm definitely going to check them out!
  • Liatush
    Liatush Posts: 627 Member
    Their chicken-tikaa masala is to die for. Mango Sortbet. They have mushroom turnovers, mushroom and goat cheese in so many products.... I am an addict.

    DO NOT TRY the lemon bars or the chocolate covered pretzel deliciousness. It took me months to get over!! haha.
  • SyntonicGarden
    SyntonicGarden Posts: 944 Member
    As far as their pricing, I disagree with the other poster who said save your money. Not everyone has better alternatives and TJ's often beats the prices for similar items at my local grocery store.

    Rice pasta - Their rice pasta is cheaper than the Tinkyada brand at the health food store.
    Yellow Thai Sauce - I add it to steamed veggies and the flat rice noodles from the local asian grocery store
    Decaf Irish Breakfast Tea - Much stronger in taste than other decaf teas
    Pieces and Ends (or something like that) - The end pieces from fruit leather. Good for when you just want a small bit of fruit leather
    Corn tortilla enchiladas - Yum!
    Grilled eggplant parm - no breading. Pretty good. :)
    Flourless Chocolate Cake - Decent and much less expensive that a lot of other gluten-free alternatives
    Liquid dish soap - It's nice and does a good job
  • ccburn5
    ccburn5 Posts: 473 Member
    Agreed magerum. I went and was less than thrilled. WAAAAY to busy when I went as well.
  • hairjunkie
    hairjunkie Posts: 74 Member
    everything!- I'm obsessed with that place!
  • LoosingMyLast15
    LoosingMyLast15 Posts: 1,457 Member
    As far as their pricing, I disagree with the other poster who said save your money. Not everyone has better alternatives and TJ's often beats the prices for similar items at my local grocery store.

    Agree 100% with this.

    at my local TJs i can get
    whole wheat english muffins for $1.79 (vs non name brand at my local grocery store - $2.29)
    fresh mozzarella cheese $3.99 (local grocery store - $4.99)
    big container of garlic hummus $3.99 (local grocery store - $3.99 for small container of hummus)
    32 fluid oz of extra virgin olive oil $5.99 (local grocery store - $8.99 ON SALE)
    32 oz low sodium chicken stock $1.99 (local grocery store - $2.99)

    and since i prefer the red wine at TJs (not $3 buck chuck - not a fan) i'm going there anyway so it's not an "extra trip" (ie not wasting the savings on gas)
  • Djproulx
    Djproulx Posts: 3,084 Member
    frozen organic brown rice - 3 microwavable bags/box...tastes good and very convenient
    chicken sausage - 100cal/link - either grilled or added to sauce and served with whole wheat pasta
    baked blue corn tortilla chips
    TJ's authentic style salsa - either red or green.
    Blueberry Wheat bran muffins = 80 cal. each. great in toaster oven.
  • erg2013
    erg2013 Posts: 84 Member
    Tandori Naan... yum!
  • ImperfektAngel
    ImperfektAngel Posts: 811 Member
    I just tried their nacho flavor kale chips, yum! I just wish the bag was bigger
  • eowynmn
    eowynmn Posts: 165 Member
    The number one thing that saves my edibles at trader joes is

    "21 spice salute" I go through a bottle about every three weeks. It's sodium and calorie free basically. I roast veggies with that and olive oil. I marinate tilapia in it with a little bit of soy sauce and lemon juice. I throw it on my chicken. On potatoes. etc.

    Hummus is pretty good, it's not holy land, but nothing is.
    Sushi is fun once in a while.
    The Butter Lettuce is great.
    Their dressings are great.
    Frozen Wonton soup.
    Definitely don't even look at their frozen deserts, except they have these mini ice cream cones that give you a little bit of a sweet taste. I never actually eat them, but I buy them for my kids.
    Dried, freeze dried fruits and nuts.
    Stevia containers are nice.
    Flavored Chicken Sausages
    Organic Peanut butter
    Frozen veggies
    Frozen Sweet Potato Tots
  • NHoughton13
    NHoughton13 Posts: 303
    I love the frozen steel cut oats for breakfast. I had to get used to the texture, but now I LOVE them. A 150 calorie serving keeps me full a long time. I could wander in this store forever!
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    Their $3 wine is pretty good!:wink:

    This. My fiance and I are pretty big wine/beer snobs, and we have tried and enjoyed some of their stuff. Granted, some of the WORST wine we've ever tried came from there (never, ever, get the Uncle Jebediah's something or other), but otherwise, they have surprisingly good wine super cheap. They have a few craft beers they've made that aren't that bad, either.

    Otherwise: omg, their pink lemonade is amazing. IDGI.

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