trader joe's fav!

Disclaimer, I eat what I want and work it into my nutrition, so this isn't the place to look if you're only looking for only the healthiest of options and not what is tasty.

I buy the peaches in a jar, they're firm and not squishy like most, and they're packed in pear juice not syrup. I don't usually eat them, but I buy them for my kindergartner who loves them. They're halves, but I dice them and they're such better quality than anything else. The pears are good too, but not as good as the peaches.

We buy the Low-fat cat cookies, they're about the same as graham crackers nutrition wise, but they're a nice change for snack. I like the original, but my husband likes the ginger because they're spicy.

I buy pretty much all of my frozen vegetables there, the fine green beans, the super sweet corn, the brussels sprouts - it's all better quality than anything I get at the local mega grocer.

My whole family thinks their string cheese is the best. I buy the regular stuff, not the low fat.

Their freeze dried strawberries and bananas are great for cereal/snack when you can't have fresh (I'm sure the others are good too, but I only buy the ones my kid will eat as well).

The dried apple chips are also really good, nice and crispy.

White cheddar corn puffs are excellent for snacking (don't like the sour cream one). It's basically a cheesy poof, and sometimes you want some sort of junk snack, at least these are healthier.

The vanilla joe-joe cookies will be the death of me. I don't buy them often, but when I do they go fast.

Their maple brown sugar instant oatmeal is the best. Apple cinnamon is good too, has bits of dehydrated apple in it, but I don't really care for apple cinnamon flavor so it's not my cup of tea.

Their vanilla almond crunch cereal is really good. Their organic honey crunch n oats cereal is fine as long as you don't have to smell it. I won't buy it, not because of taste or texture, but because when you add milk it smells almost like perfume and that's weird to me.

The frozen brown and jasmine rices (steam in the bag) are perfect when steamed. Not mushy, not icky, just like perfect rice.

I always buy vanilla from there, the bourbon vanilla or the regular for baking. It's cheaper and better tasting than even the "pure vanilla" I get at the regular grocer. You can really taste the bourbon in that one.

Their soyaki sauce is also pretty good, it's a bit sweet for my tastes but the best tasting "jarred" chinese sauce I've tried. I do not like the island soyaki, waaaay too sweet.

There is undoubtedly other stuff, it's all pretty good - except their coffee (bitter) and pasta sauce (runny). I also find that the mini bagels go moldy really fast unless you keep them in the fridge.

Birds nests

And

Mini peanut butter cups

I only use their extra virgin katamala olive oil. It is so much better than even the more expensive olive oils. I also love love love their cheese selection. They have a Syrah soaked toscano cheese that is like a mild nutty parm its perfect for salads and Caesar wraps. They have great cheap wines too.

worked there for 4 1/2 years and would say the company is pretty legit.

Mixed berry blend
Light Cheese actually taste good
Turkey Chili
Soy Chorizo
Chicken Sausages
All the dips are good: Guacamole with yogurt and Kale dip with yogurt
Their green drinks are fairly good and are inexpensive.
Best deals on coconut / almond / soy milk

Frozen aisle is beast. Indian meals that are 1.99.

The mandarin chickenless nuggets are AMAZING!! One package can stretch between two people if you're eating at proper portion sizes--my girlfriend and I get that every time we go there. You should also branch out and try their wraps in their fresh section--sooooo good! They have good prepackaged salads that aren't too expensive either. It's nice "fast food" to have when you're on the go! Their vanilla almond clusters cereal is delicious as well, I used to eat that with fresh fruit and soy milk for breakfast every morning for a few months!

mini sesame round crackers. Love them.
Crunchy no salt/sugar peanut and almond butter. Best prices around.
I also love their low carb tortillias.
Hazelnuts


Non Veggie
I love their tea tree soap (so invigorating) and lavender dryer bags.

Meat
Jalepeno chicken sausage (lowest sodium and fat sausage I have found)

Better'n peanut butter
Frozen veggies
Yogurt dips - cilantro, mediteranean and kale/spinich - low cal and so good.
Parm/reggiano cheese - best prices
Ground flax seed
Dried fruits - husband and kids like
frozen turkey meatballs - so easy in the crock pot.

So lucky to live near one! Thanks for everyone's ideas!

bump

You must live in Vancouver! That Bellingham TJs is kept in business by Vancouver I swear. I live in Victoria, but have a friend that goes to Seattle on a regular basis and keeps lists of things to bring back for friends. (Lucky us!!)

I can't believe hardly anyone has said NUT BUTTER. They have a great selection and the prices can't be beat (especially as a Canadian...almond butter is stupid expensive here). My favourite is the Roasted Almond Butter with Flax, but their Valencia Peanut Butter comes a close second. And Sunflower Butter is creamy and delish.

Other faves that I'm always happy to get:
Marcona Almonds with Rosemary
Simply Almond Cashew Trek Mix
Flattened Bananas!
21 Seasoning Salute
Roasted coconut chips
Multigrain Pita Bite Crackers
Cinnamon Swirl Cereal
Dark Chocolate Almonds with sea salt and turbinado sugar

red curry coconut chicken!!!
almond butter!!!
almond milk unsweet vanilla!!!
apple cinnamon sticks!!!