Trader Joe's - what do you buy?

2

Replies

  • brendak76
    brendak76 Posts: 241 Member
    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
    mamasmaltz3 Posts: 1,111 Member
    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
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
    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
    lizzocat Posts: 356 Member
    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
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    JK Scrumpy Cider - phenomenal!
  • mom2colbyj
    mom2colbyj Posts: 119 Member
    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
    Kitship Posts: 579 Member
    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
    glassyo Posts: 7,743 Member
    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
    KatieK1146 Posts: 14 Member
    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
    Asher_Ethan Posts: 2,430 Member
    They have the best prices on wine...
  • Cheri1218
    Cheri1218 Posts: 268 Member
    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
    roselemonade Posts: 53 Member
    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
    McGristy Posts: 61 Member
    #BUYALLTHETHINGS
  • shadowfax_c11
    shadowfax_c11 Posts: 1,942 Member
    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
    urloved33 Posts: 3,323 Member
    dark chocolate, raisins, sunflower seeds and lavender sea salt.....and or course flowers
  • craftergin
    craftergin Posts: 25 Member
    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
    slucki01 Posts: 284 Member
    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
    rushbabe0214 Posts: 105 Member
    Croissants, Thai peanut sauce, marcona almonds with rosemary, wine.
  • TheVirgoddess
    TheVirgoddess Posts: 4,535 Member
    I feel like the only person ever that was totally underwhelmed by TJ's.
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  • scastor27
    scastor27 Posts: 204 Member
    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
    panchakshara Posts: 37 Member
    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
    workhardtogethard Posts: 49 Member
    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
    workhardtogethard Posts: 49 Member
    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
    professionalHobbyist Posts: 1,316 Member
    Organic coffee

    Whatever new kind of dark chocolate

    Weird produce and fruit I have not ate/made before

    Cool place

  • illuvatree
    illuvatree Posts: 185 Member
    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
    JenSD6 Posts: 454 Member
    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
    lesliezimmer Posts: 85 Member
    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
    R1rainbows Posts: 129 Member
    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!

    wJDnVser8v.jpg


    You are a godsend, rofl!!
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