Trader Joe's Road Trip

I really love their marinara sauce. They also can have some interesting hummus. I also purchase their whole wheat pizza crust (premade in the refrigerator section). There's just all sorts of good stuff there! Have fun.

What sort of things do you like to eat? They have a wide variety, you can always check out their website.

I like their confetti rice (freezer section), falafal, and feta dressing, all in a pita or piece of flatbread (or naan). It's delicious. Also their teriyaki chicken (freezer section) is yummy and decent on sodium.

I hate to be the lone nay-sayer, but I seriously do *not* think Trader Joe's is that great. Most of the prepared food is WAY high in salt, even higher than similar products from other sources. Their organic dairy, which I assume you won't be buying anyway, since you have a 2 hour drive, is cheaper than other sources, but it from a few very large organic farms--probably not what you're imagining when you buy organic dairy. In my experience, the produce is *sometimes* less expensive than other stores, but often of low quality, stuff you buy there tends to go bad faster than similar products from the grocery store--and the apples are almost always terribly bruised. Their frozen berries, and un-sauced frozen veggies are good, and cheap, but I assume you won't be buying these because of the drive time. What's left:
- Peanut butter, but watch the salt content, buy the unsalted and mix it jar for jar with the salted.
- Single-serving packs of nuts, a nice convenience, and not much more expensive than the large packs.
- Crystallized candied ginger--this stuff is good.
- Chocolate and chocolate chips, okay quality, good price.
- Dried goods like quinoa, brown basmati rice, etc., but you can probably buy these cheaper in bulk someplace else.
- Their flatbread is good, but high in salt and not particularly healthy.

Trader Joe's was only somewhat worth the trip when I worked right down the street from them, I wouldn't drive two hours to go to one unless I was really bored. Oh, and going to one that has just opened generally means it's going to be packed and understaffed. If you must go, wait a month.

I pass a Trader Joe's everyday on my way to work and never stop in. I will stop in this week.

I love their microwaveable lunch meals - the Indian meals. They have great sauces. I also buy their frozen pizza - mozzarella and red pepper pizza. We buy the snap peas, honey wheat pretzels, fresh juices, cereal, etc.

I think I need to make a TJ's run!