Trader Joe's

2

Replies

  • lorenzoinlr
    lorenzoinlr Posts: 338 Member
    Do NOT try the blue potato chips or the regular crinkle cut ones with salt and vinegar if you have any kind of addictive personality. I deeply regret that I did. Also, AVOID the cheddar cheese popcorn.
  • LonnaRox
    LonnaRox Posts: 38 Member
    Try their frozen chicken mini tacos ... but bake them, don't microwave. 8 of them (2 servings) has 380 calories and 20 grams of protein.
  • kaitimae
    kaitimae Posts: 727 Member
    Love TJs!

    Goat cheese medallions
    Wasabi almonds
    This Fig Walked Into A Bar (cereal bars)
    cheapo olive oil
    garlic stuffed olives
    butternut squash soup
    three-layer hummus
    cashew butter
    ginger cat cookies
    frozen lime bars

    I am SO GLAD you said Ginger Cat Cookies! They are absolutely my favorite thing at TJ's. Just a tad spicy, and a nice dessert for not a whole lot of calories. And they are low fat.
  • heidikat72
    heidikat72 Posts: 42 Member
    I absolutely LOVE their hummus - especially the horseradish one, has a nice kick to it but they have a lot of different flavors which is nice for variety. They also have really good prices on nuts and some are even in lower sodium options like the pistachios. but my new snack obsession from there is the thai chili lime cashews - delicious! they also have some good nondairy ice cream options. typically have nice produce and if you eat cheese, they have a great cheese selection.
  • meg7399
    meg7399 Posts: 672 Member
    Be careful at Trader Joes... a lot of their food isn't any healthier than what you'd find in the junk food section of a grocery store. Their prices are high as well.

    That being said I love their gnocchi.
    It is true...they are not a health food store! They do have a good amount of organic and minimally processed choices. They just do not carry name brands, and do have some healthy choices...other than that its just another grocery store option. Nothing there is any healthier for you than at a grocery store. However, their prices ARE pretty low...owned by Aldis.
  • verbalriot
    verbalriot Posts: 90
    Try the fire roasted frozen corn! It's like crack.

    And I second the edamame hummus...so good!
  • runninggirl54
    runninggirl54 Posts: 38
    reduced guilt skinny fries are in the snack aisle....they are awesome. also the fire roasted tomato salsa is yummy, portion sized bags of reduced cal/fat popcorn is tastey.
  • ImperfektAngel
    ImperfektAngel Posts: 811 Member
    Every time you shop there, try their samples, thats how I got familiar with their foods. :D
  • skinnyack
    skinnyack Posts: 683
    DON"T DO IT- they have these horrifically wonderful things called Peppermint Jojos that only come out in the winter but regardless it is worth it to NEVER EVER GO THERE. Because if you see them you will be hooked.

    Just kidding- My typical list is:
    Reduced sodium turkey breast (slices)
    Miltons whole grain bread
    yogurt cheese- jalapeno or regular
    oodles of produce (organic when possible- and it's usually very possible)
    Kefir or Greek yogurt
    eggs (cage free organic)
    vitamins when needed
    Organic marinara sauce- I love theirs- basil one is good too
    I second the gnocci being great but I try to avoid it
    almond butter with flax seeds- YUM
    Sweet potato chips (in the tortilla chip section)
    Their salsa's are fantastic
    currently loving the Green Fin red table wine (Organic)- 3.99/bottle and it's fantastic
    all the jerky's are good
    I avoid the frozen aisle except for the frozen mango chunks- but in a pinch I have tried a lot of them and they are typically very good.
    Bring your own bags and they enter you into a gift certificate contest I believe
  • klmnumbers
    klmnumbers Posts: 213 Member
    They have oodles of dried fruit. I basically live on banana chips and kettle corn from there as snacks. They're a re-sale-r, so lots of their food is going to be frozen, but not all of it is too high in sodium. Some of their frozen food is heavenly (i.e. any of the Indian food), and the turkey chili (while high in sodium) is chock full of protein and amazing.
    What's a re-sale-r?

    oh, oops. Didn't see this reply. Generally, they sell food produced by a variety of manufacturers but repackage it to have a Trader Joe's or Trader Jose's (etc) label on it, but TJ's doesn't actually produce the food. That is one of the major reasons they don't sell soda - because coca cola wouldn't allow them to repackage.
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    So, a reseller, then?
  • morgynsmama
    morgynsmama Posts: 83
    I love the Ketchup!!!!! Plus I get the Peanut Butter with Flaxseeds....very yummy
  • Balice57
    Balice57 Posts: 125
    They have some dark chocolate "chips" - they are shaped like pringles - you have 12 for 200+ calories, you can be well satisfied with far fewer than 12. Thin, crunchy, delicious.

    They also have turkey patty "muffins" with a layer of spinach and a layer of mashed potatoes - these are high in sodium, but a nice small size; easy portion control.
  • OMGLeigh
    OMGLeigh Posts: 236
    Grab a Garlic Aoli Mustard. Seriously, best stuff ever. I don't live near one anymore but I stockpile that stuff.

    wasabi peas
    cereal
    flax tortilla chips
  • MelMena
    MelMena Posts: 152 Member
    They don't re-package. At least not the Trader Jose salsa that my company sells to them! We sell it to them private labeled.
  • OMGLeigh
    OMGLeigh Posts: 236
    They have oodles of dried fruit. I basically live on banana chips and kettle corn from there as snacks. They're a re-sale-r, so lots of their food is going to be frozen, but not all of it is too high in sodium. Some of their frozen food is heavenly (i.e. any of the Indian food), and the turkey chili (while high in sodium) is chock full of protein and amazing.
    What's a re-sale-r?

    oh, oops. Didn't see this reply. Generally, they sell food produced by a variety of manufacturers but repackage it to have a Trader Joe's or Trader Jose's (etc) label on it, but TJ's doesn't actually produce the food. That is one of the major reasons they don't sell soda - because coca cola wouldn't allow them to repackage.

    They do sell other brands of soda, but the big ones can require prime shelving space, particular signage, things like that.
  • badmediakarma
    badmediakarma Posts: 33
    My favorite things from Trader Joe's are the heirloom tomatoes and frozen turkey burgers. Love the turkey burgers - $2.99 for a box of four. Very easy to make, cook fast and they are minimally processed. I hated turkey burgers til I tried those!
  • reden324
    reden324 Posts: 33
    Egg white salad (only 100 calories for the whole thing!), The reduced guilt spinach and kale greek yogurt dip and white ruffy fish
  • jerber160
    jerber160 Posts: 2,607 Member
    i just like the freeze dried mango and banana. not so much the strawberries. oh and soups. the lentil is delic. tomato pepper too..
  • OMGLeigh
    OMGLeigh Posts: 236
    They don't re-package. At least not the Trader Jose salsa that my company sells to them! We sell it to them private labeled.
    I think she is talking about how they private label many things. If TJ's can privatize a label and give a better deal they will.
  • joy31021
    joy31021 Posts: 216
    bump
  • engineman312
    engineman312 Posts: 3,450 Member
    their pizza dough is outstanding.
  • joy31021
    joy31021 Posts: 216
    went to TJ yesterday with very smart dd and fooducate (free app that I love) Spent an hour reading and grading and left with less than half than expected - not all healthy- but a friendly place to shop
  • gehlerc
    gehlerc Posts: 651 Member
    So much to love about TJ's!

    Soy ginger cod (frozen)
    European style chocolate yogurt
    Cranberry walnut gorgonzola salad dressing
    Champagne pear vinaigrette salad dressing
    Asian style spicy peanut vinaigrette salad dressing
    Habanero lime salsa
    Sodium-free wheat bread

    As others in this forum have said, read nutrition labels carefully. Not everything there is healthy--by a long shot.
  • gehlerc
    gehlerc Posts: 651 Member
    Oh, and don't miss their frozen vegetables! Good quality and good prices!
  • JenSmith1104
    JenSmith1104 Posts: 58
    Their premade wheat pizza dough is good when you are pressed for time and can't make your own. It's only 99 cents too! I love the dark chocolate covered cranberries too. Not related to food, but I love the variety of flowers there. I always buy flowers for every occasion there and they are pretty cheap.
  • aprilwoo97
    aprilwoo97 Posts: 16 Member
    They have low fat muenster. I swear it is impossible to find anywhere else.
  • fitforlife34
    fitforlife34 Posts: 331 Member
    I love Trader Joe's too! Their fruit and nut bars are pretty good.....as well as their mini party size meatballs (not as fatty as normal ones). They also have a large variety of healthy breads.

    I don't usually buy their meats or vegetables, they are usually higher in the meat dept prices, mainly. Vegetable prices are a little high though, but they have super fresh organic veges too.
  • joy31021
    joy31021 Posts: 216
    bump
  • Brittmy
    Brittmy Posts: 141 Member
    I LOVE TRADER JOE'S
    BUY
    Seaweed snacks (salty, crunchy and like 40 calories for a whole box)
    Skinny Fries (super delicious, and only 100 calories for like 65 pieces)

    They had this roasted tomato, corn and goat cheese soup out for taste testing there which was deliciousssssss. I think you need to buy their frozen corn, their goat cheese , and organic roasted red pepper tomato broth or something MMMM
    I cannot tell you how delicious it is.
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