What do you like to buy at Trader Joe's?

[Anonymous]

I have been to TJ's a handful of times but never seem to know what to get. I have three kids and would love the convenience of some of the food there, but am wondering, for those of you who like to shop there, what you like to get. I need inspiration! I try to be conscious of our family's diet, so am most interested in healthy options. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Here you go...
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/70550.page#520567

I started this thread ages ago. I can't believe how long it got!! Very helpful.

[Anonymous]

I was actually just there today. Some of our favorites include:

(1) a pork shoulder that goes into the oven and then you pull it for pulled pork - super easy and really delicious
(2) pizza dough for homemade pizza - we especially like the herbed dough, and kids love to help make it.
(3) edamame in the pods (frozen) - easy, and my kid loves it. they normally have a precooked one that you can just let thaw in the fridge and eat straight - love that one.
(4) frozen brown rice - heats in the microwave and is good to go
(5) the pre-cooked beets. great for salads (this may be more of a parent thing though.)
(6) the cheese pizza. it's thin crust, so is great as a side along with some veggies, etc.
(7) any of the dried fruit products - great for snacks.

There is also a blog and cookbooks that these 2 women in CA put together about cooking with Trader Joes - I've seen some great ideas from there:
http://blog.cookingwithtraderjoes.com/

[Anonymous]

-Tart Tatin, a french apple pie.
-Thin wheat crackers
-Asparragus risotto
-Irish butter
-Argentine malbec
-Organic whole milk
-Pomegranate white tea
-Peppermint tea

If you ask me what I don't like to buy at TJ's, I also have a list.

[Anonymous]

Not sure if they have them every year (we don't live near a TJs) but 2 years ago my MIL brought me some salted caramels coated in dark chocolate-they were a seasonal product. Soooooooo good.

[Anonymous]

I find that their peaches and nectarines (when they are in season) are the best in town.

[Anonymous]

Turkey meatballs (frozen)
Orange chicken (frozen)
Salsa Verde
Edamame
Steel-cut oatmeal (pre-cooked frozen)

[Anonymous]

One word of warning - I always end up buying so much frozen food I can barely cram it in my freezer.

- Frozen Green Beans - these are wonderful. Don't kwow why
- Other frozen veggies - they just seem closer to fresh compared to other stores
- Potstickers/ egg rolls (frozen)
- Frozen or fresh chicken burritoes
- Hummus
- Multigrain Pancake Mix
- Multigrain Tortillas
- Alphabet cookies (sold in tubs on the shelves over the frozen food normally) - good cookie, not overly sugary.
- presliced mango in containers. My son love it.

What I have gotten and didn't like:
-pizza dough. It was tasteless (could be my inability to cook it right)
- Canned stuff - it all seems to go bad too quickly - stupid no preservatives.
- most of the fresh fruit and veggies - rots by the time you get home

[Anonymous]

The pre-chopped veggies in the refrigerated section. They are a lifesaver if you want to cook healthy but have no energy. They have a chopped onion-carrot-celery mixture that is a great soup base. I will often saute that in a pot and then add a bean soup mix, and voila - homemade soup with almost no effort!

I second the point about the fresh fruits spoiling before you get home - don't even bother with the strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, etc. They are not refrigerated and usually already bad in the store.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The pre-chopped veggies in the refrigerated section. They are a lifesaver if you want to cook healthy but have no energy. They have a chopped onion-carrot-celery mixture that is a great soup base. I will often saute that in a pot and then add a bean soup mix, and voila - homemade soup with almost no effort!

I second the point about the fresh fruits spoiling before you get home - don't even bother with the strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, etc. They are not refrigerated and usually already bad in the store.

I agree about needing to check fresh produce. Often a problem. I only buy certain items there (carrots, bagged spinach, bananas,...)

Our favorites:
turkey meatballs
tortillas
greek yogurt
oatmeal
frozen waffles and french toast
apple sauces
brown rice in packages to put in microwave
wines
spaghetti sauces (tomato basil is quite good)
balsamic vinegar (aged)

[Anonymous]

I realized that I can find comparable products at a regular grocery store for much less $$$.

Although some items at TJ are organic and preservative fee etc., alot of things aren't.

yes - you can get good deals on some things, but not everything there is bargain or even good for you!

[Anonymous]

their nuts in the bag are very well priced and they have almonds and cashews that are no salt.

Olive Oil

Vinegar

Fresh Mozzarella Cheese

Meringue cookies

[Anonymous]

Their European cheeses are much cheaper than my local Safeway. I also buy their wine, mainly for cooking, and beer.
Apple sauce pouches for my toddler.
Microwave brown rice.
Chopped veggies.
Guacamole kit for making taco salad.
Organic milk.
Chicken sausages.
Stuffed pasta.
Maple syrup.
Chocolate chips.
Tuscan bread.
Frozen pastry.
Frozen pizza.
Potstickers.

I have a child with allergies and it helps that so many of TJ's products are well labeled.

[Anonymous]

I just made the easiest, really tasty dinner from TJ's. I got the Mandarin Chicken- baked it in the oven while I made brown rice and then broccoli in the microwave. It tasted like Chinese takeout. I also served it with their fresh sliced pineapple. So easy and definitely adding this meal to our repertoire!

[Anonymous]

I like the chocolate chip cookies in the freezer section. Love that they are individual frozen cookies and I can just pull out one or two to bake, instead of baking the whole batch.