What do you love at Trader Joes?

[Anonymous]

For the Health! poster, you can't beat their prices on organic quinoa, organic canned beans (all in BPA free cans), organic broths, organic whole and lowfat yogurt, and often organic fresh fruit. At the one near me, they had Driscoll organic strawberries and raspberries all summer for half of what they cost at Whole Foods. We ate pounds of organic fruit this summer, all delicious, and I usually don't buy produce at TJs. The frozen organic fruit is wonderful and a smoothie staple for us.

Of course, I also love all the treats there. The cheese straws are so good and much cheaper than the ones sold at specialty stores. Their organic tortilla chips and organic salsa are wonderful. I love all the chocolate treats around the holidays. Great beer and wine selection. The frozen croissants are delicious.

I am at TJs one a week for grocery and pantry basics. Love it there! If you want some really good suggestions, go to Chow.com and check out the monthly TJs thread in the Chains forum. I've found some great products that I never would have noticed due to recommendations from people on their. They are SERIOUS about their TJ love!

[Anonymous]

Agree w PPs that there is a ton of unprocessed food at TJs and I also eat healthy meals.

Some of my favs:
-pre sliced portobello mushrooms
-oatmeal flake cereal for the kids (low in sugar)
-bags of washed "power greens" (kale, spinach...)
-frozen bag of mixed seafood
-low-carb whole wheat tortillas
-sparking water
-grated Parmesan cheese
-extra extra lean ground beef (96/4)
-frozen Brussels sprouts
-indulgence: frozen coconut bars!

[Anonymous]

Tabouli is amazing, the frozen wild salmon, kids love turkey meatballs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I finally decided to check it out and I've decided to make this one of my weekly/biweekly places for food shopping.
I like the prepared salads, they're cheaper than other grocery stores and have a nice variety.

I avoid Trader Joes as I try to eat healthy and avoid processed foods. It's a horrible store if you live a healthy lifestyle.

Translation: "I avoid Trader Joes as I try to avoid food. It's a horrible store if you have an eating disorder."

I don't think that's fair to PP. TJ does have some healthy stuff, but offers a lot of impulse-stuff from the bakery and frozen food sections are not particularly healthy. It's hard to avoid b/c they bunch stuff all together, evil marketing geniuses. In Safeway or Giant you just avoid those aisles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I finally decided to check it out and I've decided to make this one of my weekly/biweekly places for food shopping.
I like the prepared salads, they're cheaper than other grocery stores and have a nice variety.

I avoid Trader Joes as I try to eat healthy and avoid processed foods. It's a horrible store if you live a healthy lifestyle.

Translation: "I avoid Trader Joes as I try to avoid food. It's a horrible store if you have an eating disorder."

I don't think that's fair to PP. TJ does have some healthy stuff, but offers a lot of impulse-stuff from the bakery and frozen food sections are not particularly healthy. It's hard to avoid b/c they bunch stuff all together, evil marketing geniuses. In Safeway or Giant you just avoid those aisles.

Sure Trader Joe's has a variety, but if you walk into TJ's and just see junk, then you probably have a screwed up relationship with food to begin with. I try and eat healthy for most of my diet, but that doesn't mean I don't buy Peppermint Joejoes when they're in season (or other snacks at other times), or a little of this and that in moderation. "Clean eating" these days is basically an "appropriate" way of saying you have an eating disorder. The problem is, that those same people also use "clean eating" as a justification for their eating disorder - instead of seeking help or treatment.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone tried the sweet potato gnocchi? I didn't get it cause its high in fat, but it looked good.

[Anonymous]

i can spend close to $200 at TJs and i never, ever buy anything chocolate or desserty (do have a weakness for cheddar straws, and tortilla chips). My faves are:

prepared pizza dough (for when i am too lazy to make my own)
whole wheat tortillas
black bean soup on a 32 oz carton
tons of fresh produce
par-baked french baquettes
granola bars
TJs greek yogurt
almonds (lightly salted)
cornichons (the best in the world, i may possibly be hoarding these)
pasta (love the 99 cent bags of ziti)
frozen artichoke hearts
frozen leeks
vino
i could go on and on, but these are the staples...

[Anonymous]

Tuscan pane bread. OMG.

Frozen french green beans

Don't know what it's called, but they have this bag of seasoned Thai lemongrass/chile/basil mixed nuts that are ridiculous.

Pastas (esp'y the dried tortellini)

Pesto

Great olive oils

Pub cheese w/ horseradish

Jarred artichoke hearts

Soups

best prices around for veggie bacon & sausage by Morningstar Farms

[Anonymous]

OH, and forgot the pita crisps crackers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone tried the sweet potato gnocchi? I didn't get it cause its high in fat, but it looked good.

Yes, it is a staple of my toddler's diet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh TJ's how I love thee, let me count the ways...

Ritter chocolate bars
Peppermint waffle cookies,
Butter Almond cookies,
Cranberry goat cheese,
Applesauce squeezies,
Wasabi seaweed snacks,
"Cheetos",
Seasonal teas,
Frozen appetizers,
Trail mix snacks,
Mozzerella cheese sticks,
Face serum,
Dishwashing soap,
Green bean snacks,
Frozen tamales,.
Frozen lasagna,
Frozen breaded boneless chicken pieces
Peppermint Joe Joes,
Choc. covered almonds,
Chocolate peanut butter cups,
Mini cheesecake bite "ice cream"
Frozen macaroons,
Mini ice cream cones,
Flowers and
Wine.

You must have a huge freezer. Do you eat any fresh meat or produce?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I finally decided to check it out and I've decided to make this one of my weekly/biweekly places for food shopping.
I like the prepared salads, they're cheaper than other grocery stores and have a nice variety.

I avoid Trader Joes as I try to eat healthy and avoid processed foods. It's a horrible store if you live a healthy lifestyle.

Translation: "I avoid Trader Joes as I try to avoid food. It's a horrible store if you have an eating disorder."

I don't think that's fair to PP. TJ does have some healthy stuff, but offers a lot of impulse-stuff from the bakery and frozen food sections are not particularly healthy. It's hard to avoid b/c they bunch stuff all together, evil marketing geniuses. In Safeway or Giant you just avoid those aisles.

Sure Trader Joe's has a variety, but if you walk into TJ's and just see junk, then you probably have a screwed up relationship with food to begin with. I try and eat healthy for most of my diet, but that doesn't mean I don't buy Peppermint Joejoes when they're in season (or other snacks at other times), or a little of this and that in moderation. "Clean eating" these days is basically an "appropriate" way of saying you have an eating disorder. The problem is, that those same people also use "clean eating" as a justification for their eating disorder - instead of seeking help or treatment.

Interesting that you are able to diagnose an eating disorder by reading someone's anonymous post. Why are "TJ" customers so militant about defending this store from any criticism. It's just a goddamn grocery store.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:their mac and cheese is better than what I can make at home

OK, so you can't cook.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh TJ's how I love thee, let me count the ways...

Ritter chocolate bars
Peppermint waffle cookies,
Butter Almond cookies,
Cranberry goat cheese,
Applesauce squeezies,
Wasabi seaweed snacks,
"Cheetos",
Seasonal teas,
Frozen appetizers,
Trail mix snacks,
Mozzerella cheese sticks,
Face serum,
Dishwashing soap,
Green bean snacks,
Frozen tamales,.
Frozen lasagna,
Frozen breaded boneless chicken pieces
Peppermint Joe Joes,
Choc. covered almonds,
Chocolate peanut butter cups,
Mini cheesecake bite "ice cream"
Frozen macaroons,
Mini ice cream cones,
Flowers and
Wine.

You must have a huge freezer. Do you eat any fresh meat or produce?

Yeah, bc face serum and flowers take up a lot of space in the freezer. Dear lord. It's called "What do you love at Trader Joe's?" not "List everything you buy to feed your family." Lighten up.

[Anonymous]

Dark choc pb cups
Peanut butter
Multigrain pancake & waffle mix
Trail mix
Kerrygold butter (grass fed cows)
Fresh mozzarella sticks
Diner joes frozen Mac n cheese
Pizza dough
Frozen ravioli in sauce