Anonymous wrote:I think I would call it healthier food. I can buy a fruit leather that is 100% fruit as opposed to a fruit rollup which is hard to consider food. I can buy 100% whole wheat blueberry waffles as opposed to artificially flavored with white flour from Eggo. They have more selection of baked chips etc. I go about 1x per month.

Meh. I get all of this at my local Wegman's, but for much cheaper. The Wegman's brand has great ingredients.

Fruit leathers, 100%
Waffles 100% whole wheat in Blueberry from Wegman's too.

I suppose if you don't have access to anything, but Giant and Safeweay, TJs might be appealing.

Its full of processed foods. I vote unhealthy for the most part. I've never had use for Trader Joe's except when I want frozen meals. I like their Indian bowls.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the Fearless Flyer:
http://traderjoes.com/fearless-flyer/article.asp?article_id=153

All of the foods in the Trader Joe's name are made without artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. They have no MSG, no added trans fats, no genetically modified ingredients and no high fructose corn syrup. We buy directly from the manufacturer whenever possible, and we cut out all the added costs that tend to drive up the price of supermarket foods - things like big ad budgets (obviously, no fancy advertising here), coupons and slotting fees. We keep it simple. Good food, great prices. Every day.


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They can say whatever the hell they want. It doesn't make it true.

Actually they can't lie re whats in their food.

Sure they can. Besides, "no MSG" doesn't mean it's not loaded with sodium; "no added trans fats" doesn't mean it's not fatty food; an "no high fructose corn syrup" doesn't mean it doesn't contain, uh, "corn sugar."

Try not to be so gullible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the Fearless Flyer:
http://traderjoes.com/fearless-flyer/article.asp?article_id=153

All of the foods in the Trader Joe's name are made without artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. They have no MSG, no added trans fats, no genetically modified ingredients and no high fructose corn syrup. We buy directly from the manufacturer whenever possible, and we cut out all the added costs that tend to drive up the price of supermarket foods - things like big ad budgets (obviously, no fancy advertising here), coupons and slotting fees. We keep it simple. Good food, great prices. Every day.


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They can say whatever the hell they want. It doesn't make it true.

Actually they can't lie re whats in their food.

You mean to tell me my chocolate whoopie pies are not healthy?!

Anonymous wrote:From the Fearless Flyer:
http://traderjoes.com/fearless-flyer/article.asp?article_id=153

All of the foods in the Trader Joe's name are made without artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. They have no MSG, no added trans fats, no genetically modified ingredients and no high fructose corn syrup. We buy directly from the manufacturer whenever possible, and we cut out all the added costs that tend to drive up the price of supermarket foods - things like big ad budgets (obviously, no fancy advertising here), coupons and slotting fees. We keep it simple. Good food, great prices. Every day.


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They can say whatever the hell they want. It doesn't make it true.

TJs has more pre-cut veggies, and at reasonable prices, than Giant or Whole Foods. There is almost nothing that makes my life easier than an item called "Mirepoix" which is cut-up onions/carrots/celery. If I have that, making a wholesome, homemade dinner is so much easier. They have other stuff (broccoli, green beans) that you can just microwave in the bag, and in the winter, pre-cut butternut squash. As long as you check for dates, the stuff stays fresh for a while.

From the Fearless Flyer:
http://traderjoes.com/fearless-flyer/article.asp?article_id=153

All of the foods in the Trader Joe's name are made without artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. They have no MSG, no added trans fats, no genetically modified ingredients and no high fructose corn syrup. We buy directly from the manufacturer whenever possible, and we cut out all the added costs that tend to drive up the price of supermarket foods - things like big ad budgets (obviously, no fancy advertising here), coupons and slotting fees. We keep it simple. Good food, great prices. Every day.


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I'll reinforce the pro-TJ theme here. If you read the ingredients, they are usually all pronounceable. I didn't know MSG was "natural" but that's not a problem for me.

Also, it's quick and easy. Now, somethings are way better than others but I like how it's all real food although, obviously if it's a frozen entree, it's processed.

We're just doing the best we can with the time and money allotted to us. I usually pair TJ food with a regular, hand-made salad and a plain starch.

Also, I"ve returned spoiled dairy about 9 times to my local whole foods and now I just don't shop there anymore. I've gotten some spoiled stuff from Safeway too but less often and only twice so haven't returned. I did call the 800# and got coupons...not cash.

Anonymous wrote:I think I would call it healthier food. I can buy a fruit leather that is 100% fruit as opposed to a fruit rollup which is hard to consider food. I can buy 100% whole wheat blueberry waffles as opposed to artificially flavored with white flour from Eggo. They have more selection of baked chips etc. I go about 1x per month.

The fruit leather has MSG in it. Look at the label. See the words "natural flavoring?" Yes, MSG is natural, but, still.

That's the product my friend discovered contains it.

I think I would call it healthier food. I can buy a fruit leather that is 100% fruit as opposed to a fruit rollup which is hard to consider food. I can buy 100% whole wheat blueberry waffles as opposed to artificially flavored with white flour from Eggo. They have more selection of baked chips etc. I go about 1x per month.

Anonymous wrote:I find that if I'm buying snack foods or prepared foods, the versions that TJs carries are often healthier in that they have more "real" ingredients and less things that sound like they came from a lab. I.e., the crackers don't have high fructose corn syrup, nor does the soda or the candy. So, if you're buying junk, TJs has higher quality junk, but I know it's still just junk. They also have good cheese, butter, milk, eggs, etc. Lots of organic and unsulfered dried fruit, organic pantry items, organic frozen items, etc.

But TJ does put in MSG in much of its products. That's the "natural flavorings" you'll see on the label. My friend who has a kid on the spectrum discovered this the hard way.

Anonymous wrote:I find that if I'm buying snack foods or prepared foods, the versions that TJs carries are often healthier in that they have more "real" ingredients and less things that sound like they came from a lab. I.e., the crackers don't have high fructose corn syrup, nor does the soda or the candy. So, if you're buying junk, TJs has higher quality junk, but I know it's still just junk. They also have good cheese, butter, milk, eggs, etc. Lots of organic and unsulfered dried fruit, organic pantry items, organic frozen items, etc.

Exactly. I know it's not the world's healthiest food when I'm buying chocolate-covered pomegranate seeds, but I also kw there are no Frankeningredients.

According to a Trader Joe's employee, ALL of the frozen prepared foods they sell are considered to be healthy in that they do not contain artificial preservatives and the like. So, apparently their prepared foods are supposed to be health-conscious in that regard (i.e., being more natural).

Also, a lot of their canned goods are organic. Some have no other option, like the chili I made yesterday was with organic beans, organic diced tomatoes, and organic onions from Trader's, and I don't usually try to buy organic.

^^also, their beans are all in BPA free cans, their cheese is all made from cows that aren't given hormones and antibiotics, etc.