Anonymous
06/05/2012 21:51
Subject: What do you buy @ Trader Joe's?
OP here. Thanks to all who chimed in with great ideas - so helpful. And My office is a few blocks from TJs, hence the specific mention. I know it's not a health-food store. But damn it has some yummy stuff! Keep the recommendations coming.
Anonymous
06/05/2012 20:40
Subject: What do you buy @ Trader Joe's?
PP- one last thing I forgot that we always get-
"Fiberful" fruit leather bars
"Fiberful" fruit leather bars
Anonymous
06/05/2012 20:37
Subject: What do you buy @ Trader Joe's?
Yellow curry simmer sauce (add chicken, potatoes, and pineapple- simmer in a crockpot- delicious!)
shredded pepper-jack cheese
double roasted pepper salsa
"reduced guilt" frozen mac and cheese entrees (DS loves)
frozen french toast
frozen veggies like green peas, green beans, fire roasted corn
Large dark chocolate bars (like 1 lb. each), for baking
Dry pastas (lemon pepper pappadelle is really good)
Usually throw in some kind of fun treat- they have really fun ice cream treats and cookies
shredded pepper-jack cheese
double roasted pepper salsa
"reduced guilt" frozen mac and cheese entrees (DS loves)
frozen french toast
frozen veggies like green peas, green beans, fire roasted corn
Large dark chocolate bars (like 1 lb. each), for baking
Dry pastas (lemon pepper pappadelle is really good)
Usually throw in some kind of fun treat- they have really fun ice cream treats and cookies
Anonymous
06/05/2012 20:19
Subject: What do you buy @ Trader Joe's?
hummus
pouch applesauce
roasted red peppers
white cheddar corn puffs
cheese
wine
vegetable burritos (frozen)
chicken eggrolls (frozen)
vegetable fried rice (frozen)
pasta (different noodle shapes that my kids like)
pasta sauce (three cheese pomodoro)
frozen vegetables
black beans
ginger snaps
100 calorie belgium chocolate bars
pouch applesauce
roasted red peppers
white cheddar corn puffs
cheese
wine
vegetable burritos (frozen)
chicken eggrolls (frozen)
vegetable fried rice (frozen)
pasta (different noodle shapes that my kids like)
pasta sauce (three cheese pomodoro)
frozen vegetables
black beans
ginger snaps
100 calorie belgium chocolate bars
Anonymous
06/05/2012 20:17
Subject: What do you buy @ Trader Joe's?
frozen turkey meatballs. my 16-month-old loves them. they are probably his favorite food. i feel badly giving them as often as i do, but sue me. i tried to make them myself and they turned out disgusting.
organic string cheese, applesauce/carrot-sauce pouches for my diaper bag, organic blueberries, heirloom tomatoes, butternut squash risotto, kimchi rice, frozen grilled chicken strips (some of these things are for my husband and me, not our kid), hummus, all kinds of organic beans, those microwave thai things to keep in my desk at work for when i'm too busy to get lunch...
their organic pasta is better than their regular pasta and less than pasta at safeway, their arrabiata sauce is great and cheap.
sometimes they have organic full-fat yogurt cups, (kid) and low-fat yogurt/greek yogurt for me and husband.
i don't buy their organic milk unless i don't have time to make another stop, because i hate the spout. i prefer to get organic valley milk because of the screw top.
we do most of our shopping there. (obviously).
organic string cheese, applesauce/carrot-sauce pouches for my diaper bag, organic blueberries, heirloom tomatoes, butternut squash risotto, kimchi rice, frozen grilled chicken strips (some of these things are for my husband and me, not our kid), hummus, all kinds of organic beans, those microwave thai things to keep in my desk at work for when i'm too busy to get lunch...
their organic pasta is better than their regular pasta and less than pasta at safeway, their arrabiata sauce is great and cheap.
sometimes they have organic full-fat yogurt cups, (kid) and low-fat yogurt/greek yogurt for me and husband.
i don't buy their organic milk unless i don't have time to make another stop, because i hate the spout. i prefer to get organic valley milk because of the screw top.
we do most of our shopping there. (obviously).
Anonymous
06/05/2012 20:05
Subject: What do you buy @ Trader Joe's?
I really like their laundry detergent. It's very inexpensive and the lavender scent is very subtle. It comparable to ECOS.
They have nice soaps as well. I buy all our soap there.
They have nice soaps as well. I buy all our soap there.
Anonymous
06/05/2012 20:01
Subject: What do you buy @ Trader Joe's?
Great prices on cheese! Wine is good. We do our weekly shopping at tjs- although ours does not sell grassfed beef yet which i'd like. Great breads for basic sandwiches, low carb whole wheat wraps/fajitas, all our veg and fruits. Olive oil, enchillada sauce, spices, organic pb, low sugar jelly, organic beans they say are in bpa free cans, they have a variety of cookies/sweets that are good when you need them, frozen section is great- frozen organic wild blueberries, organic strawberries, org rasberries, org peas, org corn, org green beans, chopped spinich we put in tons of food, frozen pizzas or the ham/cheese tarts. organic, plain yogurt, we get all our groceries there - love it!
Anonymous
06/05/2012 20:01
Subject: Re:What do you buy @ Trader Joe's?
Anonymous wrote:Things I buy at TJ's:
squeeze pouches of applesauce
organic milk
organic string cheese
frozen brown rice
frozen French toast
turkey meatballs
Butternut Squash Risotto
Vegetable Fried Rice
Chimichurri Rice (totally delicious!)
Polenta with Spinach
Asparagus Risotto
When I was breastfeeding, I also bought their oatmeal raisin cookies. They were amazing!
Things I never buy at TJ's:
Bread (always stale)
Produce (always poor quality)
Refrigerated prepared salads (always yucky)
I have noticed that some stores have bad produce, and the other ones are consistently pretty good!
Anonymous
06/05/2012 19:55
Subject: Re:What do you buy @ Trader Joe's?
Things I buy at TJ's:
squeeze pouches of applesauce
organic milk
organic string cheese
frozen brown rice
frozen French toast
turkey meatballs
Butternut Squash Risotto
Vegetable Fried Rice
Chimichurri Rice (totally delicious!)
Polenta with Spinach
Asparagus Risotto
When I was breastfeeding, I also bought their oatmeal raisin cookies. They were amazing!
Things I never buy at TJ's:
Bread (always stale)
Produce (always poor quality)
Refrigerated prepared salads (always yucky)
squeeze pouches of applesauce
organic milk
organic string cheese
frozen brown rice
frozen French toast
turkey meatballs
Butternut Squash Risotto
Vegetable Fried Rice
Chimichurri Rice (totally delicious!)
Polenta with Spinach
Asparagus Risotto
When I was breastfeeding, I also bought their oatmeal raisin cookies. They were amazing!
Things I never buy at TJ's:
Bread (always stale)
Produce (always poor quality)
Refrigerated prepared salads (always yucky)
Anonymous
06/05/2012 19:45
Subject: What do you buy @ Trader Joe's?
They have these meals with a couple of chicken breasts cooked in sauce...chicken gorgonzola, chicken serenada. I always keep one in my freezer. That, salad (or steamed veggies) and some bread is a great dinner. I also like that they have a lot of prepped produce, like bagged kale...I eat a ton of that stuff. One of my favorites - Cook a little garlic in olive oil. Add some hot peppers, a splash of balsamic vinegar. Saute kale in that for a minute or two, cover and steamed for 7-8 minutes. Add a can of diced tomatoes, bring to a boil. Toss with pasta or gnocchi and parmesan cheese. Seriously delicious; the kale/tomato sauce comes together in the time it takes to bring the pasta water to a boil!
Anonymous
06/05/2012 19:16
Subject: Re:What do you buy @ Trader Joe's?
Maybe the poster is a disgruntled employee of Trader Joe's? (I have never seen an unhappy associate there though.)
Heh, maybe. They're always unnaturally chipper, so perhaps anti-TJ's fanatic snapped.
Anonymous
06/05/2012 19:13
Subject: What do you buy @ Trader Joe's?
Not sure if any of this is on the healthy end of the spectrum, but I love their greek frozen pizzas, frozen butternut squash risotto, and some of their frozen veggies. The asian foods are pretty good too. I had to admit I always end up getting the non-healthy stuff like tempura, chocolate covered anything, and cookies -- TJ's has the best stuff like that! I also love their drinks like lemonade and juices - they seem more interesting than the normal grocery store. Good thing TJs is a bit out of the way or I would go more often 
Anonymous
06/05/2012 19:11
Subject: What do you buy @ Trader Joe's?
Anonymous wrote:I like their tortillas. Just grab some organic chicken ... cook it on a pan and chop up veggies, avocados, etc. (is that healthy enough?) Or you can switch out the chicken for fish.
You can also do panini's. Buy tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and anything else you want to put in them.
And their frozen dinners work well for those days you are in a bind. (pizza, orange chicken, lasagna).
I agree! The handmade tortillas are the best.
Anonymous
06/05/2012 19:10
Subject: What do you buy @ Trader Joe's?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What are your Trader Joe's staples for quick, healthy dinners? We don't eat red meat, but do eat chicken/veggie meals. I just have a feeling I'm missing some good stuff and would love to hear what other folks get from TJs. Thanks!
Mine eyes! Mine eyes!
Why are you using those phrases in the same sentence? See the other threads about how TJ's isn't a health food store.
Oh God, not this again. Trader Joes has plenty of healthy foods - plenty. Not everything is unhealthy just like not everything at Whole Foods is healthy/low calorie. Look at your labels, people!
And OP was looking for healthy reccomendations, so either chime in or butt out.
Maybe the poster is a disgruntled employee of Trader Joe's? (I have never seen an unhappy associate there though.)
So why specify Trader Joe's? Why not just ask for recommendations for quick, healthy dinners? It was the specificity that cracked me up after all the chat on the other thread.
Because the OP wants to shop at that store. Really, why are you so obsessed with this topic? It's weird.
Anonymous
06/05/2012 19:01
Subject: Re:What do you buy @ Trader Joe's?
Their Spinach Pie is delicious. They also sell cheap mahi mahi bits which are quick to cook up, toss with some of their pre made guac, and its fish tacos in 5 mins. I'm also a fan of the jarred simmer sauces - just toss in whatever.