The Rockville TJ is a lot bigger than it used to be but it's not the nicest once I've been to (the Alexandria location). The parking at the Rockville one is a nightmare unless you go between 8am-10am.

I think that the Silver Spring one is nicer than the Rockville one.

Anonymous wrote:I should add I was at the TJ in Bethesda on Wisconsin. Small, dirty, overcrowded and simply annoying. Are there better TJs out there ? OP, just realized I may have offended ou. Sorry, just had to vent. Why do people like TJs so much?

That TJ's is the smallest, most crowded one I've been to. But they all can get crowded. I think the Rockville one is less crowded. The Silver Spring one on 29 seems smaller than Rockville to me and always seems more crowded.

I often buy the frozen marinaded fish at TJs. Once I bought a refrigerated Thai chicken dish that was yummy, but I haven't found it again.

At Costco I've bought organic spinach and cheese ravioli (refrigerated) that are good as well as chicken burritos.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I should add I was at the TJ in Bethesda on Wisconsin. Small, dirty, overcrowded and simply annoying. Are there better TJs out there ? OP, just realized I may have offended ou. Sorry, just had to vent. Why do people like TJs so much?

I would have to see pics before I believe this. Trader Joe's is always sparkling clean.

NP here: Nope, not the Bethesda one. I swore to never go again.

Anonymous wrote:I should add I was at the TJ in Bethesda on Wisconsin. Small, dirty, overcrowded and simply annoying. Are there better TJs out there ? OP, just realized I may have offended ou. Sorry, just had to vent. Why do people like TJs so much?

I love TJ, but I am a label reader.
There things that I enjoy that are loaded with sodium, so I buy them rarely.
There are other things that have less sodium, I buy them more often.
They have great appetizers I cannot buy anywhere else (feta cheese & carmelized onion tarts -- ugh -- i will cook and eat the entire try by myself)
They have good,healthy stuff -- you just have to read labels...plus used to have the best price for hormone free milk (back when my DD drank milk on a regular basis)
I love the olive oil & honey soap
I like their price on the boxed soy milk that I take to work...
Their chips/snacks are good and are at a good price (had some kettle corn and pretzel sticks as my after lunch snack today at work)
You have to know how to work TJ
Best one in the area is the remodeled, enlarged one on the pike in Federal Plaza

Immediate PPs - do let us know what you like to eat so we can trash it. No one cares what you think. On second thought don't tell me what you eat - just shut your pie hole or cram it full of organic quinoa and kale.

Anonymous wrote:Ughh. All of the TJ's prepackaged food is LOADED with sodium and all sorts of crap. Better just having hummus or yogurt or PBJ for dinner. I was at TJ'S for first time in years this weekend and remembered how much I hate it. Bunch of prepackaged crap and organic section awful and just as expensive as whole foods. Sorry OP!

I agree, surprised so many are suggesting prepackaged crap. You don't need to go to TJs for most of it. These kinds of foods are readily available in most frozen food aisles.

Anonymous wrote:I should add I was at the TJ in Bethesda on Wisconsin. Small, dirty, overcrowded and simply annoying. Are there better TJs out there ? OP, just realized I may have offended ou. Sorry, just had to vent. Why do people like TJs so much?

I would have to see pics before I believe this. Trader Joe's is always sparkling clean.

It's true that some TJ's items have a lot of salt, especially the ones with sauces. It's always healthier to cook from scratch, but this thread is about quick meals to have on hand for when your family needs to eat right now. So if it's a choice between the TJ's frozen meal and restaurant take-out, then I bet TJ's is healthier, made with better ingredients, lower in salt, no artificial colors, etc.

I should add I was at the TJ in Bethesda on Wisconsin. Small, dirty, overcrowded and simply annoying. Are there better TJs out there ? OP, just realized I may have offended ou. Sorry, just had to vent. Why do people like TJs so much?

Ughh. All of the TJ's prepackaged food is LOADED with sodium and all sorts of crap. Better just having hummus or yogurt or PBJ for dinner. I was at TJ'S for first time in years this weekend and remembered how much I hate it. Bunch of prepackaged crap and organic section awful and just as expensive as whole foods. Sorry OP!

I like lots of things from TJ's for meals! Especially for summer meals that are more casual.

Bag of broccoli slaw tossed with tzatziki sauce and cooked salmon, stuffed in whole wheat pita halves. You can buy all at TJs and it takes less than 5 min to prepare.

Roasted red pepper and tomato soup, with the frozen chimichuri rice or frozen vegetable quinoa added to it. The quinoa is a great side dish for anything, actually, and the roasted red pepper and tomato soup is great with grilled cheese sandwiches.

Agree with the frozen orange chicken and frozen rice. Not the healthiest, but quick and it always goes over well. I always keep that frozen rice on hand.

I really like the TJ's frozen Chicken Serenada. Two packages should work for a family of four. It's good with mashed potatoes, and if you're feeling energetic you can sauté some extra bell pepper to add to it.

I also really like the TJ's frozen vegetable lasagna.

PP here. It's the eggplant parmesan that is not frozen.

TJ's eggplant parmesan is really good. DCs love it since they are vegetarian.

Thanks for the rec 8:42. I bought the chicken burgers today-- I'll let you know how they are!