So if you’ve been around here before then you know that I am legit obsessed with Trader Joe’s. No lie, it’s one of my favorite grocery stores of all time. Now, when I was living in Chapel Hill and there was a plentiful number of grocery stores with pretty good prices, I loved Harris Teeter. My VIC card always got me discounts and it was a pleasant experience every time. It was also so close to my apartment. Now, there’s a Trader Joe’s in Chapel Hill. But, I let my bias get in the way of knowing my one true grocery store love. Let me just say that most things are extremely well priced and extremely tasty.
I know that grocery shopping, in general, can be a bit overwhelming, so today I’m breaking down 10 products that are in my Trader Joe’s grocery basket every single time. You can also take a peek at my grocery guide for the college gal here. It’s a great starting point when trying to figure out what types of food you want to buy for yourself. Now, let’s get into it.
Reduced Guilt Guacamole
The Reduced Guilt Guacamole is by far one of my favorite finds since I’ve started shopping at Trader Joe’s. It pairs with the TJ’s tortilla chips for the perfect afternoon snack. I love that it actually packs a punch with taste and doesn’t taste like simply mashed avocadoes because at this point I can make that myself lol. I also love adding this into my quesadillas and tacos for a cool complement to the spices of my taco seasoning mix.
Nonfat Greek Yogurt
The TJ Non-Fat Greek yogurt is a staple in my fridge. It gives my smoothies the perfect consistency [creamy and full of sweetness]. My only caveat to these is that these are jampacked with sugar. So, I try to have this maybe every other day or when I’m really craving that sweet taste. It also goes nicely with fresh fruit and granola for a parfait. Perfect for breakfast or dessert!
Green Goddess Salad Dressing
The Green Goddess Salad Dressing is brilliant. It has a refreshing, light taste while still having a nice blend of flavors. If you’re a pesto, cilantro, or onion gal, this is the one for you. I’d say it’s a fun take on a light caesar dressing. My favorite salad combo of the moment is half a TJ turkey burger, 2 cups of romaine lettuce, 1 cup of baby spinach, 1/2 a medium avocado, and 1/4 cup of tortilla pieces. Crunchy, cool, and tastes so GOOD.
Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken
The Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken may be the most popular TJ product of all time. It’s just so easy to cook up after a long day of work when you really don’t want to put that much effort into your meal. This is me every night really if we’re being honest. I love pairing this with broccoli and jasmine rice. The easiest meal to ever exist. If I can do it, you sure as heck can too.
Trader Joe’s Pepper Jack Cheese Slices
Pepper jack cheese is my lover. Actually, I really didn’t eat it that much before moving in August. I randomly googled “good cheese for omelets” and it told me to try Pepperjack. We live in a simulation, so I had to submit to the internet. SO GLAD THAT I DID THOUGH. These slices give any egg dish or burger the greatest flavor. Also, they are incredibly melty which is perfect. I’m not sure if this is just typical of Pepperjack or if this is Trader Joe’s cheese specific. All that matters is that these are some melty bois.
Flowers
The front section of pretty much every Trader Joe’s is lined with beautiful flowers. I highly recommend that you treat yourself to some of the beautiful creatures. They are rather inexpensive and much less calories than the spoonful of cookie butter you’ld opt for instead. I am always drawn to hydrangeas, but the Mums always last longer and come in plenty of pretty colors too! My mom loves the mixed arrangements too!
Produce
The Trader Joe’s produce section really does it for me. It’s one of the reasons I keep going back. When there is a deal on select produce, it’s the best deal. I mostly opt for the traditional produce, but the organic selections are pretty great too. My favorites are the baby spinach and romaine lettuce packs, bell peppers, raspberries and blackberries, strawberries, bananas, broccoli, asparagus, sweet potatoes, and avocados.
Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies
The Mini Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers are so dangerous but I still buy them every time. You have to be careful because it is one of those throwaway snacks with no real health value. But, they taste so good and don’t make you feel terrible after eating them. If you are one of those weirdos who like the cheese version of these, I’ve also heard those are tasty. But, I would never lol.
Cinnamon Raisin Ezekiel Bread
There was a restaurant in Virginia that my parents and I loved to go to [for my VA favs, Baker’s Crust is a gem]. They also had the best tasting Cinnamon Raisin bread that suddenly just disappeared #fake. But, I found this tasty loaf at Trader Joe’s and it reminds me of it so much. It’s definitely hearty and I struggle to finish a whole loaf before it molds a lot of the time. I’ve started tossing it into the fridge when it’s close to the “best by” date. That helps especially since I toast the slices to warm them up anyway. My favorite weekend breakfast is my spinach and pepper jack omelet with a slice of this bread. It’s also a great snack with some fruit.
Anything With Dark Chocolate
Last, but absolutely not least, is the beautiful selection of sweet treats that my local Trader Joe’s does a good job of hiding honestly. My favorites are the Dark Chocolate pretzels crisps. When I can’t find those, I like to pick up the mini pretzels instead. They also have dark chocolate peanut butter cups that everyone raves about. These are the most perfect treat after a long day and you only need a few because of the rich taste of the dark chocolate.
There you have it. These are my favorite products from my beloved Trader Joe’s. I highly recommend checking it out if you’ve never been. You can even request that the company build one near you at this link and be sure to tell them I told you too ;). Also, always go there with a list or you will get overwhelmed. I try to take my time every month or so and look for new products. That’s how I discovered their kombucha and taco seasoning packets. What are your favorite TJ products? I’m always down to try new things!
Check out my Trader Joe’s Haul video on Youtube here.
Keep on keepin’ on,
