VICTORYYYYY!!! Guys, I finally live close enough to a Trader Joe’s that is not an inconvenience to make a weekly trip. Let’s be honest, if you are a Trader Joe’s fan you will drive far and wide to stock up on your favorite items. When we first moved to California we started to grocery shop at a small NorCal chain and honestly, I was in sticker shock every time I checked out. Since TJ’s is only an exit away on the highway I have started to do the bulk of my grocery shopping there and am blown away by not only the quality of their products but also the major savings.
OK, so maybe this haul is a little late in the game, but my mom has been going to Trader Joe’s for as long as I can remember. We always had their chapstick, spanakopita and chocolate stars on rotation. These days, I do not have all the time in the world to cook and need healthy options to whip up a yummy meal for my family and have been turning to all things TJ, all the time!
A little history, Trader Joe’s started out as a small chain of convenience stores in the ’50s. In the
60’s, the original “Trader Joe” changed the name and the way they did business. He made the stores larger and began packaging great-tasting, hard to find, quality foods under the Trader Joe’s name. They buy directly from suppliers, negotiate prices and pass the savings on to us as consumers. Some of my favorite drinks and snacks come in dollars less at TJ’s vs. other retailers and they offer a ton of organic options that won’t break the bank.
This is a post I have wanted to share with all of you for a long time. So without further ado my Weekly Trader Joe’s Haul. I have also provided you with a free printable of my list. Download my Trader Joe’s Shopping List and read on for descriptions of the products and how I use them!
Refrigerator
Health-Ade Kombucha: Hi my name is Taylor and I am a Health-Ade addict. Kombucha is a fermented beverage that is great for gut health and digestion. The ginger-lemon is my favorite and has quite the kick! I find that at TJ’s it is at least .50 cents cheaper than the traditional grocery story.
Perfect Bars: OK, so I eat a Perfect bar as a snack almost daily. They sustain me for a few hours and are such a treat! They are REAL FOOD BARS that to me, are worth the price. At Trader Joes, they can run almost $1 cheaper than at Whole Foods or other retailers.
Sauerkraut With Persian Cucumbers: I love sauerkraut and actually eat half a cut before bed a few times per week. Sauerkraut is chock full of gut healing properties and they add my fav cucumbers to the mix!
Organic Free-range Eggs: The cheapest organic free-range eggs I have seen. Orange yolk and always delish!
Kefir:Kefir is essentially a drinkable yogurt with lots of probiotics. I always go with the sugar-free version.
Whole Pre-Cooked Beets: Simple beets can be thrown in a grain bowl, salad or eaten as a side dish. They ususally take an hour to make, so I love this easy options. Ingredients: BEETS.
Produce
TJ’s offers a wide variety of delicious produce! A lot of which is organic. Every week I stock up on the items below and we are never disappointed. We are approaching Farmer’s Market Season here on the west coast so I am looking forward to shopping there, but will always supplement with Trader Joe’s!
Organic Mixed Cherry Tomatoes: I love that this container is large. The tomatoes are always sweet and I leave them on my counter to snack on throughout the day.
Persian Cucumbers: Forget collagen peptides, these mild tiny cucumbers will leave your skin glowing. Throw them on your eyelids or slice them and toss in white balsamic and red pepper for a midday snack with a salty crunch. I rarely get through a full week without eating the entire container.
Teeny Tiny Avocados: They are exactly what they sound like. Little baby avocados. The perfect serving size and they taste exactly like, well, AVOCADO! Sometimes I waste a large avocado by not consuming the whole thing so these are perfect.
Shredded Cabbage: I love making a healthy slaw or adding this cabbage to a salad or stir fry. Cabbage is packed with vitamin C, can help improve digestion and an excellent source of vitamin K. The list goes on and on so I try and add some to my lunch or dinner as often as possible. It is hearty, so if you make a salad or slaw-like salad with the shredded cabbage, it should last a few days.
Sliced Mushrooms: Again, veggies do not take too much time to cut, but they still take time to prep! I love that TJ’s offers so many pre-cut options, but without the hefty price tag. As a mom, I thank you! I have been trying to make 10-minute meals to savor as much of the time when babe goes down when we head to bed.
Brussels Sprouts Sautee Kit: Simple, delish and offer an easy gourmet feel to any weeknight dinner.
Greens: Kale, spinach or power greens mix are all in my rotation and in my morning smoothie.I grab a few bags of whatever looks the freshest and they all run about $1.99 for organic greens.
Animal Protein: TJ’s offers a wide variety of organic, wild caught, free-range animal protein products. We regularly buy salmon, ground turkey, and chicken breast. It always fresh, full of flavor and free of antibiotics. Also, I love the packaged chicken sausage in Mild Italian and Apple.
Organic Celery: Great for juicing and snacking.
Bagged Lemons and Limes: Can run almost $2 cheaper at TJ’s.
Bagged Green Apples: Low in sugar green apples are great for everything from baking to an afternoon snack. These organic apples are large and in charge and can be sliced for two.
Frozen:
Organic Frozen Peas: Great to add to stir fry, soup and great for baby food! CJ loves them.
Sweet Potato Gnocchi: OK, so these are not exactly healthy, but they are delish and when one serving is paired with an abundance of vegetables, you will NOT be disappointed. I am actually not a big fan of the cauliflower version, but the sweet potato ones are simply delish and perfect for winter. Just try to limit to one serving.
Frozen Organic Berries: Love keeping these on hand for smoothies or a quick chia jam.
Organic Acai packets: I love these because a lot of acai out there is sweetened and you may as well drink a milkshake! These acai packets are organic, unsweetened and super convenient for smoothies or smoothie bowls.
Organic brown and Jasmine Rice: These packets take 3 minutes in the microwave or stovetop and most nights I simply stir fry veggies in coconut oil and add meal prepped chicken and an egg. Delish!
Pantry and Packaged:
Beets in Vinaigrette: Clearly I am a beet kind of gal and love these because they come in a vinaigrette that is tangy and delicious. I love adding these to salads or eating them right out of the can.
Organic Black Beans: A pantry staple for a minimal fee.
Coconut Cream & Milk: I cannot say enough great things about their canned coconut cream. It is the best I have ever had. You can use it to make whipped cream. Add it to smoothies or have a spoonful for a quick treat. I buy low-fat milk, regular full-fat milk and coconut cream.
Coconut oil (spray and bottle): Organic and way cheaper than the grocery store. I find all of their coconut products to be super creamy and delicious.
Sourdough Sandwich Bread: I am a sucker for sourdough. This bread toasted with avocado and “Everything But the Bagel” seasoning is my jam!
Marinara with Borolo Wine: I am Italian and rarely use sauce out of a jar, but this one is delicioso and made with easy to read ingredients.
Nuts and Dried Fruit: I have never seen so much variety. I try to keep nuts and nitrate free dried fruit on hand as a quick snack or to toss in weeknight meals. They have a great variety that won’t break the bank.
Organic Popcorn: I love popcorn because you can eat almost four cups in one serving. You can add cinnamon or a touch of honey for a sweet treat!
Nut Butter: I love their Almond Butter and peanut butter. They have tons of options will simple ingredients. Simply almonds or peanuts and that is all!
Organic Maca Powder: Great for energy and hormone balance. I love the nutty flavor and use it in my daily smoothie.
Condiments
Blue Cheese Mustard: Seasonal and a great addition to sandwiches or homemade salad dressings.
Truffle Honey Dijon: Elevates any sandwich, but I especially love it in my chicken and egg salad as I try to limit the amount of mayonnaise.
Organic Ranch: Who doesn’t love ranch? This one has a freshness about you do not need a lot to feel indulgent. I enjoy a Tbsp. with carrots or drizzle a tsp. over a salad or grain bowl.
Everything But The Bagel Seasoning: This is a cult classic that hits me to my core. As a Long Island Native, everything bagels are a weekend staple. This seasoning is perfectly balanced and I use it on everything from an egg with avocado to rye toast with creamed cheese and smoked salmon.
Onion Salt: This is not your typical onion salt. Buy it, love it and enjoy it on everything. A little goes a long way.
Liquid Coconut Aminos: I use it in place of soy sauce.
Sweets and Treats
What would life be like without a bit of indulgence? BORING! That is what. These are the go-to treats I like to keep on hand for when the mood strikes. WARNING: They are all addicting. So proceed with caution.
White Truffle Potato Chips: Subtle truffle flavor and a great crunch.
Cookie Butter Ice Cream: Honestly, I can only buy this stuff every once in a while because it gets demolished by Cory and I every time. If you like Biscoff cookies, you will LOVE this ice cream,
Seasonal Kringle: Perfect for morning brunch with family. They are very moist and delicious, but they are sweet. Proceed with caution.
Mandarin Orange Chicken: This chicken dish reminds me of NY Chinese Food and is always on the list of TJ’s award winners. I always make it with broccoli and their organic brown rice.
Spanikopita: I have been addicted to these tiny triangles since I was a kid and I have yet to get sick of them!
Quadruple Almond Cookies: Perfect with an after-dinner cup of tea or coffee and easily addicting. I keep them in a high cabinet so I have to work to get to them.
So there you have it! My Trader Joe’s favs! If you have any items that I need to try, leave them in the comments below. Make sure to download the free printable for your next trip.