Favorite Things to Buy at Trader Joes

[lilblondedancr1]

Hey everyone!

I started P2 yesterday, and I am fortunate enough to have a Trader Joe's near me that I love. I need to make a stop in there this weekend and I was curious as to what you all love to buy (pertaining to Phase 2 of course ).

I'm open to anything and willing to try something new so lay your shopping lists on me!

[SharleyBloom]

Okay, uh, um, so, what's Trader Joes?

[RedRox]

It's a chain of small-ish grocery stores with an interesting distribution and product model that allows them to keep prices low and quality fairly high. While not explicitly a "health foods" type of outlet, they do tend to feature healthier types of foods. They only go into states that fit their model though. For instance in Colorado, state liquor laws do not allow chain based liquor stores or sales of anything other than 3.2% beer in grocery stores, so they would only be able to sell wine and beer in one of their stores if they came here, so they don't come here as that is a high margin area for them and their "2 buck chuck" is a perennial good seller for them. (I don't think it's 2 bucks anymore either! ) You can find out more about them here: http://traderjoes.com/

FWIW, there are these three links listed in the "Assorted Info" topic (post #7) within Recipelover's Recipe Summary sticky topic in the Recipe and Food Area forum here.

Must haves from Trader Joes
Must haves from Trader Joes
What to buy at Trader Joes (from Phase 1 Discussion)

[Magna]

their "2 buck chuck" is a perennial good seller for them. (I don't think it's 2 bucks anymore either! )

It's still $2 (actually, just under $2) in the stores near me.

[SharleyBloom]

No stores anywhere near me. How sad.

[lilblondedancr1]

Aha! Thanks Red!

[atalayanne]

I thought I would bump this topic up. If you are fortunate to have a TJs near you, you are a lucky SBer. Although I can find many of their speciality items in regular grocery chains, I make TJs my regular stop for so many low fat or non fat items all in one place. I love their non fat Greek yogurts (no flavors), their non fat half and half and their good range of low fat cheeses. I buy the package of fat reduced Mexican shredded cheeses, the reduced fat provolone, the reduced fat Jarlberg cheese (not their own brand, can find this all over), their fat free crumbled feta in a container (excellent flavor), their humus made from eggplant (way lower fat content), their own brand of low fat cheese sticks. I also use their sodium reduced veggie juice. This product is very nice and tastes way better than V8 juice. Their veggies are not always the freshest, but I usually pick up a couple of packages of prewashed and precut brocoli and cauliflower medley. I like their unsalted nuts...a huge variety. I buy their bottled salsas too. My biggest love is their sodium reduced sliced ham and their sodium reduced Canadian bacon. This is a chain that was started by a family in Pasadena , California. The stores were mostly just in the LA area for many many years. Now, having a new owner, they have branched out to other parts of the country. I know for sure that they can be found in DC area and in Boston area and in Philly area. Also, I have found them in Washington state (western part) and Oregon (western part). I live in New Mexico now and we have one at last right near my house here. Unfortunately, they also carry very yummy baked goods. Be careful! I know about these other areas because I have family in each of those areas who shop there as well. A lot of beer and wine, too, at good prices. Oh, forgot to mention: their freezer section is stocked with great variety of fish....flash frozen...and perfect for SB. I hope you can find one near you. You can google them and see. New stores popping up all the time.

[dmegan52]

TJ's is my favorite grocery store and I'm very lucky to have one right down the street. Here are some of my favorites:

-Egg white salad: you can't get any healthier & tastier than this stuff
-Turkey bacon: really low fat and tastes just like the real stuff
-Hummus: I love their spicy hummus with raw veggies
-Fish: mahi-mahi, salmon, tuna, halibut, you name it!
-All their dairy tastes so much better than typical chain grocery stores
-94% lean ground beef is great as well
-French cut green beans that steam right in the bag--a staple in my house

Just to name a few

[GettinThere]

Thanks. We're getting a Trader Joe's in a few months and I can't wait!!

[lilblondedancr1]

Their natural peanut butter is the best I have ever tasted. I have yet to try their more fancy nut butters though

[hungrygirl]

I really like TJ's. in almost every trip i'll find the following in my cart -

- NSA dried bing cherries (only place i can find NSA dried cherries)
- the LF feta cheese makes my veggie "salads" much more flavorful
- they have angus sirloin tips that are really nice/easy to saute up for dinner. and the singly wrapped chix breasts are very convenient to freeze some and eat others (don't know how prices compare with standard grocery stores, but the flavor is much better with TJ)
- NF greek yogurt
- hearts of palm - cheaper than i can find in other stores & also brings nice texture to my veggie salads
- frozen salmon filets (roll in a bit of crushed almonds/pepper and saute in a bit of olive oil - great for protein on my salads)

and i have alot of fun trying new wines @ TJ - i randomly pick up bottles i haven't tried before since they are a bit more affordable i don't feel like i've totally wasted the $$ if i end up not really liking it. they have a nice/affordable prosecco for the summertime that i've come to enjoy.

[Magna]

- hearts of palm - cheaper than i can find in other stores & also brings nice texture to my veggie salads

The frozen artichoke hearts are also very affordable, compared with canned artichoke hearts I see elsewhere.

[nainai]

Low fat cheeses- Brie, Gouda, Havarti, Swiss, White Cheddar Light and Mozzarella cheese sticks. The Israeli Pastures of Eden sheeps milk feta is the most incredible feta I have ever had. It is not reduced fat, but with 6 grams fat/4.2 grams saturated fat it is OK on a limited basis. The imported Greek feta I used to buy from the Lebanese store by my house had 9 grams fat per serving, so I was really glad to find this alternative that tastes just as good.

Beyond that, I hit the fish section, wine area and the fresh vegetables section. I love the Persian cucumbers and Baby Zucchinis for snacks. Right next to the fresh veggies is Edamame Hummus, my favorite of all their hummus.

Grain staples I buy are the 100% WW Naan (OMG- best thing ever with a little olive oil and salt, heated in the oven) and the Ok-Mok Sesame crackers. I also get the organic popcorn with olive oil and sea salt. These are all things I am very much looking forward to as I enter Phase 2.

They also have a good variety of nut butters and their olive oil is the cheapest I can find.

As for meat they have a bunch of pre-marinated meats, but most of them have too many sugars to be SBD friendly. I do buy the Burgundy-Pepper lamb and make kebabs with onion and zucchini slices and serve it with lentil soup and tomato-cucumber salad. I buy their ground turkey breast and Canadian bacon slices. I always have a package of their buffalo burgers in my freezer for a quick meal when I don't feel like cooking.

That's pretty much it for TJ's. The rest of my menu is purchased at my next favorite (cheap!) store, WinCo.

[mminch]

Two buck chuck in Columbus, OH is $3. a bottle now!

My favorites from this store:
Trader Joes Pound Plus Milk Chocolate Bar.
Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon
Trader Joes Pumpkin Pie.

I go in here with the attention of health foods and leave with chocolate and wine everytime.

But I plan to get their wheat pizza dough this weekend!

[Magna]

You might try getting a can of their pumpkin and making your own pumpkin custard or pumpkin butter - both very good! Also, they have dark chocolate, and dark chocolate-covered nuts, and even SF chocolate.

Their wine is good, though - even the cheap stuff is fine for everyday.