Going to Trader Joe's- what's on your list?

[SBinSouthBay]

I hope this is ok for Ph.1. Seems to be, It's new and called Spanish Stew with Chicken. It comes in a jar. The number of carbs scared me a bit, but it must be all healthy carbs. Cornstarch is listed as the 10th ingredient, I assume its very little if listed 10th. There are 33g of carbs and 11g of fiber. I am still trying to learn about the good carbs and how to figure it out on a label. Since most of my recipes so far have been combining different things, it's hard to tell on something pre-packaged like this. Any advice?

[spiffikins]

SBinSouthBay -

Where are you located? I'm in Santa Cruz!

Don't worry about the "number" of grams of carbs on the label - skip that number entirely and instead, read the ingredients - you're looking for no extra sugar/corn syrup, no partially hydrogenated oils, etc - if the ingredients are all "good" then it's okay.

Feel free to post the ingredients list - I'm sure people will give you an idea of whether it's okay or not - I've noticed that most of TJ's "simmer sauces" and such have good ingredients, so it's likely pretty good.

[JazzJune]

wow! thanks for that list - very helpful

I just love Trader Joe's. My favorite thing to get there is the whole wheat pizza dough. The closest TJ's to me is an hour and a half away. When I go, I like to stock up so I don't have to go back for another month. I usually get lots of the dough, but it has an expiration date. I freeze the extra dough. On the morning that I want pizza (for dinner), I stick it back in the fridge. That evening I take it out of the fridge and set it on the counter for 20 minutes like the directions state. After that I put it on a pizza stone and stretch it out and cook it for 8 minutes. Then I add toppings (TJ's sun-dried tomato bruschetta, etc) and cook for another 8 minutes. It turns out TERRIFIC!!! It is even better than the dough I make from scratch in my bread machine. And you wanna know the best part? It only cost 79 cents!!!!!

Here are some other things I like to buy there:

Soy and Flaxseed Tortilla Chips
Fat Free Chile con Queso
Fat Free Black Bean Dip
Whole Grain Breads
Whole Grain Cereals
Whole Wheat Pizza Dough
Whole Wheat Pasta
Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas
Brown Basmati Rice
Roasted Nuts
Balsamic Vinaigrette
Cilantro Salad Dressing
Marinated Mushrooms w/Garlic
3 Buck Chuck
Nut Butters
Frozen Fish Fillets
Frozen Edamame
Frozen Pepper Strips
Frozen Sweet Potato French Fries
Frozen Veggies
Frozen Berries
Turkey Bacon
Chicken Sausage
Turkey Sausage
Monterey Jack or Cheddar Cheese Sticks
Laughing Cow Light Cheese
Sun-Dried Tomato Bruschetta Sauce
Hansen's Diet Soda
Arizona Diet Green Tea w/Ginseng
Green Chai Tea Bags
Organic Decaf Coffee

Simmer Sauces
•Enchilada Sauce
•Santa Fe Sauce
•Marsala Mushroom Sauce
•Chunky Garlic & Herb Sauce
•Creole Sauce
•Punjab Spinach Sauce
•Indian Masala Sauce
•Indian Curry Sauce
•Thai Red Curry Sauce
•Thai Green Curry Sauce
•Cioppino Seafood Sauce
•Shittake Mushroom Sauce

[Words]

Man, you guys are SO lucky to have Trader Joe's close by! Our daughter introduced us to the pleasures of TJ's several years ago when they lived near Dayton, OH. They moved to Boston this last year, and there are plenty of TJ's in MA, too, since that is the "birthplace" of Trader Joe's. I hate to admit it, but even when we visit via plane, we always bring goodies from TJ's home in our suitcases, and when we drive, then we leave plenty of room in the car. My DH attended a conference in Chicago around Christmas, and brought home over $200 of stuff from the downtown TJs, as well as 3 cases of good old "Two-Buck Chuck," which goes for $2.99 per bottle in the midwest. : )

We love their nuts, grains, and sauces. Most of their Asian sauces and simmer sauces are SB-friendly, and added to grilled or sauteed fish or chicken breast, make a delicious meal. My Christmas stocking was filled with TJ's half-salt nuts last month! I just wish we lived close enough to get their frozen fruits and veggies--they're all fantastic, and everything there is so well-priced.

[JazzJune]

Man, you guys are SO lucky to have Trader Joe's close by! Our daughter introduced us to the pleasures of TJ's several years ago when they lived near Dayton, OH. They moved to Boston this last year, and there are plenty of TJ's in MA, too, since that is the "birthplace" of Trader Joe's..

I'm originally from Los Angeles and I thought Trader Joes was started in Southern California. We just got a few in Michigan over the past year - I was so excited! Now all we need is an In and Out Burger and I'll never need to go back to LA again!

[JazzJune]

Here's a sampling of low-carb food from their website:

http://www.traderjoes.com/products/broc ... list_track

[Guv]

Thanks Guys

I didn't even know what Trader Joe's was until I read this thread ... plus I am lucky enough to have one less than 5 blocks from where I work and another about 2 miles from where I coach soccer

[SBinSouthBay]

You all are so funny! Trader Joe's is the best. Its very useful in the Bay Area since they are the only ones who don't feel the need to jack up the prices like Safeway, etc. Annnd, the quality of the food rules! Plus being healthy, etc. I always say that I would never move anywhere where there wasn't a TJ's! I hope everyone has access to TJ's someday...or at least those on SB!

Oh, I am in Menlo Park..someone in Santa Cruz had asked..

[KathyG]

What a riot! I grew up in Boston and never saw a TJ's. I moved out to Central CA and I LIVE there! Their nut selection is THE BEST. If only the aisles were wider. . .my son the monkey likes to pull all the jars of the shelves LOL!

[SBinSouthBay]

Hey, I just came home from TJ's..they have a new marketing scheme to mark the low carb stuff on the front of the package. Helpful, but I found I still have to read the ingredients, of course! Anyway, I NEEDED a pizza fix so I went there to get the WW pizza crust. Well, I found low carb pizza crust too! I just made it for dinner and yum!

[Ilovebread]

leaving for trader joe's...thanks everyone!

[Ilovebread]

leaving for trader joe's...thanks everyone!

[SBinSouthBay]

I spent a long time in the cereal aisle last night at Trader Joe's trying to dissect the ingredients with my new (but confusing) information about whole wheat and the good carbs vs. bad ones, etc. I know Uncle Sam's is the king of TJ's cereal for SB. Kashi Crunch series is fine too, according to folks on the forum. Has anyone ever figured out what other cereals are legal?

[BostonNan]

KathyG - when you come home for a visit, check out Boylston by the Pru. There's a TJs at/below ground level - been there forever. Again with the tiny aisles, but Oh, the options!

[RareFlower]

What a great thread! Thanks, Kim, and all ther other contributors. We just had a TJ's open up not twenty minutes awat from me. I'm definitely getting the simer sauces. Thanks for the input!

Rose