Trader Joe’s staples (+ new finds)
Hi! How’s your day going? Hope you’ve had a great one so far <3 We’ve enjoyed an awesome bfast at home, went to Livi’s yoga class and met up with some friends.
I packed up some snacks to take along with us, which is much easier to do when we’ve done our weekly Trader Joe’s run. I’m also very aware of how much easier it is to stick to healthy eats when we have a fridge full of options. (Otherwise, we’re like “OB Noodle House? Again? Ok.”)
I’ll make a tentative schedule for the week, and make sure we have enough staples for our favorite breakfasts, lunches and snacks. For our Sunday prep, I’ll usually make a few snacks, chop veggies (this week chopping is obviously out), and bake something healthy to enjoy. Snacks are the most important one; if we have healthy snacks on hand, it prevents me from falling and landing with my face in a bag of trail mix.
Recently, I’ve had a few requests to share our staple grocery list. This is the one that both the Pilot and I pretty much have memorized; we quickly blitz through Trader Joe’s and grab the essentials.
While we’re at Trader Joe’s we’ll usually grab a sample from the Tiki Hut, search for our store’s stuffed animal (Taylor the turtle) so Liv can get a lollipop, and check out all of the new stuff.
New products I’ve been loving:
-Spice sets. They have such a wonderful collection of unique spices and spice sets. It’s been a fun way to shake up the usual seasonings.
-Coconut flour. I use this rarely for grain-free baking -still trying to get the hang of it since it tends to suck the moisture out of everything- but was excited to see a TJs version.
-Plantain chips. My current obsession. Salty, crunchy and amazing dipped in guacamole.
-Miso. This is something I just saw this past week and was pretty stoked because it’s gluten-free and $2. (Most health food stores charge triple that.) I’ll give it a whirl in a blended salad this week, and miso is also fabulous for flavoring fish.
What’s your grocery store of choice? Grocery staples? Any awesome new TJs finds that I need to try? 🙂
xoxo
Gina
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Have you tried the TJ’s chocolate chunks!? Chunks = more delicious in baked goods than chips. I also saw they’ve been offering cashew flour, but I don’t quite know what I’d make with that. I love TJs because it is affordable, but also do occasional trips to Whole Foods and then the Farmer’s Markets of course!
we do too! i also like costco for wine and organic berries 🙂
Taylor the turtle…so cute!! I had no idea TJ’S had coconut flour or miso?! So checking that out. Peter loves Plantain chips…salty goodness. I pick up their raw almond butter (such a good deal), coconut sugar and sometimes chia seeds. We usually shop at Jimbo’s ever since moving to San Diego we are totally obsessed with this store and company!
ahhh i wish we had a jimbo’s closer to us!
TJ’s is the best! I like to buy their peanut butter filled pretzels, shaved brussels sprouts and kale cruciferous salad blend. I typically do most of my shopping at Sprouts, but TJ’s has a few more unique things.
looooove the peanut butter pretzels. Someone was telling me they have a chocolate covered version? whaaaaat?
You probably know this already, but on the back of my coconut flour, it tells you if you’re replacing any other flours, to add water! Just FYI in case you didn’t see that on yours/ know about it!
I just tried TJ’s coconut flour in biscuits, it was ok but they were a little dry. 🙁
I’m going to use it to make coconut macaroons this afternoon I’m hoping they come out better.
Cookie butter! Obsessed!
I get a lot of staples at Trader Joe’s. I love their almond butter, and my favorite find is the Omega Trek Mix individual baggies, which are awesome snacks.
I know you make your own salsa, but I really love TJ’s jarred red salsa. Can’t remember what it’s called. Restaurant style or authentic or something like that.
I also love their coconut cookie thins to go with my afternoon coffee!
Ive been loving plantain chips lately!! Soooo perfect!
I am right there with you on the plantain chips. I didn’t expect to like them so much and the bag barely lasts a day! I always pick up the frozen turkey meatballs, all sorts of frozen veggies (spinach, pepper mix, carrots, and artichoke hearts) and the turkey lunch meat. Now, if I go when I am hungry, it’s all about cheese and sushi!
i have my TJ’s grocery list memorized, as well! my favorite staple items include their raw almonds and cashews, bag of avocados, roasted garlic hummus, salsa, ezekiel wraps, and frozen argentinian red shrimp. i actually went to TJ’s this afternoon and noticed that they now have cashew butter – definitely plan on trying that soon! =)
Ahhhh! I am in love with TJ’s unsalted CRUNCHY almond butter. Especially with sliced green apples. Best. Snack. Ever!!!
TJ’s Cold Brew Coffee concentrate is probably my new favorite thing from there. I love making iced coffees. So yummy.
Also, their dark chocolate covered almonds really hit the spot when a sweet craving kicks in.
Oh, and the edamame hummus is the absolute best. That place is just so awesome! I don’t like how some of their canned goods are so “expensive”, but maybe that’s just because everything else is so darn inexpensive.
The medjool dates are awesome too. So many things to make with those suckers!
I <3 TJ's! It's one of our places!! I love their frozen veggies (especially loving the grilled asparagus – yum!), sparkling waters, and cheeses!! I just tried a goat brie, mmmm. Also, their cookie butter is a TREAT!! (I just tried their dark chocolate PB cups – oh my wow.)
we also shop at WF a lot – I LOVE WF, only downside is it can be so $$.
i didn’t know trader joe’s carried miso!
TJ’s cold brew coffee concentrate, they have been out for the last month at my area TJ’s and it makes me so sad :(, but they’ve had the frozen peas back in stock- FINALLY- which are probably one of my favorite things ever. I did try their baked sea-salt brownies… SO good!
I love me some TJ’s! I am usually there twice a week! One of my favorites is their Raw Almond Butter!
I love TJ’s miso! I throw it in the blender with some carrot, shallot, ginger, rice vinegar and toasted seasame oil for a quick asian-style salad dressing.
happening tomorrow! thank you! 🙂
Those plantain chips are soooooo good! Love TJ’s!
I made my TJ’s run tonight! I’ve been pretty excited lately about the ancient grains pizza with tomatoes and asparagus – a delicious and not terribly unhealthy dinner for the nights when I don’t have time to make something.
The dark chocolate salted almonds are great, as is the blueberry pomegranate sorbet. I always pick up a bag of kale, the cranberry/almond trail mix, and a tub of humus – so good!
It has been too long since I went to Trader’s. Must make that happen over the weekend! My go-to items are: goat cheese, fruit & veggies (fresh & frozen), raw almond butter, and iced tea. Need to add the new cold brew coffee to the list!
the plantains dipped in guac?! I never thought of that and it sounds amazing.
The dark chocolate sea salt/turbinado almonds are a death trap and last <24 hours in our house. We also love the chia seed bread, raw crunchy almond butter, samosas, and Tripp looooooves their frozen blueberry waffles with sunflower seed butter and goat yogurt on top for a quick breakfast. And the baby carts. He HAS to push the baby cart when we go haha.
same with those almonds- they are insane! livi is also a huge blueberry waffle fan
BAHAHA I feel exactly the same way about trail mix…it’s soooo good but I’ll eat the whole bag before I realize what happened. There was a great holiday TJ’s trail mix with chocolate chips and cranberries…perhaps you tried it? I’ll have to give the plantain chips a whirl. They sound delightful!!!
I love Trader Joe’s! My guilty little confession is that I have an unhealthy obsession with coconut oil and I’m not sure what they do to theirs but it has this slight, sweet, smell to it and makes my skin baby soft :-).
yes- they definitely have the best!
And the price is SO good! I don’t make it to TJs all that often, but when I got I usually buy at least 4 jars of coconut oil 🙂
I love Trader Joes! They had a huge container of cherries there this week! Yum!
Their plantain chips are awesome! I haven’t tried their brand of coconut flour but did recently find that Costco carries coconut flour now! AND Honeyville Almond flour! I was pretty stoked about that 🙂
for some reason i really enjoyed this post :). have you tried their organic coconut sugar? i made paleo chocolate chip cookies with their almond flour, coconut sugar, and dark chocolate, came out so good!
also, i just discovered a new item- their raw sauerkraut with persian cucumbers in it!! try it! i went back and bought 3 more containers after i had tried it.
I am still a Whole Foods snob…i try to get to TJ’s to pick up canned goods and a few other things i know are much cheaper at TJ’s. But i still can’t get on board with their fresh fruits/veggies, just aren’t as fresh:(
But YES, those plantain chips are to die for – i eat the whole bag!!!!
I love going to TJ’s for affordable staples (plus it’s easy to get in and out because I’m don’t get sucked into 50 aisles of I-gotta-try-that!).
But I seem to have bad luck with their breads/wraps/etc. They always mold SUPER quickly (like within a day or two…even when I keep them in the fridge). Especially the brown rice tortillas. I stopped buying baked goods there for a couple years, and decided to check it out again last week. The brown rice tortillas had a few flecks of mold showing through the package on the shelf!!! Sup with that?! Do you ever notice??
I have noticed their bread/tortillas mold quicker also, with tortillas I have taken each one out & put wax paper between the tortillas, put them back in heir bag, then freeze. That way they last longer and when you need a few you can put them on stovetop or in microwave. Takes a bit more work than I’d like, but saves them in the end;)
I make the rounds to Sprouts, Whole Foods and TJs regularly. Each one has specific favorites I shop for. TJs is my first choice for convenience (location) and prices though! Have you tried the refrigerated sauerkraut? I just bought it but haven’t tried yet. The frozen figs are amazing in smoothies! I also really love their cruciferous crunch blend (kale, broc slaw, cabbage)….great added to salad! Another item on my regular list is the coconut chips. So goooood!
You’ve convinced me to pick up plantain chips on my next visit…
Hope your finger is healing quickly!
So cute about the turtle, here In Iowa the kids look for “bacon” the pig:). We really like: honey sesame almonds, sea salt & pepper rice crisps, “just mango” dried mango & soy coffee creamer, love tjs!
Since going GF a few years ago I stopped going to TJs since it seemed like they didn’t really accommodate for food allergies too much. But it sounds like they have since stepped up their game! Excited to go this week and see what I can find- I just ran out of coconut flour so I’ll be picking that up!
We use the coconut flor mixed with a bit of Panko and egg wash on tilapia as a breeding. It’s amazingggggggg that way.
Love all their nut butters, and others favorites: lite coconut milk, basically all their cheese, dark chocolate, fresh figs (in season), and they make these cinnamon graham crackers. MMMMmmm
For some reason I get sucked in to all TJs posts. It’s the best! Some of my favorites: 3-layer hummus, sea salt + pepper rice crisps, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, frozen mango chunks, apple chicken sausage, and the frozen burritos for a weekend treat.
I love TJs banana chips, their frozen macaroons, and their coconut sugar which is the most reasonably priced one I’ve found!
I am definitely going to try the plantains with guar – sounds so yummy! A delicious indulgence is the frozen croissants from TJ’s. You set them out the night before to proof and in the morning you bake them. Out of the oven comes warm, delicious, flaky, buttery croissants!
They have great grass fed cheese and I’m obsessed with their unsweetened dried mango. … Are their Sprouts grocery stores by u? It’s my favorite place to shop and they have so many coolpeo brands and cheap prices!
So in our neck of the woods it’s Davis the Duck we have to find! Our list includes fresh produce, cheese (we mix it up, so every week we rotate something new), spicy hummus, firm tofu, some delicious almond cake thing that I get for my husband and I try to stay away from, Designer Whey vanilla, the Belgian wafers (look so plain but are delicious), eggs, and milk. Right now, we always include a fresh basil plant that I usually kill within the week. Also, I try and pick up a new-to-us item. Some have been hits, some not so much. I will pick up these plantain chips everyone is chatting about though on my next TJ run!
I’d recommend the tahini sauce. It’s not like normal tahini, it’s really fresh tasting and is great on veggie (and real) burgers with scriacha! I make a quick dressing with the tahini sauce, white balsamic vinegar (also from TJ’s) and scriacha and it’s really good. I also love the dark chocolate almonds with salt and turbinado sugar.
i’ve had it, and love it! your dressing sounds amazing. i usually top beet and greens salads with the tahini sauce and a drizzle of balsamic