I remember first stepping foot into a Trader Joe’s in LA maybe 8 years ago, but it wasn’t until years later (while living in NYC) when I really fell in love with this store. For one, their prices are truly hard to beat. They have their own unique line of products, yes, but they also carry name brands at a lower cost. Secondly, they have a great selection of organic products and are usually right on par with new + exciting items. Lastly, can we talk about how nice every single employee is? Not the kind of nice that sounds like, “Did you find everything you were looking for?”, but the nice that genuinely asks about your day/week/life and actually might care. They are always smiling and happy. No really, always.
I’m someone who loves grocery shopping. I will go to the farmers market, Trader Joe’s, and Wegman’s all in the same day because it’s truly an enjoyable pastime to me. However, I understand that not everyone (read: possibly no one) feels the same way. Here’s where this post comes in. I’ve spent time wandering the aisles and poking around so that you don’t have to. Below you’ll find an extensive list of allll my favorite items from Trader Joe’s. Hopefully it saves you time, money, and you find some new kitchen staples in the process! Share any of your fav’s that I missed in the comments– I’d love to know!
Oh, and one more thing. While I’m a big fan of TJ’s, I will say that their use of plastics/packaging is way over the top. And there are definitely items I won’t purchase there (ie. nut milks). So I’ve also included a small section of the things I generally stay away from (and why) as well. Let’s get into it!
Produce
There’s a great selection of produce in general, but they specifically have incredible prices on organic items. For example, honeycrisp apples, the best of all time (trust me, you’ll never go back), are SO much cheaper. We’re talking $1.69 per lb vs. sometimes $3.99 at other places. Now that’s a steal.
Nuts
I only buy nuts here. Seriously. They have an incredible selection and the prices are hard to beat.
Dried Fruit
I personally don’t buy dried fruit much, but if I do, it’s from here. These dried mangos are literal crack and so darn good. The only ingredient? Mangos. You’ll want to stay away from the ones with added sweeteners, etc. Also- the dates from TJ’s are my absolute favorite!
Almond Meal
A little more coarse than almond flour, but cheaper and works just the same (in my opinion). It’s currently only $4.99 (vs. sometimes $10 other places!). Hard to beat. I use this as a breading, for cookies, pancakes, etc. It’s a lot more absorbent than regular flour so you’ll need more (about a 3:1 ratio).
Nut Butter
Not only are the nut butters less expensive, but they are my favorite flavor-wise, too. Pro tip: get on board with the mixed nut butter. Thank me later.
Superfoods + Pantry Staples
I have a couple of large shelves in my kitchen where I keep a ton of items in bulk. Trader Joe’s has a great selection of superfoods at a much lower price! Items like: nutritional yeast (cheesy flavored non-activated yeast- very high in b12 + the secret behind my vegan nacho sauce), maca, cacao powder, chia seeds, flax seeds (not pictured), and coconut flakes.
Granola
I personally don’t buy granola that often. Mainly because most of them use cheap, inflammatory oils and are full of sugar. It really ends up being a fake “health food” (and it’s so simple to make at home!). However, this granola is one of my favorite store-bought varieties. It’s packed with nutrients, uses coconut oil, and has zero refined sugars.
Spices
They have a great, well-priced selection of basic spices. But by FAR my favorite will forever be the “Everything But The Bagel”. It’s all of the spices from an everything bagel (think garlic, onion, poppyseeds, etc) and it’s truly divine on everything. No really, everything.
Vegan Pesto
This has become a recent favorite! While I’m not vegan and don’t mind cheese in my pesto, I’m just obsessed with the flavor of this one. Not to mention, it has cashew butter and kale. Why not pack more nutrients into every meal? My thoughts exactly.
Yuzu Hot Sauce
I’m not a fan of super spicy food, but when you mix a citrus/vinegar flavor with spice.. I’m into it. This Japanese style hot sauce is a great addition to curries, Asian noodles, or salads.
Coconut Aminos
Coconut aminos is a gluten/soy free version of soy sauce. I’ll be honest, it’s not exactly the same (a little sweeter), but as someone who tries to avoid soy, I do like to have it around so I can mix it up.
Dressings
I personally like to make dressings at home because almost all store-bought dressings use gross oils (canola, soy, etc) and add in extra sugar. However, I do love these Green Goddess and Almond Butter options. The ingredients are clean and straight-forward. (Also a huge fan of Primal Kitchen dressings, not sold here though!)
Meat
Let’s talk meat. When it comes to buying animal products, quality is the most important. With that said, there are only a few items in this category that I will consistently buy here. Their Organic Italian Sausages, Grass-Fed Ground Beef and these Chomps “snack sticks”. Think of it like a healthy Slim Jim, with grass-fed meat and no added crap!
Fish
I’ve actually been impressed with TJ’s fish selection! In the frozen section, you’ll find wild-caught salmon, tuna, and shrimp. When it comes to fresh varieties, they have wild Alaskan salmon and wild scallops. Both delicious! I also love smoked salmon, but it can be pricey at most places. This wild variety is well-priced, and doesn’t contain any extra added sugars (a lot do).
Frozen Food
There are obviously a TON of frozen foods at Trader Joe’s. And while I definitely can get behind convenience, most of these items are very processed and full of a good amount of crap. Just because it’s a health-forward store (for the most part), doesn’t mean you can just assume every single thing is good for you. When in doubt, read the ingredients! With that said, here are some of my favorite items from this category.
Dr. Praeger’s Veggie Burgers
I love having veggie burgers in the freezer for a last minute meal. However, most of them barely have any vegetables at all! You’ll find flours and other weird fillers taking up most of the ingredient list. This brand is full of real food and is truly delicious.
Frozen Fruit
There is a great selection of frozen fruit here! Both organic and non, the prices are great and I usually stock up for smoothies.
Cauliflower Pizza Crust
A great gluten free option that actually holds up! I’ve tried to make cauliflower pizza crust at home and honestly, it’s not worth the effort (for me). It’s always a little soggy and at that point, I’d just rather have the real thing. This is great to have around for quick lazy dinners.
Cauliflower Rice
I know, cauliflower is taking over the world. I do love rice and I am absolutely not trying to replace it, but it’s nice to mix it up and add more veggies into your life. Right? I love making a fried-rice variety by throwing this into a pan with some veggies, cracking an egg and calling it a day.
Cauliflower Gnocchi
While these are not pictured (because it’s hard to find them in stock), they are probably my favorite item from this entire store. I’m very picky about pasta, so to find frozen gnocchi’s made out of cauliflower/potato that truly taste like the real thing.. well that’s just a darn miracle! Pro tip: ignore the directions. Heat up some olive oil over medium heat, pour the frozen gnocchi directly in the pan and watch it get perfectly crispy.
Kombucha
I loveee kombucha. If you’ve never tried it, it’s a fermented fizzy tea drink with lots of good bacteria (aka- great for your gut). I’m very picky on which brands I purchase, mainly because a lot of them contain way too much sugar, which defeats the purpose. I try to look for under 6g per serving. Both Brew Dr and Healthade are great brands, and also less expensive here!
Coffee/Tea
While I’m not a coffee drinker, I hear that TJ’s carries a great selection with top quality/low prices. Great place to stock up! Their tea options are pretty darn good as well.
Vegetable Juices
I really love these juice blends! They’re pure, not from concentrate and a great way to sneak more veggies into your diet (especially if you don’t have a juicer). The green blend is my go-to with 7 different greens in one serving.
Sparkling Water
I’m personally not a huge carbonation person, but if you like sparkling water, this brand is the way to go. They use pure juice to flavor, instead of artificial or “natural” flavors (which is a whole other topic for another day). So when you buy their lemon flavor, you will see water and real lemon juice listed– that’s it! Great to see TJ’s stocking them.
Cheese
They have SUCH a good selection of cheese here! Lots of imported varieties, grass-fed options, and reasonable prices. I love the goat’s milk types personally, and have heard the expensive feta (with the gold and green package) is worth every penny. I will need to test that soon!
Miyoko’s Vegan Cream Cheese
This is a recent addition to TJ’s and it’s safe to say I’m in love. While cream cheese isn’t really a staple in my fridge ever, this cashew-based variety is truly incredible. It has bits of seaweed in it so it’s perfect when paired with smoked salmon (a combo I can’t stop eating). A lot of other non-dairy cream cheeses are made with soy and contain a lot of filler ingredients.
Manuka Honey
Known for it’s healing properties, manuka honey is in a league all of it’s own. I personally don’t cook with it and treat it as a medicinal in my cabinet, but this brand is of great quality and priced very well at $13. It can be up to $30 some other places!
Sun-dried Tomatoes
Love these. Love that they aren’t saturated in oil where I have to dig my hands into the bottom of a jar. Love the flavor they add to almost anything (eggs, pizza, salad, etc). That’s all!
Kerrygold Grass-fed Butter
The best butter on the planet, hands down. You’ll never go back. Why grass-fed? What the animal eats matters– happier cows, more flavor, and more nutrients in what they produce. So happy to see Tj’s carrying it as it’s definitely less expensive here!
Stock
Well-priced organic veggie and chicken stock. No brainer!
Seeds & Grains Crispbread
Love these! Packed with tons of nutrient-dense ingredients, they’re like very big crackers that are the perfect base for avocado toast, eggs, smoked salmon/cream cheese, etc. They also have a gluten-free version that are just as tasty! (Find it by the bread.)
Grains
Lots of great options here. I love their quinoa, lentils, quick-cook farro and brown rice.
Pasta
Pasta is something I usually reserve for when I’m eating out and it’s house-made. Otherwise, it doesn’t feel worth it to me. And by worth it, I just mean why have refined carbs if it’s not even that good? This brown rice + quinoa pasta has changed my mind on that, though! It’s protein-packed, gluten free, and truly tastes just like the real thing. I also enjoy the red lentil variety, although it’s a little more al dente and does not re-heat as well.
Chocolate
They have a great selection of high-quality chocolates at reasonable prices. And I truly eat a piece of dark chocolate every single day so it’s either purchased here or made at home (recipe here).
Toothpaste
Not too exciting, but this is the toothpaste I use and I do appreciate that it costs less here!
Oils
Ah such a great selection of oils! I get my olive, coconut, and avocado oils here and find the prices are much lower. Pro tip: stick to extra virgin olive oil, always. The pure versions are highly processed and not great quality. Also: there is a coconut oil spray that’s perfect for baking! Goodbye pam.
Tortilla Chips
In a perfect world, all chips would be made with avocado or coconut oil. But that’s just not the case. So while I do avoid processed oils for the most part, you just can’t win them all. I do like their organic blue tortilla chips and these veggie & flax ones the best.
The End
If you’re still here, wow. You’re a real champ. A lot of people asked for this so I hope that it was helpful for you! And feel free to share any items you think I need to check out!