1st Time to Trader Joe's! What should I buy!!!!

[kimbe]

Hi All,

I get to go to Trader Joe's for the first time in a few weeks! What are some of your favorite (non-perishable) things that you buy from the store?! :)

I want to make sure that I stock of on the good stuff since we have to travel to get there or wait for then in-laws to come. The stuff that I would be would only be for DH and I. No baby to feed for a few more months. We don't follow a very strict diet, but we eat nothing with partially hydrogenated and I am trying to cut down on high fructose corn syrup.

Thanks for all your favorites!!!

[DebbieJ]

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=37&topic_id=136111&mesg_id=136111&listing_type=search

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=37&topic_id=132360&mesg_id=132360&listing_type=search

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=37&topic_id=127946&mesg_id=127946&listing_type=search

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=37&topic_id=105803&mesg_id=105803&listing_type=search

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=37&topic_id=106438&mesg_id=106438&listing_type=search

That should get you started.

~ deb
DS born at home 12/03

http://www.bfar.org/members/fora/style_avatars/Ribbons/18months-bfar.jpg

[cvanbrunt]

Oh man, are you in for a treat! We have to drive 45 minutes to get to one and we always bring a cooler bag and stock up on the frozen stuff too! Our non-perishable staples include:

Very Berry Clusters cereal
Cherry Almond Crunch cereal
any of their bagged granolas
bagged nuts (especially black pepper cashews)
dried fruit
organic soups in a box (tomato and roasted red pepper is the best)
mango lemonade
organic limeade
Tasty Bite-Indian food in single serving packages

Actually, you can't really go wrong now that I think about it.
Have fun.

-Carrie

[Lovingliv]

Lucky you......
spinach tofu egg rolls are the best!
Soy butter is yummy!
Soy pretzels are delicious and high in fiber!
oh, I also love the bbq soy crisps....

[anamika]

oohhhh, so much fun is in store for you!!! pun unintended :)
i love their dried fruits - orange flavored cranberries, fruit laces (these are fairly new i think) and fruit leathers.
they have good pasta sauces and other sauces and i think they have the best deals on e. v. olive oil.
The soup packs are also good - i like their tomato soup best.
i'll add more if i remember,
have fun,

[jgriffin]

I've never gotten anything there that I haven't liked. Some of our favorite things:

garlic cubes (fresh frozen garlic, one cube = one clove)
chocolate covered espresso beans
chocolate covered raspberry gels
cornbread mix
sparkling water (don't recall the brand, but it's in a dark blue glass bottle)

I agree with a PP...bring a cooler along with you if it's a long drive. Their frozen stuff is pretty good.

Mmmmm...I need to get to TJ soon.... :)

Jen

[SuenosDelMar]

I agree that their frozen foods are the best, but it doesn't sound like that might work out for you.

They have some great juices (esp. organic ones for DD), cereals, vanilla (priced well), truffles and tortilla chips.

If you haven't poked around their website, here it is. You can also checkout the ad for the store you are going to. Their fearless flyers are always fun to read!

http://www.traderjoes.com/fearless/index.asp

[analisa]

We regularly buy their brand of creamy unsalted peanut butter--made from peanuts and nothing else. It's very flavorful. They also make a chunky version and salted versions. They have other nut butters--cashew, almond, etc.--that are also good.

We also really like their fruit spreads (pb & j!), which are sweetened with fruit juice and have no added sugar or high fructose corn syrup. These spreads come in strawberry, raspberry, cherry, blueberry, and a few other flavors I haven't tried.

Another staple for us are their whole wheat pastas--spaghetti, penne, and rotini. They're in 1-lb bags for about $1--quite a deal. They have a very smooth texture. We used to buy De Cecco pasta but now almost always eat TJ's whole wheat pasta instead. Wholesome and tasty!

Like others have said, it's hard to go wrong at TJ. It's a great store--have fun!

[jennifer_r]

I always stock up on TJ's Spinach Punjabi Sauce - it's an Indian sauce in a jar. Great for nights when you don't have much time - dump sauce in pot, add water, veggies/and or chicken or whatever you desire. Simmer the sauce for 15 minutes and your meal is done! And it taste great too.

Jennifer

Mom to:
Christopher 12/29/89
Adelaide 8/23/04
And another DD arriving end of October!

[kimbe]

That sounds yummy --- thanks for the tip!

[Paperdoll]

We shop at TJ's for 75% of our groceries. Besides the usual bread, milk, cheese, yogurts, veggies, fruits & nuts, we buy:

Fried Rice (frozen section)
Mandarin Orange Chicken (frozen section)
Shrimp Stir Fry
Fajita Stir Fry
Seafood Kabob Sticks (frozen food section)
Curry Simmer Sauce (just add chicken/peas/whatever and you've got curry to serve with rice!)
Tiramisu
Wheetabix Cereal
Green Tea Ice Cream