Readers have been asking more and more what real food products to buy at Trader Joe’s, so I thought I’d just turn the discussion into a blog post! First of all, I don’t do all my shopping at Trader Joe’s (I get produce, dairy, and other items at Earth Fare and the farmers’ market), but I do go there every couple weeks for some staples that in some cases I can’t get anywhere else.
Secondly, I know Trader Joe’s is touted as a health food store, but just like the rest of them they still sell a whole lot of (organic, gluten-free, vegan, multigrain, etc.) junk food! A reader asked me once if there was anywhere she could shop for food without having to scrutinize labels and just buy anything that’s available (while still avoiding processed food).
To be honest, the closest you are going to get to a place like that is the farmers’ market, and even then I still like to ask if they spray chemical pesticides or use synthetic fertilizers on their produce. So long story short, you pretty much always have to have your guard up…and that even includes shopping at Trader Joe’s!
Before I dive right into the products though I want to be sure to tell you about two of our sponsors. Our sponsors are what keep this site going for free so we really appreciate it when you send them some love. :)
First, there’s Real Salt that’s produced without additives, chemicals, or heat processing of any kind. Real Salt has a pinkish tint with flecks of color from more than 60 naturally occurring trace minerals. All salt is not created equal so you should definitely check them out.
I’d also like to make sure you know about Tattler’s BPA-Free Reusable Canning Lids. If you haven’t finished canning all your summer produce yet then now is the time! I canned some green tomato relish myself last weekend and it was super nice having the Tattler lids on hand because to be honest I have trouble keeping track of which Ball lids have been used before or not. :) If you want to give them a try be sure to use coupon code “100Days” for 5% off! And now back to Trader Joe’s products…
What I buy regularly at Trader Joe’s…
Trader Joe’s Whole-Wheat Pitas Finding decent bread products at the grocery store is no easy task. Most people have to go to a bakery or make it themselves in order to have 100% whole-grain bread made with only 5 or 6 ingredients, which is why I was so excited when I figured out that these Trader Joe’s pitas fit the bill. It’s so great to have an alternative to regular sandwich bread…because I like to switch things up every now and then! – –
Trader Joe’s Sliced Havarti Cheese I like the convenience of pre-grated cheese, but not the powdery additive that’s used as an anti-caking agent to keep it from sticking together (cellulose – made from wood pulp), which is why I think pre-sliced cheese is the perfect middle-ground. It’s super quick and easy without any unwanted additives…because no matter how hard I try I cannot get my cheese slices this perfect and uniform. Plus I am learning that havarti is good on just about everything (including those pitas that I just mentioned above!). :) – –
Trader Joe’s Organic Hummus It would appear that I am creating a delicious pita sandwich here with these first three items! Sure, I like to make homemade hummus, but I don’t always have time and this is the only organic version that I can easily find. They no longer carry organic hummus (to my knowledge) at Earth Fare, which is again where I do my main shopping. – –
Coconut Oil I can find organic coconut oil elsewhere, but not at the TJs price of only $5.99! Now that’s a deal compared to around $10 at other stores. – –
Yogurt Sometimes it can be a challenge to find yogurt that meets all my criteria…organic, whole-milk, plain, and reasonably priced! Now if yogurt is on sale at the other stores it’s the same price as the Trader Joe’s stuff, but when comparing regular prices this one is a little bit cheaper. – –
Honey It may not be local honey, but once again it’s reasonably priced! I normally buy big glass jars of local honey from Earth Fare or the Farmers’ Market, but for convenience I do like to have one squeeze bottle around for when we need just a little (on oatmeal for example). – –
Nuts and Seeds Speaking of cheaper…you cannot beat the price of nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts, pine nuts, pecans, etc.) and seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, sesame, etc.) at Trader Joe’s. BUT I will say that price sometimes comes at the cost of quality. Earlier this year I noticed a few bags of our Trader Joe’s cashews smelled and tasted funky. I tried using them anyway and they pretty much ruined our whole batch of granola. Nuts may be more expensive out of the bulk bins at Earth Fare, but at least I can do a quick quality check. I do know that Trader Joe’s does accept returns so you could still roll the dice and try to save money on their nuts and seeds…and just return them if they don’t work out. – –
Coffee/Espresso I save lots of money stocking up on coffee and espresso from Trader Joe’s whenever I am there! Organic coffee can be a big ticket item elsewhere. – –
Three Buck Chuck Yes, guilty as charged. We put a great deal of effort into selecting the highest quality food available and then we wash it down with cheap wine. What can I say…we are definitely not perfect! It’s not that we don’t enjoy (or want) more expensive wine it just doesn’t help the budget if you know what I mean. [UPDATE: Since writing this post I’ve switched to the organic wines that Trader Joe’s offers instead of “3 Buck Chuck.”] –
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What I buy occasionally at Trader Joe’s…
Whole-Grain Pretzels There are not many 100% whole-wheat pretzel options out there. These contain corn syrup (although not much), which is definitely less than ideal, but sometimes beggars can’t be choosers. So every couple of months we’ll pick up a bag of these just to keep our school lunches interesting! – –
Lara Bars These are available at quite a few places now…Target, mainstream grocery stores, all the health food stores, etc, but once again it’s hard to beat the price at Trader Joe’s. So if I am there and happen to think about it I pick some up. ––
Ak Mak Crackers These are one of our favorite brands of crackers because they are both whole-grain and organic! I can buy these elsewhere, but I do sometimes get these from Trader Joe’s as well. – –
Cheese It all comes back to price. Trader Joe’s has some of the best prices on cheese (which can get pretty expensive elsewhere), but to be honest their selection isn’t my first choice when it comes to taste. So depending on how the budget is stacking up at the end of the week I sometimes go for their cheese as a cheaper alternative. –
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What non-processed foods do you like to buy at Trader Joe’s?
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I lovvvvve the frozen grilled asparagus (nothing weird added) and the diced peppers (frozen) are inexpensive and can liven up a morning breakfast in a hurry
I always buy canned coconut milk there because it doesn’t have a ton of additives. Peanut butter: the one with peanuts and salt and nothing else. Frozen fruits and veggies are cheaper here than elsewhere that I shop. Ancient grain blend for baking and on my oatmeal. Their dried fruit is the only brand I can find without added sugar and preservatives- mangoes and apples are my favorite!
Kim. I love their dried fruit as well. Target, Harris teeter and publix all sell made in nature brand and they are all straight up fruit. No preservatives or added sugar! I love their dried cranberries
I don’t think I’ve found that brand yet! I’ll have to look – thanks!
Katy Watters
I love the crociferous crunch salad there! I make my own dressing of ACV, olive oil, and fresh squeezed orange juice, along with cranberries to make the most perfect salad!
I love the frozen artichoke hearts. There’s nothing better than not having to whittle down 10 artichokes to make dinner. They go for $3.69 here which is fantastic for 12oz. We also like the washed bagged salad selection. Not the pre-mixed ones with dressing and all, just the greens like arugula and baby spinach. They’re very convenient. I’d love to just grow some myself but I have a huge walnut tree that takes all my sun.
I love that TJs has pretty much a no questions asked return policy. We’ve gotten some things that weren’t quite up to snuff, replaced, no problem. We’ve gotten some things that we just didn’t like– money back. We’ve inquired about new things– they’d open one up to try, right then!
I tried finding a good bread at TJ’s but the closest thing to healthy contained either soy or canola oil. But I am going to indulge myself in their whipped topping. It is the most nutritional on the market outside of making your own nut toppings.
I buy their organic peanut butter and Ezeikel 4:9 Whole Gtain Sprouted bread. Do you think that this bread is a “real food”? I know it has more than 5 ingredients, but they are all organic grains. Curious as to your opinion on this.
Trader Joe’s has the ONLY corn oil I will buy because it is GMO Free. Their Olive Oil won a national taste test and we do love it even though that we can’t verify that it’s GMO Free.
Since the closest one to me is three hours away & it just opened, I’ve only been one time, but what I got was great! Grilled cauliflower from the frozen section, roasted brussel sprouts, and pork belly.
I love their frozen riced cauliflower, the nuts, the small packs of cashews or mixed nuts with dark chocolate (my only indulgence) for in the go, and the oil-packed tuna…among other things. Do love TJ’s, but I agree with you, I’m a dietitian and even I have to not get sucked into “preservative free=healthy” in the moment! I love your blog, BTW!
I like their organic cream cheese and goat cheese. I also like their frozen organic veggies like peas and corn (great prices!), and some of their organic produce like zucchini, cucumbers and peppers.
Pleased to find your site..
We (an older, retired couple) enjoy shopping at TJ’s but are sometimes overwhelmed with the variety of items we don’t know a lot about…(we don’t always go there with a purchase plan)
I believe that your site can give us insight as to what to look for…
Thank you… :O)
They have the very best whole milk ricotta cheese and at a better price. Also the simply sour cream has no stabilizers and the shredded mozerella is fantastic. Also buy their cereal and produce
I love reading about what other people buy at TJ’s. I’ve been a devoted fan for over 15 years. Unfortunately, a lot of bloggers give misinformation about Trader Joe’s as well. “Trader Joe’s is touted as a health food store” is a classic example. Tjs never refers to themselves as a health food store, and those who shop there on a regular basis understand the difference.
Frozen mango and pineapple for smoothies (by far best price!), natural peanut butter (same price as costcos, but much better flavor and crunchiness ratio); nuts (although same price per pound at Costco); sweet potato chips :)
Trader joes discontinued the organic hummus, which was my favorite for years. They also haven’t carried any pita bread all year. Have you had the same issue and if so what substitutes have you found at TJ’s or elsewhere? I especially like the mini pitas for the kids.
Best prices for some quality stuff! Organic broccoli slaw, organic apples. Eggs, plain yogurt. Almond butter. Mediteranean hummus, organic dark chocolate, and yes the organic coffee!
I buy the no salt added marinara sauce and no salt added canned tomatoes for quick sauces to put over my zucchini noodles. Bananas are a good price too depending on sales at other stores. I also like the low sodium vegetable juice and chicken stock.
My Trader Joe’s has the best prices for organic produce! There is a Whole Foods and Mariano’s right down the street and those places have prices that are 2 – 3 times more for organic anything.
It’s hard to find flour tortillas without a lot of junk in them–except at TJs! Both the regular and whole wheat types are great, so I stock up on them whenever I make the trip there. They store well in the freezer, and are perfect for a quick meal of chicken quesadillas or as a wrap for school lunches.
Did you know that many of the products at Trader Joe’s are actually top quality brands sold under the TJ label. Check out their quiche. A few years back one of the employees told me that these are actually the Nancy brand. No wonder they taste so good, and so familiar. Great savings there!
The Fetzer wine rep. tells me all Fetzer wines are made with organically grown grapes. They are not “certified organic” due to cost. They are very inexpensive in comparison to others, so give it a try.
I was looking for a barbecue sauce without artificial colors and one they have a TJ’s is marked all natural but has caramel color listed as an ingredient. How is caramel color all natural? Does anyone know?
What a great post! I love to see we are very like minded. You’ve captured may of our TJ’s staples. I have not done the cheeses mentioned but I do the raw cheese and love it. I will have to try the pre-sliced. We also do greek yogurt instead of plain. :-) I certainly enjoy the organic wine selections!
Hi there. I feel like I saw a post on FB similar to this one, but with foods from Target. I’ve searched a lot for it with no luck. Can you tell me the link? Thanks!
I have been using Tattler reusable lids for several years. At first I would have 1 or2 that didn’t seal, but after a phone call to the company she was able to give me some tips. Now I have no trouble and love it that I don’t have to buy seals all canning season
I noticed you said you have trouble keeping straight what canning lids you have used & which you have not. If you just throw away the lid when you open a jar of a home-canned product, there’s nothing to keep track of. Why would you keep a lid you’ve already used anyway? Toss the ones you take off the canned jars, keep the unused lids in the box til you’re ready to can again, & there will be no problem. The bands can be reused many times until they eventually rust or get warped, of course.
I reuse used lids for fridge or dry-goods storage. The white plastic lids are nice but they are space hogs in my small, inefficient rental kitchen. If the lid isn’t already written on (I label my jars for my own purposes by writing on the lid – almost all my jars are in boxes slid under the bed, couch, chair due to small apartment so the top view is most efficient for me) I use the Sharpie I keep in my silverware drawer to put a big X on the lid when I open the jar. Now that we officially don’t need to heat the lids anymore I open up the boxes as soon as I bring them home, wash them and dry them thoroughly, and store them in a zip-top bag (reused, natch!) so I can deal them out as needed like cards off a deck. I have 2 baggies, one of new lids and one of used.
Lids (and rings) are recyclable – don’t throw them in the trash!
I have a hard time with TJ’s because they do not always tell you where there food is sourced from. and truthfully: i put buying local over buying organic. when they coincide great! too many things come from out of the country, when the farmers in my own town (and region) do such an amazing job – and i rather pay my neighbors!
When you say the TJ organic cashews tasted funny, how did they taste? I just found your post googling about them because our new bag tastes a bit like bleach and I was wondering if there had been a recall for some kind of problem. Normally they have been delicious, but these ones taste like they fell in a pool.
I like to buy Trader Joe’s Grade A Maple Syrup, their Crowd Pleaser Cheese assortment as well as their Mozzarella cheese slices. I will occasionally buy their organic eggs, although I like to buy them from our local farm, and also Trader Joe’s whole milk
Trying to keep in USA, Trader Joe’s Maple Syrup comes from Canada. By the way, all syrup is now considered Grade A. The label should say what level of color the syrup is, light, medium, dark or very dark amber. Buy from your local producer.
I love TJs, but I once heard a story, I think it was on NPR, but I could be wrong, about their $3 wine. Ugh. Never again will I buy that. They basically do not sort the grapes very well and all kind of
stuff goes into that wine. Yucky. I do love their organic OJ, and the fact that they sell reasonably priced
Organic popcorn kernels!
Thanks for this list, Lisa! It’s hard not to get sidetracked and over do it at TJ’s but now I’ll follow your lead!! Love your blog and am so thankful for such a helpful resource!!!
So you spend tons of dough on organic cheese and yogurt and hummus but then you eat non-organic wheat? Once I found out that they basically spray Roundup on all the wheat crops in the US to make it mature at the same time before they harvest it, and that most of it is GMO, I switched to organic wheat only and it has made a big difference in the stomach trouble I had been having. I try to only eat it occasionally anyway, so it isn’t too much more expensive than before.
Also, your whole wheat pretzels with corn syrup–most corn in the US is GMO unless otherwise specified. Just letting you know. We all have our different requirements. I just started trying to eat primarily “real food” last month, and now I swear I can taste the chemicals in the other stuff when I do try to eat it! I don’t think I’m ever going back!
Glyphosate/roundup is a problem- but few farmers use it regularly.
However, if a company primarily uses one source for wheat and that producer uses it often, then that company will have more residue in their products.
FYI- Bill Gates is the largest shareholder in Monsanto…. He is also pro-sterilization and population control, among other things.
This product is used on grains besdides wheat- therefore the buildup.
There is absolutely NO GMO wheat. There is GMO corn & rice.
That being said, I still seek organic wheat for my kids/husband- they do fine with wheat, while I can only tolerate ancient forms/spelt.
Most wheat before the 50″s was spelt variety.
have you found any info on the nutritional quality of these products? I don’t know what to look for exactly, but, it seems like some of the items at TJ’s just simply cannot be OK. The honey for example, I do not understand how they can sell REAL honey for those prices (unless it really does come down to exploitation). I’d suggest for info, reading about the honey black market. A lot of it is mixed with corn syrup, and the pollen is filtered out which is the only way to tell true honey and its origin. Its worth a further read if you haven’t already looked it up. I love your blog, thanks for all the great resources and info!
Great deals at a high cost for those who actually do the work. Trader joes, along with other supermarket chains can sell items at lower prices due to exploitation of workers. Their coconut out May me “organic” but it’s not fair trade. That’s what it should really be about. It’s a sad messed up system.
thank you for the good ideas plus pictures of them! I have found the Trader Joe’s canned coconut milk is always .99 and it does not contain guar gum or other additives like many other brands! plus the price is about half of any other stores! I also get nitrate-free bacon and lunchmeat there (for a treat) ;-)
I get coconut oil, hummus, nuts, wine, and occasionally frozen entrees for quick lunches. I am pretty picky about those, so it depends on what is available and what the ingredient list looks like. I like that they don’t add preservatives to most of their frozen stuff. I will try the pita next time I go. Thanks.
I was so disappointed when I went to my local TJs for the whole grain pretzel sticks. I couldn’t find them, so I asked an associate to look them up…they are discontinued :( At least at my store. Pretzels are one of the things my kids miss the most since going “real” with food. Anyone else have any suggestions on where I can find whole grain pretzels?
Hi there. Look for Unique (brand) sprouted whole grain splits. They are good. If no stores in your area carries them, I know you can order them through Vitacost. :)
Trader Joe’s is only touted as a health food store by people who like to assume. They offer a variety of products for a variety of people, and never try to make someone’s choices for them. People who want to be healthy should make smart choices wherever they shop. I know I can come out of whole foods with a bag of smart choices or really unhealthy ones…
I always stock up on the bags of organic oats because the price can’t be beat. Whole wheat pasta, organic string cheese for snacks or lunches, pre-cut butternut squash and occasionally low sodium vegetable or chicken broth.
Organic fruit/veggies/ and frozen fruit and veggies.
Grass fed organic chop meat, grass fed cheddar, grass fed butter
Coconut oil, 100% whole wheat- 1 ingredient and i think its organic, organic whole wheat pitas, occasional eZikiel bread if i amd short on homemade,
There organic plain whole milk yogurt isnt grass fed so i buy else where.
I also buy their organic free range chicken because best i can get. Wish pastured chicken was more available.
Organic nut/cranberry mix.
Occasional wild caught frozen salmon.
Olive oil is a steel at 1L 5.99—- forgot last time i ran out!! So next time.
not gonna lie, I actually like that you drink “3 buck chuck” because we are all human and not perfect…even in our food selections!! love all of your recipes and info—keep the great posts coming!!
I don’t shop at Tj’s often but when I do I usually stock my cart with:
Organic produce
Organic Yogurts
Nitrate/Nitrite Free Bacon
Gluten-Free Corn Pasta
Organic Whole Wheat Pasta
Organic Cheese Sticks
Nitrate/Nitrite free Ham
Some cereals (Puffins mainly)
Some organic grocery items: mayo, applesauce, ketchup
BTW – Costco now has some of the organic items you have listed above – Hummus, Coconut Oil, Honey (also raw honey). They also have some organic dried fruits (nothing added), organic maple syrup, and Organic Corn Tortilla Chips. They also have a few organic produce options. Just FYI.
I love Earth Fare, too, but they can be very expensive for organic items compared with Trader Joe’s and other places like Costco or HT. Healthy Home Market is a nice alternative sometimes to EF, especially if you don’t live in Ballantyne or Southpark.
I was just working on a list like this last week with a friend. It’s great to share those great healthy store bought products.
Thanks for all your inspiration :)
My staples are medjool dates, chia seeds, almond milk, natural peanut and almond butter, milk (good prices!), freeze dried banana chips, and I like the Asian peanut vinaigrette salad dressing!
Hi Lisa: have you done any research on Charles shaw wine? I had heard this before and found an article on why Charles shaw wine is so cheap…might be worth researching on your end before putting more of it your body…there is really no way that wine could be that cheap without some nasty things going on…three buck chuck and those neon red maraschino cherries have a lot in common in their processing… http://www.snopes.com/business/market/shawwine.asp
I am absolutely in love with TJ’s: their wine, cheese, bread, dark chocolate granola cereal, dark chocolate, ice cream, and yogurt. Usually these items are simple, and full of a few good ingredients. In addition to these foods which everyone else also mentioned, I get all of my Smoked Salmon (Lox) from Trader Joe’s. It is the only one I can find in a local grocery store that does not have preservatives, coloring, or smoke flavor added. And it’s absolutely delicious.
Btw I love what you do, and I have a related website: simplyearthycrunchy.com that also has food tips, recipes, craft ideas, and a few other things. Check it out :)
Mushrooms aren’t usually available at farmers markets here so I always get my criminis at TJ’s where they are well under $2 vs. $3-$4 elsewhere. Also the Bran Flakes have 6 ingredients but are still pretty good for $1.99!
1. Ezekiel Bread – incredibly inexpensive compared to other places
2. Rice Milk (Trader Joe’s Brand – this has oil, but it’s organic) and Soy Milk (Westsoy) – clean and inexpensive
3. I find nuts/seeds cheaper at my local Joe Caputo & Sons, so I skip them here
4. Organic frozen fruits and veggies – again, can’t beat the price
Dried fruit. Just make sure it’s non-sorbate. They have both with this preservative and without for many if their dried fruits… And at the same price. Why anyone would buy the preservative one I do not know.
And what do you feel about the fact that TJ’s won’t disclose the source of their organic products? I have a hard time supporting a company that isn’t forthcoming about the products they want us to buy. :(
LaraBars can contain an enormous amount of sugars…I always check the sugar grams on the back– if it’s more than around 9g, I leave it.
Don’t know much about TJ’s honey, but most honeys have been proven to have the pollen (the beneficial and traceable part!) removed because it is being imported illegally and under the radar from places like China. It’s been proven that the pollen has been removed from MANY major brands- Archer Farms (Target), and several of your typical grocery store brands. Basically, unless it says “raw” and unheated, you do not want to trust it. There is no reason to remove pollen other than making honey untraceable as to source. Local *is* best but raw is not bad. Vitacost and some organic options are raw…go for that instead. Don’t trust a squeezable bear container, cute as they are.
At TJ’s I always have to buy the coconut chips! Oh, so good. :)
Is this brand available in London too?
I believe Trader Joe’s is only in the US. – Nicole
I think all of their cheeses are at a great price!
Trader Joe’s Organic Grower’s Reserve Merlot is my fave and really quite good for a cheap wine!
I love TJs almond butter. The taste and price can’t be beat!! We buy 3 jars at a time
Love Trader joe ‘s organic crunchy no salt peanut butter, Tj’s organic tomato sauce.
I buy mini avocados, delicata squash, gouda, nitrate free turkey bacon, raw almonds, raw cashews orangic coconut milk, coconut aminos, sunflower oil, haberno hot sauce, smoked salmon bacon, raw organic honey, bourbon vanilla, vegan marshmallow, organic porcorn kernels, coffee, tea.
I lovvvvve the frozen grilled asparagus (nothing weird added) and the diced peppers (frozen) are inexpensive and can liven up a morning breakfast in a hurry
Could you please do an updated “What I Buy at Trader Joe’s” post? It’s so helpful, and there are a lot of new items at TJs since 2012. Thanks!
I always buy canned coconut milk there because it doesn’t have a ton of additives. Peanut butter: the one with peanuts and salt and nothing else. Frozen fruits and veggies are cheaper here than elsewhere that I shop. Ancient grain blend for baking and on my oatmeal. Their dried fruit is the only brand I can find without added sugar and preservatives- mangoes and apples are my favorite!
Kim. I love their dried fruit as well. Target, Harris teeter and publix all sell made in nature brand and they are all straight up fruit. No preservatives or added sugar! I love their dried cranberries
I don’t think I’ve found that brand yet! I’ll have to look – thanks!
I love the crociferous crunch salad there! I make my own dressing of ACV, olive oil, and fresh squeezed orange juice, along with cranberries to make the most perfect salad!
Plantains!! I always stock up on plantains at TJ’s.
I love the frozen artichoke hearts. There’s nothing better than not having to whittle down 10 artichokes to make dinner. They go for $3.69 here which is fantastic for 12oz. We also like the washed bagged salad selection. Not the pre-mixed ones with dressing and all, just the greens like arugula and baby spinach. They’re very convenient. I’d love to just grow some myself but I have a huge walnut tree that takes all my sun.
I love that TJs has pretty much a no questions asked return policy. We’ve gotten some things that weren’t quite up to snuff, replaced, no problem. We’ve gotten some things that we just didn’t like– money back. We’ve inquired about new things– they’d open one up to try, right then!
I tried finding a good bread at TJ’s but the closest thing to healthy contained either soy or canola oil. But I am going to indulge myself in their whipped topping. It is the most nutritional on the market outside of making your own nut toppings.
Hi! I’m wondering what you guys think of Food For Life’s Ezekiel 4:9 pocket bread? Not sure about all of the different flours. Thanks!
Ezekial bread is a good choice. :)
I buy their organic peanut butter and Ezeikel 4:9 Whole Gtain Sprouted bread. Do you think that this bread is a “real food”? I know it has more than 5 ingredients, but they are all organic grains. Curious as to your opinion on this.
Hi. Just be sure the peanut butter has only peanuts and maybe salt in the ingredient list and, yes, Ezekial Bread is a great choice!
You can put your nuts in the freezer and they will last longer.
Their goat cheese has the best price anywhere.
TJ’s almond butter is awesome as is the Hatch Valley Salsa
You have got to try their 99 cents corn tortillas. They are delicious and only have healthy 3 ingredients.
Trader Joe’s has the ONLY corn oil I will buy because it is GMO Free. Their Olive Oil won a national taste test and we do love it even though that we can’t verify that it’s GMO Free.
Trader Joe’s products with their own label are all gmo free (according to them).
TJ’s version of Lara Bars: apple strawberry; apple mango; apple coconut; apple banana. Just those two ingredients in each bar.
Since the closest one to me is three hours away & it just opened, I’ve only been one time, but what I got was great! Grilled cauliflower from the frozen section, roasted brussel sprouts, and pork belly.
If you are looking for a great winery… Benzinger wines is better than organic…its biodynamic! I know my Costco carries their merlot and Cabernet.
I love their frozen riced cauliflower, the nuts, the small packs of cashews or mixed nuts with dark chocolate (my only indulgence) for in the go, and the oil-packed tuna…among other things. Do love TJ’s, but I agree with you, I’m a dietitian and even I have to not get sucked into “preservative free=healthy” in the moment! I love your blog, BTW!
I like their organic cream cheese and goat cheese. I also like their frozen organic veggies like peas and corn (great prices!), and some of their organic produce like zucchini, cucumbers and peppers.
We love their organic extra firm tofu!
Unable to find out of trader joes uses bromated flour in their products
Pleased to find your site..
We (an older, retired couple) enjoy shopping at TJ’s but are sometimes overwhelmed with the variety of items we don’t know a lot about…(we don’t always go there with a purchase plan)
I believe that your site can give us insight as to what to look for…
Thank you… :O)
They have the very best whole milk ricotta cheese and at a better price. Also the simply sour cream has no stabilizers and the shredded mozerella is fantastic. Also buy their cereal and produce
Medjool dates & nuts and seeds. ❤️
I love reading about what other people buy at TJ’s. I’ve been a devoted fan for over 15 years. Unfortunately, a lot of bloggers give misinformation about Trader Joe’s as well. “Trader Joe’s is touted as a health food store” is a classic example. Tjs never refers to themselves as a health food store, and those who shop there on a regular basis understand the difference.
Frozen mango and pineapple for smoothies (by far best price!), natural peanut butter (same price as costcos, but much better flavor and crunchiness ratio); nuts (although same price per pound at Costco); sweet potato chips :)
As a busy working mom, I buy their Mire Poix. and organic vegetarian stock. Great way to throw together an easy and healthy lentil soup for dinner,
Trader joes discontinued the organic hummus, which was my favorite for years. They also haven’t carried any pita bread all year. Have you had the same issue and if so what substitutes have you found at TJ’s or elsewhere? I especially like the mini pitas for the kids.
Hi there. Here is a great alternative: http://www.foodforlife.com/product/pocket-breads/ezekiel-49-whole-grain-pocket-bread.
Best prices for some quality stuff! Organic broccoli slaw, organic apples. Eggs, plain yogurt. Almond butter. Mediteranean hummus, organic dark chocolate, and yes the organic coffee!
I buy the no salt added marinara sauce and no salt added canned tomatoes for quick sauces to put over my zucchini noodles. Bananas are a good price too depending on sales at other stores. I also like the low sodium vegetable juice and chicken stock.
I always buy their Fruit Spread. It’s organic, sweetened with fruit juice instead of sugar and only 4 ingredients.
My Trader Joe’s has the best prices for organic produce! There is a Whole Foods and Mariano’s right down the street and those places have prices that are 2 – 3 times more for organic anything.
It’s hard to find flour tortillas without a lot of junk in them–except at TJs! Both the regular and whole wheat types are great, so I stock up on them whenever I make the trip there. They store well in the freezer, and are perfect for a quick meal of chicken quesadillas or as a wrap for school lunches.
Did you know that many of the products at Trader Joe’s are actually top quality brands sold under the TJ label. Check out their quiche. A few years back one of the employees told me that these are actually the Nancy brand. No wonder they taste so good, and so familiar. Great savings there!
I love the mango! Plain dried mango!
I love trader joes harvest grains blend! perfect alternative to plain rice as a base for some of my dinners :)
TJ’s Organic popcorn kernels are much cheaper than anywhere else I’ve found! Also bags of organic potatoes are a steal at TJ’s.
The Fetzer wine rep. tells me all Fetzer wines are made with organically grown grapes. They are not “certified organic” due to cost. They are very inexpensive in comparison to others, so give it a try.
I was looking for a barbecue sauce without artificial colors and one they have a TJ’s is marked all natural but has caramel color listed as an ingredient. How is caramel color all natural? Does anyone know?
What a great post! I love to see we are very like minded. You’ve captured may of our TJ’s staples. I have not done the cheeses mentioned but I do the raw cheese and love it. I will have to try the pre-sliced. We also do greek yogurt instead of plain. :-) I certainly enjoy the organic wine selections!
Hi there. I feel like I saw a post on FB similar to this one, but with foods from Target. I’ve searched a lot for it with no luck. Can you tell me the link? Thanks!
I have been using Tattler reusable lids for several years. At first I would have 1 or2 that didn’t seal, but after a phone call to the company she was able to give me some tips. Now I have no trouble and love it that I don’t have to buy seals all canning season
I noticed you said you have trouble keeping straight what canning lids you have used & which you have not. If you just throw away the lid when you open a jar of a home-canned product, there’s nothing to keep track of. Why would you keep a lid you’ve already used anyway? Toss the ones you take off the canned jars, keep the unused lids in the box til you’re ready to can again, & there will be no problem. The bands can be reused many times until they eventually rust or get warped, of course.
I reuse used lids for fridge or dry-goods storage. The white plastic lids are nice but they are space hogs in my small, inefficient rental kitchen. If the lid isn’t already written on (I label my jars for my own purposes by writing on the lid – almost all my jars are in boxes slid under the bed, couch, chair due to small apartment so the top view is most efficient for me) I use the Sharpie I keep in my silverware drawer to put a big X on the lid when I open the jar. Now that we officially don’t need to heat the lids anymore I open up the boxes as soon as I bring them home, wash them and dry them thoroughly, and store them in a zip-top bag (reused, natch!) so I can deal them out as needed like cards off a deck. I have 2 baggies, one of new lids and one of used.
Lids (and rings) are recyclable – don’t throw them in the trash!
I have a hard time with TJ’s because they do not always tell you where there food is sourced from. and truthfully: i put buying local over buying organic. when they coincide great! too many things come from out of the country, when the farmers in my own town (and region) do such an amazing job – and i rather pay my neighbors!
When you say the TJ organic cashews tasted funny, how did they taste? I just found your post googling about them because our new bag tastes a bit like bleach and I was wondering if there had been a recall for some kind of problem. Normally they have been delicious, but these ones taste like they fell in a pool.
Hi there. I’ve had the same experience with nuts from Trader Joes though I wouldn’t describe them as tasting chlorinated. ;)
I’ve tasted that weird taste before too, even in Planter’s nuts – it’s a moldy taste.
I like to buy Trader Joe’s Grade A Maple Syrup, their Crowd Pleaser Cheese assortment as well as their Mozzarella cheese slices. I will occasionally buy their organic eggs, although I like to buy them from our local farm, and also Trader Joe’s whole milk
Trying to keep in USA, Trader Joe’s Maple Syrup comes from Canada. By the way, all syrup is now considered Grade A. The label should say what level of color the syrup is, light, medium, dark or very dark amber. Buy from your local producer.
That’s because a lot of maple syrup comes from Canada; there’s probably not a big enough supply in the U.S.
I know this post is kind of old now, but can you freeze blocks of cheese?
Hi Jessie. I do freeze some cheese. This article will help: http://www.thekitchn.com/can-you-should-you-do-you-free-117893. :)
Thanks Amy!
I love TJs, but I once heard a story, I think it was on NPR, but I could be wrong, about their $3 wine. Ugh. Never again will I buy that. They basically do not sort the grapes very well and all kind of
stuff goes into that wine. Yucky. I do love their organic OJ, and the fact that they sell reasonably priced
Organic popcorn kernels!
Thanks for this list, Lisa! It’s hard not to get sidetracked and over do it at TJ’s but now I’ll follow your lead!! Love your blog and am so thankful for such a helpful resource!!!
So you spend tons of dough on organic cheese and yogurt and hummus but then you eat non-organic wheat? Once I found out that they basically spray Roundup on all the wheat crops in the US to make it mature at the same time before they harvest it, and that most of it is GMO, I switched to organic wheat only and it has made a big difference in the stomach trouble I had been having. I try to only eat it occasionally anyway, so it isn’t too much more expensive than before.
Also, your whole wheat pretzels with corn syrup–most corn in the US is GMO unless otherwise specified. Just letting you know. We all have our different requirements. I just started trying to eat primarily “real food” last month, and now I swear I can taste the chemicals in the other stuff when I do try to eat it! I don’t think I’m ever going back!
Glyphosate/roundup is a problem- but few farmers use it regularly.
However, if a company primarily uses one source for wheat and that producer uses it often, then that company will have more residue in their products.
FYI- Bill Gates is the largest shareholder in Monsanto…. He is also pro-sterilization and population control, among other things.
This product is used on grains besdides wheat- therefore the buildup.
There is absolutely NO GMO wheat. There is GMO corn & rice.
That being said, I still seek organic wheat for my kids/husband- they do fine with wheat, while I can only tolerate ancient forms/spelt.
Most wheat before the 50″s was spelt variety.
have you found any info on the nutritional quality of these products? I don’t know what to look for exactly, but, it seems like some of the items at TJ’s just simply cannot be OK. The honey for example, I do not understand how they can sell REAL honey for those prices (unless it really does come down to exploitation). I’d suggest for info, reading about the honey black market. A lot of it is mixed with corn syrup, and the pollen is filtered out which is the only way to tell true honey and its origin. Its worth a further read if you haven’t already looked it up. I love your blog, thanks for all the great resources and info!
Great deals at a high cost for those who actually do the work. Trader joes, along with other supermarket chains can sell items at lower prices due to exploitation of workers. Their coconut out May me “organic” but it’s not fair trade. That’s what it should really be about. It’s a sad messed up system.
oh plus they have great dark chocolate!
thank you for the good ideas plus pictures of them! I have found the Trader Joe’s canned coconut milk is always .99 and it does not contain guar gum or other additives like many other brands! plus the price is about half of any other stores! I also get nitrate-free bacon and lunchmeat there (for a treat) ;-)
I get coconut oil, hummus, nuts, wine, and occasionally frozen entrees for quick lunches. I am pretty picky about those, so it depends on what is available and what the ingredient list looks like. I like that they don’t add preservatives to most of their frozen stuff. I will try the pita next time I go. Thanks.
I was so disappointed when I went to my local TJs for the whole grain pretzel sticks. I couldn’t find them, so I asked an associate to look them up…they are discontinued :( At least at my store. Pretzels are one of the things my kids miss the most since going “real” with food. Anyone else have any suggestions on where I can find whole grain pretzels?
Hi there. Look for Unique (brand) sprouted whole grain splits. They are good. If no stores in your area carries them, I know you can order them through Vitacost. :)
Trader Joe’s is only touted as a health food store by people who like to assume. They offer a variety of products for a variety of people, and never try to make someone’s choices for them. People who want to be healthy should make smart choices wherever they shop. I know I can come out of whole foods with a bag of smart choices or really unhealthy ones…
Quinoa brown rice pasta (it’s the closest in texture to white pasta that I’ve found)
The horseradish hummus!
I always stock up on the bags of organic oats because the price can’t be beat. Whole wheat pasta, organic string cheese for snacks or lunches, pre-cut butternut squash and occasionally low sodium vegetable or chicken broth.
I love that I can get whole organic carrots for less than a dollar!
Organic fruit/veggies/ and frozen fruit and veggies.
Grass fed organic chop meat, grass fed cheddar, grass fed butter
Coconut oil, 100% whole wheat- 1 ingredient and i think its organic, organic whole wheat pitas, occasional eZikiel bread if i amd short on homemade,
There organic plain whole milk yogurt isnt grass fed so i buy else where.
I also buy their organic free range chicken because best i can get. Wish pastured chicken was more available.
Organic nut/cranberry mix.
Occasional wild caught frozen salmon.
Olive oil is a steel at 1L 5.99—- forgot last time i ran out!! So next time.
not gonna lie, I actually like that you drink “3 buck chuck” because we are all human and not perfect…even in our food selections!! love all of your recipes and info—keep the great posts coming!!
You do realize that 3-buck chuck has a lot of additives that are not derived from the actual process of producing REAL red wine?
Hi Adam. Lisa has a note up there that she has switched to their organic wines since first writing this post. ;)
I don’t shop at Tj’s often but when I do I usually stock my cart with:
Organic produce
Organic Yogurts
Nitrate/Nitrite Free Bacon
Gluten-Free Corn Pasta
Organic Whole Wheat Pasta
Organic Cheese Sticks
Nitrate/Nitrite free Ham
Some cereals (Puffins mainly)
Some organic grocery items: mayo, applesauce, ketchup
BTW – Costco now has some of the organic items you have listed above – Hummus, Coconut Oil, Honey (also raw honey). They also have some organic dried fruits (nothing added), organic maple syrup, and Organic Corn Tortilla Chips. They also have a few organic produce options. Just FYI.
I love Earth Fare, too, but they can be very expensive for organic items compared with Trader Joe’s and other places like Costco or HT. Healthy Home Market is a nice alternative sometimes to EF, especially if you don’t live in Ballantyne or Southpark.
I was just working on a list like this last week with a friend. It’s great to share those great healthy store bought products.
Thanks for all your inspiration :)
My staples are medjool dates, chia seeds, almond milk, natural peanut and almond butter, milk (good prices!), freeze dried banana chips, and I like the Asian peanut vinaigrette salad dressing!
Hi Lisa: have you done any research on Charles shaw wine? I had heard this before and found an article on why Charles shaw wine is so cheap…might be worth researching on your end before putting more of it your body…there is really no way that wine could be that cheap without some nasty things going on…three buck chuck and those neon red maraschino cherries have a lot in common in their processing…
http://www.snopes.com/business/market/shawwine.asp
Hi Dorothy. Lisa has a note by the wine above that since writing this post she has switched to their organic wines. ~Amy
I am absolutely in love with TJ’s: their wine, cheese, bread, dark chocolate granola cereal, dark chocolate, ice cream, and yogurt. Usually these items are simple, and full of a few good ingredients. In addition to these foods which everyone else also mentioned, I get all of my Smoked Salmon (Lox) from Trader Joe’s. It is the only one I can find in a local grocery store that does not have preservatives, coloring, or smoke flavor added. And it’s absolutely delicious.
Btw I love what you do, and I have a related website: simplyearthycrunchy.com that also has food tips, recipes, craft ideas, and a few other things. Check it out :)
Mushrooms aren’t usually available at farmers markets here so I always get my criminis at TJ’s where they are well under $2 vs. $3-$4 elsewhere. Also the Bran Flakes have 6 ingredients but are still pretty good for $1.99!
1. Ezekiel Bread – incredibly inexpensive compared to other places
2. Rice Milk (Trader Joe’s Brand – this has oil, but it’s organic) and Soy Milk (Westsoy) – clean and inexpensive
3. I find nuts/seeds cheaper at my local Joe Caputo & Sons, so I skip them here
4. Organic frozen fruits and veggies – again, can’t beat the price
Dried fruit. Just make sure it’s non-sorbate. They have both with this preservative and without for many if their dried fruits… And at the same price. Why anyone would buy the preservative one I do not know.
What a pretentious article…
Curious as to why you say this?
For the past year, Costco has had Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil – http://www2.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11906996&whse=BD_823&topnav=bdoff
78 oz for 27.00 and sometimes they have coupons for 5.00 off. We use coconut oil a LOT, so I’m happy it is there.
I love Trader Joe’s cheeses, so I usually buy many of them. Especially if I’m hungry when I get there *smile*
What do you feel about this article? http://gmo-awareness.com/2013/02/02/is-trader-joes-organic-gmo-free/
And what do you feel about the fact that TJ’s won’t disclose the source of their organic products? I have a hard time supporting a company that isn’t forthcoming about the products they want us to buy. :(
Hi Jolene. We are familiar with the debate going on. Of course, we prefer transparency in all things but for now still really enjoy Trader Joe’s. ~Amy
If you have a Costco – they also have organic hummus!
I forgot! I usually also buy a frozen bag of French green beans ($1.99!)…love.
FYI:
LaraBars can contain an enormous amount of sugars…I always check the sugar grams on the back– if it’s more than around 9g, I leave it.
Don’t know much about TJ’s honey, but most honeys have been proven to have the pollen (the beneficial and traceable part!) removed because it is being imported illegally and under the radar from places like China. It’s been proven that the pollen has been removed from MANY major brands- Archer Farms (Target), and several of your typical grocery store brands. Basically, unless it says “raw” and unheated, you do not want to trust it. There is no reason to remove pollen other than making honey untraceable as to source. Local *is* best but raw is not bad. Vitacost and some organic options are raw…go for that instead. Don’t trust a squeezable bear container, cute as they are.
At TJ’s I always have to buy the coconut chips! Oh, so good. :)
I like TJs freeze dried blueberries to spinkle in granola. I can’t find them anywhere else without added junk.