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! -
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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?
Lisa is a wife, mother, foodie, blogger, and #1 New York Times Best-selling author who is on a mission to cut out processed food.
Comments
Kaiylynsays
Would you consider tapioca flour a real food? I am gluten intolerant and most gluten free breads contain tapioca flour along with the brown rice flour.
Hi Kaiylyn. The tapioca is a starch derived from a plant I believe. I'm not familiar with the extraction process so I can't really comment on the extent to which it is processed. Sorry I can't give you a more definitive answer. Jill
I keep my pecans and walnuts in the freezer to prevent them from spoiling. Then theres no bulk issue. They are so small they thaw out in about two minutes.
Over the summer, TJ's came to our city. We jumped right in, and were especially loving their Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. I noticed that the insides of the lids have a white plastic coating, so I contacted TJ's Product Information via email to find out whether they have BPA on the lids. Their response:
"On that note, every glass jar (including this one) has a metal lid, and all metal lids do have a thin layer of BPA coating. However, there is coating of another material put on top of the BPA coating so there is no direct contact with the food at any point. We have conducted multiple supplier testing results showing there is no BPA detected from metal lids."
I further asked them why they have BPA, then cover it up - seems silly, right? Especially when there are metal lids they could use that don't contain BPA in the first place. Also, I asked them if they could share the specific testing info they have as I can't really just trust the above statement, can I? I've yet to hear back from them, but considering it took over a week to hear back the first time, I think it will likely take at least that much longer to hear from them again.
In any case, I just thought I'd share this with you because I will choose to pay a little more for my coconut oil elsewhere rather than risk the exposure to BPA for myself and my family, and you and some of your readers may feel the same way.
We have a Trader Joe's opening here in Gainesville, FL. It will be interesting to see how their prices compare to the stuff I buy at Publix and Earth Origins. I've heard their bulk bins have pretty decent prices.
I'm I live n Palm Coast and am planning my first trip to Trader Joes in Gainsville today! Cant wait to get there. I think we should put a weekly trip and all ride together!
Hi! I was so excited about your w.w. pita find that I went scouting it out at ours. I picked up a package that looked identical to the one you found, but it said it had enriched flour. I know yours must not and I know each TJs carries different things but it shocked me that two identical objects would be different in ingredients. Maybe I just read it wrong! I'm wondering if anyone else has found this..
Love Trader Joes! It is such a fun place to shop for special treats whether they are processed foods or whole foods! It is all about moderation. Enjoy life people!
I just finished my 10day clean pledge no Trader Joe,s in Idaho but I do have a case of Two Buck Chuck one of my clients brought me. Love the shiraz. We are getting a Whole Foods in Oct. What are the good buys there?
My #1 item at Trader Joes too!!!! We live on the wild berries for daily smoothies with my kids. As long as I stick in a cup of the berries and a banana, I can hid all other sorts of things in there including carrot juice and kale! Love it!
I love the Champagne Gorgonzola. Not sure how clean it is/how many ingredients. The Balsamic Vin is pretty good too. Their ranch was far too peppery for me.
Have you ever made your own pita bread? It's so much fun! They are quick, and easy to roll out and only take about 5 minutes to bake, plus they puff op like balloons in the oven, which my kids (even at 16, 13, 10) think is pretty neat :-)
Would you post your recipe? I've tried a couple of times and mine usually don't end up puffing? They are mostly just flat with no pocket or small pockets.
Hi Lisa
I'm just curious to why you don't buy produce at Trader Joe's. I know that they have quite a big selection of organic produce and it's less expensive than Earth Fare. I buy organic broccoli, spinach, romaine, apples, carrots, potatoes, ...
Hi Meredith. I find that a lot of their stuff goes bad very quickly. I'm actually trying to buy some more stuff there again because, to your point, it is MUCH cheaper. Hoping I have better luck this time. Jill
TJ's dried black mission figs are da bomb. We also buy TJ's goat cheese, which is waaaay cheaper than other venues. And who can resist Three-Buck Chuck?
We are beyond thrilled that Trader Joe's will open here in Winston-Salem in October, which will spare us having to make quarterly pilgrimages to Chapel Hill. Best wishes!
Lisa- if you're looking for a whole grain pretzel option without sugar, try "Newman's Own Spelt Pretzels". They contain only 6 ingredients, NO SUGAR, and 4 grams of fiber per serving. I no longer have to feel guilty about giving my kids pretzels :) The pretzels are by the specialty chips (kettle, cape cod, etc.) in my local grocery store. (the vitaspelt pretzels I saw elsewhere contained refined spelt flour :)
Oops, that was supposed to be a frown regarding REFINED SPELT in the vitaspelt pretzels as I didn't notice the lack of fiber until after I had already purchased the bag :(
Is the TJscoconut oil unrefined? And I never see any raw nuts in there that are organic. Do you use non-organic nuts when making your granola? Thank you!
Hi Stacy - here's an email I received from TJ's about the coconut oil:
Thank you so much for contacting us. Our coconut oil is cold-pressed, unrefined, raw, and NOT hydrogenated. Coconuts are dehusked, grated, and the fresh coconut meat is cold pressed and filtered with no chemicals or preservatives added. This process retains the enzymes, lauric acid and all the other nutrients. No chemicals are added. No bleaching is done. The natural nutrients and characteristics including the aroma are therefore preserved.
Non-homogenized milk... I've been buying mine at Whole Foods but recently found it at TJ's. Although I like the glass jars they came in at WF, it's $2 cheeper per gallon at TJ's.
How long does the non-homogenized milk last? We buy organic milk but it is super processed and lasts over a month, which is great because we don't use much. It does strike me as odd that milk would last that long!
To my knowledge all grocery store milk (homoginized/pasturized) is good for 7 days once it is opened. Since most organic dairy is ultra-pasteurized it does have a longer refrigerated shelf life, but only in an un-opened state. Once opened, it's still only good for 7 days.
Temilynsays
I volunteer at a raw organic dairy and the milk they produce is good for at least a month even after opened. Milk doesn't go bad in a week as long as you keep it refrigerated. The sell by date is pretty reliable and even then it should go a week past that b/c it is a sell by date not consume by date. Hope this helps. Remember I'm talking raw non-homogenized which is even more delicate. So if you are using homogenized it will last longer. *Homogenized is bad though*
Jessicasays
We soley drink organic milk and I have noticed that the exp date relates to the packaging. The organix milk in the paper carton lasts a month even opened, but if you buy organic milk in a plastic jug it only lasts a week. I think it has something to do with the enzymes in the milk breaking down the plastic which makes it go bad faster.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill)says
Hi Amy. The milk we get is usually dated about 7-10 days out, but, the owner of Lakeview Farms explains that's not an expiration date per se (I'm not exactly sure what it is then :-)). I don't ever have my milk longer than 2 weeks at most so I know it usually lasts at least that long. I know it's really important to not leave it out and make sure it stays cold. That helps to keep it fresh and prevent it from spoiling. Jill
Ambresays
Just wanted to say that I saw a website (http://organicpastures.com/raw-almond-expose.htm) which spoke about whether your almonds were REALLY raw......they said that many brands are actually pasteurizing their almonds and selling them as raw. They did an experiment on different almonds to test them, and I tried the same experiment on the almonds I bought from Trader Joes, and they PASSED! Truly raw almonds. I am thankful because I really appreciate being able to get nuts and seeds at the prices they offer. I've never had any problem with any going bad, but I do have that problem with their produce from time to time. They are always gracious in refunding my money, but it is an incovenience not to have a fresh item right when you planned to use it!
Link does not work... what did you do to test them. Sprout them? I've been buying mine at Costco and "hoping" they were raw cause it's cheeper to buy them there. But the package doesn't actually say.
Out of curiosity I once tried to sprout Trader Joe's "raw" almonds, and they did not sprout. My understanding is that all almonds sold in mainstream commercial venues in the US have been pasteurized by one way or another.
That said, I'm not convinced that it really matters. I have yet to see any compelling evidence that sproutability changes the way you digest nuts. (Don't leave your almonds out in water for 4 days then put them in a plastic bag and they won't get moldy!)
Janine Burnssays
We live on Trader Joes. I use the olive oil, I buy my milk and eggs from them. We love their wheat corn tortillas. My son loves their organic cheese sticks.
What a great post! I'd also add their price on almond meal and steel cut oats are amazing. I also have a small handful of items I buy at Trader Joe's solely, but sometimes you an find some great extras!
I only buy TJ's brand almond meal- the price is just too good! And Amy- I use it just like I would almond flour.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill)says
Hi Amy. My understanding is that almond meal is different because it is not from blanched almonds (skin removed) whereas almond flour is made from blanched almonds. You can use the almond meal in things such as granola or as a breading on meat (it is a good gluten free option for that as well). Hope that helps. Jill
Rubysays
We do the Greek Honey Yogurt. I have tried other yogurts on my boys and they like this one best. milk,cream, honey, and cultures. We tried about 3 dozen and this one my oldest keeps us going back to. He eats it plain and with dry fruit.
I am a HUGE fan of their honey Greek yogurt too! It is OUTSTANDING in every way...well, except the sugar content. I know that even plain yogurt is fairly high in sugars (probably the lactose), but I was shocked (and disappointed - I could eat it daily!) to see the honey Greek being especially high.
Just curious why you purchase Lara Bars...all the ones I have looked at are very high in sugar for a so-called nutritious bar. The only protein bars I will buy are from Quest Nutrition. I absolutely LOVE EarthFare and have not ventured back into a Trader Joe's since I found it. :)
Hi Paula. Any sugar in the Lara Bars is not added sugar. Many of the varieties (perhaps all) contain dates which alone will increase the sugar, but, again, it is not added sugar. Hope that helps to clarify things. Jill
I LOVE TJ's! And actually, I disagree, you can get a ton of healthy stuff there, if like your regular grocery store, you shop the perimeter. First off, all the TJ's products are non-GMO and MSG free, their dairy is BGH free, their bread is preservative free, some things have reduced sodium options and most of the dairy is local for me as I live in WI. So right there, that makes shopping at TJ's a no-brainer. Plus, many of the ingredients are cheaper then my local grocery store. I buy fresh produce, frozen produce, organic free range chicken and broth, grass fed beef, applegate lunchmeat (for paninis) and grass fed all beef hot dogs, frozen wild caught salmon, plain european style and greek yogurt, butter, a variety of cheeses (blocks, sticks and crumbles) Whole wheat bread, raisin bread, pitas, naan and tortillas, nuts, raisins, applesauce (jarred), natural peanut butter, white whole wheat flour, organic sugar, half salt tuna,canned beans, soy sauce and that's all I can remember. I usually do stock-up runs every 4-5 weeks. Also they are WONDERFUL about taking back or exchanging overripe, spoiled, etc. food items, no questions asked.
I agree with all of the above - but I admit Trader Joe's is my lifesaver for the days when I just can't pull a good meal together. They do have a lot of packaged stuff, but it has surprisingly pronounceable ingredients as far as packaged food. Not as good as a home-cooked meal, but far better than takeout or a standard pre-made meal. That comes in handy if your kitchen happens to be under construction for several months. =)
I WISH we had a TJ's close! So sad! But I will say that I use Real Salt and LOVE, it. I couldn't believe that the regular salt I was buying at the store had glucose in it! I never even thought to check until I saw a blog post about it. Just goes to show you that you have to read labels!
Lara Bar has contributed over $500,000.00 against propostion 37 to label MO products. I do not buy products that are contributing against the GMO labeling project.
Deanna (and others) - Here is the http://www.larabar.com/prop-37">Lara Bar company stance on GMOs and Proposition 37. While they claim Lara Bars are free of GMOs, their parent company, General Mills, has contributed over $500,000 against proposition 37. Our assistant, Jill, just introduced me to a great alternative, Kit's Organic fruit and nut bars. They are organic, non-GMO, and sold by a company that you may feel better purchasing from, Clif Bar & Company. According to this website, Clif Bar & Company supports proposition 37.
I loved this post, thank you for sharing these! I love TJ's coconut oil, it tastes and smells so delicious and is so much cheaper than anywere else I've looked. I've never even looked at their processed foods there, but I am happy to know about the pretzels. Occasionaly I'll need pretzels and whole wheat ones are very hard to come by.
I wish I could, but I have nothing but HyVee, Walmart, and our local store in my area. That's it. That's the only thing that really stinks about living in a small town. I guess that's a sacrifice we make for a low cost of living area.
I noticed that the pitas aren't organic. You are usually very concerned about non-organic foods. Is there a reason you don't seem to mind with the pita bread? I'm not criticizing, just curious.
You are right...I usually buy organic whenever I can, but it isn't 100% of the time (maybe 90 - 95% of the time). If I knew of some organic whole-wheat pitas I would certainly buy those instead!
My kids love the freeze dried mango and bananas. T. Joes has the lowest price on these and one of the few brands where the ingredients are only mangos or bananas. We leave with at least 3 bags each! I also love the pistachios. They are the only place I have found where you can get reduced salt pistachios. My kids love them as a snack.
I have to agree with everything except one ... Sorry, I can't choke down (nor even cook with) Charles Shaw. I've done it years ago, but instead I prefer Costco for wine (and Total Wine etc.) but for best prices on top rated wines ... Trader Joe's has very few. At Costco you can get several good wines for at or under $10. I'd just rater spend a few more dollars there. But then we are sort of obsessed about pairing wine with food.
$2.49 trumps your $10... but I want good tasting wine also.
If you will google, wine magnet... along with lots of refrigerator magnet sites, you will come across wine bottle coasters that contain a magnet. Pour yourself a small sipper of any kind of RED Shaw, it only works for red wine, and set aside. Put the bottle on this magnet for a half hour, more or less, and and then compare. You can also use a magnet from a hardware store, but this is pretty and we drink wine with dinner most every night so nice on our table.
Shaw American Chardonnay won over a $100 bottle a few years ago... cannot remember the details. Anyway a little time on a magnet improves the reds to a very nicely aged wine. :o)
I don't have a TJ's close by, so when I go, I stock up on Salsa Verde, nuts/trail mixes, some of the sliced cheeses like the goat milk dutch cheese, and their frozen seafood mix and/or tuna steaks, depending on what I'm in the mood for. Their frozen seafood is actually priced affordably.
organic aloe, kerry gold butter, strauss milk (TJ's organic cream top), organic European plain yogurt (strauss also), raw almond butter - my fave!, fruit juice sweetened jam, maple syrup, beans (for when I have no time to soak and cook), tom paste, olive oil, rice vinegar, frozen fish, frozen grass fed ground beef, frozen organic berries, Carrs crackers (they are the flaxseed whole wheat ones), whole wheat lavash bread, cheeses, organic chickens, and organic wines. rice pastas, rice, nuts, and quinoa. Oh...and the new stone ground dark chocolate - so yummy! We love TJ's (we don't have many more options around other than big grocery stores or overpriced "natural food " stores. We do have great farmers markets and get a CSA basket for our veggies.
I was really annoyed to learn that Lara Bars had donated money against Prop 37 here in CA. Their packaging clamins they use no GMO products yet they side with Monsanto on this one?? Very, very fishy!!
Please excuse my typos. I find commenting on this site very difficult as my screen jumps all around and I can't get the curser to stay any where on the page!
I do not think TJ's is a healthy food store. Most of there food is prepackaged, boxed, or frozen with very little fresh fruits and veggies.
Honestly, the only thing I buy on a regular basis form TJ's is there organic concord grape jelly! My kids LOVE PB&J's and it is the only decent size jelly I can find that does not have HFCS and is not a 4 oz jar for about five dollars. TJ's is not close to me I actually have to pass Whole Foods to go there so I buy 6 jars at a time to last a few months.
If I buy anything else there breads are good, as well as the nuts like you said, and I learned to stretch my maple syrup from them by blending it with agave nectar.
There fresh organic apples, and potatoes in the 3lb bags are a good price at about $3.69 but WF now has bagged fruits at a comparable price point.
Hi Elle. I would agree, just like any of the grocery stores, there are plenty of "non-real" food items in each. But, I do think for the items mentioned in the post, the prices are hard to beat. Jill
-Organic cream top milk. Organic whole milk plain European style yogurt (both are from Straus family creamery).
-Tuscan style whole wheat bread (only 3 or 4 ingredients...so yummy!)
-white whole wheat flour
-organic dark chocolate, caramel and sea salt chocolate bar...:)
-organic coffee
-cheese
-Kashi's 'autumn wheat' cereal- best 'real food' cereal I've been able to find!
-sunflower seeds (I get nuts at Costco...much better price)
-Organic Pasta Sauce
-Whole wheat organic pasta noodles
-organic apples
-other produce if it looks good and prices are ok
I would stay away from kashi brand if possible. Many of their cereals most likely contain GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Try natures path or cascadian farms ( parent company is general mills, but still a lesser of two evils).
I wondered about this too, so I looked into it. Some of Kashi's cereals are non-GMO. I haven't yet looked into other Kashi products, though. Check out the following link. http://www.kashi.com/nongmo
Kaiylyn says
Would you consider tapioca flour a real food? I am gluten intolerant and most gluten free breads contain tapioca flour along with the brown rice flour.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Kaiylyn. The tapioca is a starch derived from a plant I believe. I'm not familiar with the extraction process so I can't really comment on the extent to which it is processed. Sorry I can't give you a more definitive answer. Jill
Trish says
I keep my pecans and walnuts in the freezer to prevent them from spoiling. Then theres no bulk issue. They are so small they thaw out in about two minutes.
Grace F says
Over the summer, TJ's came to our city. We jumped right in, and were especially loving their Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. I noticed that the insides of the lids have a white plastic coating, so I contacted TJ's Product Information via email to find out whether they have BPA on the lids. Their response:
"On that note, every glass jar (including this one) has a metal lid, and all metal lids do have a thin layer of BPA coating. However, there is coating of another material put on top of the BPA coating so there is no direct contact with the food at any point. We have conducted multiple supplier testing results showing there is no BPA detected from metal lids."
I further asked them why they have BPA, then cover it up - seems silly, right? Especially when there are metal lids they could use that don't contain BPA in the first place. Also, I asked them if they could share the specific testing info they have as I can't really just trust the above statement, can I? I've yet to hear back from them, but considering it took over a week to hear back the first time, I think it will likely take at least that much longer to hear from them again.
In any case, I just thought I'd share this with you because I will choose to pay a little more for my coconut oil elsewhere rather than risk the exposure to BPA for myself and my family, and you and some of your readers may feel the same way.
Audry says
We have a Trader Joe's opening here in Gainesville, FL. It will be interesting to see how their prices compare to the stuff I buy at Publix and Earth Origins. I've heard their bulk bins have pretty decent prices.
rxnplc says
I cant wait ...I live in Palm Coast and will take a day trip to GNV on Dec 12 and load my cooler up!!!
Laura says
I'm I live n Palm Coast and am planning my first trip to Trader Joes in Gainsville today! Cant wait to get there. I think we should put a weekly trip and all ride together!
Mallory says
Hi! I was so excited about your w.w. pita find that I went scouting it out at ours. I picked up a package that looked identical to the one you found, but it said it had enriched flour. I know yours must not and I know each TJs carries different things but it shocked me that two identical objects would be different in ingredients. Maybe I just read it wrong! I'm wondering if anyone else has found this..
m says
We like the peanut butter, which only contains peanuts and salt!
Stacy says
Yes, you can't beat 3.99 for 1lb of organic PB, and we get the unsalted so just peanuts. Though there has been that latest recall.
Jean says
Love Trader Joes! It is such a fun place to shop for special treats whether they are processed foods or whole foods! It is all about moderation. Enjoy life people!
Laurie Sutherland says
I just finished my 10day clean pledge no Trader Joe,s in Idaho but I do have a case of Two Buck Chuck one of my clients brought me. Love the shiraz. We are getting a Whole Foods in Oct. What are the good buys there?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Laurie. We just got a Whole Foods so I'm not that familiar with it just yet. But, you might be interested in this post. https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/10/01/food-babe-investigates-whole-foods/. Jill
Kristi says
I love their bags of frozen organic berries. Perfect for the winter months when fresh berries are not readily available.
Jill says
My #1 item at Trader Joes too!!!! We live on the wild berries for daily smoothies with my kids. As long as I stick in a cup of the berries and a banana, I can hid all other sorts of things in there including carrot juice and kale! Love it!
Kristina says
Us, too! We buy lots of their organic berries for our smoothies!
Kirsten says
Any dressings for salads you like from there ?
Stacy says
I love the Champagne Gorgonzola. Not sure how clean it is/how many ingredients. The Balsamic Vin is pretty good too. Their ranch was far too peppery for me.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Kirsten. I haven't really tried any - I usually just make a simple one myself. Jill
Shanci says
Do you have a clean Ranch dressing recipe that you could share?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Shanci. Here is a recipe for ranch flavored dip. Jill
Robin Jingjit says
Wow, wish we had a trader Joe's here! I go whenever we are visiting the states in a city that has one.
Katie says
Have you ever made your own pita bread? It's so much fun! They are quick, and easy to roll out and only take about 5 minutes to bake, plus they puff op like balloons in the oven, which my kids (even at 16, 13, 10) think is pretty neat :-)
Kate says
Would you post your recipe? I've tried a couple of times and mine usually don't end up puffing? They are mostly just flat with no pocket or small pockets.
Rachel says
I just saw your comment here. My friend, Polly, made a great pita bread recipe in her bread machine. Here's the link: http://thrivinghomeblog.com/2013/01/panini-sandwich-bread-a-bread-machine-recipe/
Rachel says
Oops, I meant panini bread...my bad!
Meredith says
Hi Lisa
I'm just curious to why you don't buy produce at Trader Joe's. I know that they have quite a big selection of organic produce and it's less expensive than Earth Fare. I buy organic broccoli, spinach, romaine, apples, carrots, potatoes, ...
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Meredith. I find that a lot of their stuff goes bad very quickly. I'm actually trying to buy some more stuff there again because, to your point, it is MUCH cheaper. Hoping I have better luck this time. Jill
ddu says
TJ's dried black mission figs are da bomb. We also buy TJ's goat cheese, which is waaaay cheaper than other venues. And who can resist Three-Buck Chuck?
We are beyond thrilled that Trader Joe's will open here in Winston-Salem in October, which will spare us having to make quarterly pilgrimages to Chapel Hill. Best wishes!
Kristin says
Lisa- if you're looking for a whole grain pretzel option without sugar, try "Newman's Own Spelt Pretzels". They contain only 6 ingredients, NO SUGAR, and 4 grams of fiber per serving. I no longer have to feel guilty about giving my kids pretzels :) The pretzels are by the specialty chips (kettle, cape cod, etc.) in my local grocery store. (the vitaspelt pretzels I saw elsewhere contained refined spelt flour :)
Kristin says
Oops, that was supposed to be a frown regarding REFINED SPELT in the vitaspelt pretzels as I didn't notice the lack of fiber until after I had already purchased the bag :(
Stacy says
Is the TJscoconut oil unrefined? And I never see any raw nuts in there that are organic. Do you use non-organic nuts when making your granola? Thank you!
anne says
Yes it is unrefined. Even though the jar doesn't say it I had the crew member check for me with the buyer
E says
Hi Stacy - here's an email I received from TJ's about the coconut oil:
Thank you so much for contacting us. Our coconut oil is cold-pressed, unrefined, raw, and NOT hydrogenated. Coconuts are dehusked, grated, and the fresh coconut meat is cold pressed and filtered with no chemicals or preservatives added. This process retains the enzymes, lauric acid and all the other nutrients. No chemicals are added. No bleaching is done. The natural nutrients and characteristics including the aroma are therefore preserved.
Hooray for coconuts!
Best regards,
Rachel
Customer Relations
Trader Joe's
Teresa says
Non-homogenized milk... I've been buying mine at Whole Foods but recently found it at TJ's. Although I like the glass jars they came in at WF, it's $2 cheeper per gallon at TJ's.
Amy Lemelin says
How long does the non-homogenized milk last? We buy organic milk but it is super processed and lasts over a month, which is great because we don't use much. It does strike me as odd that milk would last that long!
Kristin says
To my knowledge all grocery store milk (homoginized/pasturized) is good for 7 days once it is opened. Since most organic dairy is ultra-pasteurized it does have a longer refrigerated shelf life, but only in an un-opened state. Once opened, it's still only good for 7 days.
Temilyn says
I volunteer at a raw organic dairy and the milk they produce is good for at least a month even after opened. Milk doesn't go bad in a week as long as you keep it refrigerated. The sell by date is pretty reliable and even then it should go a week past that b/c it is a sell by date not consume by date. Hope this helps. Remember I'm talking raw non-homogenized which is even more delicate. So if you are using homogenized it will last longer. *Homogenized is bad though*
Jessica says
We soley drink organic milk and I have noticed that the exp date relates to the packaging. The organix milk in the paper carton lasts a month even opened, but if you buy organic milk in a plastic jug it only lasts a week. I think it has something to do with the enzymes in the milk breaking down the plastic which makes it go bad faster.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Amy. The milk we get is usually dated about 7-10 days out, but, the owner of Lakeview Farms explains that's not an expiration date per se (I'm not exactly sure what it is then :-)). I don't ever have my milk longer than 2 weeks at most so I know it usually lasts at least that long. I know it's really important to not leave it out and make sure it stays cold. That helps to keep it fresh and prevent it from spoiling. Jill
Ambre says
Just wanted to say that I saw a website (http://organicpastures.com/raw-almond-expose.htm) which spoke about whether your almonds were REALLY raw......they said that many brands are actually pasteurizing their almonds and selling them as raw. They did an experiment on different almonds to test them, and I tried the same experiment on the almonds I bought from Trader Joes, and they PASSED! Truly raw almonds. I am thankful because I really appreciate being able to get nuts and seeds at the prices they offer. I've never had any problem with any going bad, but I do have that problem with their produce from time to time. They are always gracious in refunding my money, but it is an incovenience not to have a fresh item right when you planned to use it!
Teresa says
Link does not work... what did you do to test them. Sprout them? I've been buying mine at Costco and "hoping" they were raw cause it's cheeper to buy them there. But the package doesn't actually say.
Adam at Joy of Blending says
That link was missing the last "l." Here is the working link:
http://organicpastures.com/raw-almond-expose.html
Out of curiosity I once tried to sprout Trader Joe's "raw" almonds, and they did not sprout. My understanding is that all almonds sold in mainstream commercial venues in the US have been pasteurized by one way or another.
That said, I'm not convinced that it really matters. I have yet to see any compelling evidence that sproutability changes the way you digest nuts. (Don't leave your almonds out in water for 4 days then put them in a plastic bag and they won't get moldy!)
Janine Burns says
We live on Trader Joes. I use the olive oil, I buy my milk and eggs from them. We love their wheat corn tortillas. My son loves their organic cheese sticks.
Jenny says
What a great post! I'd also add their price on almond meal and steel cut oats are amazing. I also have a small handful of items I buy at Trader Joe's solely, but sometimes you an find some great extras!
Amy says
Hi - I'm curious how you use the almond meal...looking into using the almond flour - do you use it the same way?
Elizabeth says
I only buy TJ's brand almond meal- the price is just too good! And Amy- I use it just like I would almond flour.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Amy. My understanding is that almond meal is different because it is not from blanched almonds (skin removed) whereas almond flour is made from blanched almonds. You can use the almond meal in things such as granola or as a breading on meat (it is a good gluten free option for that as well). Hope that helps. Jill
Ruby says
We do the Greek Honey Yogurt. I have tried other yogurts on my boys and they like this one best. milk,cream, honey, and cultures. We tried about 3 dozen and this one my oldest keeps us going back to. He eats it plain and with dry fruit.
Gets my vote as the dairy is hormone free.
teresa says
I am a HUGE fan of their honey Greek yogurt too! It is OUTSTANDING in every way...well, except the sugar content. I know that even plain yogurt is fairly high in sugars (probably the lactose), but I was shocked (and disappointed - I could eat it daily!) to see the honey Greek being especially high.
Crista says
love TJs organic Ketchup
Paula Reed says
Just curious why you purchase Lara Bars...all the ones I have looked at are very high in sugar for a so-called nutritious bar. The only protein bars I will buy are from Quest Nutrition. I absolutely LOVE EarthFare and have not ventured back into a Trader Joe's since I found it. :)
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Paula. Any sugar in the Lara Bars is not added sugar. Many of the varieties (perhaps all) contain dates which alone will increase the sugar, but, again, it is not added sugar. Hope that helps to clarify things. Jill
Kristin says
I LOVE TJ's! And actually, I disagree, you can get a ton of healthy stuff there, if like your regular grocery store, you shop the perimeter. First off, all the TJ's products are non-GMO and MSG free, their dairy is BGH free, their bread is preservative free, some things have reduced sodium options and most of the dairy is local for me as I live in WI. So right there, that makes shopping at TJ's a no-brainer. Plus, many of the ingredients are cheaper then my local grocery store. I buy fresh produce, frozen produce, organic free range chicken and broth, grass fed beef, applegate lunchmeat (for paninis) and grass fed all beef hot dogs, frozen wild caught salmon, plain european style and greek yogurt, butter, a variety of cheeses (blocks, sticks and crumbles) Whole wheat bread, raisin bread, pitas, naan and tortillas, nuts, raisins, applesauce (jarred), natural peanut butter, white whole wheat flour, organic sugar, half salt tuna,canned beans, soy sauce and that's all I can remember. I usually do stock-up runs every 4-5 weeks. Also they are WONDERFUL about taking back or exchanging overripe, spoiled, etc. food items, no questions asked.
Melody says
I agree with all of the above - but I admit Trader Joe's is my lifesaver for the days when I just can't pull a good meal together. They do have a lot of packaged stuff, but it has surprisingly pronounceable ingredients as far as packaged food. Not as good as a home-cooked meal, but far better than takeout or a standard pre-made meal. That comes in handy if your kitchen happens to be under construction for several months. =)
Sarah says
I am going to TJ's tomorrow for the 1st time to a new one that just opened up a little over an hour away. Thank you for the good suggestions everyone.
Rachel says
I WISH we had a TJ's close! So sad! But I will say that I use Real Salt and LOVE, it. I couldn't believe that the regular salt I was buying at the store had glucose in it! I never even thought to check until I saw a blog post about it. Just goes to show you that you have to read labels!
Deanna O says
GMO*
Deanna O says
Lara Bar has contributed over $500,000.00 against propostion 37 to label MO products. I do not buy products that are contributing against the GMO labeling project.
Jason Leake with 100 Days of Real Food says
Deanna (and others) - Here is the http://www.larabar.com/prop-37">Lara Bar company stance on GMOs and Proposition 37. While they claim Lara Bars are free of GMOs, their parent company, General Mills, has contributed over $500,000 against proposition 37. Our assistant, Jill, just introduced me to a great alternative, Kit's Organic fruit and nut bars. They are organic, non-GMO, and sold by a company that you may feel better purchasing from, Clif Bar & Company. According to this website, Clif Bar & Company supports proposition 37.
Amy says
I loved this post, thank you for sharing these! I love TJ's coconut oil, it tastes and smells so delicious and is so much cheaper than anywere else I've looked. I've never even looked at their processed foods there, but I am happy to know about the pretzels. Occasionaly I'll need pretzels and whole wheat ones are very hard to come by.
Joy says
I love Real Salt. We don't use anything else. I buy it in bulk from Whole Foods.
Leah says
I wish I could, but I have nothing but HyVee, Walmart, and our local store in my area. That's it. That's the only thing that really stinks about living in a small town. I guess that's a sacrifice we make for a low cost of living area.
Katie says
I noticed that the pitas aren't organic. You are usually very concerned about non-organic foods. Is there a reason you don't seem to mind with the pita bread? I'm not criticizing, just curious.
Lisa says
You are right...I usually buy organic whenever I can, but it isn't 100% of the time (maybe 90 - 95% of the time). If I knew of some organic whole-wheat pitas I would certainly buy those instead!
Rebecca says
My kids love the freeze dried mango and bananas. T. Joes has the lowest price on these and one of the few brands where the ingredients are only mangos or bananas. We leave with at least 3 bags each! I also love the pistachios. They are the only place I have found where you can get reduced salt pistachios. My kids love them as a snack.
Liesel says
I have to agree with everything except one ... Sorry, I can't choke down (nor even cook with) Charles Shaw. I've done it years ago, but instead I prefer Costco for wine (and Total Wine etc.) but for best prices on top rated wines ... Trader Joe's has very few. At Costco you can get several good wines for at or under $10. I'd just rater spend a few more dollars there. But then we are sort of obsessed about pairing wine with food.
Amy says
$2.49 trumps your $10... but I want good tasting wine also.
If you will google, wine magnet... along with lots of refrigerator magnet sites, you will come across wine bottle coasters that contain a magnet. Pour yourself a small sipper of any kind of RED Shaw, it only works for red wine, and set aside. Put the bottle on this magnet for a half hour, more or less, and and then compare. You can also use a magnet from a hardware store, but this is pretty and we drink wine with dinner most every night so nice on our table.
Shaw American Chardonnay won over a $100 bottle a few years ago... cannot remember the details. Anyway a little time on a magnet improves the reds to a very nicely aged wine. :o)
Deanna says
I don't have a TJ's close by, so when I go, I stock up on Salsa Verde, nuts/trail mixes, some of the sliced cheeses like the goat milk dutch cheese, and their frozen seafood mix and/or tuna steaks, depending on what I'm in the mood for. Their frozen seafood is actually priced affordably.
Kelly says
Here's our list:
organic aloe, kerry gold butter, strauss milk (TJ's organic cream top), organic European plain yogurt (strauss also), raw almond butter - my fave!, fruit juice sweetened jam, maple syrup, beans (for when I have no time to soak and cook), tom paste, olive oil, rice vinegar, frozen fish, frozen grass fed ground beef, frozen organic berries, Carrs crackers (they are the flaxseed whole wheat ones), whole wheat lavash bread, cheeses, organic chickens, and organic wines. rice pastas, rice, nuts, and quinoa. Oh...and the new stone ground dark chocolate - so yummy! We love TJ's (we don't have many more options around other than big grocery stores or overpriced "natural food " stores. We do have great farmers markets and get a CSA basket for our veggies.
Susan says
I was really annoyed to learn that Lara Bars had donated money against Prop 37 here in CA. Their packaging clamins they use no GMO products yet they side with Monsanto on this one?? Very, very fishy!!
Please excuse my typos. I find commenting on this site very difficult as my screen jumps all around and I can't get the curser to stay any where on the page!
Jess says
I agree! But then I learned Larabar was bought out by General Mills, so that explains it! :(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A4rabar
Elle says
I do not think TJ's is a healthy food store. Most of there food is prepackaged, boxed, or frozen with very little fresh fruits and veggies.
Honestly, the only thing I buy on a regular basis form TJ's is there organic concord grape jelly! My kids LOVE PB&J's and it is the only decent size jelly I can find that does not have HFCS and is not a 4 oz jar for about five dollars. TJ's is not close to me I actually have to pass Whole Foods to go there so I buy 6 jars at a time to last a few months.
If I buy anything else there breads are good, as well as the nuts like you said, and I learned to stretch my maple syrup from them by blending it with agave nectar.
There fresh organic apples, and potatoes in the 3lb bags are a good price at about $3.69 but WF now has bagged fruits at a comparable price point.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Elle. I would agree, just like any of the grocery stores, there are plenty of "non-real" food items in each. But, I do think for the items mentioned in the post, the prices are hard to beat. Jill
Katie says
-Organic cream top milk. Organic whole milk plain European style yogurt (both are from Straus family creamery).
-Tuscan style whole wheat bread (only 3 or 4 ingredients...so yummy!)
-white whole wheat flour
-organic dark chocolate, caramel and sea salt chocolate bar...:)
-organic coffee
-cheese
-Kashi's 'autumn wheat' cereal- best 'real food' cereal I've been able to find!
-sunflower seeds (I get nuts at Costco...much better price)
-Organic Pasta Sauce
-Whole wheat organic pasta noodles
-organic apples
-other produce if it looks good and prices are ok
Leena says
I would stay away from kashi brand if possible. Many of their cereals most likely contain GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Try natures path or cascadian farms ( parent company is general mills, but still a lesser of two evils).
Angela says
I wondered about this too, so I looked into it. Some of Kashi's cereals are non-GMO. I haven't yet looked into other Kashi products, though. Check out the following link.
http://www.kashi.com/nongmo