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. :)
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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
Nicolesays
Lisa, do you buy organic nuts/seeds? I have been buying pretty much 100% organic items but as the family keeps growing the food budget is getting quite high and I'm just wondering what items might be ok to switch to conventionally grown without compromising the healthy of my kids. Thanks so much.
Hi Nicole. Because of their high fat content, many nuts and seeds absorb harmful chemicals easily. It is better to buy them organically when you can, especially those that are consumed frequently. Peanuts (which are a legume) are one of the most contaminated crops and is one I would not buy conventionally. ~Amy
I've sort of plugged my ears to this for a while, but started buying organic peanut butter recently. However, almond butter is my absolute favorite and I can't seem to find it for less than $10/jar. :-(
Jessiesays
Kareen, I buy organic almond butter at Costco! Surprising, I know. I think it's $6 for a really large jar, something like 24 ounces, which is the best deal I've found. I just stock up on that, and never run out. It's delicious.
kareensays
Oh, good to know! I need to make a costco run soon anyway. I'll look for it. Thanks!
Kathrynsays
If you have a food processor, it is very easy to make your own nut butters. Our favorite is cashew butter. Pecan is also very good.
Kellysays
Hmm I had never really thought about peanuts and pesticides. Not sure why not. Does this mean that non-organic peanut butter if full of pesticides????
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy)says
Hi Kelly. I would buy organic peanut butter. :) ~Amy
Tracysays
I bought some brown rice noodles at Trader Joe's. The ingredients are organic brown rice and water and they were only $1.99. Tried them tonight and honestly you would never know the difference between them and regular white noodles. Are they a good alternative or is the rice too processed in order to make it into a noodle? There are so many things I would have never tried a few weeks ago. Thank you so much for your blog. I have learned so much and I love your real world approach.
Lisa- you must try the Green Fin Organic wine from Trader Joes! I love the red and white table wines. They only cost a dollar more than the Charles Shaw so they still stay in the budget!
Complain all you want about the "commercial" Trader Joe's - we live overseas in Europe and I miss it EVERY DAY!!!! The reality is that we are lucky to have a store like trader joe's that was one of the 1st of it's kind to offer the clean living dieter the option of eating healthy - I am older and remember the horror of the heath food stores of the 80's - The old adage is true - you don't know what you got till it's gone - trust me - It's AWESOME and even the super healthy stores of Europe have nothing on the variety, selection and choice at TJ's - Don't knock them for trying to make a buck in this economy - at least they are staying true to their roots - Europe would be perfect with a Trader Joe's and maybe a Barnes and Noble - and a Home Depot - ;)
I buy their canned tomato sauce (no BPA) and their bagged organic green (kale, chard ans spinach) for my smoothies. Also almond meal is dirt cheap their and even though they aren't an ideal "real food" I do buy my son their organic pop tarts.
Hi Ebony. You can find some organic packaged meats at Trader Joe's but it is unlikely you will find anything that is fresh and local. Hope that helps. ~Amy
Thank you! This is a great guide, especially for someone like me who is just starting out (more seriously) with going all organic and healthier overall. I was wondering, the coconut oil you buy at TJ's for $5.99, what is the size, so that i may compare at other places, and on Amazon? Thanks! I love your blog and website! :)
So I stopped in Trader Joe's yesterday to find a sign at their front door that reads "Did you know? A Trader Joe's label means...No GMOs, No MSG, No artificial flavors, or preservatives, No synthetic colors and No partially hydrogenated oils".
So I asked a clerk about it and she said that any of their products that have the Trader Joe's name/label on it means that they are made with out the above items. This was news to me, as I was looking specifically for items that noted the lack of these items.
What are your thoughts on these items vs. the organic ones? Should I still seek out organic items even if there are no gmo, msg, etc in the non organic TJ items?
Hello Camille. I buy Trader Joes branded items pretty much exclusively when there. If they have organic TJs versions, I will choose those. When it comes to their produce, it is good to stick to organic when possible especially when purchasing anything from the dirty dozen list: http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/.
@Camille - Trader Joe's can't be trusted! I can't eat anything with MSG in it so I have been emailing Trader Joe's to ask about some of their products to see if they contain MSG since they do market their products as being MSG free. MSG can go by many different names, including NATURAL FLAVORS, SPICES, SEASONINGS, and the list goes on. One of my favorite TJ products that I used to eat, before I realized many of my health problems were caused by MSG, is the Organic Red Pepper Tomato Soup which shows NATURAL FLAVORS on its label. So I emailed TJ's to ask if that meant there was MSG in it. I have sent 3 emails and I have yet to get a response. I then went to my local TJ's and asked the manager the same question (I live in Rochester MN). I asked him if a product contains "natural flavors, spices or seasonings" on their label does that mean there is MSG in it? He told be absolutely no. So I bought some of the tomato soup and ate it and within a day, I had the same reactions I get whenever I consume MSG. I was sooooo disappointed (not to mention sick)! Don't believe it for a second that they don't use chemicals in their products because they do. MY BODY DOES NOT LIE! I get a migraine, my stomach hurts (bloated and painful), and my appetite kicks into overdrive. Trader Joe's are traitors too!
Lauren,
I am the same way, anything with MSG hidden in it under the name of spices or natural flavors makes me feel awful. It is very hard to eat out anywhere!
Hanasays
I am in Kernersville NC, between Greensboro & Winston Salem, and we got a new Trader Joes a few months ago. I love that it is just 10min from my house as opposed to EarthFare which is about 30. It makes it easier for quick small grocery trips. I buy a lot of these same items including nuts like raw almonds and sunflower seeds to make nut butters. I have had great quality so far with their nuts but was wondering your thoughts on Organic vs conventional. Does Charlotte's TJs have organic almonds and other nuts? Ours don't say organic on the bag. I don't see organic on your shelf tags in the photo above. Thoughts? Is it ok?
Hi Hanna. I have seen organic nuts from time to time in Trader Joe's but not at the one we frequent here in Charlotte. Organic is always a smart choice especially for peanuts (legumes technically) since they are so heavily sprayed. If you want the organic varieties, Trader Joe's is good about stocking items their customers request. Good luck. Amy
Trader Joes, whole wheat lavash bread is also a great alternative to tortillas or even regular bread. I use them to make wraps for lunch, Or just rip it in half and spread some hummus onto it for a light midnight snack!
Just thought I would pass on two sources for things your readers might like...and you can order them online. I buy Wilderness Family Naturals brand for coconut oil. Since we use so much I buy the BIG 1 gallon pail. I generally get centrifuge extracted (never heated) but the cold pressed is pretty good too. I think you might find it is cheaper than TJ per ounce. http://www.wildernessfamilynaturals.com/. Also, for bread we buy from a local company. They are in the process of changing their name from Cybros to Angelic Bakery. If you have ever had Ezekial bread, this stuff is WAY, WAY better. Sorry, but I thought Ezekial bread tasted like cardboard. This stuff is amazing. You can order it online and have it shipped. They ship the same day they bake. https://thesproutedbakehouse.com/
I have no affiliation with either company...just a big fan of both! Thanks for sharing!
I worry at all health food stores about what grade of water hose they use when spraying their fresh vegetables. I know some water hose and other ruber,etc hose have labels on them that say not to drink from them and to wash your hands following the use of them due to chemicals KNOWN to cause cancer used in them.
Hi Friends!
I am new to this "real food" strategy and am becoming very overwhelmed, very quickly. My husband and I are trying to eat better and live a healthy lifestyle but there are so many conflicting stories on the internet, it's hard to know where to start. We are taking baby steps and I love that your website can help me do that. I shop at T.J's and found myself reading every label yesterday which took me almost 2 hours for this week's groceries. I didn't know what to do for bread. I ended up buying T.J's 100% whole wheat Fiber Bread. Is this a good choice? The ingredients are as follows: Sprouted Organic Whole Wheat Berries, Filtered Water, Wheat Gluten, Oat Fiber, Organic Dates, Yeast, Organic Raisins, Organic Vinegar, Cultured Wheat, Sea Salt, Safflower Oil, and Barley Malt. I am praying this is a good choice becuase it actually tastes not half bad. As a full-time working woman, making my own bread, oatmeal,and granola is just too time consuming. Like I said, baby steps.
I purchased a ton of fresh fruit and vegetables, organic PB (only 2 ingredients) and cheese/lunchmeat. How do i know which cheese is best? I got the same brand cheese above but just in smoked Gouda. Is this ok? I also got No additives or Nitrates turkey and ham. At this point, it was over 2 hours and I couldn't read anymore labels. I'm just so confused and overwhelmed! Help please:-)
I just like to share my opinion on your questions:
The non-cured/no additives/no nitrates ham and hotdogs is a hoax for two reasons. Firstly, in order to produce products like hotdogs, salami, etc. you need nitrate, period. In order to avoid the label "nitrate" manufacturers are adding vegetables high in nitrate (mostly celery). However, the nitrate content is the same as in conventionally produced cured meats. It is the same concept as adding yeast (naturally high in glutamate) to avoid the label MSG. Secondly, newer research shows, that nitrate and nitrite are not as harmful as long assumed.
For me, bread should only contain very few ingredients (wheat and eventually other grains, water, salt, yeast). I found the best breads in artisan bakeries or on farmer's markets. However, I did not grow up in the US and I am more used to heavier, darker breads with a real crust - you might not like this type. The one you picked at Trader Joe's I would not take, but if you like it...
Cheese - you have to decide what is important for you: taste, organic, etc. and go from there. Packaged supermarket cheese won't kill you and if you like it its certainly good to pick whatever type you like best. But, its taste is far away from real (mostly imported) cheese. Try some real cheese from a place, where they cut you a fresh piece from a huge loaf and you'll taste the difference. Unfortunately, the latter ones are $$.
I think, you are on the right track and the hugest improvements you can make by working on your cooking skills, doing as much as home-cooking as possible and increasing your vegetable and fruit intake. All the other details, like organic versus non-organic or which oil, grain, pasta, etc. to take are secondary issues that can be addressed sometime down the road.
Trader Joe's - the ALDI for intellectuals. ALDI is a German supermarket chain, that manages to sell their stuff for dirt cheap by working directly with the manufacturers and offering a limited number of products. Trader Joe's is part of ALDI and the owners are the richest Germans. ALDI has a reputation of being ruthless, ruining prices for manufacturers and farmers. But they seem to be playing by the book as their products are normally doing okay in independent tests. As for Trader Joe's, I assume they are also playing by the book, but they are certainly not organic by conviction. I recommend the movie "In organic we trust", which shows that mass-produced organic is in a lot of ways not much different from mass-produced conventional.
Hi Autum. It is very overwhelming at first, but, I promise, it does soon become second nature. In terms of bread, do you have a Great Harvest nearby? That's the best option if you don't want to make it yourself. Or, our Whole Foods (if you are local) carries a brand called Breadsmith - their honey whole wheat also only has 5 ingredients. In terms of cheese, I would stick to organic if you can, or at least ones free of hormones and from grass fed cows. And, yes, if you are going to buy lunch meant (my kids still enjoy it too :-)), then, I would get the Applegate Organics line which is free of nitrates. Hope that helps some. Best of luck. Jill
This is a great list. I also love the 100% whole wheat sourdough bread... it makes the best PB&J. I also love TJ's honey greek yogurt - it is the only sweet yogurt I've found that doesn't include a processed sweetener and it's made from whole milk. Though not organic, it is rbGH free. My daughter just won't do plain yogurt... Just curious why you don't drink only organic wine? Is there not an issue with pesticides in that form?
We sometimes drink organic wine...I suppose we aren't as good elsewhere as we are in the food department! Definitely room for improvement with our wine selection. I agree.
One of the ingredients in Trader Joe's whole wheat mini pita pockets is "cultured wheat starch." I was wondering what are the opinions of you and your contributors regarding this ingredient - is it something to be wary of?
Thank goodness for TJs. We have to drive for an hour to get there, but it's worth our while when we combine it with other necessary shopping. I'll add my new fave, whole wheat Tuscan Pane(only 4 ingredients!)
I am glad to see that you make occasional exceptions to the rules, like with the pretzels. We eat almost all real food with occasional exceptions thanks to your inspiration. Here's a tip about TJ's wine: they sell an organic merlot under their name that'sa bit more than the 3 buck Chuck, but it taste much better too! It's only $5. Worth the extra $2 if you ask me.
Agreed TJ's is not always healthy stuff. I do wish they did not use corn sweeteners or the dreaded PALM OILS in their foods (but that is what replaced the trans-fats in baked goods). However, there are SO many things they have that are FAB for the prices and I do 80% of my shopping there.
Just want to mention that they do try to source GMO-free ingredients in all of their private label (trader joe's brand) foods.
I think Costco and Wegman's are cheaper when it comes to these things. I can get large quantities of organic fruits and veggies and meat at Costco. Then Wegman's has a lot of organic meats, cheeses and cold cuts.
I think Trader's is over priced and there is always a recall on something since they import a lot of there food.
Love your site and all the good snack recipes for my kids. Thanks so much!
We are on the Whole 30 and got rid of ALL our processed foods and soda.
I love Lara bars too but will not buy them anymore. They are owned by General Mills who spent hundreds of thousands in an effort (and then succeeded) to defeat prop 37.
I find it hard to shop at TJ's b/c all of their products are processed in the same facility and they label their products (processed in facility with milk, dairy, eggs etc) and my daughter is allergic to all 3 of these items. It this still the case b/c I have not been to TJ's in a long time b/c of this issue. How about Whole Foods? Does anyone know if their packaging states this? Especially on breads and pretzels ets. Items like that. I have had a had time find a 100% whole grain bread for my daughter that is not processed in a facility with other allergens. Any suggestions?
Hi Kristin. I do believe that is still the case with many of the TJ's products. I'm not sure about Whole Foods since they carry a much wider variety in terms of brands. My guess is that they would have less of this, but, that's just a guess. Jill
Tropical Traditions does sell a steam-deodorized coconut oil that does not taste/smell coconutty, but it's true that most coconut oil that doesn't have those coconutty characteristics has been chemically processed. Here is a link to the TT oil I mentioned: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/pure-coconut-oil.htm
Those are many of my favorites as well. I also buy my organic beans there, they switched to BPA free cans a while ago and they are cheaper than the conventional grocery store. Their giant chocolate bars are great for baking, I always have some in the pantry. Our cat gets their brand of dry cat food, and we occasionally use the Refresh body wash. One more thing, they have organic oatmeal (dry in the cereal section) that is the same brand they sell at our local supermarket and Whole Foods but much cheaper. I can get 75% of my shopping done at TJ's and then supplement at WF or other stores during the week. Saves lots of money for sure!
I love Trader Joe's! Some of my usual buys there include: olive oil, brown rice pasta, Mediterranean hummus, low-salt roasted almonds, roasted red pepper soup, fresh mozzarella balls, kerrygold butter, roasted tomato salsa, frozen fish, and yes, two-buck Chuck! Also for an occasional treat the "Power Berries" are good!
I LOVE (can't say it enough) tj's coconut oil.....use it for.everything especially to.replace beauty products full of chemicals I'm now trying to avoud. I also work right across the street from a whole foods and the value of tjs oil is uncomparable. I also buy staples at tj's...butter....coffee (I use their french roast as espresso...soooooo yum) In addition I always buy their soy milk..it is by far the best soy milk I have ever tasted! I am thouroughly hooked on it. Ocassionally I also crumpets because they are hard to find but they go bad fast so I buy them when I know we will use them fast... one last note..I just discovered a yummy tj only treat their pbj dark chocolate bar is yummy! BTW using the coconut oil to replace acne wash, deoderant, lotion and a couple others has saved me a ton of money and made my skin lovely and soft!
Hello Jamey. I use it just like I would use any tub of lotion but more sparingly. A little goes a long way. You can add essential oils if you want a bit more of a scent. I sometimes add lavender. It is easy. Try it. ~Amy
Stephaniesays
I've liked the Baker Josef's 100percent white whole wheat four... Is that not a good flour to use?? Is regular whole wheat better?
Hi Stephanie. The white whole wheat flour is fine to use. I have never actually tried the Trader Joe's flour - I use the King Arthur. I've been tempted to before though. Jill
We eat gluten free due to my sons allergy- so we love their corn pasta, the GF granola (expensive so we don't get it every week), frozen mango for smoothies, deli turkey meat, cheddar corn puffs, blue corn chips, rice crackers, love the chewable melatonin for sleep, GF rice Mac n cheese, BBQ chicken mixed with black beans!!
The price on organic apples and pears is about half of what it costs anywhere else. We also buy the coconut oil, cheese, and the whole grain pretzels. I think they have a sourdough that is whole grain as well. Thanks for posting this one!!!!
All nuts and dried fruit, my kids love just mango
Organic baby greens
Organic bagged apples, perfect size for snack and school lynched
Seaweed snack
Coconut and olive oil
Roasted red peppers
Refried bands and other canned beans
Tuna
Frozen organic fruits and veggies
Cheese, love their cheeses
They have a few nitrate free lunch meats i get too
not as healthy lol but we also love
Organic ketchup and bbq sauce
Tortilla chips and very rarely ridge cut potato chips
Bacon
Spinach tortellini, great price
Pound plus 70% chocolate bar
Coconut flo bars
Joe Joe cookies :)
I have recently been shopping more at TJ's and found their prices reasonable. These are the items I love to buy there:
-bags of fruit: apples, pears, oranges and clementines.
- cherry tomatoes ( my kids pop them like candy)
-Whole wheat bagels because there are 6 in the bag for under $3.00 whereas Publix sells four in their bags for around the same price and are not truly whole wheat...my family loves bagels and TJ's has been our savior for a better ingredient bagel!
-TJ's Whole Wheat Flour
-Agree with the statement for prices on nuts and dried fruit
When I go to TJ's I feel like I am getting good value for the whole products I buy. That is not always the case elsewhere like Publix or Whole Foods where I sometimes feel price gouged for wanting to buy cleaner foods.
so many things...
alvarado st sprouted wheat tortilla (made with organic sprouted wheat and organic whole wheat flour)
organic whole wheat pita
organic whole wheat pane loaf
organic lettuces including kale
organic veggies and fruits - fresh and frozen
organic oatmeal
organic cheese - new zealand grass fed
organic milk and yogurt
organic grass fed butter
frozen cubes of garlic, basil, cilantro & ginger
organic fruits and vegetables
organic reduced sugar jelly
organic peanut butter
baked and/or organic chips
akmok crackers
organic olive oil & coconut oil
organic frozen brown rice
organic canned pumpkin
organic canned beans
organic unsalted roasted almonds (to eat and make almond butter with)
raw cashews to make cashew milk with (soooo yummy & easy too - no need to soak)
i'm sure i'm forgetting something but this is most everything. :)
Someone else may have mentioned this, but we love their Kerrygold grass-fed butter and Grade B Maple Syrup. I think the selection depends on the particular Trader Joe's. Since we have to drive 2.5 hours to Chicago to shop at one, we've visited a number of different stores and they carry different things. I also love their organic tea selection and olive oil. Frozen organic berries are good too, when we run out of the ones we put up from the summer season. It's not food, but they also carry chlorine-free toilet paper and Dr. Bronner's soap for a great price.
Nicole says
Lisa, do you buy organic nuts/seeds? I have been buying pretty much 100% organic items but as the family keeps growing the food budget is getting quite high and I'm just wondering what items might be ok to switch to conventionally grown without compromising the healthy of my kids. Thanks so much.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Nicole. Because of their high fat content, many nuts and seeds absorb harmful chemicals easily. It is better to buy them organically when you can, especially those that are consumed frequently. Peanuts (which are a legume) are one of the most contaminated crops and is one I would not buy conventionally. ~Amy
kareen says
I've sort of plugged my ears to this for a while, but started buying organic peanut butter recently. However, almond butter is my absolute favorite and I can't seem to find it for less than $10/jar. :-(
Jessie says
Kareen, I buy organic almond butter at Costco! Surprising, I know. I think it's $6 for a really large jar, something like 24 ounces, which is the best deal I've found. I just stock up on that, and never run out. It's delicious.
kareen says
Oh, good to know! I need to make a costco run soon anyway. I'll look for it. Thanks!
Kathryn says
If you have a food processor, it is very easy to make your own nut butters. Our favorite is cashew butter. Pecan is also very good.
Kelly says
Hmm I had never really thought about peanuts and pesticides. Not sure why not. Does this mean that non-organic peanut butter if full of pesticides????
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Kelly. I would buy organic peanut butter. :) ~Amy
Tracy says
I bought some brown rice noodles at Trader Joe's. The ingredients are organic brown rice and water and they were only $1.99. Tried them tonight and honestly you would never know the difference between them and regular white noodles. Are they a good alternative or is the rice too processed in order to make it into a noodle? There are so many things I would have never tried a few weeks ago. Thank you so much for your blog. I have learned so much and I love your real world approach.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Tracy. 100% brown rice noodles are a great whole grain pasta choice! ~Amy
Toni says
Lisa- you must try the Green Fin Organic wine from Trader Joes! I love the red and white table wines. They only cost a dollar more than the Charles Shaw so they still stay in the budget!
Sydney says
I love the little round loaves of organic, 100% whole wheat bread they carry. Three ingredients and they taste like wonderful French bread.
Nonnie says
Complain all you want about the "commercial" Trader Joe's - we live overseas in Europe and I miss it EVERY DAY!!!! The reality is that we are lucky to have a store like trader joe's that was one of the 1st of it's kind to offer the clean living dieter the option of eating healthy - I am older and remember the horror of the heath food stores of the 80's - The old adage is true - you don't know what you got till it's gone - trust me - It's AWESOME and even the super healthy stores of Europe have nothing on the variety, selection and choice at TJ's - Don't knock them for trying to make a buck in this economy - at least they are staying true to their roots - Europe would be perfect with a Trader Joe's and maybe a Barnes and Noble - and a Home Depot - ;)
Laurie says
I buy their canned tomato sauce (no BPA) and their bagged organic green (kale, chard ans spinach) for my smoothies. Also almond meal is dirt cheap their and even though they aren't an ideal "real food" I do buy my son their organic pop tarts.
adrianne says
Is that espresso blend just for an espresso machine or for coffee maker?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Adrianne. Lisa uses an espresso machine but I've used it in a french press. I've not tried it in automatic drip. ~Amy
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Ebony. You can find some organic packaged meats at Trader Joe's but it is unlikely you will find anything that is fresh and local. Hope that helps. ~Amy
EbonyAlexander says
I was just wondering about TJ meats? As I am just starting out, trying to eat more healthy.
Christina says
Thank you! This is a great guide, especially for someone like me who is just starting out (more seriously) with going all organic and healthier overall. I was wondering, the coconut oil you buy at TJ's for $5.99, what is the size, so that i may compare at other places, and on Amazon? Thanks! I love your blog and website! :)
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Christina. It is 16oz of organic virgin coconut oil. ~Amy
Camille says
So I stopped in Trader Joe's yesterday to find a sign at their front door that reads "Did you know? A Trader Joe's label means...No GMOs, No MSG, No artificial flavors, or preservatives, No synthetic colors and No partially hydrogenated oils".
So I asked a clerk about it and she said that any of their products that have the Trader Joe's name/label on it means that they are made with out the above items. This was news to me, as I was looking specifically for items that noted the lack of these items.
What are your thoughts on these items vs. the organic ones? Should I still seek out organic items even if there are no gmo, msg, etc in the non organic TJ items?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hello Camille. I buy Trader Joes branded items pretty much exclusively when there. If they have organic TJs versions, I will choose those. When it comes to their produce, it is good to stick to organic when possible especially when purchasing anything from the dirty dozen list: http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/.
Lauren says
@Camille - Trader Joe's can't be trusted! I can't eat anything with MSG in it so I have been emailing Trader Joe's to ask about some of their products to see if they contain MSG since they do market their products as being MSG free. MSG can go by many different names, including NATURAL FLAVORS, SPICES, SEASONINGS, and the list goes on. One of my favorite TJ products that I used to eat, before I realized many of my health problems were caused by MSG, is the Organic Red Pepper Tomato Soup which shows NATURAL FLAVORS on its label. So I emailed TJ's to ask if that meant there was MSG in it. I have sent 3 emails and I have yet to get a response. I then went to my local TJ's and asked the manager the same question (I live in Rochester MN). I asked him if a product contains "natural flavors, spices or seasonings" on their label does that mean there is MSG in it? He told be absolutely no. So I bought some of the tomato soup and ate it and within a day, I had the same reactions I get whenever I consume MSG. I was sooooo disappointed (not to mention sick)! Don't believe it for a second that they don't use chemicals in their products because they do. MY BODY DOES NOT LIE! I get a migraine, my stomach hurts (bloated and painful), and my appetite kicks into overdrive. Trader Joe's are traitors too!
Cindy says
Lauren,
I am the same way, anything with MSG hidden in it under the name of spices or natural flavors makes me feel awful. It is very hard to eat out anywhere!
Hana says
I am in Kernersville NC, between Greensboro & Winston Salem, and we got a new Trader Joes a few months ago. I love that it is just 10min from my house as opposed to EarthFare which is about 30. It makes it easier for quick small grocery trips. I buy a lot of these same items including nuts like raw almonds and sunflower seeds to make nut butters. I have had great quality so far with their nuts but was wondering your thoughts on Organic vs conventional. Does Charlotte's TJs have organic almonds and other nuts? Ours don't say organic on the bag. I don't see organic on your shelf tags in the photo above. Thoughts? Is it ok?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Hanna. I have seen organic nuts from time to time in Trader Joe's but not at the one we frequent here in Charlotte. Organic is always a smart choice especially for peanuts (legumes technically) since they are so heavily sprayed. If you want the organic varieties, Trader Joe's is good about stocking items their customers request. Good luck. Amy
Danielle b says
I've heard from other whole food blogs honey should be raw, local or a grade B. what is your take?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Danielle. Lisa has used a variety of honeys in her recipes. She typically buys local honey from Earth Fare. ~Amy
Roxanna says
Trader Joes, whole wheat lavash bread is also a great alternative to tortillas or even regular bread. I use them to make wraps for lunch, Or just rip it in half and spread some hummus onto it for a light midnight snack!
Colleen B says
Just thought I would pass on two sources for things your readers might like...and you can order them online. I buy Wilderness Family Naturals brand for coconut oil. Since we use so much I buy the BIG 1 gallon pail. I generally get centrifuge extracted (never heated) but the cold pressed is pretty good too. I think you might find it is cheaper than TJ per ounce. http://www.wildernessfamilynaturals.com/. Also, for bread we buy from a local company. They are in the process of changing their name from Cybros to Angelic Bakery. If you have ever had Ezekial bread, this stuff is WAY, WAY better. Sorry, but I thought Ezekial bread tasted like cardboard. This stuff is amazing. You can order it online and have it shipped. They ship the same day they bake. https://thesproutedbakehouse.com/
I have no affiliation with either company...just a big fan of both! Thanks for sharing!
Colleen
Sally says
I worry at all health food stores about what grade of water hose they use when spraying their fresh vegetables. I know some water hose and other ruber,etc hose have labels on them that say not to drink from them and to wash your hands following the use of them due to chemicals KNOWN to cause cancer used in them.
Autum says
Hi Friends!
I am new to this "real food" strategy and am becoming very overwhelmed, very quickly. My husband and I are trying to eat better and live a healthy lifestyle but there are so many conflicting stories on the internet, it's hard to know where to start. We are taking baby steps and I love that your website can help me do that. I shop at T.J's and found myself reading every label yesterday which took me almost 2 hours for this week's groceries. I didn't know what to do for bread. I ended up buying T.J's 100% whole wheat Fiber Bread. Is this a good choice? The ingredients are as follows: Sprouted Organic Whole Wheat Berries, Filtered Water, Wheat Gluten, Oat Fiber, Organic Dates, Yeast, Organic Raisins, Organic Vinegar, Cultured Wheat, Sea Salt, Safflower Oil, and Barley Malt. I am praying this is a good choice becuase it actually tastes not half bad. As a full-time working woman, making my own bread, oatmeal,and granola is just too time consuming. Like I said, baby steps.
I purchased a ton of fresh fruit and vegetables, organic PB (only 2 ingredients) and cheese/lunchmeat. How do i know which cheese is best? I got the same brand cheese above but just in smoked Gouda. Is this ok? I also got No additives or Nitrates turkey and ham. At this point, it was over 2 hours and I couldn't read anymore labels. I'm just so confused and overwhelmed! Help please:-)
Critical Reader says
I just like to share my opinion on your questions:
The non-cured/no additives/no nitrates ham and hotdogs is a hoax for two reasons. Firstly, in order to produce products like hotdogs, salami, etc. you need nitrate, period. In order to avoid the label "nitrate" manufacturers are adding vegetables high in nitrate (mostly celery). However, the nitrate content is the same as in conventionally produced cured meats. It is the same concept as adding yeast (naturally high in glutamate) to avoid the label MSG. Secondly, newer research shows, that nitrate and nitrite are not as harmful as long assumed.
For me, bread should only contain very few ingredients (wheat and eventually other grains, water, salt, yeast). I found the best breads in artisan bakeries or on farmer's markets. However, I did not grow up in the US and I am more used to heavier, darker breads with a real crust - you might not like this type. The one you picked at Trader Joe's I would not take, but if you like it...
Cheese - you have to decide what is important for you: taste, organic, etc. and go from there. Packaged supermarket cheese won't kill you and if you like it its certainly good to pick whatever type you like best. But, its taste is far away from real (mostly imported) cheese. Try some real cheese from a place, where they cut you a fresh piece from a huge loaf and you'll taste the difference. Unfortunately, the latter ones are $$.
I think, you are on the right track and the hugest improvements you can make by working on your cooking skills, doing as much as home-cooking as possible and increasing your vegetable and fruit intake. All the other details, like organic versus non-organic or which oil, grain, pasta, etc. to take are secondary issues that can be addressed sometime down the road.
Trader Joe's - the ALDI for intellectuals. ALDI is a German supermarket chain, that manages to sell their stuff for dirt cheap by working directly with the manufacturers and offering a limited number of products. Trader Joe's is part of ALDI and the owners are the richest Germans. ALDI has a reputation of being ruthless, ruining prices for manufacturers and farmers. But they seem to be playing by the book as their products are normally doing okay in independent tests. As for Trader Joe's, I assume they are also playing by the book, but they are certainly not organic by conviction. I recommend the movie "In organic we trust", which shows that mass-produced organic is in a lot of ways not much different from mass-produced conventional.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Autum. It is very overwhelming at first, but, I promise, it does soon become second nature. In terms of bread, do you have a Great Harvest nearby? That's the best option if you don't want to make it yourself. Or, our Whole Foods (if you are local) carries a brand called Breadsmith - their honey whole wheat also only has 5 ingredients. In terms of cheese, I would stick to organic if you can, or at least ones free of hormones and from grass fed cows. And, yes, if you are going to buy lunch meant (my kids still enjoy it too :-)), then, I would get the Applegate Organics line which is free of nitrates. Hope that helps some. Best of luck. Jill
Jen says
This is a great list. I also love the 100% whole wheat sourdough bread... it makes the best PB&J. I also love TJ's honey greek yogurt - it is the only sweet yogurt I've found that doesn't include a processed sweetener and it's made from whole milk. Though not organic, it is rbGH free. My daughter just won't do plain yogurt... Just curious why you don't drink only organic wine? Is there not an issue with pesticides in that form?
Lisa says
We sometimes drink organic wine...I suppose we aren't as good elsewhere as we are in the food department! Definitely room for improvement with our wine selection. I agree.
Lauren says
One of the ingredients in Trader Joe's whole wheat mini pita pockets is "cultured wheat starch." I was wondering what are the opinions of you and your contributors regarding this ingredient - is it something to be wary of?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Lauren. I believe that the wheat starch is just whole wheat flour, distilled vinegar and water, so I think it should be fine. Jill
Erin from Long Island says
I like to have a bag or 2 of frozen veggies, just in case. Also, I think tempeh is minimally processed? Man, I am obsessed with that stuff!
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Erin. I honestly am not that familiar with tempeh. I'm sure there are varying degrees of it in terms of some being more processed than others. Jill
Erin from Long Island says
you're probably right. I am going to make my own this week, I think. I hope it works!
Diana @ Eating Made Easy says
I buy many of the same things at Trader Joe's! I love buying frozen organic berries and fruit. We did a similar post about what to buy at Costco here: http://eating-made-easy.com/2012/09/08/costco-shopping-list/
Robin says
Thank goodness for TJs. We have to drive for an hour to get there, but it's worth our while when we combine it with other necessary shopping. I'll add my new fave, whole wheat Tuscan Pane(only 4 ingredients!)
Marcie says
I am glad to see that you make occasional exceptions to the rules, like with the pretzels. We eat almost all real food with occasional exceptions thanks to your inspiration. Here's a tip about TJ's wine: they sell an organic merlot under their name that'sa bit more than the 3 buck Chuck, but it taste much better too! It's only $5. Worth the extra $2 if you ask me.
Caty K says
Agreed TJ's is not always healthy stuff. I do wish they did not use corn sweeteners or the dreaded PALM OILS in their foods (but that is what replaced the trans-fats in baked goods). However, there are SO many things they have that are FAB for the prices and I do 80% of my shopping there.
Just want to mention that they do try to source GMO-free ingredients in all of their private label (trader joe's brand) foods.
Dawn Behrens says
I think Costco and Wegman's are cheaper when it comes to these things. I can get large quantities of organic fruits and veggies and meat at Costco. Then Wegman's has a lot of organic meats, cheeses and cold cuts.
I think Trader's is over priced and there is always a recall on something since they import a lot of there food.
Love your site and all the good snack recipes for my kids. Thanks so much!
We are on the Whole 30 and got rid of ALL our processed foods and soda.
April says
I love their sipping chocolate, sea salt dark chocolate almonds and sunflower butter! Also love their seasonal teas!
Annette says
Not sure if anyone else has mentioned it yet but I was so happy too find GRADE B Maple syrup at TJs. Can't seem to find it anywhere else around here.
Charissa says
I love Lara bars too but will not buy them anymore. They are owned by General Mills who spent hundreds of thousands in an effort (and then succeeded) to defeat prop 37.
Kristin says
I find it hard to shop at TJ's b/c all of their products are processed in the same facility and they label their products (processed in facility with milk, dairy, eggs etc) and my daughter is allergic to all 3 of these items. It this still the case b/c I have not been to TJ's in a long time b/c of this issue. How about Whole Foods? Does anyone know if their packaging states this? Especially on breads and pretzels ets. Items like that. I have had a had time find a 100% whole grain bread for my daughter that is not processed in a facility with other allergens. Any suggestions?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Kristin. I do believe that is still the case with many of the TJ's products. I'm not sure about Whole Foods since they carry a much wider variety in terms of brands. My guess is that they would have less of this, but, that's just a guess. Jill
Christal says
Tropical Traditions does sell a steam-deodorized coconut oil that does not taste/smell coconutty, but it's true that most coconut oil that doesn't have those coconutty characteristics has been chemically processed. Here is a link to the TT oil I mentioned: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/pure-coconut-oil.htm
Paige says
Those are many of my favorites as well. I also buy my organic beans there, they switched to BPA free cans a while ago and they are cheaper than the conventional grocery store. Their giant chocolate bars are great for baking, I always have some in the pantry. Our cat gets their brand of dry cat food, and we occasionally use the Refresh body wash. One more thing, they have organic oatmeal (dry in the cereal section) that is the same brand they sell at our local supermarket and Whole Foods but much cheaper. I can get 75% of my shopping done at TJ's and then supplement at WF or other stores during the week. Saves lots of money for sure!
Victoria says
I love Trader Joe's! Some of my usual buys there include: olive oil, brown rice pasta, Mediterranean hummus, low-salt roasted almonds, roasted red pepper soup, fresh mozzarella balls, kerrygold butter, roasted tomato salsa, frozen fish, and yes, two-buck Chuck! Also for an occasional treat the "Power Berries" are good!
Melissa says
I LOVE (can't say it enough) tj's coconut oil.....use it for.everything especially to.replace beauty products full of chemicals I'm now trying to avoud. I also work right across the street from a whole foods and the value of tjs oil is uncomparable. I also buy staples at tj's...butter....coffee (I use their french roast as espresso...soooooo yum) In addition I always buy their soy milk..it is by far the best soy milk I have ever tasted! I am thouroughly hooked on it. Ocassionally I also crumpets because they are hard to find but they go bad fast so I buy them when I know we will use them fast... one last note..I just discovered a yummy tj only treat their pbj dark chocolate bar is yummy! BTW using the coconut oil to replace acne wash, deoderant, lotion and a couple others has saved me a ton of money and made my skin lovely and soft!
Jamey says
How do you use the coconut oil for your skin? I want to but I'm not sure how to start. Thanks!
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hello Jamey. I use it just like I would use any tub of lotion but more sparingly. A little goes a long way. You can add essential oils if you want a bit more of a scent. I sometimes add lavender. It is easy. Try it. ~Amy
Stephanie says
I've liked the Baker Josef's 100percent white whole wheat four... Is that not a good flour to use?? Is regular whole wheat better?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Stephanie. The white whole wheat flour is fine to use. I have never actually tried the Trader Joe's flour - I use the King Arthur. I've been tempted to before though. Jill
Claire says
We eat gluten free due to my sons allergy- so we love their corn pasta, the GF granola (expensive so we don't get it every week), frozen mango for smoothies, deli turkey meat, cheddar corn puffs, blue corn chips, rice crackers, love the chewable melatonin for sleep, GF rice Mac n cheese, BBQ chicken mixed with black beans!!
Lark says
The price on organic apples and pears is about half of what it costs anywhere else. We also buy the coconut oil, cheese, and the whole grain pretzels. I think they have a sourdough that is whole grain as well. Thanks for posting this one!!!!
Katie says
All nuts and dried fruit, my kids love just mango
Organic baby greens
Organic bagged apples, perfect size for snack and school lynched
Seaweed snack
Coconut and olive oil
Roasted red peppers
Refried bands and other canned beans
Tuna
Frozen organic fruits and veggies
Cheese, love their cheeses
They have a few nitrate free lunch meats i get too
not as healthy lol but we also love
Organic ketchup and bbq sauce
Tortilla chips and very rarely ridge cut potato chips
Bacon
Spinach tortellini, great price
Pound plus 70% chocolate bar
Coconut flo bars
Joe Joe cookies :)
Carrie Elaine says
I have recently been shopping more at TJ's and found their prices reasonable. These are the items I love to buy there:
-bags of fruit: apples, pears, oranges and clementines.
- cherry tomatoes ( my kids pop them like candy)
-Whole wheat bagels because there are 6 in the bag for under $3.00 whereas Publix sells four in their bags for around the same price and are not truly whole wheat...my family loves bagels and TJ's has been our savior for a better ingredient bagel!
-TJ's Whole Wheat Flour
-Agree with the statement for prices on nuts and dried fruit
When I go to TJ's I feel like I am getting good value for the whole products I buy. That is not always the case elsewhere like Publix or Whole Foods where I sometimes feel price gouged for wanting to buy cleaner foods.
michelle says
so many things...
alvarado st sprouted wheat tortilla (made with organic sprouted wheat and organic whole wheat flour)
organic whole wheat pita
organic whole wheat pane loaf
organic lettuces including kale
organic veggies and fruits - fresh and frozen
organic oatmeal
organic cheese - new zealand grass fed
organic milk and yogurt
organic grass fed butter
frozen cubes of garlic, basil, cilantro & ginger
organic fruits and vegetables
organic reduced sugar jelly
organic peanut butter
baked and/or organic chips
akmok crackers
organic olive oil & coconut oil
organic frozen brown rice
organic canned pumpkin
organic canned beans
organic unsalted roasted almonds (to eat and make almond butter with)
raw cashews to make cashew milk with (soooo yummy & easy too - no need to soak)
i'm sure i'm forgetting something but this is most everything. :)
Amanda Brown says
Someone else may have mentioned this, but we love their Kerrygold grass-fed butter and Grade B Maple Syrup. I think the selection depends on the particular Trader Joe's. Since we have to drive 2.5 hours to Chicago to shop at one, we've visited a number of different stores and they carry different things. I also love their organic tea selection and olive oil. Frozen organic berries are good too, when we run out of the ones we put up from the summer season. It's not food, but they also carry chlorine-free toilet paper and Dr. Bronner's soap for a great price.