[MarjorieMargarine]

So my area is (finally) getting a Trader Joe's soon. I am SOOOO excited. I've been to TJ's in other states while on vacation a couple times and I LOVE it. One of the most disappointing moments of my last trip to Chicago involved a TSA agent telling me that my unopened jar of TJ's Cookie Butter counted as a liquid (soooo dumb)and I couldn't take it on the plane (I only had a carry-on so I couldn't even check it). I didn't even get a chance to taste it!! Devastating.

But my question here is for all of you lucky ladies who have TJ's in your area already. What are the products you like best? What should I get first? I calorie count, so stuff you've found that is diet friendly is awesome, but I'd also love a few indulgent recommendations if you've got 'em...

[aniela26]

I love love love Trader Joe's! That's so exciting!

My biggest buy here is frozen fish (if you eat fish, of course!). I live on my own so I am usually cooking for just me. TJ usually has smaller portions of flash-frozen fish that is PERFECT for cooking just one or two meals. They also have this stuffed flounder - about 350 calories and so delicious!

Their frozen shelled edamame is also a great find to bulk up your meals.

I guess I get a lot of frozen items here.... lol

[mammasita]

Trader Joes is awesome. We have a couple, but they're still about 20 miles from where I live, so I only get to go about every 2 weeks. Trader Joes is like Disney for me

Anyway, I do weight watchers and I LOVE:

~Trader Joes Queso (15 calories per serving / 0pp)
~Fresh salsa
~97/3 Organic ground beef
~Baked chips
~pretty much anything in the frozen aisle LOL

[electrongirl]

I LOVE TJ's!! We go every 2 weeks (used to be weekly) and I get:

lots of produce
hummus
egg whites
Fiberful bars
sweet apple chicken sausages
turkey meatballs
frozen chicken breast fillets
margarita pizza
mango cream bars (ice cream section, they are Australian and diet friendly and sooooo good)
soy milk
social crackers
Reduced guilt potato chips
wine
lots of different cheeses
cookie butter
bistro cookies
pumpkin butter
harvest grain salad mix
balsamic vinegar
brown rice
turkey chili

Plus a bunch more stuff!

[nationalparker]

YAY for you! Add me to the list of Trader Joe's Lovers! I love their:
- natural peanut butter (just peanuts and salt, no molasses/sugar!)
- 3 cheese frozen pizza, which oddly enough, is waaaaay better than the 4 cheese one and, having grown up in Italy, has a similar flavor to ones there, though the crust is completely different, yet yummy!
-cookie butter (you have to try this, though it's a definite treat!)
- hummus
- reduced guilt potato chips (crispy, kettle style!)
- balsamic vinegar (inexpensive and also in a large jug option for cooking down to a syrup if you want)
- salad dressings
- turkey chili
- three buck chuck wine - i use red/white in cooking.
- $0.99 greeting cards!! wonderful!
- their mix of parmesan/romano cheese freshly grated in the cheese section.
- their salsa
- so, so many good frozen meals that are healthy
- their french cut green beans!

ENJOY!

[djs06]

OMG do yourself a favor and never ever try the cookie butter. Soooooooooo good.

I've noticed their produce And cheese are pretty cheap. Oh, and the wine, if your state allows them to sell it.

Tapenade and bruschetta are delicious there. Heck, pretty much everything is.

Trader joes is the best!

[ICUwishing]

TJ's frozen food aisle is my favorite spot! They have so many creative pre-prepared entrees that don't have loads of junk in them. Their dark-roast coffee beans are tops. For the Nutella fans, TJs makes their own "Cocoa-Almond" spread (almonds instead of hazelnuts) that is ... divine.

[dstalksalot]

Trader Joes is awesome but it also has dangerous selections for me so I try not to go too often.
My favorites:
They have is cheap dessert Wine (Mascato) that is excellent and comes in a beautiful bottle.
Berry sause (like Apple sause) with no added sugar...my kids love it.
A great woman's protein powder with a nice calerie count. I think the brand is Arora or something like that.
Cinnamon covered almonds (evil)
They have an excellent trail mix selection. My favorite is a dark chocolate and raspberry mix.
Turkey meatballs are excellent.
The candy and cookie selection is amazing especially at Christmas time. My favorites for Christmas include these dark chocolate drizzled waffle cone cookies with candy cain bits on top 150 cals for 8 . These were a lower cal alternative to their dark chocolate covered candy cain oreos. so good, and sell out quick.
I also love their chocolate chip dunkers and organic dark chocolate, and almond milk. My kids love their school letter cookies in a bucket.(kind of an animal cracker) they help with reading and spelling.

ETA: yeah, see these are mostly selections I would pick up in my heavier days but they do have a great variety of specialty items.

[Alegria25]

I love Trader Joe's! I especially love their lettuce (always really fresh and pretty), berries in season, frozen broccoli, eggs, frozen spinach, frozen bell pepper strips, nitrate/nitrite-free bacon, cheap spices, olive oil, ground beef, frozen fish, and nuts.

[mahtha]

Fire-roasted corn from the frozen food section. Yummy on salads, in black bean salsa, and in tortilla soup.

[Munchy]

I usually get:
Valencia peanut butter with sea salt
Almond butter
Low sugar jelly
Crushers (banana/apple)
Juice boxes
Uncured chicken hot dogs
(can you tell I have a child...)
light wheat bread
low carb tortillas
pink in the middle oranges
grape tomatoes
Broccoli slaw
Light sour cream
Frozen mandarin chicken
Teriyaki turkey jerky
Light cheese slices
Sour cream or cheese "puffs"
Light microwave popcorn singles
Turkey bacon
Any nuts/trail mixes

If I'm too lazy to make my own, I keep backup:
BBQ sauce
Ketchup
Light champagne vinaigrette

[cher3]

I think TJs is a great resource, but you do have to be careful. Too many good treats. I think the mini peanut butter cups are responsible for at least a couple of my current pounds all by themselves.

I love their inexpensive salad greens, especially the arugula. They also have a few frozen lunches that are really tasty and heavier on the vegetables than most Lean Cuisine type stuff. I especially like the Indian and Mexican ones.

[Darby1]

Thank you so much for starting this thread!! I've been to Trader Joe's on both coasts, but sadly, the nearest one to me is in Santa Fe. So I saw this thread and thought I'd see if they're opening any here in Colorado. Two are opening in 2013!!! Not in my town, of course, but I'm always up for a road trip.

So thanks again for posting. Otherwise I would never have checked it out and gotten such good news!