trader joes question

weddingbellenyc

what do you buy from this store? would like to try it, but need a game plan... just want to try some recommended things for now. if you go there what are some must tries?  i went once a few years ago when it first opened and i thought it was weird in there - did not buy a thing- have not been back since.

tia!!!

gapgirl972001

Hey Mama! How are you feeling?  How is little Mason and the girls doing? 

Back to the question, I have gotten the general tso chicken in the frozen food section and it is really good.  Easy quick dinner.  

KayanPepper

We always keep a bag of frozen dumplings in our freezer.  Done in 2 minutes.  Great for lunch or quick dinner.  Other frozen things we like: asparagus risotto, bacon wrapped mahi mahi, and the pizzas/flatbreads (the big ones not the little ones, those were not as good).  Love their ice cream!  Not full of junk and preservatives, just loads of fat and calories.  The frozen peach pops are great too, my 2 yr old loves them.  I haven't found anything I don't like in the snack aisle.  We esp. like the peanut butter cookies, pita chips, and honey wheat pretzels.  Lastly, you cannot leave the store without getting a bar of the dark chocolate with caramel and black sea salt, the best $1.99 I've ever spent there.  

kmm13

We buy our frozen fruit there - mangoes, pineapple bits, and strawberries.  They are great for smoothies and the kids love them cut up to snack on.  I agree with the PP, their snacks are great: pita chips, nacho chips, cheddar cheese puffs, veggie sticks, PB filled pretzels are some that we have tried.  I love their shredded mozz. cheese and also their jarred pizza sauce is good to use in a pinch.  Their bags of organic spinach are great for when I make calzones, and also their pepperoni.  Their Joe O's cereal (their version of Cheerios) are great.  I like their Apple Cinnamon oatmeal.  We've had some of their frozen appetizers, and they are good too - mini tacos, little pizzas, spinakopita things.  If their fruit & veggies look good and arent' too pricey, I have had good luck there too.

Also, if you buy something and do not like it, they will refund your money in full if you have the receipt.  I have done this several times. 

I was overwhelmed the first time there too.  I love it there now.  Plus, they always have some type of free sample which is nice

psyri

Ditto PP on frozen fruits, and frozen veggies. I keep spinach and broccoli in my freezer at all times. I like most of the frozen Mexican foods (black bean enchiladas, veggie burritos, etc). Good for lunches.

I usually get: hummus, pita chips, flax tortilla chips, salsa (whatever kind floats my boat that day), baby carrots, olive oil (whenever the large bottle runs out), vinegars, tub of vanilla Greek yogurt, dried fruits, nuts, trail mix

I am getting hungry thinking about Trader Joe's.

leebi07

I generally hit their freezer section, they have good burritos, pot stickers and indian food.  Their fresh ravioli's are good and can be frozen and I also like their hummus.  Their spices are cheaper than the supermarket.  I've haven't really tried anything that I haven't liked.

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we really like their frozen pizzas, and their frozen mandarin (orange?) chicken -- so much healthier than what you get when getting take out chinese, and just as good as general tso's, in my opinion  

the one near us has great fresh fruit as well, which not all of them do, so i tend to get their watermelons cheaper than whole foods.  

they also have peanut-butter filled, chocolate-covered pretzel bites, which i haven't gotten in ages but remember being delicious!

Jill070707

I love a lot of their frozen stuff! The orange chicken, gnocchi, marinated fish, burritos, turkey meatballs, sweet potato fries, potstickers, naan, different vegetables and fruits.  I love to stock my freezer there, and it really came in handy once I had the baby.  The chocolate-covered peanut butter-filled pretzels are an awesome snack (but definitely not good for you!).  I like their tomato sauce and simmer sauces.  I get their greek yogurt a lot.  Nice cheese selection.  I don't go often - which is a good thing because I spend so much when I go!

Goldilocks78

I love Trader Joe's...in addition to many of the great things already mentioned, I love the strawberry mochi "ice cream balls". I don't go there very often, but when I do I stock up on all our favorites!

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also, i was just there today and saw something i hadn't seen before -- chocolate covered banana bites in the freezer section.  yum!  i also picked up bite sized ice cream sandwiches -- mint ice cream sandwiched between two oreos!

asf619

I pick up their freeze-dried strawberries, since it's cheaper than the similar item in the regular grocery store, and my kids love them as a quick snack.