What I Buy From Trader Joe’s

After my last clean eating ideas post, I had some interest in showing what I typically buy from good old Trader Joe’s….so here it is!

By the way, I am all ears if you all have any more ideas for posts!  I appreciate suggestions! 

I honestly love TJs.  Friendly staff, fun atmosphere, quality products, healthy and organic options, inexpensive prices, and an overall easy shopping experience are reasons it is my favorite grocery store.  I cannot always find everything that I need there, so I will go to Harris Teeter, and sometimes Earthfare or Whole Foods as well.

Here is a look at my shopping cart from Tuesday:

GRAINS, etc:

• small whole green lentils (for lentil soup; as a side dish; falafel base)
• chia seeds (we add them to smoothies, Banana Cream, yogurt, etc)
• brown rice & quinoa spaghetti
• tri-color quinoa
• rolled oats GF (these are a must in our house; we eat oatmeal regularly, and I almost always have homemade granola on hand)

SNACKS and NUTS:

• roasted plantain chips (a good grain-free alternative, but SO addicting)
• organic animal crackers
• organic reduced guilt tortilla chips
• raw whole cashews (my son loves to snack on them, and I use them in Rosemary Almonds & Cashews)
• raisin rosemary crisps (if you make a cheese tray – you must include these!)
• organic popping corn
• raw almonds
• raw almond slices and pecan pieces (for the granola)

CONDIMENTS:

• raw almond butter (in smoothies, on toast, on apple slices)
• balsamic vinaigrette
• coconut oil (we use coconut oil constantly! for skin, in the granola, to sauté, fry eggs, etc etc)
• organic, free range chicken broth (ideally I would always make my own chicken stock, but this is a safe bet if I don’t have time)
• organic tomato basil marinara (great on spaghetti squash, or the quinoa spaghetti I mentioned above)
• organic peanut butter
• Carolina gold BBQ sauce
• salsa verde
• salsa autentica (the best store-bought salsa)
• pineapple salsa

PRODUCE +  (a couple other) PANTRY STAPLES:

• organic baby spinach
• organic whole carrots
• cucumber
• cauliflower
• organic grape tomatoes
• organic baby kale
• limes/lemons

• organic sweet potatoes
• garlic
• sweet onion
• organic bananas
• organic applesauce

I normally buy different organic bread for Davis’ lunch, but this works as well!  And he LOVES this applesauce.

FREEZER PRODUCE:

• frozen wild blueberries (smoothies, oatmeal; these are tiny, and Davis loves them)
• frozen french green beans
• frozen raspberries
• frozen strawberries
• frozen broccoli (cut in small pieces, which is great for kids!)
• frozen pineapple

FREEZER GRAINS + MEAT:

• frozen naan – planning to include these with the boys’ dinner soon
• frozen wild caught alaskan cod
• frozen organic brown rice (just microwave for 3-4 min. too easy!)
• frozen grass fed ground beef
• frozen organic silver dollar pancakes
• frozen “melodious blend” of lentils, chickpeas, tomato – a great, easy side dish

REFRIGERATOR (Dairy + Items I Forgot to Include in Other Categories):

This picture doesn’t include coconut milk – we typically buy cartons of unsweetened coconut milk.  I also left out that we buy plain, organic Greek yogurt for my husband and son.  I also typically buy organic chicken from Trader Joe’s.  I’d prefer local meat, but that isn’t always possible.  I also honestly like the organic chicken from Costco better, but I very rarely get there to shop.  

• original hummus (always on hand)
• organic mayonnaise
• avocados (ALWAYS)
• goat cheese
• Kerrygold Irish salted butter (do yourself a favor and buy some!)
• organic romaine
• organic ketchup (my son eats this just fine)
• raw cheddar cheese
• cage free eggs (not as good as local eggs, but in the winter months I buy store-bought eggs)

WINE:

These are 3 that I’ve enjoyed lately.  Plus I love the label on the cava. 🙂 

• Alamos malbec
• The Pass sauvignon blanc
• La Granja cava

FLOWERS:

This stock bunch was $3!  You just can’t beat their flowers! 

 

I am sure there are items that I left off of this list!  If I think of more, I will edit the post, or write a follow-up.  If you have other favorites, leave them in the comments!  I’d love to try some new things!

 

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