Trader Joe is My Man

I’ll admit it. I have a huge crush on Joe. Trader Joe, to be exact. (Is he a real guy? I’d love to meet him for real.)

But seriously, if you haven’t shopped at Trader Joe’s, let me enlighten you. It’s a magical grocery store that is also a brand and is found mostly on the coasts. I never experienced the joy until I moved to Arizona, and now luckily, we have a bunch of them in the city. 

Sure, Whole Foods is great, and I guess Fairway is fine but they’re expensive AF. Trader Joe’s has their own brand- as in, every single thing in the store is made by them- so it’s super affordable. Plus, they limit the number of preservatives or weird ingredients that are in the jarred or bagged stuff.

I can stock up my entire kitchen for half of what a weekly trip would cost at Whole Foods, and I know that the options are healthier and less processed than regular brands. I will travel great distances just to shop here because it’s actually that cost-effective, including the car I have to take back to my apartment because I get too much stuff to carry on the train by myself. 

So anyway, here’s my rundown of my favorite products at Trader Joe’s, and I encourage you to go in there and see the magic and wonder for yourself. 

Spices

It’s annoying how expensive spices and seasonings can be in the grocery stores and they’re not really something you want to buy on Amazon because you have no idea if they’re fresh. Luckily our friends at TJ’s can save the day. They’re cost-effective, it’s a good-sized jar, plus they have some really fun mixes that are super great to have in the kitchen. Besides getting standard spices, I recommend:

• Everything Bagel seasoning: CRACK. This stuff is crack. 
• Onion Salt: it’s a mix of different onions plus garlic and sea salt. There’s nothing that it’s not good on.
• 21 Seasoning Salute: It’s an ideal mix of everything delicious so it can function as the base for a steak rub, a chicken marinade, or even on vegetables as a huge boost of flavor.

Frozen Foods

You may have heard rumors that Trader Joes’ frozen foods are fantastic. Let me be the one to tell you that the rumors are absolutely true. Obviously, we know that I’m a big proponent of cooking for yourself but I am also a human being who is busy and needs something fast. Hence the frozen section. 

• Chicken Tikka Masala: this one goes in the microwave so it’s ideal for a work lunch
• Fried Rice: I love this stuff. It comes in a bag with all the basic veggies you get in your Chinese takeout but you can adjust and doctor it as you want and can add proteins or even more veggies if you want.
• Cauliflower Gnocchi: Yes, you’ve heard about it. Yes, it sells out. Boil it for a few minutes, saute it in butter and garlic, pair with a green vegetable. Go buy 5 bags and thank me later.

Pantry Staples

I’ve mentioned this before that there are certain things you should always keep in your pantry like grains, sauces, canned foods. Trader Joe’s, like everything else, does these well too.

• Brown Rice Quinoa Pasta: it’s got a much higher nutritional value than regular wheat pasta, it holds up super well in sauces, and doesn’t get mushy and weird when you reheat it. 
• Farro and Quinoa: Just cheaper than everywhere else so stock up! 
• Canned EVERYTHING: Seriously. Canned vegetables, tomatoes for making sauce, beans, fruit. You name it, it’s a good deal. 
• Sauces: Soy sauce is in a big bottle and very affordable. They make a sweet chili sauce that I could dip literally everything into. Their harissa is super spicy and adds a yummy fiery flavor to everything, plus you need very little so the jar goes really far. 

Snacks

• Kettle Cooked Potato Chips: Dear god these are wonderful. A family favorite in my mom’s house, we destroy a bag in one sitting. So crunchy, not super greasy, just the right amount of salt. NOM.
• Roasted Pepita Salsa: Pepitas are pumpkin seeds and they add a really tasty texture to an almost creamy, slightly fiery salsa that is fantastic.
• Corn Chip Dippers: Like Fritos but not as gross. And they’re excellent for scooping the above. 
• Dark Chocolate Mint Cremes: It’s the world’s best flavor combination. Put them in the fridge and thank me (well really, my mom) later.
• Peanut Butter Cups: One dollar for a bag of 6 or 7. ONE DOLLAR, PEOPLE. Put these in the freezer but don’t forget about them! I did this once and they stayed at a friend’s place and I was really sad once I realized it. 

I could go on for actual days, but I won’t. There are so many wonderful products in here beyond the ones I’ve mentioned so just do yourself a favor and go if you have a Trader Joe’s in the area. And if you don’t, I’m really sorry for tormenting you and you should probably move, I guess.