Must Haves from Whole Foods/Trader Joes

[CuteAndFluffy]

I don't often go to Whole Foods, but at TJs I get:

--Joe-joe cookies (oreo type cookies with no HFCS)
--Almond Butter/peanut butter/sunflower nut butter
--Steel Cut oats
--Seeds/nuts (pepitas, almonds), trail mixes, dried fruit
--Freeze dried Mango
--Sweet Chili Sauce
--Greek yogurt--esp the apricot mango
--sea salt caramels
--whatever organic veggies/fruits look good
--Everything crackers
--Any shelf stable Indian entree
--Butternut squash soup
--Olive oil
--Vanilla extract
--fancy salts

I'd love to get some of the frozen items, but it's a 2 1/2 hr drive for me, so I haven't planned ahead well enough to bring a chilled cooler.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

The tubs of chocolate chip cookies..

I love those too!

I also like these things called Dark Peppermint clouds (I think that's what they're called). They're like little peppermint patty's .

OP, from the looks of this thread you're going to have to rent a UHAUL .

 

[lucky1]

Nice thing about TJ is I haven't found one thing in there that has HFCS. I am on a ban to elimiate HFCS from our diets. We do about 90% of our shopping there and Sunflower for fresh fruit.

At Whole food, we only get pirate booty (Cheese puffs) because DD loves it and the TJ verision does not taste the same.

 

[Calliaz]

It all depends on what you buy, especially at Whole Foods. If I want to buy fancy cheeses and desserts, then yes, Whole Foods will be pricey. But where I live, they have the cheapest milk of any store, and their produce is very reasonable. Salad greens, in particular, are cheaper than any grocery store in the area. One other thing I like about Whole Foods is that you can buy things in bulk, including spices. So if I only need a teaspoon of some spice for a recipe, I can buy just that, instead of paying $5 or so for a jar that I probably won't use.

I second this. It really helps to buy the WF store brand and to check the prices. They often have 2 of the same type item with big price differences (and not huge quality differences). We used to do 90% of our grocery shopping at WF and the checkers would always comment about how we got so much for so little money.

I like TJs, but not as much. There are some things they just don't carry or I can't find. In both stores, I find that people "park" in front of items/shelves for a long time. Mostly because they are reading the labels.

 

[Calliaz]

At Whole food, we only get pirate booty (Cheese puffs) because DD loves it and the TJ verision does not taste the same.

Fresh and Easy's version tastes nearly the same. Sometimes they have big bags for cheaper.

 

[NJGirl]

When I drive to Columbus (closest Trader Joe's) I take a cooler because there is sooo much I love!

I love the:

Frozen Parmesan Puff Hot Dog thingies... (sooo good! wish I could remember the name!)


QUOTE/]

They are called PASTRY PUPS!

 

[drcmk]

It all depends on what you buy, especially at Whole Foods.

I agree. Our whole foods has canned tomatoes and beans and sometimes pasta at better prices than our regular supermarket. The meat and produce is more expensive. But the meat tastes MUCH better.

 

[2bearsmom]

I've been to our Whole Foods twice, the second time this past Sun, and I will never go back. Unless we finally get one built south of Pittsburgh. It is such a tiny store and always totally packed, no grocery carts left and I ended up irritated both times I was there and left with nothing really I went in for, they didn't seem to have much organic produce. I did buy their brand of ketchup and mustard which was recommended by a friend, the mustard is very good. I did buy a can of their cola and their ginger ale and both are very tasty.

I love Trader Joes though, although I wish it were closer too. I bought their Joe Joe's cookies-vanilla and chocolate (just like Oreos), mini peanut butter sandwich crackers and the cheese ones, frozen shelled edamame, hummus that had 4 different flavors in one container that is very good, their pizza dough that was good, the truffle brownie mix: oh my were they good and I don't normally eat chocolate or sweets, Himalayan pink salt, unbleached flour, organic cocoa and sugar. I was with my dh and the kids and the three of them can't stand shopping so I didn't really get to check out everything the way I wanted to! They did have the big (I think it was 32oz size) bottle of Dr Bronners soap for only $8.99 but they only have peppermint. The dog biscuits were a big hit with the doggies when we got home...

There is a Right By Nature store near the city that I just love and they have awesome prices.

I have been trying to find an organic or natural non-dairy and non-soy coffee creamer if anyone has any suggestions...I know there is a So Delicious coconut milk creamer although no stores around me carry it yet. I don't like the Coffee mate powder as it has sodium caseinate although the liquid contains less than 2% of this.

 

[tekoa]

Love Trader Joe's. It takes me about 45 minutes to get there so I go about once a month.
Organic Oatmeal
Dark 73% chocolate covered almonds
organic basil tomato sauce
applesauce
balela chickpea salad
whole wheat pita bread
Joe's O's
greek yogurt
7 layer dip
canola oil
whole wheat pizza dough
peanut butter
walnuts
whole wheat pastas
frozen veggies

 

[Tiana]

.

 

[katierae81]

From TJ's we LOVE to get a container of their vananna yogurt and a bag of frozen tropical fruit. When we get home we stick maybe half the container of yogurt and half the bag of still frozen fruit and maybe a splash of milk or juice into a blender. It turns onto this thick soft serve frozen yogurt type thing. We affectionately call them 'Ummy Frozy Whippy Do's'.

 

[Redpepperflakes14]

Whole Foods isn't in my area and the handful of times I've gone to one, I wasn't overly impressed. However, I have loved TJs since I lived in the Northeast (I've lived up and down the Eastern Seaboard.) Some staples are:

-- Pizza dough
-- Tea tree face wipes
-- Penne Arrabiata with red pepper sauce
-- Breaded chicken tenders
-- Orange/mango juice (refrigerated)
-- Heart of Darkness mango juice (non-refrigerated)
-- Whole wheat rotini
-- Olive oil/grapeseed oil (I use these both to cook with and in my hair!)
-- Refresh citrus conditioner and shampoo
-- Vitamins
-- On occasion -- $2 buck chuck (I'm not a big drinker, but this is actually good wine!)
-- Chocolate syrup
-- Salads
-- Whole unsalted cashews
-- Frozen broccolli and French cut green beans
-- Occasionally cookies (the chocolate chip/peanut butter in the little white bags especially)
I could go on and on. I always manage to overspend at this little store!

 

[Kanga+2Roos]

Wow, this is great! I was planning on taking one chest cooler, looks like I'll be taking two! The response has been overwelming & I can't wait to write up my huge list & go shopping! With all the positive remarks on TJ's I'm really anxious to check out that store! We do have one of the bigger Whole Foods with a huge food court so I appreciate the feedback on that as well.

Thanks for so many wonderful suggestions!

 

[Diabolicdesire]

I love Trader Joes !!!

---Half and half (tastes better than any other brand I've bought)
--- Rice pudding
---Pizza dough
---Pound plus choc bars, milk and dark (Great for baking)
---Trader Joes smooth and mellow coffee beans
---Cookie Ice cream sandwiches
---Chocolate molten cake
---Joe Joes (their version of an oreo but without Hydrogenated oils)
---Apples (usually cheaper than our grocery stores)
---Pita Crackers
---Cheese is usually cheaper and better quality than most grocery stores
---wine ( I really love the Lambrusco they sell there !!)
--- Also during the Hollidays they sell French Truffles which are sooo good and peppermint bark bars, yum!


The truth is I really haven't bought ANYTHING that I haven't loved !

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Our Trader Joe's is really close so I load up on these favorites:

• Teriyaki BBQ Chicken (cheaper than eating out!)
• Kauai coffee
• 100% Kona coffee
• Mango Passionfruit juice
• French green beans
• French toast
• Brown Jasmine Rice
• Caribbean fruit floes
• Island Soyaki marinade
• Pink Himalayan salt

 

[My5Mouseketeers]

I love Whole Foods store brand (365). They have no HFCS, or other "icky" things. Things I always buy:

sandwich creams
wheat thin type crackers
blue berry fruit spread
natural Peanut Butter (creamy and crunch)
whole foods cereals similar to Cocoa Puffs, Captain Crunch Peanut Butter, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, raisin Bran
canned beans
chicken stock
best prices for milk around

The other great thing about WF is they give you a 10% discount if you buy a case. The number of items in a case varies depending on the item. Milk is 4 gallons, wheat thins 12 boxes, beans 24 boxes. So, I get my milk for $2.69 a gallon (cheapest price around).

The hardest part is not buying to much prepared stuff. I do usually get myself a 'treat" for shopping. I love their buffalo pizza!

 

[PatsMom]

I do fine at my regular grocery store but when I happen to be near a Whole Foods (which doesn't occur very often, the nearest one is 75 miles away) I stop in to buy beer. They have Peak Organic Brewing's ales and they are wonderful!

 

[sylvenmaid]

We have a WF about an hour away. I'm really interested in buying some grass fed beef and cage free chix breasts as well as wild salmon. I get most of my seafood from our local store that has good prices and quality. I have relatives that fish and I get shrimp from locals. My fil has his own crawfish pond. I'm hoping to clear out the old fish pond they used to have a few years ago in the next 5 years. I think I'm going to hit the WF and see what they have. I do have a Sam's club and we have been finding some great deals there. I do grow a lot of my own fruits and veggies so not as worried about buying them. I also get honey and eggs from locals.

 

[ceecee]

TJ's
Chocolate cat cookies
Orange Chicken (so not healthy!!!)
frozen veggies
peach salsa

I must look for the tea tree face wipes!

 

[Redpepperflakes14]

TJ's


I must look for the tea tree face wipes!

They're in a small green and white container, usually over in the vitamin section. I believe they're made by a company called Desert Essence (this company also makes a great face wash called Thoroughly Clean, our TJs sells the small pump bottle, but you can get a big refill bottle of it for cheap at Vitamin Shoppe.)

The tea tree oil face wipes are very refreshing!