My first trip to Trader Joe's tomorrow..hope it's worth the ride!

[BC]

I am trying to eat healthy foods and hear that Trader Joe's is a good place to go for such. Also hear the prices aren't that bad. Looking for whole grain, lowfat, fresh nutritious items. There is also a Whole Foods near Trader Joe's. Tell me it will be worth a 2 hr drive.

 

[GoodFairies]

Sorry, I don't think any grocery store is worth a 2 hour drive.
You can find "whole grain, lowfat, fresh nutritious items" just about anywhere.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I am trying to eat healthy foods and hear that Trader Joe's is a good place to go for such. Also hear the prices aren't that bad. Looking for whole grain, lowfat, fresh nutritious items. There is also a Whole Foods near Trader Joe's. Tell me it will be worth a 2 hr drive.

I love Trader Joe's! Of course, mine is about two miles from home but the parking there is awful. It is pretty bad at every TJ's here in the city.

They do have healthy and healthier foods but I just love the wine selection.

 

[BC]

As far as it being worth the ride, although our main reason for the trip is to vist the Trader Joe's, I guess I should add that we like to take short road trips anyway and would have lunch at a new restaurant just for fun. I just have heard lots about this chain and thought it would be interesting to check it out. Does anyone know of any items I should definitely look for?

 

[bumbershoot]

Well, I don't think TJs is all that, though it's one of the stores I shop at (very specific items that we get there, mainly because their prices are better on THOSE things).

But when I lived in Spartanburg I used to drive up to Asheville about once a month, to go to their food co-ops, just to get away from Piggy Wiggly etc, so I definitely understand the idea of driving a long way to get to the better food!

 

[3jsmommy]

I love TJ's & I'll share my favorites with you!
Frozen mini chicken wontons (my kids devour these)
Frozen brown rice
Trail mixes
Granolas
Flax tortilla chips
Guacamole
Pineapple Mango Salsa
Cooked lentils in bag (I add their mirepioux(sp?) to this with balsamic & olive oil for a quick lentil salad)
Frozen veggie blends
Frozen fruits
Frozen cod filets
Frozen jumbo shrimp
Organic meats
Olive Tapenade
Gorganzola pecan dip
Multi grain crackers
Pirate Booty (TJ brand, much cheaper)
Frozen breaded eggplant
Pizzas
Yogurts (great flavors)
Kettle corn!
Joe Joes's cookies..the vanilla bean ones & my son loves the candy cane ones at xmas
Bread mixes, Pumpkin, gingerbread and cornbread
Flourless chocolate cake
Frozen self rising croissants...okay maybe some are not so healthy!
I think the prices are really great on some things, I find the fresh produce to be more $ than my grocery store.
Our TJ's always has a couple of samples, plus small cups of complimentary coffee. They always have great, very helpful employees. I wish I could go tommorrow but I'll be snowed in!

 

[Handbag Lady]

Cheesecake
Two-Buck Chuck
Blueberry Juice

 

[pigletgirl]

I love their fresh sweet potato fries! All you gotta do is dump them on a roasting pan with some salt and pepper and you're ready to go.

Also, they have many frozen entrees and such that are SUPER useful for me during the week and when I'm busy.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Dark Chocolate covered coffee beans.

We travel, and are able to hit TJ's in the process. It is a great place when you only get there 3 or 4 times a year. Have fun.

Whole foods tries too hard to be trendy. No allure there for me.

 

[Denine]

We were just there last night. I was almost out of Joe's O's. (Cheerios) I buy 5 boxes a time, $1.99 each.

I also bought some blueberry oatmeal to try, I had it this morning, it was good.

I like their marinara sauce for something instead of homemade.

They have wonderful breads!

I like their wine selection, we just bought some Bear's Lair cab last night.

Their organic milk is good.

They have a very nice cheese selection.

I also buy their Irish Breakfast Tea.

 

[minniebeth]

Refrig. pizza dough for pizzas, bread sticks, calzones, strombolis
Whole Wheat Couscous
Like a PP mentioned, they have very good, unique frozen veggie blends
Green Tomatillo Salsa
Jalapeno crunchy cheeto thingys
Their cheese prices on things like cheese sticks, etc. are good
Uncured bacon
Another PP mentioned their cornbread mix is really good

Lots of already mentioned things.
Take your time, go through slowly, if you are driving the 2 hrs, make it worth it!

If you stop at Whole Foods as well, that's a whole other story! Lots of fun finds there too. Just more pricey.
Have fun!

 

[Angelhalo]

Sorry, I don't think any grocery store is worth a 2 hour drive.
You can find "whole grain, lowfat, fresh nutritious items" just about anywhere.

Agreed!

 

[Christine]

I go about once a month (it is about 20-30 minute drive for me).

I think they have the best quality frozen veggies. I'm not a fan of frozen veggies but I like their's.

Specifically:
Organic Foursome
Soycottash
Roasted Sweet Corn
Organic Peas

I always buy their canned dog food. Pure meat at $1.09 for a large can. Dog LOVES it.

Barbara's Bakery Cinnamon Puffins (you can get these anywhere but they are the best price).

Frozen Jasmine Rice (heats up in 3 minutes and is delish and fluffy).

Most of their candies/cookies are good: Ginger snaps and peanut butter cups.

I also buy their salsa verde. It is the best flavor of all the brands I've tried. I have a recipe that uses two jars of salsa verde and it is always the best when I use the TJ sauce.

 

[Pirate Me]

Some of our favorite items from Trader Joe's are:

Horseradish hummus. We go through so many of these!
5-layer taco dip
Sweet potato fries
Animal crackers
Dark chocolate almond bark and peppermint bark (christmas only)
PB&A (peanuts and almonds in berry coating; tastes JUST like peanut butter and jelly)

 

[shamrock30]

Organic frozen green beans
Organic hummus
Good dried fruit and nuts section
Whole wheat pitas
Tortillas
Peach salsa
Frozen mango
Frozen chocolate covered bananas
reduced fat Irish cheddar
yogurt cheese
Applegate turkey coldcuts

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am trying to eat healthy foods and hear that Trader Joe's is a good place to go for such. Also hear the prices aren't that bad. Looking for whole grain, lowfat, fresh nutritious items. There is also a Whole Foods near Trader Joe's. Tell me it will be worth a 2 hr drive.

I would say no, but that is me. The stores around me are lame. Most of it is frozen food or already prepared stuff.

 

[Piecey]

how has no one mentioned the....

TRUFFLE BROWNIE MIX?!?!?!

I looooove that stuff. Our closest Trader Joe's is about 2.5 hours. My dad went up there on business this week and called today to ask my Trader Joe requests. It's all about the brownie mix this trip.

 

[BC]

for all your response. Keep them coming as our trip has been delayed until Saturday. Sounds like we're gonna get some good stuff!

 

[java]

Corn Muffin Mix- yummy way way better than Jiffy
Granola Bars- chocolate ones mmm
Frozen Garlic Naan
Whole wheat pizza dough
Fire roasted peppers/onions- so quick to make a frajitas with that on hand
Chopped frozen garlic(little cubes that are perfect)
Frozen Mango
Chocolate covered bananas

Not so healthy but oh so worth it
Orange Chicken
Chicken Fried Rice
Pork Dumplings
Ham and onion pizza

Ours is an hour away- we make it a girls morning out- about 4 of us go- have breakfast and then shop. I agree the parking stinks and it's WAY smaller than I expected but they jam that store full to the brim!
I don't know if it's worth a 2 hour drive but hey we do the one hour each way once a week now.

 

[tukogirl]

My mom and I used to drive about an hour to go to the local TJs. I'm so lucky to live 5 miles from one now Bring a cooler for the trunk - even if you don't have ice in it, the cooler will cold stuff cooler than just leaving it in the bag.

Things we love/staples in our house:
dried pineapple slices
lite string cheese (lots cheaper than grocery store)
marinated mushrooms in a jar - great to throw on salads
curry chicken tenders
strawberry yogurt cheerio things (Tj brand)
This apple (strawberry, etc) walked into a bar fruit bars
bagged popcorn with olive oil and sea salt
pita puffs snacks
basmati rice
jasmine rice
frozen bowtie pasta
frozen gnocchi
frozen chocolate covered bananas

If you get any of their baked goods, which are very good by the way, purchase what you think you will need in a couple days or plan on freezing within a day or two. Because most of the baked goods don't have preservatives like the stuff at other stores, they go bad MUCH faster than what you may be used to. I buy the muffins and individually bag and freeze.