Trader Joes?

[Irulan]

So they finally opened one here, really close to my house actually. People are going nuts! It is an absolute zoo down there. People have been asking for one for over 10 years. I went in and grabbed a few things but it was so packed I didn't spend much time there
So, TJ lovers.... what do you like to get there, or why do you shop there?

[Veronica]

I shop once a week at TJs: milk, Fage yogurt, organic OJ, eggs, cinnamon almonds, pre cooked chicken breast, organic frozen veggie mix, protein powder.

Veronica

[Catrin]

Trader Joe's is the first place I shop at - then I go elsewhere for what I can't get there. They have good prices for organic veggies, and some of their prices on other things are quite competitive and good quality. I get my skim milk, no-fat cottage cheese, yogurt, fruit, cereal, turkey bacon, sprouted bread, olive oil (price on this rocks), some of my beer and other things.

[tangentgirl]

Dark chocolate covered caramels. The best.

[Tokie]

Soy milk,cow milk, yogurt, bread, cheese, nuts, trail mix(to put in my yogurt),organic bell peppers, organic apples, grapefruit, persimmons, low sodium turkey lunch meat, tofutti cuties (although I think they no longer have these), frozen wild blueberries, Ak-Mak crackers, frozen veggie bacon, fresh turkey breast with dressing, organic zucchinni,white balsamic vinegar, Spicy Smokey Peach Salsa, Jalapeno Hot Sauce, the fresh whole wheat pizza dough,wild arugula. And always a little snack food sample!

[indysteel]

The ones in Indy aren't very close to my house, so I tend to get non perishables there when I am otherwise in the area. Nuts, oats, trail mixes, veggie and chicken broths, bread, beer, dried fruit. They have a lot of packaged and premade food that I have never really tried. I don't buy a lot of that in general. I do like their hummus though.

[ACG]

Here in Pasadena, they are everywhere. I think they were born out here.

I go to TJ's first. Then hit other stores later. Pricing is very good. For example. Loaf of bread at TJ's is 3.49 at large chain market 4.49. Same brand.

Lots of tasty healthy alternatives too.

[Owlie]

Treats, mostly: those sugar-cinnamon almonds that will probably break your teeth but are totally worth it, toffee, chocolate-covered espresso beans, other stuff like that. They used to have really good naan and samosas, but I don't know that they still make them.

[Tokie]

a few I forgot - hummus, reduced sugar organic preserves,mustards, mayo, soy dogs, hot dog buns, "Joe's Os" (like cheerios),Whole wheat Pita Bread - regular or mini size, whole wheat flatbread, kleenex, tea tree oil, Charlie Bear dog treats, sparkling water, herbal teas,Reuced Guilt woven Wheat Wafers", choclate dipped almond biscotti. Their belgian chocolates and truffles are great Christmas treats. We buy very little at the grocery store - it's TJ's and the farmers market for almost everything. (Coach's Oats and Walnuts at Costco) tokie
'

[winddance]

Dark chocolate covered caramels. The best.

These are ridiculously good!

I like this butter product they have, Balade, that's half the fat and made with sea salt. So tasty and not full of things I can't pronounce!

[GLC1968]

I've been continuously underwhelmed with TJ's. It's a sin to say so, though...so I usually keep my mouth shut.

It's not very convenient for us, so we only shop there on occasion. The only thing we buy there regularly is nuts because ours carries a lot of dry roasted varieties and we don't eat nuts roasted in oils. We've also often found fun cheeses there.

And yes, the produce is really lame.

Though, I will say that I did run into a TJ's in downtown Chicago (across from our hotel last summer) and their produce was MUCH more impressive. I do think it must vary by region or perhaps by season?

[snapdragen]

I'll second the frozen brown rice, there is also a rice medley that's really good. Super convenient when I don't have time to make rice. Mom loves the Cranberry Walnut salad dressing. Greek yogurt, wine, blueberry muesli, roasted baby beets, raw almonds, mini Brie, vegetable broth.....

I used to get hummus there too, but I've since discovered Tribe brand, I like it better.