I remember the first time I ever stepped foot in a Trader Joe’s. I was visiting my sister in Connecticut and we had to stop by Trader Joe’s for a few items. I immediately fell in love with the place. It wasn’t a big store, but aisle after aisle was filled with new and interesting products.
Thankfully, a few years ago Trader Joe’s took my advice and opened one a few minutes from the house. (Just kidding about them taking my advice, but I did fill out a fair share of comment forms on their website asking when they would be coming down here!) I’d like to think I helped them make the decision.
Below are the Trader Joe’s products that I stock up on.
SNACKS
Mini Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
The first thing that got me was how cute they are. Then you eat one, and you can’t stop. They are just the right amount of chocolate to peanut butter and perfect for a movie snack (or a handful while you are passing the pantry).
Candy Coated Chocolate Drops
One of the first things that I took out of the boys’ diets after reading article upon article is artificial colors. Scanning a lot of the ingredient lists of their favorite snacks, I was enraged at what crap was in some of them.
Both of my boys love chocolate so M&Ms was a hard break for them. I was introduced to Trader Joe’s candy-coated chocolate drops and we haven’t looked back since! They taste exactly the same as conventional M&Ms (I believe as do my boys) and are colored with natural ingredients – beets for the red coloring, etc.
Cold Brew Latte Dessert Bars
Another stumbled upon GREAT find are the cold brew latte dessert bars. Yum. Especially in the summer!
Scandinavian Swimmers
I purchased these on a whim as the boys love gummies but I won’t let them in the house due to the preservatives and artificial colors that are usually found in most brands. I was super excited to find out that the Scandinavian Swimmers were free of them!
They taste like Swedish Fish, but even better. I love the shapes (especially the lobster). These sweets don’t last long in our house!
Hold the Cone Mini Ice Cream Cones
Just the right amount of ice cream, cone, and chocolate. They are a hit with the kids (and adults actually, who am I kidding?).
BREAKFAST FOODS
Cereal Bars
The name was the first thing that caught my eye…This Apple Walks into a Bar. These yummy breakfast bars contain no synthetic flavors, artificial colors, or preservatives. I buy two boxes at a time.
Whenever I am on the way out the door I grab one as an on-the-go snack. Be careful though, they are super soft and have been known to squish in my bag.
Toaster Pastries
For the longest time, my little one would ask me to buy him pop tarts. His friends would always bring them to school for snack/breakfast. I couldn’t do it – the artificial colors and preservatives alone made me cringe.
I was SO happy when I stumbled upon Trader Joe’s Organic Frosted Toaster Pastries. I grabbed one of each kind, with the brown sugar and cinnamon variety hitting a home run with the little guy!
CHARCUTERIE
Truffle Marcona Almonds
Oh. My. Gosh. These don’t even make it to the charcuterie platter. They are that delicious. My sister introduced them to me last time she visited and they have become a staple on our platters ever since.
We were shopping at Whole Foods and she pointed them out to me but mentioned that Trader Joe’s had them for a lot less. Not only were they a lot less expensive, they had the truffle version (for a lot less than the regular ones at WF). We also bought the rosemary version which was yummy but if you have to pick one, I would grab the truffle bag!
Triple Cream Wild Mushroom Brie
I can eat this with a spoon. No crackers needed. It is SO delicious.
BASICS
Bananas
Bananas are only $0.19 each…I grab a bunch every time I shop. You can’t go wrong! And if you have some at home that gets soft and brown…make banana bread!
Gluten-Free Bread
I am super picky when it comes to gluten-free bread. I’ve tried just about all of them and can say that the only one that doesn’t taste like cardboard and makes my grilled cheese sandwiches yummy is Trader Joe’s gluten-free sliced bread.
Cruciferous Salad
I am a big salad eater – they type that likes a lot of “stuff” in my salad. I’d rather have a lot of different tastes and textures in the salad than add dressing. This is where the Cruciferous Salad by Trader Joe’s comes in. It contains chopped kale, Brussel sprouts, green cabbage, red cabbage, and broccoli.
I like to toss in some craisins, chickpeas, and either sunflower seeds or almond slivers. Add chicken for some added protein and it makes a delicious lunch or side dish!
Soup Dumplings
Soup dumplings wouldn’t conventionally be classified as a basic, but in my house they surely are! When I went to Hong Kong, I tasted the most delicious soup dumplings at Din Tai Fung and couldn’t find anything that remotely came close to them once back in the States.
The box of soup dumplings caught my eye on a visit to TJ’s and I had to try them out. We broke out our bamboo steamer (make sure to use either a large piece of lettuce or paper lining when steaming) to see if these could even hold a light to the deliciousness I enjoyed in China.
They were VERY comparable and soon became a staple in our house. There is never a time that we don’t have two boxes in the freezer – for snacks or an app for one of Rich’s homemade Asian meals.
BEVERAGES
Trader Joe’s Own Two Buck Chuck
Known originally as Two Buch Chuck, Trader Joe’s offers a very inexpensive line of wine (it’s $3 by me, $2 in Cali where it originated). We stock up on the reds and whites for cooking purposes but I wouldn’t turn my nose to it for parties and other events where you need bottles of wine.
Trader Joe’s wine selection is great, above and beyond the two (three) buck chuck listed above. I’ve found the employees to be super helpful in helping you find the right bottle for any occasion or meal.
Flavored Sparkling Water
First introduced to their sparkling wine for a news segment, I quickly became a fan. The flavor choices are great and the pricing is even better! I believe I paid under $1.00 per bottle!
What are your favorite Trader Joe’s products? Please comment below because I’d love to learn of new ones to try out!
Ann Snook says
Ooo, that salad mix sounds right up my alley! I also love that Trader Joe’s makes better-for-you versions of snack foods. I wish we had this chain in Canada 🙁
Dana says
You can get some of the items on Amazon (although at a higher markup). Maybe they will go to Canada soon!
Kim Glad says
We love Trader Joes too. It’s my husband’s favorite place to shop. The sparkling waters and the mini cones are two of our favorite items as well! I can’t wait to try your other suggestions!
Dana says
What other products from Trader Joe’s do you like to get?
LavandaMichelle says
What a cool post! I love trader joes, I love the broccoli florets from there. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Valerie Christie says
This post made me hungry for snacks! The toaster treats and gummies are a must try for us. Thanks for sharing this.
Dana says
I know right, Valerie! I hope you like the gummies and toaster treats – they are a hit at our house!
Rosey says
The lobster gummies are cute. My daughter in law loves Trader Joe’s. She gets her healthy snacks for the house from there too.
Vanessa Delia says
I really love your list! Trader Joe’s is a great place to go and check things out.
Dana says
Thank you, Vanessa!
Heather says
So many things I haven’t tried yet! I need to schedule a trip to Trader Joe’s next week!
Echo says
Everyone loves Trader Joes and I have never really shopped there, LOL!
Dana says
You totally need to! Just take a stroll inside one day and you’ll see why!
Sondra Barker says
I love Trader Joes, especially the Shaw wine and the kale salad mixes 🙂
Melissa says
I don’t know why I don’t go to Trader Joe’s more often. I am going to have to remind myself to check it out.
Dana says
Melissa, you’ll be happy you checked it out!
Tara Pittman says
I need to make a trip to Traders Joes. It is a drive but I want to try some of these items.
Abrah Sprung says
There sure are a lot of awesome choices at TJ’s! Love your highlights in this post! So many I haven’t tried yet.
Dana says
Thank you Abrah 🙂 Which products are your favorite?
Nina Kasper says
That Triple Cream Wild Mushroom Brie looks amazing!!! I wish I had a Trader Joe’s close to me, I would buy that right now!
Amber Myers says
Yum, I’ll be trying these out for sure. I enjoy going to Trader Joe’s. One of my favorite things is the Cookie Butter.
Dana says
The Cookie Butter is delicious! 🙂
Cassie says
I love traders Joe’s. There needs to be one near us
Dana says
Cassie, you should totally write to them and tell them!
princess quinn says
These are all good items. I wanna stock some too. I wish they would open a branch in our town too.
char says
i love snacks. i want them all. Some of them i haven’t heard of so willing to try them
Dana says
You need to check them out, Char!
Jessica May says
I absolutely love Trader Joe’s! We used to live near one but no longer do. I miss the great selection of products and the prices! Thanks for sharing!
Dana says
My pleasure, Jessica!! 🙂
jeannine says
many of my favourites here, but i can’t live without Mini Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups on a daily basis, don’t judge
Dana says
Jeannine, definitely no judging here 😉
Brittany says
This is an awesome post. We love Trader Joe’s! Especially the snacks from there!! Thanks for sharing your favorite ones. We’ll have to try a few!
Natalie says
I so wish we had Trader Joe’s in Canada. I keep hearing about how good the snacks they carry are.
Sarah Scheinger says
I’ve never really shopped at Trader Joes, but obviously I need to be shopping at trader joes! Seriously, I keep hearing about all the goodies they have and this post just proved it!
Dana says
Sarah, it’s definitely a lot different than some of the traditional grocery stores with their unique products.
Nancy L says
I love Trader Joe’s and as much as I shop there, you have found some items that I never noticed before. I think I found some future favorites, especially the brie and almonds. Ooooh…I have to stop there tomorrow!
Dana says
I’d love to hear of some of your Trader Joe’s favorites, Nancy!
Aashima says
This is a unique and informative. I have never bought any of these and they all sound great options. I am going to check out the peanut butter cups next time.
Dana says
The peanut butter cups are soooo addictive – I can’t wait to hear what you think of them!
Casey says
Wow… We have one near where we live. We love trader Joe, always have what we wanted. Also my sneaky drop by before heading home after work. Don’t tell my kids… LOL
Dana says
Casey, I promise I won’t tell 😉
ohmummymia says
I want that snacks so bad now! They look so delicious and different than those which we have in UK
Dana says
The snacks are great at Trader Joe’s but I am sure there are some great options in the UK as well!
Wildish says
I went to Trader Joe’s once and was disappointed. It’s been a few years though so maybe I should try it again.
Dana says
Trader Joe’s is definitely not one of those grocery stores that you can find everything on your list. That can be disappointing to some that are expecting a one-stop shopping experience. You should definitely check it out one more time!
Farrah says
I need those almonds in my life! + yay for soup dumplings! <3
Gabrielle says
I live off of Trader Joe’s! Their cheeses… oh my! Also, I adore their yogurt, their amazing Indian entrees, and the Mandarin Orange Chicken Bowl!
DeeAnna says
Trader Joe’s Cold Brew Latte Dessert Bars have been discontinued (again?) according to the two stores near me (3/21/2022). Is there a place we can write or call to beg them to bring them back? HELP!
Dana says
Hi DeeAnna! Oh nooooooooooo…I would message them on IG and also tweet them!