Virginia Heather Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Any not-to-miss items?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinag Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Joe Joes cookies, hummus, pot stickers, madarin orange chicken. I haven't tried the eggplant, but now I can't remember if it was eggplant or eggplant parmesan that I heard was really good. They also have granola type bars that my kids love. I will see if I can find the brand. I love TJ's but rarely get to it. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 I grocery shop there weekly, so I get most of my daily use items there. Things we like best: whole wheat tortillas garlic salsa, peach salsa (YUM!!) corn chips organic whole wheat pastas spaghetti sauce (usually I make my own, but in a pinch theirs is really good!) Thai Curry sauce (YUM!) Organic ketchup (no HFCS) feta with mediteranean herbs (for salads) frozen fruit and veggies - organic ones are cheaper than my local non-organic ones Frozen rice - a total splurge! But when I want rice quickly, it's nice to have peanut butter - organic! Jelly - no sugar, organic Jo-jos! Fruit leathers honey sticks I'm sure there's more. We just love their stuff! Try some crackers too. Their coffee is great (but I can't remember the name of the exact one we get - we're out now!). Ask the people who work there for recommendations - they are VERY helpful. Enjoy the free samples! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 I'm in a bit of a TJ funk. I went yesterday, and they no longer have three of our favorite items to get there. I love the prices, but I hate that they change merchandise so much. :( We get a lot of our organic dairy products there when we will be coming staight home (it is about 45 minutes away.) Their raw nuts and nut butters are inexpensive and we love their maple syrup. We also usually get: canned herring (for dh, it is so much cheaper there,) WW pasta, a box or two of granola bars (banana nut yesterday) as a treat for ds who misses them, pita chips, mini WW pitas (they are the only place we can find good ones,) and bread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laylamcb Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 One word: CHOCOLATE. :svengo: Two words of advice: Stay away.:leaving: Three words why: It is addictive. :drool: Love TJ's! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Organic. Dark. Chocolate. Truffles.:drool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saille Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Ditto what others have said. We got all our organic dairy there when we lived near one. Angela, I am so very jealous of you. We lived within range of the Dublin and Easton locations, and went every month, with coolers. It was our core grocery run. Now I go to the one in Dayton at Christmas when I visit my in-laws, and that's it. The closest one to me now is almost four hours away. *sigh* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Their milk is cheaper than elsewhere and no hormones The soy and ginger carrots and Thai green beans are favorites here. The soy corn dogs and small meatballs in the frozen section. Trader Joes Honey O's are staples. The toilet paper!!! the echinacea gummy vites the mango corn chips when I can find them honey roasted and Thai chili lime peanuts more frozen veggies we love, the tri pepper bled and the broccoli and water chestnuts the basmati rice and quinoa are also staples hey, look, I am writing my grocery list for today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danestress Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Good selection of organic, fair trade coffees cheeses Salami Trail Mix cereal Cacchiatore sauce (spelling?) which is really good over chicken Edamame Ginger snaps (they really have the very best!) Proscecco (again, I know my spelling is atrocious, rilly bad:)) Licorice Scotties Nuts Dried fruit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Cashew Macadamia nut butter Organic marinara sauce Calzones Nuts & dried fruit Thai green simmer sauce frozen peppers frozen shrimp wine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 I love the gingersnaps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepy Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Waaaah, I don't have a Trader Joe's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelli in TN Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 I have only been once but one of my favorite things we bought was the punjab sauce. Our local stores have nothing like this so it was a treat to us. We used ours over chicken and rice for a super quick meal. Next time I go to Nashville I am going to insist on a stop at Trader Joe's!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekanamom Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 I love TJ's. I do my weekly shopping there too. I get a nice balance of healthy foods and the most delicious treats. If I'm going to have a treat, it might as well be Really Good... and TJ's delivers. LOL. Treats: Joe Joes Vanilla Meringues Many kinds of really good chocolate Heavy cream for my coffee Wine Mini muffins for the kids Other TJ faves: Simmer Sauces Jaipur Vegetables & pre-cooked rice for an almost instant lunch Bruschetta sauce & a baguette Nice selection of coffees Their dairy overall is very yummy. I don't drink milk, but my family says it's the best. The heavy cream needs to be used up quickly because it goes bad faster than the cream from other places, but it's great while it's good. Their full fat yogurts are soooo good, we use them as desserts. Their bags of frozen vegetables are VERY good. I am currently using Dream Dinners to make our dinners ahead of time. I've found that TJ's by itself provides more than enough for all our breakfast, lunch and side-dish needs. I generally don't need to shop anywhere else for groceries. I used to also buy their cleaning products, but am now giving the Method products a whirl. TJ's handsoaps, laundry detergent, etc. are good. The only thing I can't recommend is the Trader Joe's dishwasher detergent. (The Method detergent is much better.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Virginia Dawn Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 One is opening soon in a town we visit often. The lists sound lovely, but most of that stuff I can't afford to splurge on. How do they do pricewise on basic foodstuffs for frugal shoppers? Someone said milk is cheaper. How much is it? How much does HFC free ketchup cost? What about the no sugar jelly and organic peanut butter? Do they have sales? Can you get pickles without food coloring? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekanamom Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 One is opening soon in a town we visit often. The lists sound lovely, but most of that stuff I can't afford to splurge on. How do they do pricewise on basic foodstuffs for frugal shoppers? Someone said milk is cheaper. How much is it? How much does HFC free ketchup cost? What about the no sugar jelly and organic peanut butter? Do they have sales? Can you get pickles without food coloring? I don't have any receipts with me right now... but I can tell you that I spend, on average, $50 less per week shopping at TJ's compared to Safeway. I'm not sure what the savings would be compared to Walmart. I do save $$ by shopping for my meat once/month at Costco instead of buying it at TJ's. (And right now I'm not buying meat at all since I'm doing Dream Dinners to make freezer meals for a while, but that is a very recent change.) For me, TJ's is closer and also so much smaller than other grocery stores... I can get there quicker and shop faster. So the location and size of the store saves me significant time too. Not sure about the food coloring in pickles! Yes, I think that sometimes they mark items down a bit. Their shelf labels are handwritten on bright paper, though. Makes my eyes cross, lol. So I often skip reading them and miss the sales info. Sorry I don't have specific numbers to give you... but overall, in my area, I save money and get better quality foods by shopping at TJ's. I don't know if the price comparison would be the same in other areas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chanda7 Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 They have Belgium chocolate bars ridiculously cheap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 One is opening soon in a town we visit often. The lists sound lovely, but most of that stuff I can't afford to splurge on. How do they do pricewise on basic foodstuffs for frugal shoppers? Someone said milk is cheaper. How much is it? How much does HFC free ketchup cost? What about the no sugar jelly and organic peanut butter? Do they have sales? Can you get pickles without food coloring? Ketchup - $1.99 for 24 ounces Organic Peanut Butter - $2.99 for 1 pound made with valencia peanuts which are supposed to have less mold No Sugar jelly - $2.29 for 20 ounces This is organic too. I don't splurge there very often because of allergies. Much of their pre-packaged stuff is manufactured on the same equipment as peanuts and tree nuts. Oh - and I agree with the yogurt! We get the European Full-Fat stuff. $2.99. Yum! We mix in some of the jelly and some vanilla. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kay in Cal Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 I agree... we shop first at Costco, second at TJs, only then at the local grocery store. The "basic" prices at TJs are less than I spend couponing at the "regular" store, for the most part. Lots of inexpensive basics I buy there: rice, pasta, cheese (I love cheese--TJs is the only place to get good cheese at a decent price), veggies (the ones they carry, which do change), lunch meat, eggs (best place for eggs!), yogurt, milk, juice, frozen veggies, nuts (my dh eats lots of almonds), cereal, peanut butter, jelly, olive oil, maple syrup... all soooooo much cheaper. Ds6 says his favorite thing to buy at TJs is gouda. Ds4 say his favorite thing to buy at TJs is chocolate muffins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diana B Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Didn't read everyone else's posts, but I have been known to stop at TJ's only to pick up a package of dried mango. It is THE BEST!! Oh and the honey sesame cashews are really good too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughing lioness Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 waaaaa! Take me with you!! No TJ's for state's around! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LG Gone Wild Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 I like their marinated beef. The two I pick up the Korean Bulgogi and the Hawaiin - style ribs (boneless). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mamagistra Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Totally jealous here! :glare: ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annabanana1992 Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 The only miss I ever had was the sparkling pomegranate juice. I do my regular grocery shopping there as well and save money overall. particular faves: refrigerated pizza dough 99 cents! uncured bacon frozen brown rice frozen mixed veggies with seasonings organic marinara pumpkin bread mix you really can't miss! Have fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Part-Time Homeschooler Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 The Mojito Salmon is great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacey in MA Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Is a chewy candy-type thing called "Ginger Chews". (I think??!) They are individually wrapped gummy/chewy candy made with REAL ginger (so the kids may think they burn their mouth a little!). They are only 20 calories a piece, so I enjoy these here and there without guilt! Have fun! - Stacy in MA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mamasteff Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 I do my main shopping there too - they are next door to a Vons I can go into for the few items they don't have. BEST TJ's items: CANNED CORN. Crazy but true - it is so yummy, sweet and delicious I could eat a can of cold corn for a meal. EGGS are a better deal there than anywhere else, and local to boot. PASTA - very good prices on whole grain pastas. Their "cheerio" substitute cereal (if your kids must have boxed cereal) is less expensive and tastes just the same to me. Christmas time... PEPPERMINT JOE-JOEs. Oh, I just got a hankerin' for Christmas time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magistramom Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 The Trader Joe's cookbook:) It has recipes using items only from TJ's. We've always enjoyed their Vodka Marinara, and jalepeno pepper hot sauce. Enjoy your trip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magistramom Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Oooh! Oooh! Seconding their trail mixes! The dried wasabi peas are fun to munch on too:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Me too! Totally jealous here! :glare: ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virginia Heather Posted September 10, 2008 Author Share Posted September 10, 2008 Thanks you guys-- you've just made a super-duper shopping list for me-- I'm off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumping In Puddles Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 I'm in a bit of a TJ funk. I went yesterday, and they no longer have three of our favorite items to get there. I love the prices, but I hate that they change merchandise so much. :( Just when you find something you love, you can't live without... DISCONTINUED! :banghead: My favorites: Naan Bread Whole Wheat hamburger/hot dog buns NUTS! olive oil chocolate Jo Jo's Burritos Mini Tacos Frozen fruit Frozen Veg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2abcd Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Chocolate Jo-Jos are like Oreos, right? (Note to those without a TJs around... If they are... I tried them and I personally like Walmart's no-name brand "Oreo" better.:o) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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