When it comes to Trader Joe’s, your weekly grocery run turns into a fun adult field trip. The endless selection of delicious sauces, cuisines, and even the unmatched friendly service at the counter leaves you with a smile at every purchase. If you’ve been to a beloved Trader Joe’s yourself you can’t help but agree – you really never know what you’re going to try the next time you go.
Now I wasn’t introduced to the Trader Joe’s scene until just a couple years back – and given all the hype, some might even coin TJ’s shoppers as their own exclusive little crew. But rest assured, once you join in, it’ll soon feel just like home.
So why Trader Joe’s?
The primary appeal for Trader Joe’s is their diverse selection of a limited number of products. In other words, while at a typical large grocery store you may find twenty different variations of the same tomato sauce, at Trader Joe’s you’ll instead be given four different variations but each one individually unique (ie. tomato basil, marinara, pizza sauce, etc.) and independent under the Trader Joe’s brand. The beauty in this setup is reduced decision fatigue, therefore a stronger inclination to try new things each trip. Not to mention their growing eco-friendly practices and affordable pricing – it’s a win on all ends.
After a few years of TJ’s exploring, I’ve come to find my essentials and favorites to grab whenever I go. Variety is the spice of life, and changing things up in the kitchen is arguably one of the best ways to keep yourself engaged in cooking. So while these are my go-to’s, I’m always down to pick up something I haven’t tried before. A heads up these picks are based on my personal taste!
Favorite Trader Joe’s Finds
(all items listed are vegan)
Seasonings
Starting out with the most fun and recognized category at Trader Joe’s, these seasonings change the game if you’re looking to either start cooking for the first time or simply spice things up with what you make currently. There are certain seasonings I actually find are best when paired together, so I’ve mentioned those below as well!
- Everything But the Bagel – good on just about everything
- Chile Lime – Mexican dishes, especially on avocado
- Umami – Asian dishes, stir frys, on sweet potatoes
- Organic Chili Blend – good paired with other seasonings, roasted vegetables
- Vegan Chickenless – perfect for roasted cauliflower, or paired with others
- Nutritional Yeast – good on just about everything, use as vegan cheese
Best combinations: Umami + Organic Chili Blend, Chile Lime + Nutritional Yeast, Vegan Chickenless + Organic Chili Blend, Everything But the Bagel + a squeeze of lemon
Sauces/Dips/Condiments
Hands down the most experimental section in the store, and also the most fun. Here are my favorites + fun ways to use them:
- Artichoke Antipasto – good for tossing greens in, or as topping
- Dijon Mustard with White Wine – use to make dressings or as condiment
- Roasted Garlic Hummus – for dipping or bowls
- Organic Thick and Chunky Salsa – for dipping or bowls
- Coconout Aminos – Stir frys, Asian dishes, to make sauces
- Green Dragon Sauce – for topping
Mains, Snacks, Miscellaneous items
Otherwise known as “everything else” you can think of…
- Frozen Acai berry packets – for smoothies
- Red & Green Lentils, canned beans – for main meals
- Old Fashioned Rolled Oats, Tri-Color Quinoa, Brown Rice – for main meals
- Creamy Salted Almond Butter, Sunflower Butter – favorites for topping oatmeal or smoothies
- Organic Tahini – perfect for making dressings or using directly as a topping
- Raw Pumpkin Seeds – good for topping smoothies and salads
- ABC (Almond Butter Cocoa) Bars – favorite for snacking
- Cacao powder – for smoothies
- Ground Flaxseed Meal – for smoothies, oats, or as egg sub for baking
- Frozen Mango Chunks (and any frozen fruit/veg) – for snacking or smoothies
What I listed above are just some of my favorites, definitely pick and choose the ones that fit your week’s grocery list. Many are items that last a long time, so keep that in mind before going in to buy a bunch of staples at once! There’s definitely no need to have every single thing on hand, just keep your mind open when going down the aisle 🙂
Hope you enjoyed this Trader Joe’s inspiration lineup! If you want more grocery related articles, leave any feedback below or over email. Happy shopping!