What I Buy At Trader Joe’s

If you’ve ever shopped at Trader Joe’s, then you know what the obsession is all about. From fresh flowers to produce to addicting snacks, they have it all and all for a steal. I love seeing what people buy each week and also for any recipe inspiration so sharing my favorites to buy, along with easy recipes I make regularly!

FROZEN FOOD AND EASY ON HAND ITEMS
Dr. Praeger’s California Veggie Burgers: One of my favorite easy weeknight meals is a veggie burger with a slice of muenster cheese melted on top with sliced avocado, cherry tomatoes and balsamic glaze. Easy, healthy and delicious!

Cauliflower Gnocchi: The hype is real about these for sure! I sauté these with olive oil and then add chicken sausage, veggies and kale pesto for a quick and delicious weeknight meal.

Organic Brown Rice: These packets are so great to have on hand to make any kind of bowl. One pack makes enough for two dinners as well!

Cauliflower Fried Rice: This healthy swap of fried rice is so good! I usually add some protein, chicken or shrimp, or top with Frozen Gyoza (another one I always have on hand) for a quick, healthier Asian dinner. 

Unsweetened Organic Acai Puree Packets: One of my favorite weekend breakfasts is making an acai bowl with these packets, which I blend with kale, spinach, coconut water and protein/collagen powder. Topped with fruit, granola and almond butter and it’s a delicious weekend breakfast for half the cost of what it would be to order anywhere else. 

Red Lentil Pasta: I always make sure to have this pasta on hand when I’m low on groceries. Great with veggies and some sauce, it’s a healthy and hearty pasta swap! 

MEAT
Sundried Tomato Chicken Sausage: These are a weekly staple for me and easy to throw in with veggies, pasta or with rice for a quick and healthy meal. I just slice and sauté for a few minutes and you have a delicious meal in a flash!

Ground Turkey Breast: I love to make this with sautéed onions and then have for the week for tacos or taco bowls. So easy and delicious and an easy way to meal prep. 

Grilled Chicken Strips: This is such a staple for saving time. I love buying these already cooked and grilled chicken strips to add to my salads, pasta or Mexican food for the week.

Turkey Slices: I love to make a great turkey sandwich every once in a while so I like these turkey slices to have in the fridge for that or to cut up and add to a salad or omlette as well. 

DAIRY
Sliced Muenster Cheese: A favorite sliced cheese to have on hand for veggie burgers, sandwiches or grilled cheeses!

Lite Mexican Shredded Cheese: I make a taco bowl or tacos at least once a week so I always make sure to have a bag of these lite shredded cheese in the fridge. 

Plain Greek Yogurt: Instead of sour cream, I use a spoonful of plain Greek yogurt with a sprinkle of salt for a healthier alternative on taco night.

Crumbled Goat or Feta Cheese: I keep this on hand for sprinkling on my salads for lunch for the week.

Shredded Parmesan Cheese: A staple to have on hand to throw on any pasta dishes or brussel sprouts.

BEVERAGES
Lemon Flavored Sparkling Water: I’m addicted to drinking their sparkling water and lemon continues to be my favorite. So refreshing and crisp!

Ginger Turmeric Tea: We have tea before bed almost nightly in our apartment and this is our favorite thanks to the bold flavor and no caffeine!

Health Ade Kombucha: Health Ade is my favorite kombucha brand and TJ’s has them for a great price compared to most places in NYC.

FRUITS AND VEGGIES
Avocados: A staple every week for salads, tacos, sandwiches or avocado toast! 

Bell Peppers and Persian Cucumbers: I love to slice all of these up on Sunday night to have easily on hand for salads or dipping with hummus or garlic dip.

Diced Onion: I hate cutting onions and this is such an easy way to have diced onions on hand for all your meals that week. 

Cherry Tomatoes: Whether on a salad, sautéed or add to tacos, an easy veggie that lasts a long time too in the fridge.

Broccolini: A favorite veggie of mine that I can quickly sauté to add with lentil pasta, chicken sausage and kale pesto.

Kale and Spinach: Whether making a big salad for the week for lunch, adding into my smoothies or sautéing with chicken sausage, I restock almost weekly on these two bagged lettuces. 

Assorted Berries: I keep these on hand for my smoothies but I also love having a bowl of berries with a scoop of almond butter and some granola for a bedtime snack as well. 

Bag of Lemons: I recently started doing a mix of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon for my salad dressing so I love to keep these bagged lemons on hand for salads and cocktails too.CRACKERS/CHIPS/BREAD
Savory Thin Mini Crackers: These mini rice crackers are my favorite cracker to snack on with dips and bring for lunch along with sliced turkey and veggies.

Rice Cracker Medley: One of my favorite snacks to keep in my desk at work, this cracker mix is packed full of Asian flavor. 

Pita Chips: Another staple to have always in the pantry to have with hummus and veggies!

Whole Wheat Pita Pockets: I love these to make breakfast pitas or toasted turkey sandwiches on the weekend.

SAUCES, DIPS AND SPICES
Vegan Cashew and Kale Pesto: Seriously the best pesto! One of my favorite easy weeknight meals is red lentil pasta with sautéed chicken sausage and veggies with this kale pesto. So easy and delicious! 

Garlic Dip: This dip is ADDICTING! So creamy and light, I love dipping sliced veggies or the rice crackers in it for an afternoon snack. 

Organic Hummus: Another great dip to have on hand to snack with veggies and pita chips.

Balsamic Glaze: I love this glaze to drizzle over veggies, on a sandwich or over a veggie burger with avocado for an easy dinner. 

Everything Bagel Salt: It’s not a trip to TJ’s without getting Everything Bagel Salt right?! A favorite on avocado toast and popcorn in our apartment.

SWEET TREATS, SNACKS AND BAKED GOODS
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups: The perfect sweet treat. We keep these in our freezer when we just need a little bit of chocolate at night! 

Cinnamon Graham Crackers: One of my favorites, these cinnamon sugar grahams are another sweet treat I love to pick up every once in a while. 

Raw Creamy Almond Butter: Whether adding on top of an acai bowl or with fruit, these jar is such an amazing steal where most grocery stores in NYC charge ridiculous prices. 

Dried Fruit: I love having either their dried mango or banana chips as a snack at work for when I’m needing a healthy sugar buzz!

Fruit Frenzy Popsicles: These layered fruit popsicles are packed full of flavor thanks to lemon, raspberry and strawberry and are such a refreshing treat (especially when it gets hot out!)

What are your favorite Trader Joe’s must-haves?