If you are fortunate enough to have a Trader Joe’s nearby, then I’m sure your are familiar with it’s awesomeness. Trader Joe’s is basically a health food grocery store with reasonable (and sometimes even dirt cheap) prices. Here are some of my favorite Trader Joe’s products:
1. Just the Clusters Maple Pecan Granola- This stuff is amazing. Little spoonfuls of heaven. Like most granolas, it’s higher in fat and sugar than regular cereal, so I like to mix it with another whole grain cereal, like Shredded Wheat or Quaker Oatmeal Squares. I like to top this blend off with chopped apples and cold skim milk. I also really enjoy the Vanilla Almond flavor, topped with fresh strawberries or blueberries.
2. Nuts about nuts: Trader Joes has an amazing selection of nuts and nut butters, at a very reasonable prices! Some of their nut butters include peanut, almond, cashew and sunflower. Stick with natural nut butters with no added hydrogenated oils in the ingredient list. Nuts are great sources of healthy fat. Walnuts, in particular, are high in omega-3s! 
3. Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette: This salad dressing is awesome! It blends Asian peanut flavors with hints of Hispanic Jalapeno and cilantro. Plus, it’s low in fat (just 4 grams per serving!) I love this dressing tossed with an Asian style green salad (lettuce, cabbage, carrots, snow peas) topped with dry roasted peanuts. I tried it for the first time at one of the little sample stands they have at Trader Joe’s. So far, it’s the only time I’ve immediately purchased what they were selling!
4. $2 buck Chuck! More formally known as Charles Shaw, this wine has a price that can’t be beat: $1.99! This is actually an award winning winning wine, according to Wikipedia! I do a lot of cooking with wine, and this wine is perfect. It adds great flavor to my favorite meals, like my 15 minute Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Pasta. And, I don’t mind drinking a glass with my meal either! My current favorite is the Shiraz. For more great wines from Trader Joe’s, check out this Top Ten List from Jason’s Wine Blog.
What are your favorite items from Trader Joe’s?
Nicole Geurin, MPH, RD 
I have never been to a Trader Joes before (I know how crazy is that!) but I think that Charles Shaw cheap wine would be calling my name 🙂 thanks for the great suggestions for when i finally go!
Oh my gosh, I should do a commercial about trader joe’s I love it so much lol Everything is awesome there, especially the prices on all the basics. I also love their salad dressings, trail mix, garlic ciabatta bread, cottage cheese, peanut butter pretzels, cereal, pumpkin butter and on and on!
I love Trader Joe’s! Great value for great products. Only wish there was one closer to where I live and the lines weren’t so long!!
mmm…I’ll co-star in the commercial w/ EatingRD. I can never live without a Trader Joes again.
Favs: all cheese, nuts, dried fruit, gorgonzola crackers, pretzel bread, blueberries & cream yogurt, all frozen desserts, shrimp or veggie gyoza, blueberry syrup, simmer sauces, wow…i could go on!
I love their freeze dried mangosteen, fresh red currants ( I grew up with them and Trader Joe’s seems to be the only store that has them!) And for the pizza lovers, you gotta try the Olympiad Pizza with feta cheese and kalamata olives. Oh, and for the sweet tooth, I recommend Mochi ice cream…not the healthiest but my fav dessert!
How I wish they had Trader Joes in Miami!
Oh my gosh! I’m going there for the first time tomorrow and was going to ask for suggestions on my blog! Awesome 🙂
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For me Trader Joe’s is all about the wine. $2 buck Chuck is the tip of the iceberg. They have a plethora of good wines at great prices. Here are some of my favorites in Trader Joe’s Wine.
Jason: Thank you so much for sharing! I actually found and printed this list out a few weeks ago! I shared it with a few friends at the time, but didn’t think it include it in this post. I think I’ll add it now!
Glad to hear it Nicole, have you tried any of the wines yet? Thanks for adding the link!
Jason: I have not tried them yet! Got to remember to bring the list with me next time! I’ll let you know when I do try them!
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