My Trader Joe’s recommendations

Photo Courtesy of Harrison Keely- Wikimedia Commons

"Trader Joe’s has grown a cult following for a reason. Trader Joe’s has grown increasingly popular due its healthier, creative alternatives to name brands."

My weekly grocery list is quite boring. I usually end up buying the same ten things and call it a day. Items like cereal, sweet potatoes, ground turkey, a sweet treat, and some kind of fruit are usually on that list. That is, until I pull into a Trader Joe’s parking lot. Then that list gets thrown out the window.

For any reader who has not indulged themselves in a shopping trip to Trader Joes, let me give you the highlights of things you need to try. But first, a disclaimer: Trader Joe’s is not the kind of grocery store that you do actual shopping at. It is a place where you can purchase fun snacks, quick frozen meals, and some delicious sweet treats. Practically every item at Trader Joes is Trader Joe’s branded. You won’t be finding any name brand chips there. So let’s get into some of my essentials.

The first category is savory snacks. The goal of my first ever trip to Trader Joe’s was to get one thing, and one thing only: Crunchy Curls. A Tik Tok creator who frequented my for you page, Bria Lemirande, raved about these for months, so naturally, I had to try them. The trajectory of my life changed after the first bite of the crunchy lentil snack. They are the perfect amount of saltiness. I would choose Crunchy Curls over a bag of potato chips every time. If you go to Trader Joe’s and do not see them on the shelf, do not fret. They are a popular snack and oftentimes sell out. Unfortunately, the last time I went they were all out, and I left the store with my head hung low knowing that I had to leave without my favorite thing. 

If the Crunchy Curls are sold out, I will opt to get the Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers. A spicier snack for me, but it pairs nicely with the Everything and the Elote Dip. I also love the White Cheddar Corn Puffs. This is Trader Joe’s version of Pirate’s Booty. I have to be careful with these though, because it is very easy to eat half the bag in one sitting. If any readers are deficient in iron, like myself, let me put you onto the Veggie & Flaxseed Tortilla Chips. These chips are high in iron, taste great, and pair nicely with the white queso dip.

Let us move onto my go-to frozen foods from Trader Joes. My absolute favorite is the frozen Mac ‘n Cheese. Both the regular and reduced fat options are delicious! These are great for anyone living in the dorms who do not feel like eating at Red Jacket Dining Hall for the twelfth time in one week. The Steamed Soup Dumplings are also a great choice. They take two minutes to heat up in the microwave and are so comforting. I personally love the chicken flavored ones, but they also have pork and veggie options as well. The Four Cheese Ravioli is also a delicious quick dinner idea. These can either be refrigerated or put in the freezer. Just grab your favorite jarred pasta sauce and you’ve got an easy dinner in under 20 minutes. 

I have saved the best category for last: the sweet treats. If you love Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, you have to try the TJs Mini Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. They are the best after-dinner treat. But make sure they get put into the fridge because they melt pretty fast. I also absolutely love the TJ’s Milk Chocolate Covered Mini Pretzels. These are the perfect combination of salty and sweet. If you prefer a sour gummy candy as opposed to chocolate, then you need to try the Sour Scandinavian Swimmers. Make sure to pick up the green bag and not the blue one.

Trader Joe’s can be overwhelming with its crowded aisles and abundance of options to pick from. I hope my recommendations gave you a starting point of things to try during your visit to a Trader Joe’s near you!