When Adam I first started living together, grocery shopping somehow turned into a full-day affair. We'd go to Trader Joe's for fruits, veggies, and some specialty items, then Safeway for the basics, and maybe the QFC down the street for everything we realized we forgot as soon as we got home. I don't know why we ever did that.
Now we plan our meals a little better and manage to get nearly everything at Trader Joe's in one weekly trip. Not going to lie - that doesn't make me enjoy grocery shopping any better. Our local Trader Joe's is normally pretty crowded on the weekends so we keep a go-to list of items to restock either weekly or a couple of times a month.
Butter Chicken
The butter chicken is in the frozen section and it. is. so. good. Now that we're home all the time, we go through at least 3 of these a week for lunch. It's super flavorful and much lower calorie than you'd expect!
Cauliflower Gnocchi
I use the cauliflower gnocchi for lunch meal prep. They're SO quick and easy to cook! I normally pair it with chicken sausage, roasted broccoli, and TJ's refrigerated marinara sauce.
Chocolate Chip Cocoa Meringues
I love these things. They satisfy my sweet tooth without a ton of calories, and the teeny tiny chocolate chips inside are just so cute!
Everything but the Elote
So perfect on avocado toast!
Fancy Berry Medley
Adam uses these frozen berries on a daily basis as a topping for yogurt. He likes these over other frozen berry mixes because the fancy berries don't include strawberries - which "take too long to thaw in the yogurt". His words, not mine.
Jaipur Vegetables
These are a boil in a bag item - which seemed a little strange to me at first. But, they are delicious and easy for a lazy weeknight dinner. Just pour over basmati rice, and dinner's ready in about 15 minutes.
Jicama Sticks
I like using these as an alternative to crackers or tortilla chips for hummus and buffalo chicken dip (also from Trader Joe's - so good!). The pre-sliced sticks are super convenient.
Olive Oil Spray
We normally buy two at a time so we always have one on hand. It's just olive oil in an easy to spray can with no propellants.
Reduced Guilt Mac & Cheese
This mac & cheese has been my go-to lunch of quarantine. The cheese sauce has a hint of sweetness that makes it extra taste. I definitely don't feel guilty about eating this stuff for lunch multiple times a week!
Soft & Juicy Mandarins
These are my favorite low blood sugar fix! They're super yummy but not quite as addicting as candy. They satisfy a sugar craving without leaving you feeling yucky afterward.
Sour Cream & Onion Puffs
Puffs are my go-to snack. I go through a bag a week and I'm not even embarrassed about it. They're a little crunchy but still super soft and the sour cream, and the onion seasoning is just perfect.
Tarte d'Alsace
We normally keep one of these super-thin pizzas on hand for a lazy dinner with a cheese plate or salad. They're oniony, delicious, and remind me of my study abroad trip to France every time I eat it.
Unexpected Cheddar
Unexpected cheddar is a cheeseboard staple in our apartment.
What are your go-to's from Trader Joe's? What have I been missing out on?