We are incredibly blessed to live in an area with a Trader Joe’s grocery store. Are you familiar with Trader Joe’s?
Trader Joe’s has a fabulous selection of natural foods (some organic, some not) without additives, and many of those products are cheaper than their additive-filled counterparts sold at conventional grocery stores.
Every eight to ten weeks, I visit Trader Joe’s to stock up on non-perishables, although I often end up finding a number of reasonably priced fruits, vegetables, and frozen/refrigerated items.
Although the store is small and busy, I am usually able to fill my cart in 30 minutes or less. Above is a picture of today’s shopping trip. Here’s what I bought:
2-4 lb bags Gala apples
1 package hamburger buns
1 package hotdog buns
1 package whole wheat tortillas
1 package unbleached white-wheat flour
1 package unbleached white flour
1 package (makes 12 cups) chicken broth constitute
1 container garlic powder
1 container organic dried oregano
1 container 21-seasoning slaute (haven’t tried that before)
1 container sour cream
1 container cottage cheese
1-1/2 gallon container chocolate milk
5 boxes granola bars
2 bags frozen corn
4 containers (4 cups each) organic tomato soup
2 containers (4 cups each) organic beef broth
2-10 lb packages 12-grain crackers
2-2 lb blocks dark chocolate
3-7 lb packages bread crumbs
2 cans black beans
1 package fresh organic mushrooms
3 heads Romaine lettuce
1 package fresh cilantro
2 bulbs fresh garlic
2 packages 100% beef hotdogs (nitrate-free)
1 package cough crops (for my terrible cough that won’t go away)
1 container sugar-free mints
The total cost was $120, which may sound like a lot, but if I had purchased the same items at a conventional grocery store, the price would have been significantly higher.
Anonymous
That's not bad for the stuff you bought.
Ellie For your cough you should drink tea and put a cough drop in it.It will help your cough.
Fell better soon.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Thanks for the tip. I've been sucking on cough drops and drinking tea, but I haven't thought to combine the two. I'm going to try that right now.
Ellie
Esther Huddleston
Have you visited the drs office about your cough that won't go away? I hope you get better soon!
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Not yet. I've had it for less than 2 weeks, so I'm going to wait a little longer. ๐
Ellie
Anonymous
I think I might have had the same thing.there is some virus going around. My whole family and friends got it and it lasted 3 weeks to a month. We had my little brother checked out (worried it was strep) but the doctor said it wasn't. But it could be allergies (I don't know if you get allergies I don't) or something different then what I had. Hope this helps!
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Thanks for sharing that! Hope it doesn't last a month, but I'm glad to hear your little brother didn't have strep. ๐
Ellie
Krisp
21 seasoning salute is awesome I use it in everything it's great on their turkey burgers
nashvillewife@gmail.com
I'm thrilled it hear that, Krisp. Thanks!
Ellie
Gabriella Gordon
I love Trader Joe's! Here in LA (CA) it's our regular grocery store.
Johnna
We don't have Trader Joe's here in Dallas but we do have Aldi's and they are great for organic products. You've got a haul there Ellie!
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Hi Johnna,
I shop at Aldi every week, and I do agree that they have a great selection of organic products. Did you know that Aldi and Trader Joe's are owned by the same family?
Ellie
Unknown
My favorite things at TJ's is the chewable vitamin C. Also love the fresh, ready-to-eat edamame.
There was an April Fool's story going around that all Trader Joe's stores were going to close, and I was ready to jump in my car to stock up on my favorites, until I read the last paragraph and realized it was a joke!
— Meg
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Now that's a dirty April Fools' joke! LOL
Ellie
Ashley
There is no Trader Joes near us, but there is an Aldi's, which might be similar to Trader Joes.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Hi Ashley,
The two are very similar, and they are actually owned by the same family. Aldi has a more limited selection of products, but they do have a decent amount of all-natural/organic goods. I shop at both. ๐
Ellie
Anna Ruth
YES!!!! It is one of the best stores ever!
Salinn
Sounds like you got some great stuff! We have a Trader Joe's about an hour away. I've never been in though. My Dad went in once and he thought that what he looked at was pricey. I've only ever heard of one other person that didn't like it though so I think maybe what he looked at might just not have been that good of a deal.;) I want to go in sometime, just don't get to that part of town often, maybe once a year?
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Hi Salinn,
I encourage you to check it out! Perhaps your dad was looking at the aisle of paper goods and drinks. I rarely travel down that aisle because some of those items are overpriced, but I have found most other things to be very reasonable. ๐
Ellie
Anonymous
Oh Ellie, I too have a cough that won't go away!
We've been getting pretty sick on and off my whole family and I.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
I know exactly how you feel. ๐ Hope it goes away soon!
Ellie
Sarah Liston
Yes! Trader Joe's is amazing. I just went there last night. We go there about once a month and they always have what we need. Last night I got a new item. It was black bean pasta. Does anyone know about that? Its taste? Is it very filling?
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Hi Sarah,
I've never tried their black bean pasta, but I would be curious to hear if anyone else has?
Ellie
Sarah Tressia
We have tried the pasta…my husband and kiddos like it! We have gluten and rice allergies so this is a great product for us!
Anonymous
What do you do with 21 pounds of bread crumbs?
Jemma
Teehee- I wondered the same thing.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
LOL. That's a good question! I use it to make Parmesan chicken. My husband isn't a huge fan of chicken, so there are only a handful of recipes that he likes. (If anyone has any suggestions, that would be much appreciated!) I also use it in my meatloaf. It has a shelf life of almost 2 years, so I thought I might as well stock up. ๐
Ellie
Anonymous
Maybe you two will take up bird watching.
Anonymous
I use bread crumbs on my eggplant.
Anonymous
Your husband seems to enjoy mexican food. Maybe chicken fajitas or quessadillas would be a good suggestion? So easy to make!
Ayla
Oh, how I miss Nashville and Trader Joe's. I used to go to the one by the Bluebird Cafe (which I recommend going to some time to listen to music; be warned, they serve alcohol there). We now live 45 minutes south of Atlanta and of course, the nearest one is on the northside of Atlanta.
I do love TJ's Cats Cookies (for people!). My grandparents bought them when I'd visit as a child and it carried into adulthood.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
I've never tried the Cat Cookies, but thanks for the suggestion! I have driven by the Bluebird Cafe but haven't gone in. I'll have a look at their schedule. It's fun to hear that you used to live in Nashville. Do you have any other suggestions of things to do?
Ellie
Sarah Tressia
Trader Joe's is great!