Would you believe I made it another whole week without going food shopping?! I’m all excited about this ridiculously minor feat in my life but I remain convinced that getting myself down to one good food shop a week will save me some money and free up my errand-running time for other things.
I am also learning how much I need to buy so that we can get through the week. Like, make sure to overbuy the frozen vegetables (I eat more than I think), overstock the apples (I eat more than I think), never assume you have enough sweet potatoes and always make sure to fill the pantry.
While I normally share our dinner plan on Friday for next week, I am skipping it today because next week is looking a little hectic. We won’t be home Sunday night (Islanders game!), Monday is a day off (we may be out?) and I will be in the city for an event one day as well. Along with all of that, it’s a taper week for me which means routine meals with lots of potatoes.
So instead of selecting recipes that I know I won’t make, let’s talk about my Trader Joe’s Pantry Favorites!
Since my Trader Joe’s Frozen Favorites post was so widely appreciated, I put together my Trader Joe’s Pantry Favorites which includes a good chunk of the food in our house.
I tried to keep this post to what I typically purchase; there’s so much good stuff at Trader Joe’s that it can be hard to narrow down to a list!
Sauces, Soups & Oil:
- Sweet Chili Sauce
- Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce
- Island Soyaki
- Organic Ketchup
- Tomato sauce < – I play around with which I buy
- Organic Tomato Paste
- Low Sodium Diced Tomatoes
- Low Sodium Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Soup
- Low Sodium Vegetable Broth
- Coconut Oil
- Coconut Oil Cooking Spray
- Olive Oil
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Balsamic Vinegar
Peanut Butter & Jelly:
- Apple Cranberry Butter
- Organic Raspberry Preserves
- Chia & Flax Crunchy Peanut Butter
Beans/Grains:
- Organic beans (kidney, black beans, chick peas, white beans)
- Green Lentils
- Tri-Color quinoa
- Pasta (whole wheat & regular)
- Ezekiel bread
- Whole Wheat English Muffins
- Mini Whole Wheat Pita Breads
Chocolate, Candy & Cookies:
So many chocolates to choose from!
- 100 Calorie Dark Chocolate Bars
- Pound Plus Dark Chocolate Bar
- Semi – Sweet Chocolate Chips
- Semi – Sweet Chocolate Chunks
- Cocoa Powder
- European Sipping Chocolate
- Midnight Moo < – Chocolate Syrup
- Organic Jelly Beans
- Chocolate Cat Cookies
- 100 Calorie Pack Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookies < – Haven’t seen recently?
- Flour
- Whole Wheat Flour
- Coconut Sugar
- Coconut Flour
- Organic Whipping Cream
Dried Fruit & Nuts:
They have a great nut section but I don’t really buy the nuts. I buy the dried cranberries and raisins.
Chips:
- Organic Popcorn kernels
- Kettlecorn popcorn (small bags)
- Honey wheat pretzel sticks
- Peach Salsa
Oatmeal/Cereal Section:
- Organic Steel Cut Oats
- Organic Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats
- Oat Bran
- Chia Seeds
Misc.
- All the Spices
- Coffee K-Cups
- Almond Milk
- Quest Bars
Other Trader Joe’s posts of interest:
Trader Joe’s Favorites For Runners
[bctt tweet=”Trader Joe’s Pantry Favorites #traderjoes #favorites #groceries #foodshop”]
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What are some of your Trader Joe’s pantry favorites?
3 things you are doing this weekend?
The Cookie ChRUNicles 
Such a great list and I’m shocked you’ve done the one food shop twice in a row! I wish I had a Trader Joe’s closer, used to love shopping there. Now I can’t even get everything I need in one store, which is fine because I’ve mostly gotten it down to two trips per week. Though there are some weeks it’s 3, usually because of produce, or because I didn’t plan well for the recipes I want to make.
I usually forget something but I am trying so hard to get it all in one day so I don’t have to go again. I am shocked you don’t have a tj near you, that’s not ok!
I don’t even want to think about how much food we need to buy once we get home. Honestly, that is part of the reason that we generally plan on 2x week–we simply can’t carry enough! Also, we never know what Alex’s schedule is.
There is no Trader Joes near me but when I have gone there I make sure to buy those cookie butter cookies they have. Addicting much? Three things I am doing this weekend are working, running and playing with my blog. I’ll probably eat and read in there some time too hahaha
Great post, especially since I’m likely heading to TJ’s over the long weekend! I love stocking up on canned beans, almond milk, Ezekiel bread, nuts, and their dark chocolate covered almonds (although I have to get the small bag because I will house the entire container).
Love the cinnamon raisin Ezekiel bread
I also realized that going on Sunday and getting it all done is the most efficient, especially since otherwise the grocery lines in NYC are crazy from 6-8pm when everyone is leaving work! Sadly the nearest TJ’s is across the park from me but I love the GF brown rice tortillas, kettlecorn popcorn bags, and all the produce and eggs and deli!
Weekends are the worst for going so I try to do it on a weekday but even a weekday can be bad! Early morning is the best time.
TJs is my grocery store of choice, as you know. Their sesame sticks, melatonin, chocolate caramel wedges, and oatmeal cookie z bars are my go-tos (besides the chicken). It’s just the best. No grocery shopping for me for next week since I’ll be away! It’s all about eating the pantry right now.
You will miss your chicken salads while you are away! lol
Yes to all of this! There are so many items that I love and get every time from Trader Joes. My favorite is probably the corn and chili tomato-less salsa. Tastes good on everything!
I should try that. I haven’t bought a salsa in a while.
I love their canned beans, oats, and their barbecue chips!
I forgot I sometimes buy the barbecue pop chips!
My 2 year old is obsessed with Trader Joe’s and since its right next to my older son’s school we are usually there waiting outside 8 am. My older son LOVES their turkey corn dogs and my little one loves the Clif bars for kids. I get their organic pop tarts b/c it makes me feel slightly better about giving them pop tarts. I buy a lot of their California rolls – NOT b/c they are so great but if I need to run at home while my little one is napping its something I can stomach before a run. And I am a big fan of their wine ( ;
I sometimes think about getting those pop tarts for my son! Maybe I will now, thanks
I generally only grocery shop on weekends, usually because I can do nothing after work in the evenings (see previous comment 🙂 ) and it works pretty well for me. That being said, when I visit my family in Brussels they grocery shop almost every other day. They buy enough for that days meals and maybe the next day if there are leftovers. When we went on vacation together, we had to both compromise our grocery store mindsets. It was interesting and funny.
that’s so funny how often they shop! I really prefer to go as many days without stepping into a grocery store as possible lately.