These fluffy griddle cakes are the secret to our homemade version of popular fast-food breakfast sandwiches.

Add an egg and some Trader Joe's chicken breakfast sausage, and you've got a protein-packed breakfast in minutes. The cakes are also good on their own and easy to heat up in a toaster or microwave.

Forget the boxed stuff you have to cook on the stove — Joe's Diner frozen mac and cheese is creamy, rich, and indulgent.

It heats up in minutes, making it a perfect lunch for busy days or side dish with dinner. This is one of my favorite things to buy at Trader Joe's.

The centerpiece of most meals my husband cooks is some sort of meat, so we buy it regularly. Fortunately, Trader Joe's offers an impressive selection of it at competitive prices.

I've been impressed by the quality of the meat we've gotten at the chain, so we grab beef, poultry, or pork on each shopping trip.

Trader Joe's plantain chips deliver when the craving hits for something salty, sweet, and crunchy.

Made with just three ingredients — plantains, sunflower oil, and salt— these chips are my guilt-free, go-to snack.

We always keep a few bags on hand for road trips, late-night cravings, and afternoon desk snacks. If you prefer a little kick, try Trader Joe's jerk-style plantain chips.

We always have ice cream in our freezer, and Trader Joe's ice-cream sandwiches are some of our favorite buys.

They're the perfect portion-controlled treat for when we're watching TV after dinner.

Some of our top picks are the Mini Mint Mouthfuls, brownie-coffee crisp ice-cream sandwiches, and classic Sublime cookie ice-cream sandwiches.

We've been so impressed by Trader Joe's frozen foods inspired by other countries that we rarely order takeout these days.

Trader Joe's soup dumplings and fried rice are some of our favorite buys. Both dishes deliver on flavor and cost far less than if we'd ordered them from a restaurant.

For us, these heat-and-eat options are a game changer for busy nights when cooking from scratch isn't an option.

Eating clean is important to us, so fresh produce is always in our kitchen.

We regularly stock up on bananas, berries, and mini carrots for easy snacking for us and our dogs. Plus, the chain's seasonal fruits and vegetables can be great for trying new recipes.

My husband also swears by Trader Joe's salad kits for quick, no-fuss lunches.

Open our fridge, and you'll always find a half-gallon of Trader Joe's chocolate milk. It's so creamy and delicious.

We like to drink it as a coffee alternative, after-dinner sweet treat, or post-workout pick-me-up.

Trader Joe's Goddess dressing is a staple for us. It's fantastic on salads or as a veggie dip. We also like using it to upgrade pasta or tuna salad.

It's one of the most versatile condiments we own and a great value, as a little goes a long way in terms of flavor.

Trader Joe's breaded chicken tenderloins are a lifesaver when I'm trying to make a quick, stress-free meal.

I like pairing them with Trader Joe's mac and cheese and some veggies for a dinner that's ready in minutes. The tenders are also great for adding protein to salads.

Infused with eucalyptus and other botanicals, Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle products leave our hair feeling soft and clean. I like how they make our hair smell, too.

A little bit of these goes a long way, which makes them a great value for us.

I think Trader Joe's wine selection is unbeatable in terms of value and quality.

Whether we need a bottle for a special occasion, a hostess gift, or something to pair with dinner, there's always an affordable option that tastes like it cost way more than it actually did.

There are a lot of bottles available for under $20, and many cost less than $10.

It cost $5.49, excluding tax.

The tuna salad was moist and packed with chopped tomatoes, but it tasted flavorless, underseasoned, and bland overall.

The wrap could have benefited from other vegetables, like celery or red onion, to add more of a crunch.

It cost $4.99, excluding tax.

The wrap came with a creamy mustard spread, which I wasn't sure how to use. I ended up dipping the sandwich into the spread as I ate, which added a sharp spiciness to the sandwich.

The meat tasted fresh. However, other than the mustard sauce, it didn't pack much flavor.

It cost $4.99, excluding tax. I thought this was a little pricey for a meatless wrap that didn't come with a dipping sauce.

The wrap was simple, and the hummus was just as creamy as described.

The chopped carrots, cucumber, red bell pepper, and red cabbage gave it a Mediterranean flair and added flavor. Overall, however, I didn't feel completely satiated by this meatless option. I'd need a bit more than this wrap to fill me up at lunchtime.

It cost $5.49, excluding tax.

The turkey breast was moist and flavorful, and the turkey bacon added a slight smokiness. The spinach added a touch of freshness, and the tomato-flavored wrap added even more flavor to this take on a club sandwich.

However, I thought the wrap could have used a touch more mayonnaise, and the tomato flavor in the sauce didn't come through as much as I expected it to.

It cost $5.49, excluding tax.

The fresh flavor of the spinach and pungent Swiss cheese really came through, as did the honey Dijon mustard sauce. I thought the tortilla was also really flavorful.

However, other wraps from Trader Joe's delivered a more dynamic flavor profile. This wrap was undeniably tasty but just a little boring.

It cost $5.49, excluding tax.

This wrap was really moist and flavorful, and the nuttiness of the pesto, which came on the side, added a vibrant flavor that really impressed me.

The two different types of cheese also added a lot of moisture and flavor to the wrap. I liked the addition of the pesto sauce, which I drizzled over the top of the wrap as I was eating.

I'd definitely buy this again for an easy lunch on the go.

It cost $5.49, excluding tax.

The wrap features chicken meat tossed in spicy Buffalo sauce, complete with diced celery in a tomato-flavored flour tortilla. It also includes a packet of blue cheese dressing.

I thought this wrap was super flavorful and had just the right amount of spice. I dipped the sandwich in the blue cheese dressing provided, which added a more savory flavor.

The wrap was moist without being soggy, and overall, it impressed me.

It cost $4.99, excluding tax.

Unlike the wraps, this sandwich came served on a multigrain rustico roll.

I loved every part of this sandwich and thought it would make the perfect lunch for the office or a refreshing beachside snack in the summer.

The apple slices added a tart contrast to the savory turkey and Dijon mayonnaise, while the nutty, grainy bread tied all the flavors together.

It was also heartier and more filling than many of the wraps despite being less expensive in most cases. I thought that made this sandwich the best value by far.

It cost $5.49, excluding tax.

This wrap reminded me slightly of a chicken Caesar wrap but had even more flavor. The tarragon's fragrant flavor balanced out the fresh notes of the lettuce and mayonnaise, while the almonds added the ideal amount of nuttiness and crunchy texture.

It had a great depth of flavor and kept me full all day. However, it was also one of the highest-calorie wraps I tried, so keep that in mind if you're trying to cut back on your intake.

That said, based on flavor and size, I thought this wrap was great value for the money, and I'd definitely buy it again.

When I visited Wegmans, a 16-ounce tub of grilled chicken salad cost $15. Since that price seemed borderline outrageous, I hoped the chicken salad would be delicious.

However, I was disappointed. There wasn't much flavor to it at all — the prevailing taste was that of mayonnaise — and it had an oddly grainy texture that closely resembled tuna salad.

There was a good amount of chicken in the mix, which might help explain the price, but the meat lacked flavor and wasn't especially moist.

The price point, more than the chicken salad itself, earned Wegmans the bottom spot on my ranking.

Across multiple visits to three separate Trader Joe's in my area, the closest option I found to the others on this list was the Wine Country chicken salad. However, it differed slightly from the others as it incorporated sweetened dried cranberries and pecans.

At first, I thought that might give it an unfair advantage in the ranking, since I normally enjoy a chicken salad with dried cranberries. The $5 price also seemed like a good deal for a 12-ounce container.

However, this chicken salad was way too sweet for my taste and not quite hearty enough. It seemed like there was a lot more goopy liquid than chunks of chicken, and the cranberries tasted like candy.

Overall, I thought this tasted more like a salad dressing than a deli salad.

I found the Kirkland Signature chicken salad in Costco's prepared foods section. It was priced at $6 a pound, making it the least-expensive option I tried on a per-pound basis. The container I picked up contained about 2 pounds of chicken salad.

The salad had the biggest chunks of chicken of any I tried by far, but it practically shimmered with grease.

I also thought it was bland in terms of flavor. However, since I was already familiar with the Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken, the briny, brothy flavor of the meat was easy to pick out.

There was celery in the mix, but it added more flavor than texture; ideally, I'd prefer that reversed.

The chicken salad was fine but not especially good, and it's hard to imagine a situation in which I'd want two pounds of it.

Of the four chicken salads I tried, the version from Whole Foods was the only one that was scooped fresh at a deli counter. It was also the only one I'd consider buying again.

At $14 per pound, it was significantly more expensive than the chicken salads from Costco and Trader Joe's but slightly less expensive than the one from Wegmans. I appreciated that I could order only as much as I needed — a half-pound, in this case.

It was easily the best-tasting of the four salads I tried. The chicken, chopped up into bite-sized pieces, was moist and tasted fresh. Although hardly bold in flavor, the salad was nuanced with the earthy sweetness of red onions, notes of rosemary, and a touch of mustardy bite.

Unlike the others, it tasted better than anything I could easily make at home.

Trader Joe's white Stilton cheese with apricots primarily tasted like the fruit, so it was cloyingly sweet.

I'd only pair the sweet cheese with a breakfast pastry. Still, I'd prefer to use jam or butter instead.

I didn't like the Comté cheese because I thought it had a deep, unpleasant earthiness.

This option could be a conversation starter on a cheese board, but I'd pair it with fig jam to take the edge off the strong flavor.

The Cotswold double Gloucester cheese had a smooth, almost Velveeta-like texture. The assertive cheese's onion and chive flavors, which reminded me of a loaded baked potato, grew on me after a few bites.

I'd add this cheese to a steaming hot baked potato, with or without sour cream.

Trader Joe's New Zealand sharp cheddar cheese had a subtle, Swiss-like aftertaste that I didn't love.

However, I liked it better when I tried it alongside pepperoni.

The fontina was soft, mild, and one of the most forgettable cheeses I tried. Its subtle flavor, milky texture, and red-wax coating reminded me of the Babybel cheeses I pack in my kids' lunches.

I used it to make a particularly creamy mac and cheese, which my family enjoyed.

The Manchego had a mild, buttery flavor with a hint of sweetness. I'd describe it as a refined Monterey Jack.

It didn't wow me, but it would probably be good on a burger.

The cheddar cheese with scotch bonnet chile and red peppers was one of the strongest options I tried. It was very sweet, fairly spicy, and soft like a classic pimento cheese.

I could see it serving as a great starter for a spicy cheese dip.

The Havarti had a creamy texture and mild flavor that could work in plenty of dishes.

It would probably be great on sandwiches, especially because Havarti tends to melt well.

Trader Joe's goat milk cheddar-style cheese was a great option. It had a sharp, familiar cheddar flavor and a tanginess from the goat milk.

It was surprisingly creamy for a firm cheese. I'd use it on a roasted-turkey sandwich with cranberry mayo.

Trader Joe's Camembert was silky and mildly earthy. It would be a great mild option on a cheese plate alongside bold flavors like salami or chorizo.

I might also spread some on a fresh baguette.

I didn't expect Trader Joe's Unexpected Cheddar to be the best cheddar I tried, but its dry, pleasantly grainy texture and sharp, tangy flavor were addictive.

Next time I make chili, I'll be grating this on top.

Trader Joe's Chiave d' Oro, which translates from Italian to "golden key," was a hard cheese that was surprisingly creamy in texture. It had a mild, nutty flavor and bitter rind.

I'd pair it with honey on a charcuterie board or add it to a salad with a sweet vinaigrette.

I love Gouda-style goat cheese, so I was excited to try this option from Trader Joe's.

I was initially disappointed that the goat's milk Gouda-style cheese tasted milder than expected. Still, it had a subtle earthy flavor and a delicious creamy texture on a cracker. It was especially tasty when paired with a slice of spicy soppressata.

This 4-month-old Spanish cheese made with cow, goat, and sheep's milk was hard and sharp, like a buttery Parmesan.

I could see it pairing well with red wine or fruit, like sliced pears. My Parmesan-loving kids liked this cheese the best.

The cave-aged Le Gruyère was especially tasty because of its hearty spiciness, earthiness, and delicately granular texture.

It was a powerful cheese that I'd imagine pairing well with whiskey. To serve, it doesn't need much more than a simple cracker.

Though Trader Joe's bucheron was the last cheese I tried, it was the one I ate the most of. The soft-ripened goat's milk cheese had an intense flavor that came on slowly.

It had a soft, creamy texture and pleasant tanginess. It would likely make a tasty, indulgent addition to a salad.

The creamy Toscano soaked in syrah was the clear-cut favorite for me and my wife. It was creamy and granular, sharp and sweet, with only a breath of wine flavor.

This cheese paired nicely with a sweet cracker — I'd recommend the Carr's whole-wheat variety or anything with dried fruit.

This story was originally published in April 2024 and most recently updated on March 3, 2025.

I air-fried a couple of frozen shrimp seafood burgers at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through.

They came out plump and juicy with a lovely golden crust on the outside.

Because the burgers were so juicy, they made a bit of a mess in my air-fryer basket. However, it was quick and easy to clean it out.

I don't like making frozen fried rice in the microwave because it stays soft and mushy, but I don't always have the energy to stand over a frying pan.

The air fryer seems like a smart alternative to enhance crispiness.

I dumped about half the bag of Trader Joe's chicken fried rice directly into my air-fryer drawer and cooked it at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, stirring halfway through.

The chicken cooked nicely without drying out, and the veggies turned bright and crisp, not overcooked or mushy. My one disappointment was that the rice didn't get quite as crispy as I'd hoped.

Trader Joe's box of frozen chiles rellenos includes two batter-covered, cheese-stuffed peppers.

I followed the box's specified air-fryer instructions to heat the peppers at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, flipping halfway.

They came out beautifully golden — the crust was crunchy and light, and there was no shortage of delicious cheese inside. However, perhaps because of this, the poblanos themselves almost became more of an afterthought flavor-wise.

Trader Joe's carne-asada burritos feature thinly sliced grilled beef and onions wrapped in a thick flour tortilla.

I air-fried a single frozen burrito at 350 degrees for 13 minutes.

The tortilla came out stiffer and darker than if I'd microwaved it, and the interior was still nice and moist. I find the microwave can dry things out sometimes.

The meat was juicy, and there was a good amount of it, but the burrito still benefited from a dunk in spicy salsa for more flavor.

That's right, soup in the air fryer.

According to the instructions on the box, you're supposed to microwave the soup for five minutes. However, I wanted to maximize the crispy, cheesy top to imitate a restaurant-style crock of French onion soup.

I placed the frozen soup puck in an oven-safe glass container and put it in my air fryer at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

When the timer went off, I got the crispy crown I was after, but the center of the soup wasn't totally defrosted. I was forced to stir until it was fully melted, which scattered the cheese.

Even though I didn't have the top I wanted, once the soup was heated through, it was delicious. The cheese found its way into nearly every bite.

Overall, the air fryer seems to be a good match for many of Trader Joe's frozen offerings.

I'd choose the appliance every time for the shrimp burgers since it's hands-off. I think it cooks them a little more evenly and reliably than the stove.

I also loved the texture and cheesiness of the air-fried chiles rellenos, and I'm excited to liven them up in the future with extra salsa or taco sauce.

If you like a crispy burrito, the air fryer is definitely the way to go for Trader Joe's frozen offerings.

Although it wasn't absolutely perfect, when I'm in a rush and can't pan-fry the chicken fried rice, I much prefer the air fryer to the microwave.

All that said — and this may not come as a surprise — there's no clear advantage to cooking the French onion soup in an air fryer. I'm still trying to figure out how to get the perfect, crispy topping for that one.

Trader Joe's frozen vegetable fried rice has a spot of honor in my freezer. I usually spruce it up with some extra chopped vegetables, an egg or two, some edamame, and a drizzle of Sriracha.

It takes less than 10 minutes to make, is just as good as takeout, and costs much less than a lunch special at local restaurants.

I've found that Trader Joe's bags of frozen fruit are much cheaper than those at other grocery stores near me.

I drink a lot of midday smoothies, so it makes financial sense to stock up on my beloved frozen berries and mango chunks at Trader Joe's.

Trader Joe's plain Greek yogurt can be used in so many different meals. In my opinion, it's as good with granola and fruit as it is a base for a savory sauce, mixed up while I roast a tray of vegetables and legumes in the oven.

I go through enough cans of beans that they're worth lugging home on the subway. I like roasting chickpeas with olive oil, salt, and spices for a crunchy snack.

Recently, I also cooked a delicious white bean soup for dinner and used the leftovers for my lunch the next day.

I love frying up Trader Joe's shredded potato hash browns with an egg, some shredded cheese, and a few shakes of hot sauce.

If I have kale on hand, I'll shred some and cook it on top of the potatoes to add a green vegetable.

Do these plant-based chicken nuggets make me feel a bit like an 8-year-old vegetarian? Yes.

But are they a good source of protein for when I remember I'm going to the gym after work and should eat accordingly? Also yes.

I like to make these delicious nuggets in my toaster oven.

If you can't tell, I love having breakfast foods for lunch. Oatmeal takes just a few minutes to make, is so filling, and is a real choose-your-own-adventure when it comes to toppings.

I love adding Trader Joe's freeze-dried strawberries, which add great flavor and texture. If I want more of an apple pie flavor, I'll cook the oats in applesauce instead of water or milk and mix in some cinnamon and nutmeg.

Sometimes, I even add some Greek yogurt and nuts for a tasty and filling lunch.

The Sublime ice cream sandwiches make me feel like a kid eating a Chipwich on the beach — even when it's 1 p.m., and I'm about to join a Zoom meeting.

These ice cream sandwiches are my favorite single-serve frozen treat from Trader Joe's.

Click to keep reading Trader Joe's diaries like this one.

Born in 1930, Joe Coulombe fell into the retail business after attending Stanford University as an undergrad and then to get his MBA. He met his wife, Alice, there, and they would have three children together.

To make extra money as a graduate student, Coulombe sold vacuums door-to-door, according to his memoir, "Becoming Trader Joe: How I Did Business My Way and Still Beat the Big Guys."

In the early 1960s, the San Diego native was running several Pronto Markets, what he called a "copy of 7-Eleven," which didn't yet exist in California. Yet he knew he wouldn't be able to compete with the convenience store chain when they did arrive.

With the specter of "the 800-pound gorilla" that was 7-Eleven looming, Coulombe had to try something different, he told The Los Angeles Times in 2011.

An avid reader of Scientific American, Coulombe learned in 1965 that more Americans were going to college.

"The demographics were changing in the United States because of the GI Bill of Rights, which was the largest experiment in mass higher education in the history of the human race," he said in a 2018 episode of the "Insider Trader Joe's" podcast. "And I thought that these people would want something different."

Analysts predicted that the upcoming Boeing 747 jumbo jets would dramatically drop the price of international travel, according to The Los Angeles Times. From his days at Pronto, Coulombe knew that people who liked to travel also liked trying new products.

Coulombe decided to cater to this group — the "overeducated and underpaid," as he described them — by offering something more niche than the same basics available in every grocery store or mini-mart.

In 1967, the experiment began with the first Trader Joe's in Pasadena, California. It sold everything from discounted paperbacks and records to pantyhose.

Coulombe wrote in his memoir that he was one of the many 30-somethings drinking mai tais at the tiki bar Trader Vic's in the 1960s. He wanted to capture a similar "fun-leisure-party-prosperity" atmosphere at his store. A trip on Disneyland's Jungle Cruise also influenced him.

At salvage companies near LA's harbor, he found oars, netting, and other marine paraphernalia to deck out the store.

Employees were called crew members and captains instead of cashiers and managers. They wore floral Hawaiian-style shirts. A limited selection of Hawaiian music poured out of the speakers until the workers complained about the lack of variety, according to Coulombe's memoir.

The tiki-inspired theme continues in stores today.

At first, Coulombe planned for Trader Joe's to be tiny, just 4,500 square feet. Yet the building that housed it was almost twice that size. So, he expanded the wine section, bringing in 17 brands of California wines, whereas a gourmet competitor only had seven.

California's Fair Trade laws meant that Trader Joe's couldn't offer discounts on prices, so it hoped to lure customers with sheer variety. The store stocked dozens of brands of Scotch, bourbon, rum, and other liquor.

Coulombe also brought in French wines and managed to import them for cheaper than his competitors.

"I wanted to make sure that every family could afford a bottle of decent wine on the table every night," he wrote in his memoir.

In 1969, Trader Joe's started publishing a precursor to its Fearless Flyer newsletter. Then called the Insider's Wine Report, it helped the underage employees explain the bottles to customers, since they couldn't taste them themselves. A version for the store's food products soon followed.

Today, the Fearless Flyer gives shoppers detailed descriptions of new or seasonal products such as butternut squash mac & cheese or heart-shaped jelly beans.

In 1970, Scientific American once again swayed the course of Trader Joe's history. An issue dedicated to threats to the environment stunned Coulombe.

Around the same time, the manager of the new Trader Joe's in Santa Ana was evangelizing for health foods. Coulombe was intrigued by the idea that a healthier diet might positively impact the environment, too.

In 1971, the company started introducing health foods alongside its many wines and other alcohol. Customers could get fresh orange juice from the stores' squeezing stations. They could also pick up wheat bran and almond butter, a rarity at the time.

The next year, Trader Joe's created its first private-label product, granola. Over the next few years, it added its branding to dried fruits, nuts, vitamins, and cheese.

In 1976, Trader Joe's was still relying on recognizable brands for most of its products, like coffee, bread, and other basics. The small size of its stores meant space was at a premium, and this was when the company shifted its focus.

It got rid of items like soap and light bulbs. It stopped carrying many national brands, like Folgers coffee. Instead, the stores stocked rare items, like unfermented zinfandel grape juice, and gourmet goodies, like handmade berry pie.

Many of the products were unbranded or came under the Trader Joe's label.

Coulombe aimed to give the products names that would amuse his educated, well-traveled customers. These included nods to historical, artistic, and scientific figures, including The Bagel Spinoza, The Peanut Pascal, and Heisenberg's Uncertain Blend of coffee beans.

Small stores and niche products meant that some items weren't always available. They might be seasonal, like its vintage dated canned corn. Coulombe called it "vinous thinking," treating food products like they were rare bottles of wine.

Customers still treat it like a treasure hunt, always on the lookout for an unfamiliar taste or the bargain version of a pricey cheese.

Today, about 85% of Trader Joe's products are private label, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're locally sourced. Some are supplied by brands like Coca-Cola, Taylor Farms, and Campbell's, Fast Company reported in January.

In 1979, Trader Joe's was bought by Theo Albrecht's family trust.

Theo Albrecht was brother to Karl Albrecht. The two expanded dozens of stores across Germany and then split the family business in 1961. Karl's business, Aldi Süd, would eventually lead to the Aldi stores in North America, while Theo's, Aldi Nord, became involved with Trader Joe's.

Coulombe remained with the company until 1989, The LA Times reported, and Aldi Nord allowed the day-to-day running of Trader Joe's to remain the same.

After stepping back from the company, Coulombe went on to serve as president and chief executive for several other retailers. He died in 2020 at the age of 89.

Trader Joe's continued to expand throughout the 1970s and '80s. Coulombe had targeted his ideal "unemployed PhD" customer by opening nearly 30 stores in Southern California, The New York Times reported in 2014.

The chain didn't move outside the state until 1993. By then, John Shields, Coulombe's Stanford fraternity brother, had become chief executive. Three years later, Trader Joe's headed to the East Coast, opening two stores in the Boston area.

When Shields retired in 2001, the company had 158 stores and its annual sales had exploded from $132 million to $2 billion.

Now, the store has over 500 locations in 42 states and Washington DC.

As Trader Joe's started focusing on its private label products, it did away with its vast selection of liquor. However, alcohol, and wine in particular, remained a core part of its identity.

In 2002, the stores began stocking a $1.99 bottle of wine. The secret of how they could sell a wine for so cheap involves its own saga.

Chuck Shaw started his Charles Shaw winery in 1974, making a respected gamay, Thrillist reported in 2017. After several mishaps, the winery went bankrupt in the 1990s, and Fred Franzia, owner of Bronco Wine Company, bought the trade name.

Bronco would take grapes grown in California's Central Valley and bottle the wine at a facility in Napa, where grapes are more expensive, Marketplace reported in 2017. That allowed the company to use the prestige associated with Napa at a fraction of the cost.

Though its price has risen over the years, the wine retains the nickname Two-Buck Chuck. Over a billion bottles have been sold, per The New York Times.

Though Shaw hasn't seen any of that money himself, he told Business Insider in 2018 that he's come to terms with that and is now thrilled to be associated with the wine.

Trader Joe's doesn't just have customers. It has fans who join Facebook pages and Reddit groups to enthuse about their favorite products.

Coulombe purposefully cultivated that response. "[W]e deliberately tried to make it a cult once we got a handle on what we were actually doing," he wrote in his memoir.

The excitement of discovering new products, the chance that your favorite item will be out of stock, and the excessively friendly staff all contribute to that feeling, the hosts of the "Sounds Like a Cult" podcast said in a 2022 episode.

Celebrities from Hillary Duff to Travis Kelce have raved about the chain or been spotted lugging shopping bags full of groceries.

For many people, its comparatively low prices are the biggest draw. Others love the ease of its wide selection of frozen meals.

Last year, Trader Joe's set off a frenzy when customers tried to snap up its $2.99 reusable mini canvas tote, an item that became as coveted as some Stanley cups.

Despite its early adoption of reusable totes and environmentally friendly reputation, groups like the Humane Society, the Climate-Friendly Supermarkets program, Green America, Friends of the Earth, and Toxic-Free Future have given the company low marks for some of its environmental practices or a lack of transparency around its animal welfare policies, for example, Fast Company reported in January.

Mike Hallatt, the founder of Pirate Joe's, once owned a small Vancouver shop with shelves lined with marina sauce, sweet potato chips, and almonds, all bought from Trader Joe's. The chain had no stores in Canada, so Hallatt would cross the border to Washington State to buy the snacks, sauces, and toiletry items.

Trader Joe's sued Hallatt and barred him from its stores. In 2017, he closed Pirate Joe's for good.

"Many times I've thought I've got to just give this up, this is ridiculous," he told The Guardian in 2017. "Then people would come up to me and thank me for doing it. That was the curse: We had so many people who love what we were up to, and yet it was just so devilishly hard to do."

Tourists from other Trader Joe's-less countries still bring back suitcases full of snacks home.

In 2024, a traveler who returned from the US with 20 bottles of Everything but the Bagel seasoning had to surrender them at the airport in South Korea, CNN reported. The mix contains poppy seeds, which the country doesn't allow anyone to bring in.

Crew members often talk with customers while they ring up their purchases. It's not flirting, just friendliness, a national director of public relations for Trader Joe's told Glamour in 2021.

In 2016, The New York Times reported that one employee said he was reprimanded for not smiling genuinely enough. "We do not fire crew members for trivial reasons," Trader Joe's said in a statement at the time. "We pride ourselves on operating our business with integrity and adhering to the law at all times."

In his memoir, Coulombe wrote that the average full-time employee at Trader Joe's made the median family income in California. This wasn't fully altruistic, he wrote, the "policy was grounded partly by the desire to stay un-organized by the Retail Clerks Union."

Concerns about workers' physical safety and the company's response to sexual harassment complaints led Hadley, Massachusetts employees to form the first Trader Joe's union in 2020, Fast Company reported in January.

In the years since, the National Labor Relations Board has filed dozens of unfair labor practice complaints against the company, saying it fired workers or closed stores in retaliation for organizing. In 2024, Trader Joe's joined SpaceX, Starbucks, and Amazon in arguing that the NLRB is unconstitutional.

Coulombe consciously cultivated Trader Joe's reputation for unique, worldwide products from early on. That included importing Brie from France and maple syrup from Quebec.

As the store started bringing in more international foods under the Trader Joe's branding, "we fell back on some useful naming devices," Coulombe wrote in his memoir. "All Mexican products were Trader Josés. All Japanese products, Trader Joe-San."

In 2020, customers circulated an online petition asking the company to remove the names.

Trader Joe's said it had "made the decision several years ago to use only the Trader Joe's name on our products moving forward," USA Today reported in 2020.

"We want to be clear: we disagree that any of these labels are racist. We do not make decisions based on petitions," Trader Joe's said in a statement at the time.

In 2024, Taste magazine spoke with several creators of small- and medium-sized food brands who said Trader Joe's solicited products from them and expressed interest in partnering up, only to come out with similar items soon after.

One founder said the company had created knockoffs of unique products from culturally diverse brands. "Ethnic foods are specialized items," the founder said. "There's so much history and culture and tradition that you can't do simple knockoffs like you do with everyday items like ketchup or mayo. You need brands like ours to educate you."

"Our common practice is to deal directly with producers or growers rather than purchasing through brokers, distributors, sales agents, or other middlemen," Trader Joe's told Business Insider at the time.

Over the course of a week in July 2023, Trader Joe's recalled cookies contaminated with rocks and broccoli cheddar soup containing insects, NBC News reported at the time. Just a few months earlier, the company removed its instant cold brew from the shelves over fears that the containers also held shards of glass, per The Takeout.

Several items in Trader Joe's lineup have been pulled for containing plastic, including its steamed chicken soup dumplings in 2024 and its organic acai bowls in February.

In general, food recalls increased by 15% between 2020 and 2024, according to TraceOne. These include outbreaks of listeria, salmonella, and hepatitis A, all of which have affected Trader Joe's.

Food-safety lawyer Bill Marler told Fast Company that Trader Joe's recalls may be linked to the way it sources its own private label. "If you buy from suppliers at low prices, but you don't ask how they could get the price so low and something goes sideways, that's on you," he said.

Trader Joe's did not respond to a request for comment by Business Insider.

When I want a filling snack that has lots of nutritional value, I opt for frozen edamame. Trader Joe's sells bags of the legume both in the pod and shelled.

It's convenient for a quick snack, but it also makes for a delicious addition to Asian-inspired rice bowls.

One serving contains about 8 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber.

Trader Joe's egg wraps are my favorite option for a higher-protein alternative to tortillas.

They taste pretty neutral, so they take on the flavor of whatever you choose to fill them with. Some days I use them for savory meals such as tacos, and other times, I use them as a base for a sweet snack of Greek yogurt and jam.

Two wraps contain 8 grams of protein.

It may not be the most exciting thing on the list, but Trader Joe's plain, nonfat Greek yogurt is essentially pure protein. One serving contains 17 grams.

I often use it as a base for breakfast bowls to help keep me full and energized for my day.

Greek yogurt is also a great creamy base for homemade sauces. I like to make a burger sauce with yogurt, ketchup, mustard, and chopped pickles.

Trader Joe's steamed lentils are excellent because they're already cooked. That means I can get all of the wonderful nutritional benefits of eating legumes without the effort of soaking and cooking them.

I like to prepare a lentil salad with cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, and Greek dressing for an easy and satisfying lunch. I also enjoy popping them in the microwave and plating them up as a simple side dish for a warm dinner.

Each serving packs 10 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber.

Trader Joe's rolled oats are a must-have in my pantry. I love that they have 5 grams of fiber per serving.

They're super easy to whip together in just a few minutes and are an awesome base for whatever flavors you like — sweet or savory.

If I'm going sweet, I like to add vanilla protein powder to bolster the 6 grams of protein in each serving of the oats.

Chicken is my protein of choice at dinner, but preparing it in the same few ways can get boring.

Trader Joe's marinated shawarma chicken thighs help me switch things up, thanks to the savory and delicious spice blend.

They pack 21 grams of protein per serving and pair well with rice, salad, and hummus for a satisfying yet balanced meal.

The store's chicken meatballs are high in protein and flavor.

I like to throw them in a pasta dish or pop them into the air fryer to serve with rice and a veggie. They're fully cooked, so all I have to do is heat them through.

A serving of four meatballs contains a whopping 16 grams of protein.

If you want to eat more seafood but don't want a dish that tastes too fishy, try Trader Joe's frozen salmon burgers. Each patty has 15 grams of protein.

I like that they don't need to be thawed before cooking, which makes things easier on busy work-from-home days when I need a quick lunch.

After cooking the patty on the stovetop, I assemble my burger with arugula, red onion, and some sort of sauce.

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At first taste, my favorite was the Trader Joe's version. To me, it looked like it had the richest orange hue of the three brands and the creamiest, meltiest texture to the cheese sauce.

I thought it tasted like it had a hint more salt than the others, bringing out more of the cheese flavor.

My daughter liked the Wegmans version best, but personally, it was my second favorite.

The cheese powder didn't seem to dissolve as evenly in the Wegmans pasta as it did in the other two, which actually made it feel a little more like real cheese.

To me, it had a mellow, buttery taste that was a little less assertive than the Trader Joe's version.

Although neither of us chose the 365 by Whole Foods mac and cheese as our favorite, it wasn't bad.

However, the Wegmans and Trader Joe's recipes called for the same amount of butter and milk, while this version called for less of both.

That said, it was similar enough to the other two that it felt reasonable to wonder if the only difference was how it was prepared.

I thought it had a milky flavor, was a touch less cheesy than the other two, and had the smoothest sauce.

After tasting all the boxes of mac and cheese, my daughter and I conducted blind taste tests to see if we could correctly identify which was which. However, neither of us could identify them with any sort of consistency.

They were all incredibly similar and perfectly suitable for my boxed mac and cheese needs. Truthfully, I'd buy any of them again.

Trader Joe's sweet-potato gnocchi with butter and sage is an amazing comfort food. The soft gnocchi perfectly sops up the rich, buttery sage sauce.

Best of all, the sweet-potato gnocchi takes about 10 minutes to cook and serve. I like to garnish the dish with fresh sage and serve it with warm, crusty bread.

We typically prefer to eat this vegetarian dish on its own, but you can easily add chicken, sausage, or another protein.

Though frozen lasagna doesn't sound all that exciting, Trader Joe's butternut-squash version is an elevated rendition of the Italian staple.

The butternut-squash-béchamel sauce, made with carrots and butter, is velvety and slightly smoky. The pumpkin seeds, chives, rosemary, and pepper also give the dish a flavorful punch, making it a nice alternative to the typical pasta and tomato sauce. 

Trader Joe's butternut-squash lasagna only takes about 10 minutes in the microwave, but if you have the time, I recommend popping it in the oven to get it perfectly crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside.

This gnocchi is super easy to prepare — simply add the bag's contents and some oil to a skillet. I like to jazz this dish up with vegetables like peas, tomatoes, and spinach, or proteins such as pancetta, sausage, or chicken. 

Trader Joe's vegetable gyoza is stuffed with white cabbage, carrots, chives, white radish, onion, ginger, garlic, and soy sauce. These crescent-shaped dumplings can be steamed, microwaved, or pan-fried.

I like to brown the wrappers in a cast-iron skillet for a slight crunch — all you need is a little oil and water. I serve these with extra soy sauce for dipping, steamed rice, and simple stir-fried vegetables. 

My 9-year-old loves Mexican-inspired food as much as I do, and she's a big fan of Trader Joe's bean, rice, and cheese burritos.

Though this two-pack can be prepared in the microwave, I think the burritos taste so much better baked in the oven, especially with enchilada sauce. Once they've cooked through, I add shredded cheese and broil the dish to give the simple meal a restaurant feel. 

I recommend pairing the burritos with Spanish rice and black beans for a complete, inexpensive meal. 

These nest-shaped combinations of onions, carrots, and kale come fully cooked, so all you need to do is heat them and serve.

They can be deep fried, but I prefer to air-fry or bake them on a cookie sheet.

The package also comes with soy dipping sauce, which I defrost by submerging it in a mug of hot water.

These chicken enchiladas come with salsa verde made with tomatillos and green chiles. I like how the shredded chicken really lets the chile flavor come through.

They're great with cilantro, brown rice, beans, and some shredded cheese or guacamole.

I love the convenience of smoothies, so I always stock up on Trader Joe's organic frozen fruit. My favorites are the organic raspberries, wild blueberries, and mango chunks.

I'm lucky to live near a bakery — but they often sell out of baguettes before noon. When this happens, I turn to Trader Joe's mini French baguettes. 

They're already partially baked, so they only need four to six minutes in the oven to get soft, chewy, and crisp on the outside.

They're the perfect accompaniment to a hearty winter soup, stew, or slow-cooked meal. 

When it comes to desserts, Trader Joe's has some unique finds, like this six-count box of green-tea mochi. These chewy bites contain soft, flavorful green-tea ice cream in the center, perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth.

These are best enjoyed when taken out of the freezer to defrost for a few minutes before eating (if you can resist the wait).

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I expect mozzarella to have a more milky and subdued flavor compared to other cheeses, and I typically use it for pizza, pasta, and salads.

I got an 8-ounce ball of fresh mozzarella for $4, or $0.50 an ounce, at Trader Joe's. The same-sized ball of cheese at Aldi was just $3.40, or $0.43 an ounce.

The two balls tasted nearly identical to me.

The only difference I noticed was that Trader Joe's mozzarella felt firmer. However, they seemed to have the same stringy texture and light flavor.

Aldi's double-creme Brie has always been my go-to for cheese boards and melty dishes. An 8-ounce wheel only costs $4, or about $0.50 an ounce, which I think is a great deal.

Trader Joe's sells its double-crème Brie for $8 a pound. The price depends on the size of your wedge, but it's still also about $0.50 an ounce. I got a 9.6-ounce wedge for $4.80.

Although these cheeses looked almost identical after I cut into them, Trader Joe's wedge tasted a little more flavorful to me. My wheel from Aldi also felt slightly harder.

Cheddar is the ultimate snacking cheese, and I ones with a good strong flavor.

One of Trader Joe's most popular cheeses is its Unexpected cheddar, with its creamy texture and a flavor almost reminiscent of Parmesan.

The closest thing I found at Aldi seemed to be its Emporium Selection vintage English cheddar, which is imported from England.

The cheeses come in similar-looking 7-ounce packages for $4 each, or $0.57 an ounce.

Aldi's cheddar seemed to have milder, more subdued flavors, and its texture was more crumbly. Trader Joe's cheddar, on the other hand, brought a punch of that tangy flavor often found in aged cheeses.

A thick smoked Gouda is one of my favorite varieties for a cheese board. It also adds rich smokiness to things like grilled-cheese sandwiches and burgers.

Aldi's Emporium Selection smoked Gouda and Trader Joe's Dutch smoked Cheese looked super similar.

However, Aldi's costs $3.40 for about 8 ounces, or $0.43 an ounce, and Trader Joe's is $8 for 16 ounces, or $0.50 an ounce. The price difference may not be that stark, but I always like to know where the better deal is.

Both options had a creamy texture, but Aldi's Gouda tasted sweeter. I thought it was a little better for snacking than Trader Joe's offering.

Goat cheese is another great addition to a cheese board, and it also pairs nicely with salads.

The 5-ounce log at Trader Joe's costs $3, or about $0.60 an ounce, but the 4-ounce log at Aldi only costs $1.60, or about $0.40 an ounce.

Trader Joe's cheese tasted wonderfully tart. It also had a softer, more crumbly texture, making it easier to sprinkle over salads.

I thought Aldi's goat cheese had a smoother taste and held together a little easier, making it ideal for a cheese board.

Ricotta is a wonderful addition to pasta dishes and baked goods, but it's also a nice, fluffy dip on its own. It may not be the center of attention flavor-wise, but I like the texture it brings.

I found a 16-ounce tub of whole-milk ricotta at Trader Joe's for $4, or about $0.25 an ounce, and a 15-ounce tub of whole-milk ricotta at Aldi for $2.30, or about $0.15 an ounce.

Both cheeses tasted similar — I could hardly tell them apart. However, Trader Joe's ricotta felt a little softer and, therefore, was a little more spreadable.

The overall winner when it comes to cost-efficiency is Aldi — and flavorwise, its cheeses held up pretty well.

There were times when I thought Trader Joe's cheeses felt a little higher quality, but nothing was impressive enough to stop me from going for the cheaper choice.

However, I was surprised to find that the Brie and white cheddar at both stores cost the same. I may be heading to TJ's for those in the future.

My kids can't believe these flavorful Caesar, green-goddess, and creamy-dill dressings in the refrigerated section are completely plant-based. Plus, they have less than 100 calories a serving and are made from simple ingredients.

I'm vegan and the rest of my family isn't, so they're my answer for zhuzhing up steamed vegetables, grain bowls, wraps, and, of course, salads.

I'm always looking for ways to add more protein to meals, and I do so to our noodle dishes by using certain pasta varieties from Trader Joe's.

There are several options for pasta with up to 14 grams of protein a serving, including varieties made with lentils, brown rice, quinoa, and chickpeas.

Beyond pasta night, I also use the noodles to ramp up salads, veggie stir-fries, and curries.

Trader Joe's simple can of vegetarian chili is great on nights when I don't feel like cooking. It's vegan, so everyone in my family can enjoy it.

I love that the added pea protein boosts the protein content of the red beans.

I serve it with a variety of toppings so everyone can pick what they like. I'll also use it as a topping for baked potatoes or sweet potato "nachos."

There's a wide variety variety of salad kits at Trader Joe's, from sweet-chili mango to pizza ranch.

Sometimes I just follow the package instructions to build a flavorful salad, but the kits have also inspired a number of dinners in my house. I use the Mediterranean kit as a base for falafel bowls and the Southwestern chopped as a pizza topping.

New varieties always seem to be popping up on shelves, creating limitless options for creativity.

Preparing beans and legumes can be time-consuming, but they're one of the best plant-based protein sources. So, the prepared lentil package in the refrigerated section at Trader Joe's is a handy staple.

I use it in countless ways — to fill taco shells, stir into pasta sauces, and sprinkle on salads, to name a few.

I've also combined the lentils with lemon juice, fresh herbs, and Trader Joe's bruschetta to make a hearty filling for a wrap.

Trader Joe's offers a variety of tofu, but the high-protein super-firm, baked teriyaki-flavored, and baked Sriracha-flavored varieties are my favorites.

The pre-seasoned and baked varieties are ready to slice, crumble, or air fry without any prep. Meanwhile, the high-protein tofu can be whipped up for a number of dishes and provides 5 more grams of protein per serving than the store's standard extra-firm block.

Some of my menu highlights include grilled tofu "steaks" topped with chimichurri and breaded tofu sticks served with dipping sauces.

I always keep a box of Trader Joe's brown rice in my freezer to make easy weeknight meals — from grain bowls and stir-fries to burritos and casseroles.

Instead of meal-prepping a big pot of rice at the start of the week, I can just pull out one of these packets and microwave it for four minutes.

I'm also a fan of the store's frozen jasmine rice.

Much to my kids' chagrin, one of the easiest ways to level up the nutrition factor in my family's meals is to add more vegetables.

Luckily, all of us can get behind Trader Joe's fun zucchini spirals and butternut-squash zig-zags.

I toss the spiralized zucchini with protein-enriched spaghetti and use the butternut-squash pieces to replace thicker noodles in soups and casseroles.

Trader Joe's package of lightly salted edamame is ready to eat, making it a go-to for my Asian-inspired meals.

I sprinkle them into stir-fries, teriyaki bowls, and sushi rolls, but they're also just great for snacking.

We go through the refrigerated package in a week and don't have to worry about it going bad, but there's also a frozen option.

Tossed with soybean oil, lemon juice, parsley, salt, cumin, garlic powder, and black pepper, Trader Joe's Greek chickpeas are my shortcut for adding zest and plant protein to meals.

For salads, I skip the dressing and toss the chickpeas directly into the bowl with the juice of a lemon. Or, I'll roast them until crunchy and use them as croutons.

I also love to spoon them over grilled vegetables such as zucchini, cauliflower, and portobello mushrooms.

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To pick up my Summer Fridays balm, I headed to Sephora.

There's something luxurious about purchasing skincare and makeup products at high-end retailers, and I enjoyed perusing the varieties of balms on the shelf.

The brand's lip butter balm comes in eight shades/scents: vanilla, sweet mint, pink sugar, iced coffee, vanilla beige, brown sugar, cherry, and poppy.

I went with sweet mint, mostly because it sounded similar to a variety Trader Joe's offers. It also seemed to be the most neutral shade of the bunch, so I thought it would make for a good, fair comparison.

I paid $24 for a 0.5-ounce tube.

As a grocery store, Trader Joe's was a less luxurious, more hectic environment.

However, these lip balms were super convenient to buy since I was already there buying groceries.

I paid $7 for 1.04 ounces of product in two varieties (each 0.5 ounces): vanilla mint and brown sugar.

Far and away, Trader Joe's has the better deal on balm. When broken down, Summer Friday's balm costs $48 an ounce, and Trader Joe's is about $6.73 an ounce.

Both balms came in matte, mint-green squeeze tubes, which I found aesthetically pleasing.

However, Summer Fridays' packaging is slightly thinner, creating a longer tube, and has a contrasting white cap.

Despite the subtle size difference, they both fit easily into small pockets, which is a high priority for me when it comes to lip balms.

The minty balms from Trader Joe's and Summer Fridays smelled very similar to me. In fact, I couldn't tell them apart in a blind smell test.

For both products, I liked the added kick of sweetness to mellow out the tingly mint sensation.

When I glanced at the back of each box, I didn't notice much variance in the balms' formulas. This is especially true for the first-listed ingredients, which typically make up the largest part of a product's makeup.

When I asked dermatologist Toral Vaidya about the formulas, she said that some of the shared ingredients — shea butter, tocopherol (vitamin E), and sodium hyaluronate — make both products similarly effective for hydration.

"Shea butter is a moisturizing agent rich in fatty acids that helps nourish the lips, and vitamin E is an antioxidant that has skin-protecting qualities and also helps the skin retain moisture," she told BI. "Sodium hyaluronate is a humectant and skin-conditioning agent that helps hydrate the lips."

I was able to smoothly apply Summer Fridays and Trader Joe's balms on my bare lips and on top of other products for a glossy finish.

The applicators on both tubes had similar divots that seemed to form the shape of my lips as I used them, which I loved.

The only difference I noticed was that Summer Fridays' formula felt slightly thicker.

I used each balm for a total of three days, leaving some time between for the fairest comparison.

My lips felt similarly hydrated the entire time, and both products showed noticeable improvement in healing my chapped lips.

I found myself applying the Summer Fridays formula less frequently than Trader Joe's balm, but that could've been due to the difference in my schedule those weeks. I was out and about in the cold more while testing the latter.

I completely understand why people rave about Summer Fridays' balm, especially if they've found a signature shade or scent they can't part with. However, when it comes to the basic clear formula, I really couldn't tell the difference between the products.

I'd rather save some money and repurchase the two-pack dupe from Trader Joe's.

The Vlasic kosher dill baby pickles at my local supermarket cost about $6 for a 16-ounce container, making them the most expensive per ounce of the pickles I tried.

They had a nice crunch to them, and although they initially had a mild and pleasant briny flavor, there was an off-putting aftertaste. As a result, my entire family placed these at the bottom of the list.

The taste was so unpleasant that I bought a second jar from a different supermarket to see if the first one was an anomaly. It was not.

I grabbed a 16-ounce jar of 365 organic kosher baby dill pickles from Whole Foods for $5.

When I took a bite, however, I didn't think these pickles were as good as some of the others I tried. They weren't especially crunchy, and I didn't love the flavor. I thought they were heavy on garlic and lacked the crisp, vinegary bite I seek in good pickles.

I'd eat them again if someone served them to me, but I'd opt for other brands if I were shopping for my family.

To be fair, these were my 7-year-old's favorite, but he's by far the most averse to spicy foods in our family.

The Trader Joe's kosher dill pickles were the least expensive of the group, at $3 for a well-stuffed 24-ounce jar.

These pickles had a satisfying snap with each bite but a fairly mild vinegar flavor and some seasoning resembling caraway, which felt unfamiliar. They also didn't have the palate-cleansing zest I sometimes want.

Overall, they tasted like something you'd serve on a cheese board rather than with a cheeseburger.

I'd buy these again — especially considering the price — if I were shopping at Trader Joe's and needed pickles. However, they're not something I'd go out of my way for.

I took home a 24-ounce jar of Mt. Olive dill-pickle spears that was on sale for $4 (about $2 off the supermarket's usual price).

I wasn't sure if I'd ever bought a jar of Mt. Olive pickles before, but when I opened it, I recognized the smell immediately — these were the pickles that came with every sandwich at a popular and delicious deli near where I went to college.

They were a touch mushy and didn't have much crunch, but they won me over with their assertive, classic pickle flavor, which was so tangy it was almost spicy.

I might buy them again if I start feeling nostalgic for that sandwich shop or am looking for a budget-friendly option.

Claussen's kosher dill pickles cost $7 for a 32-ounce jar at my local supermarket. These pickles were the only of the five brands I tried that came from the grocer's refrigerated section.

Having to refrigerate the Claussen pickles made them slightly less convenient to store, but they were so much better than the other pickles we tasted. Vibrant with dill, they were crunchy without being heavy and had a bright vinegary tang.

My wife, our 4-year-old, and I all ranked this as the best pickle by far — so far superior to the others that the extra cost was easily justified.

I will seek out Claussen whenever I'm buying pickles at the supermarket in the future.

I pick up Italian extra-virgin olive oil at Trader Joe's.

The best quality olive oil is extra virgin, meaning the oil is extracted the first time the olives are pressed for their liquid.

My favorite part about olive oil is its versatility. I use it as a nonstick agent on my pans, a base for sautéeing veggies, and a topper for added garnish and flavor.

When creating my shopping list, I prioritize what I can purchase fresh — especially when it comes to herbs.

After all, any dish can be elevated with fresh herbs.

If I know I need to use my herbs over an extended period, I put them in a resealable bag with a damp paper towel in the fridge to help extend their freshness.

Trader Joe's has several tomato varieties, from cherry tomatoes for easy snacking to Roma tomatoes for making sauces.

I prefer to purchase tomatoes on the vine because I find they have a longer shelf life. Longevity is a priority because I'm only meal-prepping for one.

An essential part of the Mediterranean diet is eating whatever fruits and vegetables are in season.

So, I stock up on seasonal vegetables at Trader Joe's, where I find produce in season is often centerstage and reasonably priced.

I also like to check Trader Joe's website for recipe inspiration for my seasonal veggies.

There's a reason garlic and onion are classics in Mediterranean cooking: Both are delicious and high in natural antioxidants.

My Trader Joe's carries a wide selection of onions, so I always know it will almost always have the variety I want. However, I also love swapping basic white onions for the more delicately flavored shallot.

I like to dice onion and garlic, sauté them in olive oil, and store them in an airtight container in my fridge to use throughout the week for omelets, veggies, and pasta.

I've found that beans are a popular source of protein for the Mediterranean diet.

I use canned beans to whip up quick dips and salads that pair perfectly with fresh sliced bread. Sometimes, I blend them with fresh herbs, pasta water, and lemon juice to make a creamy protein-packed sauce.

Although not necessarily a crucial part of the Mediterranean diet, pasta is a great base if you want to consume more legumes and veggies. Sometimes, I also top my pasta with a white-bean sauce to create a high-protein dish.

I like to stock up on several different pasta shapes so I never get bored mixing and matching them with new sauces.

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This story was originally published on January 2, 2024, and most recently updated on January 3, 2025.

Eating protein-rich foods, like this smoked trout, is an excellent way to create an energizing, filling meal.

Trader Joe's smoked trout has become a staple in my home — it's a great shelf-stable item to have on hand when I want to add more sustenance to a meal.

This flavorful fish makes a great addition to a greens-and-feta salad, though the fillets are also delicious simply paired with a cracker.

When I followed restrictive diets, I was afraid to have sugar-sweetened beverages because I felt guilty about drinking my calories.

Now, as an intuitive eater, I know that adding fun drinks to meals can be a great way to enhance satisfaction. When our meals are satisfying, we can move on without dwelling and decrease our chances of bingeing or overeating later.

This tea-and-lemonade beverage has the perfect level of sweetness. I love having it with a turkey sandwich, a hearty salad, or cheese and crackers.

A friend recently shared a recipe for spicy-vodka rigatoni, which called for Calabrian chiles. She recommended using Trader Joe's Italian Bomba sauce, a Calabrian-chile-based flavoring, and it has become an instant favorite.

It adds a flavorful punch to pasta dishes and soups, though it's also tasty when smeared on crusty bread or mixed with mayo.

I've tried many different kinds of goat cheese, but this one from Trader Joe's is my favorite.

It's the ideal mixture of creamy and crumbly, making it a perfect addition to fall salads or a roasted-root-veggie dish. It also adds richness to pasta dishes when I don't have milk or cream.

I recommend spreading this goat cheese on toast and pairing it with different toppings, like walnuts, honey, and sea salt, or caramelized mushrooms and onions.

When a craving for salad strikes, I enjoy using Trader Joes toasted-sesame dressing.

Having a premade dressing lowers the workload of making a salad, which is another reason I love keeping this delicious dressing stocked in my fridge.

Some days, I crave fresh flavors but don't have the bandwidth to cut up lettuce and veggies — which is why I appreciate this broccoli-and-kale slaw with dried cherries, slivered almonds, and sunflower seeds.

Even when I don't have the time or energy to start chopping ingredients, I can almost always find it in me to dump the contents into a bowl and toss them with the kit's premade, sweet slaw dressing.

Sometimes, I'll doctor the salad up with goat-cheese crumbles. I typically pair the salad with a frozen pizza to add a source of carbs and fat and create a more filling meal.

In my opinion, the Argentinian red shrimp tastes so fresh, you'd never know that it comes frozen.

During the summer, I add this shrimp to a simple pasta dish with pesto, pine nuts, and tomatoes for a protein-rich meal with lots of staying power. In the colder months, I make a shrimp scampi with simple ingredients like lemon, broth, wine, and Parmesan cheese.

Like the smoked trout, this frozen shrimp is great for adding a protein boost to my meals.

When I ask new clients which foods they enjoy, many of them have been dieting for so long that they no longer know what flavors they authentically enjoy.

In my intuitive-eating experience, I discovered I love the combination of sweet and salty flavors. In particular, I adore Trader Joe's sweet, spicy pepper jam with savory cheese and crackers.

It's also delicious spread on a grilled-cheese sandwich for that same flavor contrast.

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