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| My neighborhood TJ's |
The only man I have ever loved is Trader Joe. The store is a great place to get healthy food for cheaper than most other stores. I realize that living in LA the produce at my Trader Joe’s is much fresher and better than it is in, say, Chicago, so I realize that privilege and I encourage you to give me your local grocery store hacks. But here are the TJ’s essentials to keep stocked in your pantry or fridge so that you can whip something up any night of the week. I mentioned in my intro that I have a $30 per week grocery budget, so obviously I don't buy all of this every week, but I try to keep most of it stocked.
Protein:
• Sprouted tofu twin pack
• Dozen eggs
• Canned garbanzo beans
• Bag of dry black beans
Dairy:
• Whole plain greek yogurt
• Cottage cheese
Veggies:
• Bag of “ready to cook” kale (it’s safe to eat raw too, don’t worry I asked)
• Spinach
• Whole heads of broccoli and cauliflower (save money by buying broccoli and cauliflower by the head and not the bagged pre-cut kind. It stays fresh longer and it doesn’t take that long to wash & chop)
• Baby carrots
• Cremini mushrooms
• VOTW (veggie of the week, I like to try new things here like squashes or seasonal veggies like asparagus in the summer or brussels sprouts in the winter)
Fruit:
• Bunch of Bananas
• Berries of your choice (blackberries or bust)
• FROZEN berries are perfect for smoothies and so so so much cheaper than fresh.
• Bag of honeycrisp apples or mandarin oranges (perfect snack on the go)
• FOTW (I like to choose a melon or pineapple to cut up and eat throughout the whole week)
Nuts:
• Raw Almonds
• Raw Cashews
• Chia seeds
• Peanut or Almond butter
Grains:
• Tricolor Quinoa
• Brown jasmine rice
• Whole-grain pasta of choice
(And then usually some dumb frozen item or new cookie I can't resist trying)
Tips n Tricks:
I go grocery shopping consistently every week, and I try to plan ahead with what I'm going to make so I don't overbuy produce and have spoilage. Take stock of what you have in the fridge and pantry before you make your list.
Trader Joe’s doesn’t really have coupons or sales, but you can usually save money by buying the conventional (that is, non-organic) version of the product. Almost everything is cheaper at Trader Joe's than at traditional grocery stores (ie, Ralphs, Vons, Sprouts) but you can’t get your favorite name brands at TJ’s, so if you love Oreos or Special K, you’ll have to make another stop at a different store. However, I find that the Trader Joe’s brand versions of those things are even better than the original.
Keep your eye on dairy and produce prices in your area: different seasons and different regions can have fluctuating prices, so your local farmer’s market may have cheaper peaches during the summer, for example. Just be aware that most TJs prices are by item, not by weight. Also, always try the sample!
As a bonus, my mom's dietitian tricks for grocery shopping are to always make a list and to never shop hungry. I find them very useful!