Before we talk about Joe...yes, as you saw on Facebook this weekend, I did jump out of an airplane. I'm waiting on the photo CD from the skydiving company that they'll be mailing me soon. There will be a major blog post all about the blessed event with TONS of pics.
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Anywhoozle...do you know Joe?
He'll Be Here.
Soon!
Yep, Trader Joe's is opening a store in my town!
Since I'm sure you all know exactly what the most band-friendly choices are at Joe's, I am asking you: What are your go-to items and must haves at Trader Joes?
But wait....let's just quickly review what are not good choices for yours truly:
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| Trader Joe's Peanut Butter cookies (Chicago 2011 BOOBs pic!!) |
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| Trader Joe's Cookie Butter.This is my crack. |
What are your go-to items and must haves at Trader Joes?
I <3 their baby goat cheese medallions for salads and roll-ups. And they have great deals on high quality produce. From what I remember, the crab cakes are fabulous and so is the pumpkin pancake mix. YUM! The closest one to me is 1/2 hour away . . .have fun!!
ReplyDeleteOMG, goat cheese is my crack. If they are individually wrapped and pre-portioned, I may be able to get them. YUM!
Deletegoat cheese, egg white salad, Pear Champagne vinegarett it's in the cold box by the bagged lettuce and only 45 calories a serving, turkey jerky (band friendly???) organic eggs, nuts (again do band folks eat nut's???) I buy pretty much any and almost all their produce!!!, they have GREAT quicky protein drinks... they are canned and have either 21 or 35 grams of protein, I buy the 21's and for a quicky they are nice to have on hand, their Greek yogurt is yummo, also their balsamic vinegar is butt asp cheap!!, their jar salsa is also nice to have on hand... OMG!!! you are going to LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!
ReplyDeleteThat egg white salad sounds AWESOME. Can't wait to give it a try. Oh yes, most bandsters CAN eat nuts and jerky. Thanks!
DeleteOMG, I didn't know that TJ had cookie butter too!!! (We buy ours at Cost Plus World Market, the ONLY thing my peanut-allergic daughter can have is cookie butter, and YES it IS CRACK!!) We don't have TJ's here yet (we live in CO) so we have to travel to another state to get anything. But I hear we are getting some stores soon. So I have no advice for you except to say YAY you get a TJ near you.
ReplyDeleteShelia, well I was going to leave it for LBG, but I can leave it for you too, Trader Joe's has their brand of sunbutter. It's sunflower seed butter an alternative to peanut butter. We buy it for our peanut allergy child. Our non-peanut allergy child likes it too! My mother-in-law has made fudge, cookies, buckeyes and candy with it too!!
DeleteThe single serving packs of the trek mix - 150 calories and pre-portioned (I had to stop buying the chili-lime cashews because I could not stop at 1 ounce!)
ReplyDeleteGreek yogurt, Snap Pea Crisps (I portion those out), the chili-spiced dried mango, the produce, the bags of frozen grilled chicken breast tenders (use for my lunch salads - very handy!)
I used to spend over $200 a week at our local grocery store - I'm averaging about $130 at TJs and can get everything on my list - you'll love it!!
Trek mix? Is that like trail mix? I'll have to check it out.
DeleteThank you for asking this question! One just opened in my town this weekend, and I've been looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteI like all the fish options...there a lot of frozen fish in individual servings that I find yummy and langoustines are yummy
ReplyDeleteHow do you cook the fish? Is it the steam in bag kind?
DeleteI love most of their salsa's, they usually have a good variety of imported cheeses (I'm a cheeseaholic), and some yummy meats.
ReplyDeleteI love TJ's but sadly the closest one to me is in Naperville where my brother n law lives. So we try to go when we visit a few times a year. I so want one I cannot tell you. I love the place, I have not found anything I have tried from there bad.
ReplyDeleteI will be anxious to see and hear about your experience.!!
there is a TJ opening up down the street from me too! jeez they are really growing... I have never been and I cant wait. I will be back to this to check what you all think are the best band friendly buys at TJ's thanks for asking this question lapbandgal just another "thing" on your blog that will help me too. with a toddler I have no time for bloggin but I do have time to sneak around yours and a few others and get some tips- I am being banded on July 5th!!!
ReplyDeleteI am so so so excited that we are getting a Trader Joe's in my area soon (Capital Region area of New York)... I USED to adore their peanut butter, but now that I am paleo eating, I don't eat PB anymore :( :(
ReplyDeleteThey have these amazing dried mangos I am heading right for :D
Also, their marinated meats are always a special treat!
Their HUMMUS!! Idk if anyone's mentioned it yet bc I didn't read the other comments... but omg it's to DIE for!!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to get back to Texas since FW has a TJ's! The closest one to me now is like 3 hours!!! =(
I have never even stepped inside a Trader Joe. I must say though, I'm thrilled about your sky diving post!! Cannot wait. Also - that pic of Chicago 2011 is GORGEOUS of you!!!!
ReplyDeleteUGH.. I wish we could get some cool stores. Our options are limited in the final.. I mean.. Last Frontier. Our produce is dependant on if the barge can make it in that week :)
ReplyDeleteDoes someone want to come open up some cool stores in Juneau? Pretty please? :)
Love TJ'S!!! I mean....LOVE LOVE LOVE!
ReplyDeleteLike Chris (she and I shop at the same TJs), the savings is amazing as compared to our big box super duper fancy dancy overpriced market in our area! Even if they do give away gas rewards, it just ain't worth it to me!
So, what do I love at TJ's?
-I love the goat cheese medalions and the honey goat cheese log (eaten with pumpernickel pretzels and you will be in heaven!). Their Wine Country Chicken salad with nuts and cranberries---amazing. They sell these frozen mini cube trays of garlic, basil and cilantro--fab! Their shredded 4 cheese Italian cheese is magnifico and their shredded Guyere is just downright delightful. I get orgasmic over their frozen balsamic carmelized onions and their frozen grilled eggplant and zucchini. Their jarred basil tomato marinara sauce is bellisimo and a downright steal at 1.79! But, I have to tell you about their tube of polenta! OMG. Is this stuff swoon worthy or what? I am a polenta aficianado so I know good polenta and this stuff is ammmmaaaazzzing! And, it doesn't hurt that it's priced so low that it makes you feel so mafioso at the register!
So many loves at TJ's.....too many to count. Expect to ooooh and ahhhh alot when you visit!
Onward!
Judi
Chicken Apple Sausage!! The lowest sodium ones I've found anywhere. They're precooked - so 30 seconds in the micro (wrap in paper towel), and it is awesome to walk around with as a quick lunch. Yummmmmmmm.
ReplyDeleteOMG! What is cookie butter! Just another thing I am glad that I can't buy in OZ!
ReplyDeleteIt's crushed up cookies (biscuits) in spreadable form like peanut butter. Pure sugar and delicious. yum.
DeleteMmmmm....I took your advice and grabbed some Cookie Butter today at TJ's. Pretty good. The description says, "A deliciously unusual spread reminiscent of gingerbread and made with crushed biscuits." Very interesting stuff. Addicting and nothing nutritional about it, but yummy.
DeleteTo 4 Smith's, thank you, you are VERY sweet. Unfortunately Sunbutter is just TOO close to the actual peanut butter for my daughter. Even though she KNOWS it won't make her sick, it's just too close and she can't eat it. The cookie butter we get has a completely different flavor than peanut butter (although sadly none of the protein) but it's the ONLY thing she can tolerate. And yep, we've tried lots of "butters" and cookie butter is it. So I have to practice self control with it. HA!
ReplyDeleteWe just had a Trader Joe's open in Ft. Worth and I'm so excited!
ReplyDelete