Trader Joe’s has to be one of my favorite places. Not even favorite grocery store, just a favorite place of all places. I love the distinct smell of TJ’s (kind of like sawdust?), the friendly staff, the unique products, and how gluten-free friendly they are. They even provide a list of all of the gluten free products they have for easy shopping. Oh yeah, and it’s five pages long.
The store itself can be a bit overwhelming…the one in Manhattan on 14th Street is basically like a small underground bunker, filled with food, and stuffed with hundreds of people trying to loot it and get out as fast as possible. (See below)
So I decided to document what a typical trip to Trader Joe’s looks like for me, which is usually grabbing a few specialty gf items, things that are cheaper there than anywhere else, things that are unique to TJ’s, and then getting the heck outta there.
1. Wasabi Mayonnaise – great on sandwiches and in tuna salad
2. Onion and Chive Corn Crackers – amazing with cheese, or just plain out of the box. They’re kind of like really fancy fritos, and everyone who tries them loves them.
Speaking of cheese…
3. Sharp cheddar and rosemary asiago cheese – Forget whatever grocery store cheese you buy, TJ’s cheddar is way better and comparably priced. And the rosemary asiago is my secret cheese BFF. I love him.
4. Almond butter and Better n’ Peanut Butter – Yes, that is almond butter for $4.99. I refuse to buy it anywhere else (plus it seems like Whole Foods prices are going up for almond butter? Might just be my imagination…). And Better n’ Peanut Butter is perfect for those of us who like to eat peanut butter out of the jar, but feel regret after consuming a full meal’s worth of calories on nut butter alone.
5. Granola – I can’t choose which one I like more between the Cranberry maple, loaded fruit and nut, or tropical. This oat-less granola is a perfect out-of-the-cupboard snack, and is chock full of toppings.
6. Ginger snaps – these are great for making crusts for desserts (like in Pretzel Strawberry Jello , I’ve also used it as a crust to a pumpkin pie) or just right out of the bag. They’re crunchy and very gingery, but are also good when they’re a little stale and chewy (is that gross? oh well.)
6. Frozen pancakes – these are a staple at my dad’s house in Michigan and they make for a super simple breakfast. Just pop them in the toaster, spread on a topping (bananas and Better n’ Peanut Butter for me). They’re not as good as homemade gf pancakes, but they’re very convenient.
7. Bob’s Red Mill Flaxseed Meal – this is absurdly cheap at TJ’s. $3.69 is a crazy price for flax meal – I put a tablespoon in my oatmeal and cereal.
And something I don’t buy, but I figured I’d include, are Udi’s products (usually on the bottom shelf in the bread section). I don’t typically buy gf bread, but helpful and cheap to buy at TJ’s if that’s your thing.
So, that’s my must have list. There are so many great gf products at Trader Joe’s (including those not pictured here like their brownie mix, chocolate-covered cherries, ice cream, Think Thin bars, etc.) and they keep expanding their line. For more groceries, check out my grocery cart.
Do you have any other favorite gluten free products that can be found at Trader Joe’s? Or anything that’s just dirt cheap?
Gluten Free? Gimme Three! 