Check out my progress on Rendezvous with TJ
A few years ago I discovered a new “happiest place on Earth.” In this magical place, you can find everything a girl could possibly need, from mango berry muffins to sesame honey cashews to tasty little twigs, and all for a reasonable price. Indeed, Trader Joe’s became a bit of a foodie wonderland.
However, when I left North Carolina for the summer, I had to bid farewell to Trader Joe’s. For months now, I’ve become envious of the TJ’s goodies featured in my fellow food bloggers’ posts. Whole grain graham crackers? Blueberry flax? Chocolate-covered pom seeds? ‘Twas torture to see everything I was missing.
Nonetheless, it seems as though the grocery gods have smiled upon me, for today I discovered that there is a Trader Joe’s located less than 2 miles away from my new apartment. Never a girl to waste any time, I hurried over there this afternoon.
Although it may appear from the above grocery haul that I eat nothing but processed grub, I promise I don’t live on packaged foods alone:)
Do you have a Trader Joe’s near you? What are some of your favorite items? After all, it’s only a matter of time before I return…
Rewind to Saturday…
Saturday
Considering this meal was not consumed until close to 12:30 PM, I have chosen to label it “brunch.” Nothing like fakin’ bacon and eggs to start your weekend right.
For dinner, Seth and I headed to a local restaurant called the Flying Biscuit. I took one glance at the menu and knew exactly what I wanted…
After a little Titanic viewing on TV and letting that mondo meal digest a bit, we headed out for fro-yo at Fresh Berry.
Sunday
I was eager to check out a new church today, so I fueled myself quickly with a cottage cheese parfait.
For lunch, I got a little inspiration from Wild Garden roasted red pepper hummus.
It was difficult to keep myself from feasting on sesame honey cashews for dinner, but I refrained and heated up a ho-hum veggie burger.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend, dears!
Filed under: Meals
Caroline Yoder, dietitian-to-be and all-around foodie.
I used to LOVE their carrot ginger muffins(not gluten-free, though
Now I crave them in my sleep). Also, I like how dirt cheap their almond butter is. And I’ve heard they have brown rice tortillas but have never seen them. I’d buy the bunch.
Oh my, your brain freeze face is priceless, HAHA
I miss Trader Joe’s so much here in Iowa:( My mom visits me from Minneapolis every month though so she stocks up for me and brings down the happiness!
I don’t have a TJ’s or a Whole Foods in my town
We do have EarthFare, but I’ve heard that it doesn’t compare to the gloriousness of WF or TJ’s. Oh well, it’s better than nothin!
My favorites at TJ’s are the almond butter (creamy, unsalted), the frozen mango chunks (amazing, the best mangoes I can find here in the US), the Organic High Fiber O’s cereal, the frozen brown rice (soooo convenient!), and their bagged arugula – not sure why but sometimes it seems hard to find arugula for a good price.
I like those meatless meatballs too, they are really yummy!
There are more things I like to buy at TJ’s, but if I kept going the list would end up a bit long!
Ana
You know I’m OBSESSED with TJs…but there are none in SC
I get it shipped in from Josh’s mom. Can’t wait to try the peanut flour. The restaurant looks like fun. I always get a hummus platter when its available. FRESH BERRY! Ours doesn’t have coconut right now- so jealous! Great parfait
I LOVE Trader Joes! I have yet to try something from TJs that I haven’t adored. A few of my favorites include their mushroom risotto, frozen entrees, and champagne pear vinaigrette dressing
No TJ’s around here
You know I am a sucker for WF though
Veggie burgers are just the best, aren’t they?
I LOVE TJ’s and I their crunchy roasted flaxseed almond butter is amazeballs. Also, they have a 3-layer hummus that is cilantro, regular, and red pepper which is my fave hummus of all time. They also have great fiber muffins!
You got two of my Trader Joe’s favorites! I love that carrot ginger soup (the tomato-red pepper is awesome too) and I love the meatless meatballs.
Probably my favorite thing ever is their Mostly Mediterranean dried fruit mix. Figs, sour cherries, and apricots- SO GOOD.
I wish we had Flying Biscuits but I think I’m too far north. They sound so good!
I STILL can’t figure out how you didn’t know TJ’s was in your backyard. Okay okay, so not everyone stalks their website like I do haha. I need to get some sesame honey almonds again but I fear for their life span.
I love Flying Biscuit, I usually get the Tofu Scramble…YUM!
TJ’s and I are star-crossed lovers who can only meet when I go off to school, and even then only when I have a car. Alas. But my fav items are the moment are the lean ground beef, cheap gouda, and spiced apples. YUM!
I can so relate. TJ’s is my favorite place on earth. Next to whole foods, that is. Their prices are always so reasonable too.
ahhhh TJs! it was only when i moved close to one that i started forgetting to shop there. makes no sense, right? anyways, when i do go there, i love their cheap Greek yogurt, hummus, dried fruit + nut selection as well as the PB+J+A trail mix. TDF.
looks like such a fun weekend – enjoy the rest of it dear!!!!
Never been to Trader Joe’s, but heard great things about it. Need to get there some day.
There is not a TJ’s close by to where I live right now, and it is sad.
There was one in StL that I often visited. I love their 3-layer hummus and pb pretzels.
Never been to a Trader Joe’s but all the food you got sounds great.
Love the frozen yogurt as well (and the brain freeze photo).
I’ve never been to TJ’s, alas! The NYC location is always too crowded — I get a panic attack just looking at the line. But one day…
You know I woulda gotten the red pepper hummus, too!
According to Google, the closest Trader Joe’s is approximately 1 hour from my house. Too bad there’s that pesky border to deal with to get there. One day I’ll make the trek…one day.