Friday Love List
For a special edition of the Friday Love List, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite Trader Joe’s discoveries. This is the first of a series of Trader Joe’s fan posts that we’ll update from time to time.
Not everyone has a Trader Joe’s nearby. When I moved to Houston in 2005 there wasn’t one, but a few years later Trader Joe’s arrived — and I was thrilled. It felt like a little slice of my California upbringing showing up in Texas. Clients in my cooking classes often ask why I shop at Trader Joe’s. Is it because everything is healthier? The secret is simpler: it’s budget-friendly. That affordability keeps me coming back.
That said, I don’t buy everything I see. I’m careful about produce and packaged items, I follow the Environmental Working Group’s guidance for choosing organic produce, and I always read ingredient labels. Below are ten Trader Joe’s favorites we’re enjoying right now. Tell us your top picks in the comments — sharing is caring!
Ten Trader Joe’s Favorites
- I use my wok for a quick vegetable stir-fry and serve it over Trader Joe’s frozen jasmine rice. The frozen cauliflower rice is an excellent low-carb option as well.
2. Nothing cools you down like a Fruit Frenzy Bar — Raspberry, Lemon, or Strawberry. For a fun twist, dip one into a vodka soda to make a refreshing summer cocktail.
3. Need a quick sweet treat? Try the frozen Gone Bananas snacks — chocolate-covered banana slices. The frozen chocolate-covered strawberries are also a delightful option if you prefer berries.
4. Keep a bottle of organic tea lemonade in the fridge — it’s a staple. I like the unsweetened green and white tea varieties, and I use fresh-squeezed limeade for a homemade matcha limeade. Look for these in the refrigerated juice section.
5. Stock up on brioche toasts. They’re perfect with Nutella, peanut butter, cream cheese and jam, goat cheese and pesto, or the brown sugar cinnamon butter spread. They’re equally delicious straight from the box.
6. Our go-to produce: organic Persian cucumbers, sugar snap peas, baby bok choy, shishito peppers, rainbow carrots (both baby and regular), shelled English peas, organic arugula and spinach, organic avocados, organic tomatoes, and endive spears. I pick carefully, choose organic when advised, and avoid items with questionable ingredient lists.
7. Rosemary Marcona almonds add a savory crunch to a snack or charcuterie board. Pair them with fig and olive crisps for texture and flavor variety. For cheese board inspiration, assemble a mix of cheeses, crackers, fruits, and nuts for a simple, crowd-pleasing spread.
8. Trader Joe’s offers beautiful, affordable flowers. The potted orchids make easy gifts, and small potted herbs are great for a kitchen windowsill or garden. Seasonal stems like tulips, hydrangeas, and daffodils are often excellent value and brighten any room.
9. Many summer cocktails — for example, an Aperol Spritz — call for sparkling wine or Prosecco. Trader Joe’s usually has an affordable Prosecco Superiore from northeastern Italy that offers good value for casual entertaining.
10. Don’t forget a treat for your four-legged friends. Our pups go crazy for the salmon and sweet potato dog treats — a fan favorite at our house.