Trader Joe's & Whole Foods

[4JMJ]

I'm looking for recommendations for products from these stores that you and your family absolutely love/can't live without!
We are taking a road trip this weekend to both stores, they are about 1 1/2 hours away from where we live. I've only been to TJ's once (years ago) and never been to Whole Foods.
TIA!

[Ruthla]

I find that Trader Joe's is a good place to get inexpensive staples: milk, butter, yogurt, baby carrots, canned tuna, spelt bread, and gluten-free pasta. I'm lucky enough to live 1.5 miles from one Trader Joe's and about 10 miles from another one, so I typically go there frequently for things like bread, milk, and eggs. They do carry a lot of packaged convenience foods that, while they may be well priced for what they are, are still too expensive compared to buying ingredietns and cooking things myself. I'm really not familiar with those products.

I've been to Whole Foods a few times and wans't impressed. Their prices weren't great on name brand products (compared to my local HFS) and most of their store-brand products arent' certified kosher, so I couldn't buy them.

If you're in a new store, I'd suggest simply walking up and down the aisles looking at all the products, and buy whatever looks interesting and is priced well for your budget.

[organicmidwestmama]

kerrygold irish chedder and butter, both grassfed, from tjs. cheap wine, also tjs.

[4JMJ]

Originally Posted by organicmidwestmama

cheap wine, also tjs.

I'll definitely be looking out for that!

[DashsMama]

I don't shop at Whole Foods (I can get everything they sell there cheaper elsewhere), so I can't help you there, other than to say that the items that both stores carry (Dr. Bronner's bar soap or organic eggs for instance) are much less expensive at TJ's.

TJ things we can't live without...hummus, 3 layer pesto dip, frozen quiches, tongol tuna, Pasture's of Eden sheep's milk feta cheese, round Multi-Grain Crackers, organic ketchup, mayonnaise, (their condiments are really much better than comparable brands), brown rice noodles and spaghetti. If you eat sweets I recommend their prepared chocolate pudding, chocolate cream JoJo Cookies, Gluten free ginger snaps, and crispy crunchy chocolate chip cookies.

TJ staples you might want to consider because of quality and good prices...nuts, dried fruits, frozen organic corn, spinach, green beans, and/or peas, frozen wild caught salmon, organic yellow corn chips, organic sugar, maple syrup, extra virgin olive oil, cold pressed canola oil, organic milk, sour cream, yogurt, cheese and butter, organic eggs, toilet paper, liquid hand soap, and laundry soap.

TJ's produce isn't the best. I can recommend their organic baby carrots, hearts of romaine lettuce, garlic, onions, and high lycopene tomatoes as being consistently good in both quality and price.

Have a good time!

[busymama77]

Items that I get regularly at TJ's:

hummus
pita
whole wheat bread
oatmeal
cereal bars
frozen waffles
frozen french toast
frozen veggies
frozen pasta dishes
frozen chicken quesadillas
milk
trail mix
juice
juice boxes
salsa
blue corn chips

I only go to Whole Foods every once in a while - to treat myself. They have the Back to Nature brand and I'm in love with their PB cookies. They also have a pre-made yogurt granola w/ strawberries that is to die for. But most of their other stuff is just way over priced. I feel like I can find more for less and just as good at TJ's.

[artemis33]

I used to live very close and could go whenever, but now I am over an hour away and just go every month or two. These are the things I usually get.

It is true that TJs is generally a much better deal overall $ wise, but there are some good deals at WF, too. Resisting all the impulse buys in WF is difficult though!

TJs
maple syrup
raw nuts/seeds
nut butter
Kerrygold butter
various cheeses (kerrygold, etc)
vanilla
Tuscano Marinara sauce (TJs brand)
Niman Ranch bacon (no nitrates, etc)
Nature's Path Raisin Bran
plantain chips (but they always seem to be out when I am there )
wine
lavender sachets (for dryer)
dark chocolate covered almonds


WF
365 brand organic coconut milk (that is their store brand)
365 brand nut butters
olive oil packed tuna
olive oil packed sardines
365 brand rosemary olive oil crackers
organic bulk spices, grains, dried beans (I usually get these at our local coop instead but they are worth checking out)
raw milk parmigiano reggiano and romano hunks ($ but delicious and last a long time)

not easy on the wallet, but yummy:
hand dipped whole milk ricotta
oven roasted tomatoes in olive oil (at the cheese/olive deli area)
fancy olives from the olive bar
their salad and hot foods bar kicks ass!

I'm sure there are other things - that is just what I can think of off the top of my head. When I start to run out of some of these, I plan a trip into the city to restock. Have fun!

ETA oh yeah, PP mentioned Hummus - TJs hummus is amazing! It tastes so good - love it! Also, I used to be big on their refrigerated pizza dough until I got good at making my own

[4JMJ]

Thanks for all of the suggestions! I am so excited to check them out! The only thing I remember from TJ's was this really yummy artichoke/red pepper spread! But I do remember really liking everything we got! Is it sad that I'm this excited for a trip to the grocery store?

[Drummer's Wife]

Don't forget Trader Joe's fair trade organic coffee beans

[zinemama]

The Trader Joe's Tuscan Marinara sauce (in the green and red can). It is so much fresher tasting than any jarred sauce I've tried.

[mumkimum]

We really like the Trader Joe's nut mixes - particular anything done in chili-lime, the spicy lemon almonds, and honey sesame ones. Their Pound Plus chocolate bars are a good deal too - I get those for baking. Personally, I like their veggie chili & cuban black beans also to have around for quick meals. Also, really good prices for golden raisins and marmalade. We're also fond of the apricot-orange fruit spread or jam.

Whole Foods, the one thing I go there just to get is their vegan cane sugar - it's more similar to superfine sugar (sometimes hard to find) and I have a major preference for using it to bake with. It's also well-priced in comparison to their other sugars. They also (ours does anyway) have excellent beer/wine selections - particularly artisan beers.

[Arduinna]

Whole Foods

Olives
cheese
produce
I love their fig jam and wild strawberry jam which you usually find in the cheese section
I buy my Greek olive oil there
meat, the buffalo steaks are incredible, organic free range meat and wild caught fish
italian soda water
valrhona chocolate and cocoa powder ( although I buy from an online source now so I can get it in bulk cheaper)
organic cream
non-homogonized milk
Parmigiano–Reggiano Butter

[CookiePie]

Bulk bin stuff from Whole Foods is where I spend most of my time & money. Also go to their website & checkout the online sale flyer to see if they have any good deals. If you buy a case of anything (even on sale stuff) they will discount it 10%. I've read this many places online but have not tried it yet. I do beleive that you have to ask for the discount at the desk, I don't think it is automatic. HTH

[amma_mama]

Originally Posted by CookiePie

Bulk bin stuff from Whole Foods is where I spend most of my time & money. Also go to their website & checkout the online sale flyer to see if they have any good deals. If you buy a case of anything (even on sale stuff) they will discount it 10%. I've read this many places online but have not tried it yet. I do beleive that you have to ask for the discount at the desk, I don't think it is automatic. HTH

When I have bought by the case, they have done it automatically, but it may depend on the store. We actually find that, in our area, WF own brands (365 and thier organic products) are relatively cheap to comparable items elsewhere. Produce is very expensive though, so I rarely buy fruits or vegetables there unless I am in a pinch. WF also has a great cheese selection, though it is expensive, but good cheese usually is unless you have direct source. the 365 chocolate truffles are the best $6 bucks you will spend there.

We do TJs only on occasion as I do not find there selection of anything that great. There are a few items that I have liked and would buy again but do not feel that I can do my regular shopping there. We try to cook as much as we can fron scratch and TJs is more useful for "assembly" type meals or meals out of a box. And their fresh sushi, though cheap, is funky and not in a good way. Before TJs became a national chain they had a really great selection of nuts, but is now more ordinary. Their wine selection is good though for stocking up on reasonably priced wines.

For some reason, in our area, TJs is not all that much cheaper than WF and is more expensive on certain brands that I buy regularly. I guess it depends on where you live...

Anyway, happy shopping!

[krisnic]

I only shop at TJ's and love:

Wake Up Blend Organic Coffee
Meatless Corndogs (sooo good)
Granny's Apple Granola (I could eat this for the rest of my life)
Mint Chip Ice Cream
Tea Tree Oil body wash
Veggie Sticks
The round multi-grain crackers
Pesto Burgers
Chicken Egg Rolls
Truffle Brownie Mix
Cocoa

[punkrockmomma]

I LOVE Trader Joe's wasabi mayo. I actually need to stop there soon and get some. It makes great tuna, or salmon salad for sandwiches. YUMMY! As far as whole foods goes, I only go there for their body care, supplements, and natural remedies section. It has the best selection of these products that I've found. As far as the other stuff I might buy there, I'd rather buy it from my local co-op, or from our local winter farmers market. I like buying local when I can.

[Viola]

Originally Posted by DashsMama

round Multi-Grain Crackers,

Yes, those are good.

We usually get cereal at Trader Joe's. I get the uncured black forest ham, milk, orange juice, organic yogurt, organic avocados and organic bananas, orange juice, greek yogurt and milk. When they have organic strawberries, at least at my store, they are very good.

I will get frozen fruit to make smoothies. My daughters like the raspberries (available in conventional or organic) and the pineapple bits. They also have other kinds of frozen fruit.

I get some things that are not particularly healthy, like the Lamb Weston hashbrowns, but one of my daughter's loves the things. They also have good frozen macaroni and cheese.

[beanma]

We have a TJs and a WF and a fab local coop, too, but you didn't ask about that. I actually do most of my shopping at the fab local coop, but I do like Tjs for convenience foods! When I'm feeling lazy I love to pick up stuff in their frozen aisle. They have a lot of things like Mandarin Chicken with sauce and tons of other ethnic convenience type foods that are a step above things like frozen raviolis. They also have fab chocolate!

I think WF has much better produce than our TJs, though I usually buy from our local coop. I'm not particularly enamored of WF's politics lately and the crowd that shops ours is a yuppier, richer, snootier crowd, though there are plenty of moms, too. It just has a snootier vibe. Some of their store brands are good deals, though. TJs is pretty down to earth and our coop is pretty hippie-ish. Most of my money goes there, but I did make a run yesterday to TJs to stock up on my guilty pleasures (convenience foods and chocolate).

[tifpaul]

I shop at TJ's every week. There is a WF just across the street and the only things I buy there are:

maple syrup (one dollar cheaper than TJ's and it is organic, whilst TJ's is not)
Muesli baby cereal (for my 8 yo - go figure!)

meat (TJ's only has grass-fed ground beef)

There are several older threads that address "what to buy at TJ's." I agree with what everyone has written and would add:
ww hamburger and hot dog buns
English muffins
ice cream
organic OJ
dried and freeze-dried fruits

Have fun!

[4JMJ]

Oh my list is getting long!! Thank you ladies so much for all of the great suggestions! I'll have to prepare the kids to be spending A LOT of time shopping this weekend!
Now I'm going to search for those other TJ threads!