Best Things to Buy at Trader Joe's for Your Family

Shila said:  I almost always have these Cinnamon Schoolbook Cookies in stock to present as an after-school play date snack. When little friends come over, I set this big bucket out on the table, and let the kids dig in! They taste a bit like graham crackers with a hint of cinnamon. Kids love to spot letters and spell out words and it's sweet to hear those "little kid" conversation starters!

Sarah Calamita said:  Everything But The Bagel Seasoning is by far the best blended seasoning you can buy! Think everything bagel but without the carbs! I have seen recipes out there to make it but let's be real that's not practical for most parents and this tastes amazing. We use it on avocado toast, scrambled eggs, salad, in soup, on salmon fillets and chicken breasts...it will taste amazing on anything!

Amanda Banta said:  The White Cheddar Puffs have been a staple in my house for years. They are a crunchy like a Cheeto puff with a nice cheddar taste. I buy a handful of bags every month when we do a TJs run because everyone loves snacking on these and for $1.99 a bag it's worth it to stock up. My kids would take down an entire bag in one sitting if I'd let them.

Vanessa Goldberg said:  Better than fish sticks.

Kelly R. said:  The bruschetta sauce is one of my family's Trader Joe's must-haves! It's a fresh-tasting blend of finely diced tomatoes marinated in olive oil, balsamic, garlic and basil. We love using it on top of bread, grilled chicken, pizza, salmon, salads and pasta. It's in the refrigerated case with the hummus and other dips.

Shila said:  You'll find this decadent harvest sauce and more Trader Joe's products enhancing the autumn season and stocking the shelves in the Fall. The pasta sauce is so creamy with a warm hint of pumpkin and butternut squash. Paired with any pasta of your choice (we often use ravioli or zucchette), it serves as an awesome seasonal dinner the whole family enjoys.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  The Cauliflower Gnocchi from Trader Joe's is healthy and delicious. You will never miss the wheat, sugar, eggs or dairy as these are made from 75% cauliflower. I pair it with our favorite red sauce and my kids have never realized it is a veggie dish - and they ask for seconds!

Kim Henrichs said:  I highly recommend their yogurt. It's affordable and delicious!

Jennie Utsinger said:  They may be called dessert bars, but I love these popsicles as a treat on a hot summer afternoon instead of my usual cup of coffee.

Beth Blenz-Clucas said:  We love Trader Joe's nuts selection. Our go-to buys are the walnut bits & pieces and the roasted & unsalted almonds. These are always fresh and at the best prices we can find anywhere. You can get these on Amazon and Walmart's sites, but it's best to buy directly at the store.

Shila said:  Organic Riced Cauliflower comes finely diced (to the size of rice), cooks up tender, and is somewhat flavorless. This combination makes for another great secret vegetable ingredient to hide in kids meals. Most commonly, I'll add about a 1/2 cup into pasta dishes, soups, and stir fry. They never notice! Found in the frozen aisle.

Kelly R. said:  I discovered this cheese blend a couple years ago, and it has a permanent spot on my grocery list now for our weekly homemade pizza night.

Kelly R. said:  We go through a LOT of this amazing hot sauce...some of us so liberally that it's used more like a salsa. It's garlicky and not overpoweringly spicy, and has a fun texture instead of being totally smooth.

John Kins said:  

They're legit and taste pretty good.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  These cookies top Oreos any day of the week! They are sweet and crunchy with melt-in-your-mouth vanilla bean cream filling. They come in chocolate and vanilla to satisfy all sweet tooths. Just to caution - they can be addictive!

Alexandra F. said:  Trader Joe's has some of my favorite gluten-free products, and these rolled oats are at the top of my list because they are so well-priced compared to other brands. It's been a pantry staple in our family for years for making gluten-free oatmeal and my favorite oatmeal cookies!

Alexandra F. said:  My kids have recently become obsessed with roasted seaweed snacks, and these are their favorite from among the many we've tried. They come in a pack of six and are a perfect size for school lunches and snacks.

Alexandra F. said:  These potato and lentil snacks are SO addicting. They are a favorite for everyone in our family, and one of the few snacks we can all eat with our various dietary restrictions.

Shila said:  Trader Joe's boxed Lentil Soup has been my go-to lunch this winter, though, I'm sure it's tasty all year round. My family loves its velvety smooth yet hearty texture, but more than that, we love that it is healthy, full of protein and fiber. My kids and I pair it with a handful of Trader Joe's Ghost Pepper chips on the side, and the soup acts a "chip dip" too.

Shila said:  These frozen Chicken Tikka Samosas are baked in the oven and served hot to fully satisfy my kids' evolving taste palette. Each tiny triangular bite packs just enough flavor and just enough spice to crave a second one, and a third, and a fourth! These appetizers make for a nice introduction to Indian cuisine.

Shila said:  Some of the best things to buy at Trader Joe's are located in their frozen dessert section! We recommend trying the Mochi - an amazing Japanese treat. These bite-sized balls are filled with delicious ice cream surrounded by a thin layer of sweet rice dough. Trader Joe's sells them in a variety of flavors, free from high fructose corn syrup and artificial fillers.

Jennie Utsinger said:  We enjoy many of Trader Joe's Indian style frozen meals, and the palak paneer is one of our favorites. In this dish, blended and seasoned spinach is mixed with large cubes of paneer cheese. Just pop it in the microwave and it's ready to eat, preferably on top of a piece of naan!

Tracy Snyder Molina said:  We love the Mediterranean Hummus at Trader Joe's. It's got a very smooth creamy texture and not as bitter as some hummus brands can be. Enjoy it with pretzels, veggies or crackers for a great snack that the whole family can enjoy.

Tracy Snyder Molina said:  I love the Argentinian Red Shrimp located in the freezer section. They are wild-caught shrimp with a sweet lobster-like flavor to them and look pink even when they are uncooked. They come already shelled and cook in just a couple of minutes. I love to add them to risotto or in soups for a special treat.

Kelly R. said:  This seasonal tea is just carried around the holidays, and I always make sure to pick up a box as soon as I see it in stock! It's a slightly sweet and minty green tea that my kids love to enjoy, too.

NoName said:  The reason why I recommend them is mainly the cost. They are only $4.49 for an eight-ounce package which is much cheaper than what plant based meat substitutes sell for at regular grocery stores. Also, they have 23 grams of protein which is more than their original meatless burger patties.

Tracey said:  These bite-sized chocolate chip cookies are amazing and you will not be able to stop at just one. They are the perfect size for your little ones and the tub is guaranteed to be eaten up quite quickly in any household.

Alexandra F. said:  If you're lucky you'll find these delicious popsicles in the freezer section of your local Trader Joe's next to the ice cream and other frozen treats - provided they haven't been cleaned out, as is often the case by me! The natural raspberry, lemon and strawberry fruit base that make up these popsicles is so refreshing, making them one of our family's favorite items to get at Trader Joe's during the summer months.

Kelly R. said:  The kids and adults in my family all love this salty, squeaky halloumi cheese. It's a seasonal item, so I pick up one or two every time I'm in the store over the summer months and I'm not ashamed. We like to slice and pan fry it for a casual dinner with flatbread and raw or grilled veggies.

Kelly R. said:  I pick up a bag of these "teeny tiny" avocados every time I'm at Trader Joe's. They are the perfect size for a single serve, so no more letting the unused half slowly go brown while you try to find someone else to eat it. There are also way fewer "duds" than when I buy bags of avocados elsewhere.

Alexandra F. said:  These are, by far, the best dairy-free ice cream treat we’ve tried. We don’t always find them on our Trader Joe’s runs, but we always look for them in the freezer section, and always get several boxes when they have them in stock. Even those of us in the family without any dietary restrictions love these cold, fudgy, creamy vegan (and gluten-free!) treats, and they go fast no matter how many boxes we buy!

Alexandra F. said:  I keep a bag or three of these GF chocolate chip cookies on hand at all times, in case the craving for something sweet strikes when I haven't had a chance to make my own gluten free treats. These are the best store-bought gluten-free cookies I've found in many years of searching.

Alexandra F. said:  I only ever buy our fruit & veggie wash from Trader Joe's, as others I've tried seem to leave a strong, lingering taste of citrus.

Tracy Snyder Molina said:  I love the raw unsalted creamy almond butter for my morning smoothies. The only ingredient is raw almonds and the price is much better than I've seen in other stores.

Tracey said:  If you love Japanese rice crackers it is guaranteed that you will love these little crispy crunchy mochi rice nuggets.

Tracey said:  These sweet amazing bite sized dried mandarin oranges are the perfect healthy snack for everyone of all ages.