This past weekend while we were in Arizona, I made it a priority to hit up Trader Joe’s for a few of my favorite groceries. I’d be screwed if there were Trader Joes in Utah. It’s one of the few stores that I have very little self control. Fortunately my husband was with me this time, so he didn’t allow me to empty our bank account too much. 
Along with some of my favorite items such as TJ’s Sunflower Seed Butter, their soups, and their cereals, I also got some new-to-me items!
Trader Joe’s Cocoa Almond Spread instantly sold me. It wasn’t outrageous in price and sounded amazing. Even though it’s lower on the protein side, it’s packed with healthy fats which is what I’m really working on this month.
The TJ’s Cilantro Salad Dressing jumped out to me. Literally. Somehow it just ended up in my cart. 
I’m a huge cilantro lover, so I wasn’t surprised when I tried this dressing on my salad at dinner last night and was instantly in love.
Surprisingly enough, I’ve never tried almond milk. I have stayed away from it in the past because it’s so low in protein and can be a little more on the pricey side. When I saw it for $1.69 for a quarter gallon at Trader Joe’s though, I was immediately on board. It was small and inexpensive enough so that if I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t feel bad about buying it. I tried it for the first time in my overnight oats this morning. Verdict? Loved it! I think it’ll be a good option for overnight oats, cereal, or smoothies so I can add in another protein source too.
I’ve been really happy with my new Trader Joe’s discoveries so far. Well, other than having little self control when it comes to the Cocoa Almond Spread… I think I could eat the entire jar by the spoonful in one sitting no problem.
Questions:
- What stores do you have little to no self control with what you buy?
- What are your favorite Trader Joe’s products?
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
I love Almond Milk!! Good choice.
Oh and want a sweet treat? Get the chocolate almond milk with some mint tea. Instead of warming water, warm up the chocolate almond milk and then steep the mint tea. Best.drink.ever. It is like a thin mint drink and helps curb the sweet tooth in the evening.
Cheers!
that sounds amazing! i actually have a bunch of mint tea that i need to use up… perfect!
I bet I’d love that cilantro dressing, too! Does the cocoa almond spread taste like Nutella? Because that stuff is seriously dangerous!
it DOES taste like nutella! it’s a little thicker than nutella and it has better nutritional stats which i like.
Ah I live in Utah as well and am glad/sad there is no Trader Joes here. I miss it oh so much, yet know I would be broke if I lived within a 100 mile radius
ha
Thanks for the tip Amy!!!
Cocoa Almond Spread?! Wow that sound delicious! I think I may be glad I’ve never tried this, I too could probably eat a whole jar in one sitting! ha
That mint drink Amy was talking about sounds delicious, I think I may have to give that a try!
Sadly, there isn’t one Trader Joe’s store in Arkansas…but there is a Whole Foods and a Fresh Market.
Every time I go to Whole Foods I always end up spending more than I should.
I am so addicted to the Dark Chocolate nut butter right now!
what brand of dark chocolate nut butter do you get and where do you buy it? that sounds tasty!
It’s made by Peanut Butter & Co…..Dark Chocolate Dreams.
I pick mine up at Wal-mart, it should have a blue lid. 
It’s yummy!
oh yes, i love peanut butter & co’s white chocolate wonderful one! i keep hearing the dark chocolate dreams is great too!
I sooo want to try TJ’s cookie butter spread…something like that. I’ve heard it’s pretty awesome, but everytime I go they are OUT. :-/
I LOVE TJ’s Almond butter, it’s my favorite for sure!
Glad you liked the Almond milk, I agree, it’s great for oats, cereals and smoothies.
oh yes, the TJ’s Cookie Butter is indeed delicious! they had some in stock at the TJ’s i went to, but i made myself decide between that and the cocoa almond spread. it was a tough decision! if you can’t get the TJ’s Cookie Butter, Biscoff Spread is very very similar.
Oh my Trader Joe’s list of favorite products is WAY too long to list here.
I’ve been avoiding that chocolate almond spread as I don’t think it would last long in this house. Ha! 
haha! it definitely won’t be a regular purchase. it wouldn’t ever last long in our house either!
oh my goodness—I love cilantro and have NEVER seen that dressing before! I’m on it.
i highly recommend it!
I definitely have very little self control in Target!
I love TJ’s. The closest one to me is about 40 minutes away, so that prevents me from spending tons of money there. I love some of their pre-packaged pastas… especially the lobster ravioli!
I just had some of the portobello mushroom ravioli tonight with just a touch of butter, it was so good!
Highly recommended!
YUM! sounds delicious!
oh yes, target is a tough one too!
I loooove the sunflower butter! I also love the raw unsalted almond butter, the almond meal, pizza dough, 3 buck chuck…the list goes on!
ahh i should’ve gotten some almond meal! is it cheaper than other places?
I love TJ’s!! I do enjoy that almond milk in oatmeal, but I do not like it in coffee! It doesn’t mix well!
i haven’t tried it in coffee yet, so that’s great to know!
I can not control myself in stores that have the bins. I always want everything in them. The trail mix, dried fruit, grains, treats, all of it. I love it.
Oh gosh, I go crazy in Whole Foods. It’s so dangerous. I try to go in with a list but I somehow manage to find a few hideaways in my basket when I make it to the checkout!
oh yeah, i love whole foods too. i don’t let myself go there often otherwise we’d be poor! ha.
Almond milk is great in cereal! Have you tried coconut milk? That’s my favorite non-dairy milk…it’s so creamy!
yes, i do also like coconut milk a lot! i think i’d crave it more in the summers though.
The almond milk I tried was foul! It curdled and tasted like really bad soy milk
Maybe I need to try another brand…
I like rice milk though! It’s awesome.
oh shoot – what brand was it that you tried? yeah, i would maybe try a different kind!
I have no control in literally any grocery store. Especially ones with good natural foods sections. Whole Foods? Can’t even go near the place!
ha yeah, whole foods is another one i have little self control in. i rarely let myself go there because of that!
I have no TJs
I don’t even have a grocery store within a 30 minute drive – I have wal.mart, that’s it! (We’re stationed in BFE!) Very jealious of this post!!!!!! 
i pretty much just have a walmart near our house too. that’s why i stocked up while i was in AZ.
I have no self control in Trader Joe’s either. It does not help at all that it’s located RIGHT across the street from my gym, where I am most days of the week. Ah! I love the chicken sausages, triple layer hummus, coconut oil, seaweed snacks, sunflower butter, sweet potato gnocci (though I haven’t found it lately..it’s amazing) and produce. And I buy their Super Green drink, love that too.