Trader Joe’s Must Buys

I don’t know about you, but gearing up to go grocery shopping is one of my favorite (sometimes weekly) tasks. There is something about shopping for food that brings such joy to my life, and my kitchen. So today, I am sharing with you some of my essential Trader Joe’s must haves. Not only do they have some amazing products but their prices just can’t be beat.

With that being said, I have compiled this list with mainly vegan products, however, there are some that contain meat and dairy. One of the GREAT things about Trader Joe’s is that some of their vegan options are very clearly marked making shopping for those of you who are vegan much easier. So let’s dig right in, shall we?

SKINCARE

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If you’re looking for a new face mask and face mist, look no further! This stuff is simply amazing. Imagine lathering your face in your favorite candy (yes, it smells just like candy) and waking up to baby smooth skin. And then, you get to spray the candy on your face! All I’ll say is if this sounds or looks at all appealing to you like it did to me, you better run to your nearest Trader Joe’s and grab some because this item is seasonal. Each are vegan and under $7.

For someone who struggles from acne scarring, this 2 oz Microdermabrasion Scrub works wonders on smoothing out the skin. Pair it with the Natural Tea Tree Cleansing Wipes and you’ve got yourself clear, smooth skin! Each product is vegan and under $6.

HAIR CARE

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Imagine sandy toes and salty hair, laid back in a beach chair sipping coconut water straight from the island’s freshest coconuts. This product will send you straight to paradise. If you struggle with frizzy or dry hair, you might consider adding this to your routine. It’s vegan and it’s a whopping $3.99.

SWEET SPOT

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“I don’t love chocolate or strawberries or bananas. Much less if the banana or strawberries were covered in chocolate.” SAID NO ONE EVER. These babies are perfect for someone trying to stay away from processed sugar. They satisfy your sweet tooth without making you feel guilty. Be sure to grab one or three of each on your next Trader Joe’s trip (if they aren’t sold out by the time you get there).

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I have never been so obsessed with a nondairy dessert in my life. Most vegan ice creams have sort of a chalky consistency (or maybe I’ve always bought the wrong kind) but this one is the creamiest, smoothest, best one yet! You can barely tell the difference from a regular ice cream. So you might also want to grab a couple of these too considering the whole pint can be consumed for just 650 calories. This is also a great choice for someone transitioning to the vegan lifestyle and craving the real deal ice cream dessert.

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You might see a knock off Oreo, but I see Joe-Joe Slim DELICIOUSNESS! These babies are the bomb. Have these with a tall glass of oat milk and you’re set for an evening on the couch watching reruns of Grey’s Anatomy.

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Trader Joe’s pineapple tidbits are perfect for smoothies, smoothie bowls, parfaits and just plain out of the bag. If you want an alternative to ice cream, pop a spoonful of these babies in your mouth and they snatch that craving right away! They can be found near the ice cream and chocolate covered strawberries and bananas. Trader Joe’s also has an amazing variety of frozen fruits and vegetables for the best power smoothies.

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Whether it’s smore’s, rice krispy treats, or cookies, these products are great to keep in the pantry. And guess what? They’re VEGAN! I love to make vegan chocolate chip cookies and chocolate chip and banana muffins with these semi-sweet morsels and you would never know vegan marshmallows could taste so delicious. The chocolate chips are a regular kept item, however, the marshmallows are sold when available to a particular store.

APPETIZERS

For those of you craving a good ol’ fashioned crab cake but are trying to cut out meat, make sure to grab yourself a pack of these. They pack a mouthful of taste that will have you asking for more! And with something this tasty, who needs meat?

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My fiance and I are obsessed with these little devils. They are an easy party appetizer or dinner for kids. Just pop these babies in the microwave for a minute or so depending on how many you make at once and then decorate the insides with lettuce, some taco sauce, and cheese. Tah-dah! We have a winner-winner chicken taco dinner and for less than $5 to boot.

Craving something hearty and a little salty? These are such a great tasting appetizer for any occasion. Serve with a side of soy sauce and some chopsticks. There is no denying, people will return asking for more!

MAIN COURSE

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Here we have pictured above the most prefect duo! This soy chorizo is the best meat substitute I have ever tasted. It is so easy to prepare and can be made into taco meat, put on pizzas, grits and more! Speaking of tacos, you no longer need any other brand of taco sauce because the perfect one exists at Trader Joe’s. Each product is vegan and under $4.

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Need a quick lunch or dinner because, well… life. These are SO DELICIOUS, it’s almost like you made it from scratch. Trader Joe’s channa masala contains milk, making this the perfect go-to lunch for a vegetarian. The tikka masala is 100% vegan (per that beautiful packaging) and is so good I eat two every time.

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Another great microwaved meal is Trader Joe’s vegetable pad thai. It mixes together an array of earthy, fresh tastes while also having a sweet spice to it. Pair it with some of their vegetable spring rolls and you are feasting like a queen (or king). Another great quick dinner option is the vegan chickenless mandarin chicken morsels. Tangy to the bite, these go well with a side of vegetables and jasmine rice. Yum, I am drooling!

SNACKS & DRESSINGS

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The greatest ever invention was Speculoo’s Cookie Butter. OMG is really all I can think of to say. And that a jar of this has to leave with you. Slather some of this magical spread onto a banana, apple or toast and you have the perfect snack. A jar of this costs about $3.69 and is vegan!

The perfect size bag of pretzels to fit into your hiking bag or purse, these salty treats are gluten-free and vegan! Perfect for an on-the-go snack, too! A bag of these will run you about $2 or less.

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Last but most certainly not least is my all time favorite dressing. This has a taste like no other. Seriously. I don’t even know how to put into words how delicious this stuff tastes. I love to drizzle this onto my salads or on a bowl of freshly cut cucumbers. The perfect pick-me-up/feel good snack.

Well, folks! I hope you gathered some great ideas of what to look for on your next Trader Joe’s run. There are countless other amazing items that I could recommend but I’ll save those for another post, another day. Please feel free and motivated to leave comments on some of the products you’ve tried from Trader Joe’s that I may have missed and you feel I just have to try. Or maybe you’ve tasted some of these, let me know what you thought of them. What type of recipes have you tried with some of these products? Leave those comments below.

Until next time, I wish you all peace, love and light.

Xoxo,

Caitlin