We have a couple of new Trader Joe's nearby and I went to one yesterday for the first time. I thought the prices were very reasonable but I wandered aimlessly and spent $155 on great looking food. My freezer is now stocked and i was impressed with the variety of things you could buy and easily combine with a few ingredients to make a good, quick meal. I plan on shopping there regularly. I am trying really hard to eliminate alot of the processed food my family eats.

I would love to hear what you like from there and get some good ideas from all you clever ladies. thanks

What is a Trader Joe's? I have never heard of one. Thanks.

I love TJ's! We're going tomorrow (we usually get there about once/month, since we have to go out of town to get there). I like to get organic where I can, so I usually stock up on organic meat & get organic milk and eggs there. I love their frozen organic rice. It only takes 3 minutes & is great if you're like me & get dinner almost ready & then remember that you were planning on having rice with it! They have a great selection of chocolate (I LOVE their dark chocolate caramels!), and good crackers & dried fruits and nuts for snacks. I like their breads and baked goods too. Their turkey bacon is also really good. One thing to keep in mind, is that the stores vary depending on where you're located (we could find things in the Phoenix store we used to go to that they don't have at our store in WI).

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Erin, aka Quentinsmommy, mom to Quentin (1/03) and Ian (1/06)

I thought their organic prices were excellent. The milk that I buy every week at Kroger or Publix is .80 cheaper, several things that I regularly buy were around $1 cheaper than I am used to paying. They also had really pretty tulips for $4 per dozen and pretty little bulbs blooming in pots for $4. Great little Valentines present for a teacher or a mom or even your kids.

The best way I can describe the store is a very reasonably priced, scaled down version of a Whole Foods or Fresh Market. I love to shop in both of those stores too but they destroy my grocery budget. I spent a lot of money yesterday but I came home with a ton of healthy food!

We go through a lot of extra virgin olive oil, and their prices are great. Also, if you're a wine drinker the Charles Shaw wine is pretty good (and only $2.99/bottle!).

Is Trader Joes an organic store?

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Advice for the day: If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle: "Take two aspirin" and "Keep away from children."
--Author Unknown

The nearest one to me is an hour away but I still want to check it out, so I'd love to hear what else you ladies like to get there (I want to make it worth my trip!)

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Amanda
Mommy to Zack & Emily

Trader Joe's is owned by the same company as Aldi. Think of it as a more upscale, organic Aldi. They carry private name brands and items that aren't as available as more common grocery stores.

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Claudia
Mommy to Gabe and Lindsey

We have Aldi but I REALLY want a Trader Joe's! Send one to me!

We don't have a Trader Joe's here. I like to use different grocery stores to ge the best deal I can.