I used to live ten minutes from Trader Joe’s, so it was easy to stay stocked up on all my family’s favorite items. Then last year we moved to Toronto, and I was dismayed to discover that Trader Joe’s has yet to set up shop in Canada.
After some frantic Googling, I located the closest Trader Joe’s to Toronto. It was just over the New York border, about a two-hour drive away. Not ideal, but doable. So, I emptied out the trunk of my car, loaded up a cooler with ice packs, and set off to make the trip.
I was nervous crossing the border that first time, double and triple checking to make sure all my documents were in order. But because I was an American headed into the U.S., I didn’t merit a second glance. On the way back to Canada, though, I had a moment of panic when they asked me if I’d purchased anything while out of the country.
I froze, thinking of my trunk jam packed to the brim with Trader Joe’s bags, and the oversized cooler into which I’d packed at least twenty pounds of meat and frozen items. Looking at the border guard, I gestured to the grocery bag sitting on the passenger seat, the one I hadn’t been able to cram into the trunk.
“Um, just a few groceries,” I said. The guard cast a serious look down at the snacks in the bag.
“I love Trader Joe’s,” he said, and waved me along.
Now, passport in hand, I make the trek about once a month, loading my car with all my favorite TJ items. With traffic at the border it ends up being about five hours round trip, but it’s well worth it to keep my kitchen stocked with my family’s can’t-live-without items.
Here are 16 of the best Trader Joe’s products I’d happily drive to another country for.
Favorite Trader Joe’s Snacks
Blue Corn Tortilla Chips
I eat these chips every night while I make dinner to ward off my hanger. They’re made with sprouted seeds that give them a hearty texture and an extra crunch, and they have a delicious hint of lime. They’re a great appetizer alongside guacamole, and I also use them crumbled up as a taco or salad topping. Plus, they’re gluten-free for anyone with an aversion. My only problem with them is that they disappear much too fast in my home!
Cinnamon Graham Crackers
I’ve convinced my kids that these are cookies, which is a huge win because each one has less than 3g of sugar. They taste much sweeter, though, like a cookie would. They’re thicker and sturdier than normal graham crackers, which means no one’s crying when their snack breaks into pieces. Sometimes I’ll spread a bit of almond butter on them for a protein-rich snack for the kids (or me!). And if I’m feeling really decadent, I’ll treat them like biscotti and dunk one in my morning coffee.
Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups
These are so addictive I have to keep them on a high shelf in my pantry that makes them difficult to get to. The almond butter inside is both creamy and fluffy, and the dark chocolate outer shell is the perfect combination of sweet and bitter. As a work-from-home freelancer, I use these as a mini-reward for meeting a deadline or bringing in a new piece of business. The promise of unwrapping the gold foil on one of these delicious treats definitely keeps me motivated!
Everything But the Bagel Crackers
Paired with hummus or a nice hard cheese, these are a great mid-afternoon snack. Plus, they’re fancy enough to make the appetizer plate if you have friends over. I like that they’ve also helped introduce my kids to stronger flavors, and now they love them as much as I do.
PB&J Bars
These are one of the best Trader Joe’s products I have stashed in both cars, our stroller, my purse, and my kids’ backpacks. They’re the perfect on-the-go snack. They’re small enough that they won’t ruin the kids’ appetites for dinner, but pack enough calories to ward off any hunger-induced tantrums (for me or the kids!).
Pumpkin Bread & Muffin Mix
I love all of Trader Joe’s quick bread mixes, but this seasonal pumpkin one is my favorite. It’s got a dense yet delightfully cakey texture and isn’t overly sweet. I usually buy as many as I can get my hands on so I can make it all winter long.
Organic Sparkling Apple Cider Vinegar Beverage
I don’t know how these ended up in my cart to begin with because, to be honest, they don’t sound tasty. And yet, I live for these drinks. First, they do NOT taste like vinegar. Yes, there’s an acidic flavor note, but it’s balanced out by a nice sweetness that comes from real fruit juice. There’s no added sugar, so each drink is only 35 calories. And yet I feel like I’m drinking an Italian soda! They come in several flavors but my personal favorite is Elderberry and Pomegranate.
Seasonings and Condiments
Everything but the Elote Seasoning Blend
With notes of chile pepper, salt, chipotle, cumin, and cheese, this is basically taco seasoning only better. It’s got a bit of kick, so use it sparingly depending on how spicy your family likes things. I use it on taco night and for dips. It’s the perfect way to liven up guacamole or to mix with sour cream and lime for a crema-like topping.
Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend
This seasoning is my secret to family-friendly meals that everyone actually likes. I mix it with panko when I make chicken fingers and it keeps them from being too bland for grown-ups to enjoy, but not so overpoweringly flavorful that my kids won’t eat them. It’s also great in meatballs and mixed with cream cheese for a fun brunch spread.
Organic Toasted Sesame Dressing
I eat a salad almost every day for lunch, so I start to panic when we get low on this salad dressing. It’s rich and creamy (so a little goes a long way) and the toasted sesame flavor goes well on almost everything. I’ve also used it as a marinade for chicken to take a boring weeknight dinner to a whole new level.
Mushroom & Company Multipurpose Umami Seasoning Blend
This unique seasoning is the perfect thing to add that “je ne sais quoi” to whatever you’re cooking. A loanword from Japanese, umami translates to “pleasant savory taste,” a flavor profile we often associate with meat or fish. I add this to meatballs, broiled fish, and winter stews to give them a heartier, more satisfying flavor.
Organic Sriracha and Roasted Garlic BBQ Sauce
I’m not normally a BBQ sauce fan–I usually find it either too sweet or too acidic. But this sauce has converted me! It’s got a good amount of kick from the sriracha but it’s balanced by notes of molasses, brown sugar, and garlic. When I have this on hand I can’t wait to grill.
Fresh and Frozen Favorites
Organic Ground Chicken
I’m almost embarrassed to admit how much of Trader Joe’s Organic Ground Chicken my family eats. I use it for these delicious Chicken Spinach Burgers (sneaky vegetables for the win), meatballs, and tacos. The only issue is that I don’t have a freezer big enough to hold as much of it as I need from month-to-month.
Filet Mignon Steak
Trader Joe’s typically has very high-quality meat. And while the filet mignon isn’t cheap, I still find it to be less than at most other grocery stores or butcher shops. We treat ourselves to this at least once a month.
Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice Frozen Dinner
Butter chicken is my go-to Indian takeout meal, and Trader Joe’s does a very solid frozen meal version. Ironically, according to the packaging it’s a “product of Canada,” though I still need a passport to access it. I love this for nights when my husband is late at work, the kids are in bed, and I’m too tired to make myself anything else. And at around $5, it’s much cheaper than takeout!
Mini Vegetable Samosas
These small, triangular creations are made of delicious, flaky, phyllo-type dough and filled with a mixture of peas, carrots, potatoes, lentils, onions, and Indian spices. They’re mildly spicy and too flavorful for my toddler, but my school-age child could eat his weight in them. Serve them as an appetizer, a main course, breakfast, whatever. I can’t keep enough of these in my freezer.
