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Essential Trader Joe’s Items According to an Employee

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at BU chapter.

If there’s one glorious discovery most BU students make as they leave the dining halls for their own kitchens, it’s Trader Joe’s. Each of its locations is filled to the brim with great produce, quality essentials, and, of course, the best snacks in the game. But, have you ever wondered what someone who works at Trader Joe’s recommends for any kind of eater? I asked an employee (kept anonymous in this article) what’s the best product for who.

Most Addicting Snack: Baked Cheese Crunchies

This snack is made of every crave-worthy component: cheese, crunch, and grab-ability. Dubbed the T-Jo’s spin on Cheetos, there’s something slightly wholesome about this rendition that leaves you wanting more while feeling less guilty. Whether you’re sharing a bag with friends or keeping it all to yourself, you’ll be running out for more immediately after you open it up. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the puffed version.

For the Chocolate Lover: Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

There’s not much to be said about these little wonders mainly because they speak for themselves. This Trader Joe’s item is indulgent, bite-sized, and extremely tempting compared to the other chocolate foods in its section. Get the big container or a small snack pack; leave them room-temp or freeze them. Whichever way you have them, you’re in for the sweetest treat.

Ice Cream Favorite: Thai Tea Mochi

While this isn’t your typical grocery store ice cream find, our anonymous friend has spoken so highly of the Thai tea mochi. Trader Joe’s has perfected the flavor, using its iconic mochi form to create a delicious Asian-influenced treat. If you’re feeling too shy about the flavor, try out any of their other mochis (vanilla and chocolate are usually on deck).

Gluten-Free Necessity: Cauliflower Gnocchi

When it comes to the actual food at Trader Joe’s, you will find an array of inclusive essentials, like the cauliflower gnocchi. Found in the frozen aisle, there’s a variety of ways to cook up this gluten-free friendly meal. Pan fry it and cover it in “Everything but the Bagel” seasoning, sauce it up, even make a veggie-forward stir fry with them. This gnocchi will be your weekly buy once you discover it.

Best Seasoning Ever: Everything but the Bagel

If Trader Joe’s is known for anything, it’s their innovation. The idea of “Everything but the Bagel” was so creative—a lot of us freaked out when it initially dropped. And the seasoning definitely lives up to the hype, going way beyond its breakfast reputation. Reach for it whenever you need a little more of… well, everything in your meal. There really is no over-doing it when it comes to this shaker.

Next time you’re grocery shopping, we dare you to try one of these employee-guaranteed items. And if you have your favorites, sound off on any of our social media platforms.

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Noelle Monge is currently a senior in CAS, studying English. She loves earl grey-flavored treats and things that taste like fall, Broad City (#yas), and millennial pink anything. She's a Guam girl living in the always busy, eternally beautiful city of Boston. Hafa Adai all day!
Writers of the Boston University chapter of Her Campus.