Trader Joe’s is the only place I go shopping for groceries anymore. I can always find what I’m looking for, plus a million other items I didn’t know I needed. Not only are the products unique and delicious, but they’re also affordable, which makes it a great place for college students to shop. From quick lunches to desserts, these are the best items that I’ve come across in my time of being a loyal TJ’s customer.
- Cauliflower gnocci
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An all-time favorite. I’ve used this as a replacement for pasta in chicken alfredo, mixed it with pesto and sundried tomatoes, put it with a red sauce, and even rolled it in cinnamon sugar and threw it in yogurt. There is seriously no wrong way to use Cauliflower Gnocchi. 10/10.
- Riced cauliflower stir fry
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This makes for the easiest, quickest lunch ever. Throw this on the stove, add some of your favorite seasoning, and pair with an egg, chicken, or another kind of protein.
- Everything but the bagel dip
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The seasoning was good, but this is even better. This creamy dip goes well with carrots (classic), Everything but the Gluten crackers (a brand new Trader Joe’s product), or Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps (seasonal).
- Dark chocolate bananas
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If you’re craving dessert after dinner but don’t want to feel too bad about it, go for the Dark Chocolate Bananas in the freezer aisle. It’s basically the texture of ice cream. Not into bananas? The Dark Chocolate Strawberries are just as good.
- Lava cake
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If you’re craving dessert after dinner and want something REALLY good, get the Lava Cake. Fudgey, chocolatey, rich, microwaveable heaven.
- Fall harvest salsa
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This is one thing I’ll be stocking up on before the fall season ends. This salsa has the perfect amount of kick to it and it tastes SO fresh. If you need any more reason to love it, this salsa is made completely with ingredients you can pronounce, so you can feel good about what you’re eating.
- Spanakopíta
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It only takes 20 minutes for these tasty, Greek pastries to make it to your plate. Despite them being frozen, they’re nice and flaky on the outside and full of flavor on the inside.
- Cheddar rocket crackers
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The Trader Joe’s equivalent of Goldfish, and I genuinely believe (don’t come for me) that they might be better. They’re the perfect snack.
- Romesco Dip
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This dip is so good it tastes homemade. This goes from being an amazing sauce on penne pasta to a perfect chip dip.
- Chocolate hummus
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This made no sense to me at first, and I was completely hesitant to try it, but now I’m completely in love with it. The similarities to chocolate frosting are almost scary, This pairs well with berries like strawberries and raspberries, and also serves as a healthier alternative to frosting on desserts like cookies or brownies.
The list could go on, but these items are absolute must-haves for every college kitchen. Whether you’re looking for some new snacks or to add a bit more flavor into your everyday meals, Trader Joe’s is the place to go.