By: Emma Accardi
My entire childhood surrounded trips to Trader Joe’s. I have memories begging my mom to bring me to our nearest TJ’s that was 30 minutes from my house so I could get my weekly dose of ice cream cookie sandwiches and dumplings. Now, at 20, living here in Burlington, I have the same excitement asking my roommate to drive us for the 10 minute drive to the Trader Joe’s in South Burlington. Although it sounds silly to get so excited about grocery shopping, I have realized that making these runs to Trader Joe’s allows me to plan how I can eat throughout my busy days of college. As someone who surrounds their days around when they are eating, my Trader Joe’s staple items have allowed me to eat 3 meals a day as well as substantial snacking to power me through my school days. I have compiled a list of my top 10 favorites and must-have dorm room staple purchases from TJ’s that are guaranteed to satisfy any and all your daily food cravings!
1. Spicy Miso Ramen
($1.49 per cup of ramen)
I will stand behind this spicy ramen being my absolute favorite item on this list of dorm must-haves. Ramen is one of my favorite foods and this microwaveable ramen cup is my absolute favorite. Sometimes, on-campus dining just will not cut it for me and this ramen is a quick and easy lunch/dinner meal that is delicious and guaranteed to add some spice to your taste buds!
2. Soft Strawberry Licorice Twists
($2.49)
These licorice twists are a family classic for me and scream childhood. I have grown up with these licorice twists in our pantry at home and now in my dorm room. They always remind me of my family since we are all obsessed with them. They are the perfect, bite-sized, sweet snack, and honestly I can assure you after finishing the bag you will immediately crave more!
3. Banana Almond Butter Protein Smoothie
($2.99)
These smoothie bottles are a recent development of mine but have been a super tasty and protein powered treat for in-between classes. I absolutely love smoothies and these banana and almond butter smoothies are filled with flavor and protein that energizes me from the first sip.
4. Dark Chocolate Protein Muffins
($1.99 per muffin)
I have never been a breakfast person, and to be honest I don’t typically eat massive meals to start my day, which I admit is definitely not the right way to begin each day. These microwaveable protein muffins are quick, easy, and delicious, and have become a morning ritual to give me energy for my early morning classes. The dark chocolate ones are my favorite, but for the maple lovers, there are maple muffins too which are also a tasty option!
5. Green Goddess Salad Dressing
($3.99)
Both at home and at college, this Green Goddess dressing is a personal fridge staple. In my dorm, I like snacking on mini bell peppers or cucumbers and using this dressing to top them off which I have found to be a tasty savory snack for those who enjoy the flavor profile of lemon juice, avocado, green onion and garlic that lies within this flavor-packed dressing.
6. Chicken Soup Dumplings
($2.99 for 6 frozen soup dumplings)
I don’t have a freezer in my dorm, however, if I go on a grocery run to Trader Joe’s, I love getting these soup dumplings to eat on the day of for lunch or dinner. Soup Dumplings are literally what they sound like (soup inside a dumpling), and if you haven’t tried them before, I highly recommend that you do so and you will not regret it!
7. Guacamole
($3.99)
One of my go-to dorm snacks is chips and guacamole and this chunky homestyle guacamole is my personal favorite. Freshman year of college a staple item in my fridge was guacamole, and after trying a billion different kinds, this specific one has reigned as my personal favorite savory snack.
8. Maple Leaf Sandwich Cookies
($3.49)
Living in Vermont, we all know that a staple food group is anything and everything MAPLE, and these cookies are my personal favorite maple food item. Similar to an Oreo, these sandwich cookies are the creamiest, maple filled treats that will satisfy any sweet tooth.
9. Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
($4.49)
These PB cups are literally my absolute favorite. As a kid, we used to keep them in my fridge and this has become my favorite way of eating them. This may be a controversial statement, but I do think that these are better than Reeses…. just saying!
10. Chewy Chocolate Granola Bars
($2.79 for a box of 5 bars)
These granola bars really do “raise the bar” and are a personal favorite on-the-go snack. I love granola bars as food to snack on in-between class, or sometimes even as a mini breakfast food when I’m not crazy hungry in the morning.
**Edited by: Jane Sanders