I take the train to Trader Joe's and only buy what I can carry home. Here are 11 items I love to pick up. (2024)

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The Ready Pac arugula and Trader Joe’s romaine hearts are my must-have greens.

The arugula at Trader Joe's is consistently fresh and high quality, and the price is unbeatable — especially for being organic. It's a green I can't do without in my salads, and when I'm in a rush making sandwiches or pasta, it adds a perfectly nutritious, flavorful crunch.

As for the romaine hearts, I love their versatility. I can chop them up for a neutral complement to more strongly-flavored greens or use the whole leaves to wrap cheese and prosciutto.

Trader Joe’s dark-chocolate-covered cherries are one of my favorite guilty pleasures.

I don't open a container of dark-chocolate-covered cherries unless I have at least one guest over. Technically, there are multiple servings in a container, but in my experience, they completely disappear in a couple of hours if no one is around.

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The triple-ginger snaps from Trader Joe’s taste homemade.

I don't know how Trader Joe's does it, but all their boxed cookies taste too good to be store-bought.

The triple-ginger snaps are small, so I typically have a couple more cookies than I usually would.

Trader Joe’s organic freeze-dried berry medley satisfies my sweet tooth.

Adding the organic freeze-dried berry medley to popped kettle corn on movie night complements the salty, sweet flavors with a perfect crunchy tang. It always impresses friends and satisfies my snack cravings.

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The lentil soup with ancient grains from Trader Joe’s is perfect for an easy dinner.

Full of fiber, protein, and flavor, Trader Joe's lentil soup with ancient grains is my go-to prepared purchase. It's incredibly versatile and makes an easy meal.

Adding half a cup of the soup — either warmed or cold — to salad, rice, and pasta adds the perfect touch of flavor and protein.

Trader Joe’s channa masala is the perfect addition to my rice and veggies.

I'll pop Trader Joe's channa masala into the microwave while cooking my rice and steaming vegetables on the stovetop. Four minutes later, I pull it out, pour it onto the rice and veggies, and enjoy a restaurant-quality Indian entrée.

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Garlic naan from Trader Joe’s is one of my go-to comfort foods.

Whether I have a guest over or I just feel like indulging in comfort food, I'll preheat the oven and pop in some of Trader Joe's frozen garlic naan. In less than three minutes, it comes out fragrant, perfectly crisp on the outside, and deliciously soft on the inside.

It's quick to make, so I can easily pair it with whatever else I throw together.

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I keep Trader Joe’s truffle aioli in my fridge at all times.

Trader Joe's truffle aioli is one condiment that I'll always reserve refrigerator space for. It's indulgent, vegan, and a delicious component of any meal.

From charcuterie board dips to asparagus sauces and sandwich spreads, it's often the ingredient I reach for to compensate for an elusive missing flavor note.

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I pick up bagged citrus from Trader Joe’s on every grocery run.

I'm addicted to citrus and put lemon and lime into everything. I always grab the bagged lemons and limes at Trader Joe's because they're high-quality and come in the perfect quantity.

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Trader Joe’s sparkling water is the perfect summer pick-me-up.

All the flavors of Trader Joe's sparkling water are fantastic. I love sparkling water on ice — with fresh citrus squeezed in — as a summer pick-me-up after work.

A bottle lasts a week for me, and I like that the plastic package is recyclable and doesn't weigh down my bag like glass does.

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