Sunday, October 23, 2016

Shopping at Trader Joe's

Some favorite TJ Products

I’ve always enjoyed shopping at Trader Joe’s. There are a lot of interesting products, and the prices are reasonable. TJ also has a pretty decent selection of loso offerings. It used to have a Low Sodium Products List available online and at individual stores. But for some unknown reason, TJ the list was removed from both the website and the stores.

Last year, Christy from The Daily Dish posted a copy of the 2013 list. It’s a really helpful resource. The downside is that it’s a few years old now, and the information may no longer be accurate. Some products might not be available, while other products have been introduced.

I’ve shopped at TJ for many years now and have developed my own, very personal, list of products I purchase. There are other low sodium products available, but these are products my husband and I have tried, liked, and I regularly buy. It seems as though every time I shop at TJ, I discover new and useful products. And many are seasonal. Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming up, and with them, a bunch of old favorites and new products. What are your favorites?

Please DON'T Pass the Salt!
Trader Joe's Shopping List
(Printable List)

Dried Fruit: TJ offers a variety of dried fruits. These are what I buy for baking and/or snacking.
Dried Cranberries
Dried Pitted Tart Montmorency Cherries (wonderful in scones or muffins)
Dried White Peaches
California Slab Blenheim Apricots (so much better than dried Turkish apricots)
New Zealand Sweet Apple Rings

Nut Snack Packs: These snack packs are so handy. Good for a afternoon pick-me-up or for visiting grandchildren. I keep them in the freezer.
Happy Trekking Trek Mix: Almonds, Cashews, Pistachios, Cranberries, Cherries, Chocolate - 25 mg/serving
Just a Handful of Dry Roasted, Unsalted Almonds
Simply Almonds, Cashews and Cranberries: 20 mg/serving

Nuts: TJ has a great variety of nuts – raw, roasted, salted, unsalted. And great prices too. I use them in baking, salads, and as a garnish for vegetables. I keep them in the freezer.
Raw Walnut Pieces (for baklava)
Roasted & Unsalted Peanuts
Roasted & Unsalted Whole Cashews
Roasted & Unsalted Sunflower Seeds
Dry Roasted & Unsalted Whole Almonds
Dry Roasted & Unsalted Pistachio Nutmeats Halves and Pieces
Dry Roasted & Unsalted Almonds: Slivered
Dry Roasted & Unsalted Pecan Pieces
Dry Roasted & Unsalted Pignolias/Pine Nuts (my favorite in green salads)
Just Almond Meal

Frozen Veggies: TJ has a good variety of frozen vegetables, but these are the ones I stock up on.
Artichoke Hearts
Dorot Crushed Garlic: 25 mg/cube (so convenient)
Dorot Chopped Basil:15 mg/cube (good in a quick pizza sauce)
Fire Roasted Bell Peppers and Onions: 5 mg/serving
Melange a Trois - 3 Pepper blend: 10 mg/serving (perfect for when just a bit of bell pepper is needed)
Roasted Corn (good addition to Mexican dishes)
Edamame -In Pods (a perfect lunchtime veggie or afternoon snack)

Canned Veggies: I stock up on all these products.
Julienne Sliced Sun Dried Tomatoes: 10 mg/serving (I often use them instead of olives)
Organic Tomatoes Diced No Salt Added
Whole Peeled No Salt Added Crushed Plum Tomatoes with Basil
Whole Peeled No Salt Added Plum Tomatoes

Oils, Vinegars, & Sauces:
Balsamic Glaze: 5 mg/tbsp
Balsamic Vinegar
Chili Pepper Sauce: 0 mg/sodium
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Grapeseed Oil
Orange Muscat Champagne Vinegar
Toasted Sesame Oil
Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar
White Balsamic Vinegar
Hot & Sweet Pepper Jelly: 55 mg/tbsp (I add a tablespoon to my favorite homemade vinaigrette)
Trader Giottos Organic Marinara Sauce - No Salt Added: 1/2 cup = 25 mg. sodium

Grains:
Multigrain Slims: Sandwich Thins - 100 mg/roll
Garlic Basil Linguine Pasta: 10 mg/serving
Spinach Chive Linguine Pasta: 30 mg/serving
Lemon Pepper Pappardelle Pasta: 0 mg/serving

More TJ Goodies

Baking & Cooking Supplies:
100% Desert Mesquite Honey
Cinnamon Sticks (I use them in potpourri)
Clarified Butter (Ghee)
Grade A/B Maple Syrup
Lemon Curd
Coconut Cream
Pure Grade A Clover Honey
Pure Vanilla – Alcohol Free
Unbleached White Whole Wheat Flour
Whipping Cream - Shelf Stable (great to have on hand just in case)

Preserves and Nut Butters:
Almond Butter - Unsalted (easy to mix)
Unsalted Peanut Butter - Creamy (a natural P-nut butter that’s tasty and also easy to mix)
Preserves - Cherry, Blueberry, Blackberry
Seville Orange Marmalade

Soups and Other:
Organic Creamy Tomato Soup Low Sodium: 140 mg/cup
Organic Low Sodium Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Soup: 140 mg/cup
Solid White Albacore Tuna No Salt: 35 mg/2 oz
Solid White Albacore Tuna Half Salt: 90 mg/2 oz
Wild Alaskan Pink Salmon (boneless, skinless, NSA): 60 mg/2 oz serving

Chips & Pretzels:
Organic White Corn Tortilla Chips - Unsalted
Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels No Salt on Top: 80 mg/oz (an every-once-in-a-while treat)

Candies: I love TJ dark chocolate covered dried fruits. They are all low in sodium.
Dark Chocolate Covered Blueberries
Dark Chocolate Covered Cherries
Dark Chocolate Covered Cranberries
Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans
Dark Chocolate Covered Raisins
Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds

Refrigerated:
Unsalted Butter
Comte Cheese: 100mg/oz (similar to gruyere)
Ovoline Fresh Whole Milk Mozzarella: 25 mg/oz
Shredded Swiss & Gruyere Cheese Blend: 55 mg/oz
Fully Cooked Chicken Sausage - Sun-Dried Tomato & Spicy Jalapeno: 400 mg/link (I use 1 link for 2 servings)
Columbus Reduced Sodium Turkey Breast: 240 mg/2 oz
Columbus Low Sodium Dry Salami: 290 mg/5 slices
Persian Cucumbers (similar in taste & texture to English cukes but much smaller)
Cranberry Orange Relish -Seasonal (I buy several tubs at Thanksgiving and freeze them to use throughout the coming year)



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