18 Vegans Finds I Never Leave Trader Joe's Without
Small joys in the grocery aisles
There are two types of people in the world: those who can’t get out of Trader Joe’s fast enough or without having a panic attack due to the too-cramped aisles and general chaos, or those who look forward to leisurely grocery strolls as a legitimate hobby. I am the latter.
I love all grocery shopping, but there’s something special about TJ’s. Our nearest one is an hour away, each direction, so it’s especially a treat when I get to stock up, and I genuinely look forward to it all week (I’ve started going each week after my ballet class, and there’s simply nothing better than a great class and then strolling the aisles nera closing time, and grabbing myself a little post class treaty treat.)
Trader Joe’s does a lot of things different — from their prices to the Fearless Flyer and their unique items, which are often actually just big name brand products masquerading as unique private-label goodies, but that’s neither here nor there. they also happen to be extremely vegan friendly, with tons of items usually in clearly-marked vegan sections of the packaged foods, freezer, and other sections.
In no particular order — let’s assemble a cart of plant-based goodies I never leave the store without.
High Protein Pasta: Say what you will about GF pasta, but I prefer to make my noodles work smarter not harder, in terms of providing me some extra oomph other than just flour…not that there’s anything at all wrong with plain old pasta. For weekday dinners and lunches though, I like these, which are GF but also pack in some hidden protein.
Soyrizo: Most TJs lump all their vegan proteins together in a handily marked section, and I always grab one of these — great for sauteing up and enjoying in tacos, or our favorite usage, throwing in a chili where it adds tons of spice and zesty flavor.
Nutritional Yeast: What would any self-respecting plant-based pantry be without it? I put it on everything. My cats demand it sprinkled on their food now even.
This Tzatziki Dip: I could eat this shit on anything. I dip veggies in it, dollop it onto falafel or quinoa bowls, or tear off pita and scoop it up. It’s so so good, and reminds me of the version I used to basically drink from my college campus pita shop.
PB: Not exclusively vegan or anything, but I can’t believe what a steal their peanut butters are — the prices have barely budged even as inflation ramps up everywhere else. A no brainer staple.
Brown Sugar Creamer: I’m a big coffee creamer snob, and this is one of the best out there IMO. Plus look at those prices.
A salad dressing: Found refrigerated in the produce section, TJ’s dressings are all great — I alternate between which ones I pick up, but especially like this vegan caesar.
Fat Free Refried Beans: In the context of refried beans, this usually just means they’re made without lard, which is an animal fat, and used in more traditional recipes. Theses are great popped open and spread on tortillas for quesadillas or burritos, or onto rice for a DIY Chipotle bowl.
Shelf Stable Soy Milk: I’ve gotten really into making my own crock pot soy yogurts lately mostly because I can’t find really good vegan yogurts at my go-to grocery stores, and don’t always feel like making a special Whole Foods run. So I make my own, which is astonishingly easy, and gets better with each batch. The key ingredients are probiotic capsules (or a store bought plain yogurt as your starter) and a very basic soy milk without additives. This is my favorite for that as it doesn’t contain tons of gums or anything most refrigerated cartons do. I always grab one for that week’s yog batch.
Shredded Parmesan: This is pennies to the dollar compared to what you’d pay for big name brand vegan parms, and really elevates anything from a lasagna to a creamy white sauce pasta or a quiche. Perfecty umami, melty, and salty, as any good parm should be.
Dark Chocolate: Duh. I’m on a huge chocolate kick that shows no signs of slowing down, and this really is an incredible door stopper of a bang for your buck — and super high quality chocolate. My only gripe is you need a machete to whack off a piece, but that’s just my cross to bear.
Tempeh: This is another dirt-cheap high protein source that you can’t beat in terms of price. Slice it thin, cook in plenty of liquid (the trick for tender, not bitter tempeh) and toss it on salads or in grain bowls.
Baby Bel Cheese: When they have them, I always snatch up a bag of these, which I simply cannot be trusted around. I used to have a bit of an obsession with the conventional ones of these in college and these really scratch the same itch in a big way.
Scandinavian Swimmers Candy: We are big sour/gummy peeps around here, and nothing is as addictive and pleasingly gushy in texture than these bad boys, which give me a chuckle with their obviously ripping off Swedish Fish name, but taste even better. Right now they also have their Valentine’s version, Xs and Os, which are also gelatin-free (a rarity for most traditional gummy candies, which make them non vegan).
Frozen Shelled Edamame: Not to keep harping on protein, but I do pay it a fair amount of attention (without going overboard, as I wrote about at length here), and edamame is such an underrated MPV of a vegan protein source. I throw it in a pot of boiling water, quickly cook, then toss on rice or in stir fries, or simply have plain as a side veggie with almost anything.
Sourdough: Not exclusively vegan or anything, but my current preferred bread to keep on hand for thickly buttered toast in the mornings or for sammies. This rivals what I’d get at the local bakery and is more affordable.
Extra Protein Tofu: Not all tofu is created equal, and I really do think this is the best one. As the name says, it’s extra protein, and also extra firm, meaning you can get awy without pressing it at all, and each 1/5 of the package contains a stellar. gram of protein. I grab extras and keep one block in the freezer for an even chewier, firmer texture once thawed and cooked.
A Great On the Go Meal….I Suggest Vegan Tikka Masala: I’m a huge fan of always having at least one ready, brainless meal you can nuke when you’re in a rush or just too spent to cook. This meal is delicious, I truly crave it, and is super saucy, well seasoned, and tastes a lot like an actual Indian restaurant entree. Part of the fun of a TJ’s run is the treat you get to enjoy on the drive home. When I’m needing something more substantial, I love this prepackaged in the ready to eat section.
What’s in your cart that I should try next week? Let me know!
<3 - Emmy