Ah, Trader Joe’s — you can’t beat the grocery chain’s wide selection of tasty snacks and healthy meals (and affordable prices at that). But, turns out, not everything at TJ’s is fair game when it comes to quality or price. Here is what you shouldn’t bother throwing into your cart during your next Trader Joe’s trip.
Produce
A lot of the produce at Trader Joe’s is packaged in plastic bags, which can cause it to spoil more quickly. Why? Produce needs room to breathe, and when it’s wrapped in plastic, air can’t get in. You’ll get more bang for your buck if you pick up your veggies at a big-chain supermarket where the fruits and veggies are out in the open.
Marinated meat
The next time you decide to throw that juicy meat into your cart, check the ingredients list. Trader Joe’s may be a health food chain, but that doesn’t mean everything is necessarily good for you. The high sodium content in marinated meat isn’t worth picking up at an extra cost. Instead, try making your own marinade with more wholesome ingredients!
Pre-packaged meat
You might think that Trader Joe’s chicken breast or ground pork is the way to go, but in actuality, you’ll save more money by going to a local butcher shop. Plus, the meat is fresher!
Frozen fruit
TJ’s has the best blends of frozen fruit (Fancy Berry Medley and Tropical Fruit Blend, anyone?). But before you spend almost $5 on a bag of frozen fruit, consider the fresh fruit aisle instead. You can easily chop up the fruit and store it in the freezer for a fraction of the cost.
Pre-made salad
If you’re on a health kick, skip TJ’s pre-made salads. While salad may seem like the more health-conscious option, most of the pre-packaged salads at TJ’s are jam-packed with sugar and other preservatives.
xx, The FabFitFun Team
