Clean Shopping At Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s is one of my absolute favorite places to shop. I’m there once per week, at least. And while I don’t claim to know all of their clean eating items, I think I’ve got most of them pretty nailed down by this point. I tried to give examples of both organic and non-organic foods.
Please note that the prices listed are current for my Trader Joe’s here in Sonoma County at the time of this writing. Prices will vary greatly by region and with time. Also, this is not an all-inclusive list. This is based on what I have purchased in my own shopping.
OTHER CLEAN EATING SHOPPING LISTS
ORGANIC PRODUCE
- BELL PEPPERS, fresh (prices vary)
- ZUCCHINI, fresh (prices vary)
- TOMATOES, fresh (prices vary)
- STRAWBERRIES, in season, fresh (prices vary)
- BLUEBERRIES, in season, fresh (prices vary)
- SWEET POTATOES, fresh (prices vary)
- BROCCOLI, frozen (around $1.50 – 1 lb.)
- GREEN BEANS, frozen (around $3 – 1 lb)
- SPINACH, organic OR pesticide free, frozen (around $2)
- STRAWBERRIES, frozen ($2.79 – 12 oz.)
- BLUEBERRIES, frozen ($3.99 – 12 oz.)
- RASPBERRIES, frozen ($2.99 – 12 oz)
- SPINACH, fresh (prices vary)
- LETTUCE, fresh (prices vary)
- ONIONS, raw (prices vary)
- APPLES, raw (prices vary)
- PEARS, raw (prices vary)
NON-ORGANIC PRODUCE
Tip: When choosing non-organic, fresh produce, opt for thicker skinned produce so that you peel off most of the pesticides with the peel or skin.
- AVOCADOS, fresh (prices vary)
- BANANAS, fresh ($0.19 ea. conventional / $0.29 ea. organic)
- BROCCOLI, fresh (prices vary)
- CAULIFLOWER, fresh (prices vary)
- PINEAPPLE, fresh, whole or cut (prices vary)
- PINEAPPLE, frozen ($1.79 – 16 oz.)
- MANGO, frozen ($2.69 – 24 oz.)
- KALE, frozen ($1.79 – 12 oz.)
- MUSHROOMS, white ($1.69 and up)
- MUSHROOMS, crimini ($1.69 and up)
- GARLIC, fresh (prices vary)
- JICAMA, fresh (prices vary)
- ORANGES (prices vary)
- GRAPEFRUIT (prices vary)
- MELONS, fresh, in season (prices vary)
- BELL PEPPERS, mixed, frozen ($1.69 – 16 oz.)
- BERRY MEDLEY, mixed berries, frozen ($3.29 – 16 oz.)
DAIRY
Tip: Dairy is always better purchased organic. But not everyone can afford it. Buy the best you can afford.
- YOGURT, organic, store brand ($1.99 – 16 oz.)
- MILK, full fat, store brand ($3.99 gal – conventional / 5.99 gal organic)
- COTTAGE CHEESE, low fat, store brand ($3.49 organic – 16 oz. / 1.99 conventional – 16 oz.) – I haven’t been able to find full fat yet.
- BUTTERMILK, full fat ($1.49 – 1 quart)
POULTRY
Tip: Again, organic is best. But buy the best you can afford.
- CHICKEN BREASTS, boneless, skinless ($6.99 per pound, organic / $2.49 per pound conventional)
- TURKEY, conventional, ground, lean ($2.99 per pound conventional / $5.49 per pound kosher)
- EGGS, organic ($4.49 per dozen)
- EGGS, conventional ($1.99 + per dozen)
PORK
- PORK, conventional, boneless chops ($4.99 per pound)
SEAFOOD
- SALMON, wild caught (prices vary)
- TROUT, wild caught (prices vary)
- DOVER SOLE, wild caught (prices vary)
- SHRIMP, large, pre-cooked, frozen ($7.99 per pound – prices vary for other sizes and can go up to $14.99 per pound)
- TUNA, canned in water ($1.69 per can – red label)
NUTS AND NUT BUTTERS
- ALMONDS, raw or roasted ( around $5)
- WALNUTS, pieces or halves (around $7.50)
- PECANS (around $5)
- PISTACHIOS (around $6)
- PEANUT BUTTER, conventional or organic ($2.79 – $5.79 depending on type)
- ALMOND BUTTER, organic ($5.99 – 16 oz.)
GRAINS
- OATS, steel cut ($3.29 – 30 oz.)
- PASTA, whole wheat, organic ($1.39 – 1 lb)
- PASTA, brown rice, organic ($1.99 – 1 lb.)
- COUSCOUS, whole wheat ($1.99 per box)
- BROWN RICE ($2.99 per bag)
- QUINOA ($3.99 – $4.99 depending on type)
- BREAD, California Protein variety, store brand ($2.99 per loaf)
PANTRY ITEMS
- CHICKEN BROTH ($1.99 per carton – 32 oz.)
- COCONUT MILK, light, ($0.99 – 14 fl oz. can)
- REFRIED BEANS, fat free (blue label – $0.99 can – 15 oz.)
- CANNED BEANS ($1.19 – $1.99 depending on beans – 15 oz.)
- TOMATO SAUCE ($1.49 – 15 oz. can)
- TOMATOES, diced ($1.00 – 15 oz. can)
- COCONUT OIL – ($5.99 – 16 fl. oz. jar)
- OLIVE OIL ($3.49 – 16.9 fl. oz. bottle)
SNACKS
- PURE BARS, chocolate brownie bar ($1.49 per bar)
- LARA BARS, apple, peanut butter or cherry (other flavors there are not clean – $1.29 per bar)
- AK MAK CRACKERS, whole wheat ($1.69 per box )
Thanks for the list! My nearest Trader Joe’s is 45 minutes away, so this will make my next sojourn less overwhelming. 🙂
I’m new to this blog as of this week (love your *practical* tips, lists, and recipes that actually are easy to follow)! I’ve been pinning your recipes like mad and am now a member of your Facebook community, too–not a creeper, I promise! 🙂 Thanks for taking the intimidation factor out of clean eating!
Thanks for you post! We are getting a Trader Joe’s that will open this month! I’m really excited. I’ve heard so much about them. I’m glad to have another option to shop at besides Whole Foods.
Their marinara and salsa is the cleanest you’ll find. Yes. Personally, I stopped buying them because of the soy content (if we’re talking about the same one). But if you don’t mind the soy, then sure! Good stuff!
My new favorite item at Trader Joe is Aioli Garlic Mustard Sauce. 9-ounce jar is $2.49 and is perfection when anything needs a little zing. Ingred: mustard seed, distilled vinegar, garlic, water, soybean oil, mustard flour, eggs, spices (allspice, turmeric), salt, lemon juice. 1 teaspoon = 10 calories, 1g fat, 55mg sodium, 0g sugar. They should make this in larger jars!
I live so close to a trader joes and always forget about it somehow. Thanks for the list and the reminder!
Heading there this Saturday for a refill on nuts! I love their low sodium roasted almonds! I’m curious to try the pasta you recommended. Will there be a shopping list for Wegmans!?
I don’t have a Wegmans here, so no. But I am doing other stores, so maybe there will be some similarities that will help.
Trader Joe’s has the BEST Egg White salad EVER!!! Love Trader Joes!
AND Costco!!
I’ve never tried it myself. It says it’s 100% lactose based, so I’m not sure if that’s from the plant or from another source. I’ll have to ask next time I go.
Some of them add sugar and other ingredients. Not all their flavors are clean.
Thanks! I love TJ’s!! I will be sure to pick up the Ak Mak Crackers next time I go.
I believe their lemon and key lime are also clean, but you’d have to read the ingredients to be sure.
I like the great shopping lists to simplify thinking about grocery shopping. It there an equivalent to Trader Joe’s in Canada I wonder?
I love the list. Thank you. You put so much efforts to get it all out to us.
Any thoughts on Omega-3 eggs vs. organic at Trader Joe’s? I like thinking that my kids are getting those essential fatty acids. Are they just as “clean” as organic?
I always opt for organic. If you read the print on the box, the Omega-3 eggs say that the feed source is soy. And with it not being organic, there is a good chance that it is GMO soy. But I guess it all depends on where you stand on the GMO topic. I avoid them like the plague.
Love, love, love Trader Joe’s! This is going to help immensely when I shop for my newly inspired clean eating lifestyle.
Would love to see more of these… they are so helpful for price comparisons!
I’ll do my best! 🙂
Actually, the prices won’t vary at all, as Trader Joe’s pricing is nationwide! Living in NYC, that is an amazing deal for us here! 🙂