When Trader Joe’s opened in Gainesville this past December, fans of the franchise lined up hours in advance to show their support. Joe’s has gained a large following over the years because of their large variety of food, friendly service and low prices. They’re able to charge less than Publix because TJ’s makes all of their own food through their own Trader Joe’s brand.
It’s not just cheap either; the food is actually really high quality. TJ’s has a full stock of groceries, but I go there for the microwaveable meals. If you’ve never been to Trader Joe’s, I highly suggest you check out these items:
Trader Joe’s meat and potatoes
This is my favorite meal to get at Trader Joe’s. All you need to prepare it is a stove and a skillet. If I’ve had a long day, there’s nothing more satisfying in a red-blooded American Male type of way than steak and potatoes. The meat is fresh, the potatoes are creamy and if you get everything just crispy enough in the pan, you’re in for a great meal.
Creamy polenta with carrots and spinach
If you’re looking for a special side dish, you can’t go wrong with the Creamy Polenta. Not only is it packed with vegetables and vitamins, it’s just flat-out delicious. All you have to do is add water to the ingredients given, heat it up, and enjoy. I like to add cheese at the end to really make it tasty, but if you’re watching your calories it’s still delicious as is.
Black bean and cheese taquitos
What’s not to love about 12 crispy bean and cheese taquitos for $3.69? The portion is great and the taquitos are borderline humongous. I prefer these meatless taquitos to Trader Joe’s chicken filled variety, but there’s really no going wrong here. After 12 minutes in the toaster they’re ready to eat, and at a little over 30 cents per taquito, you get a great bang for your buck.
Trader Joe’s has dozens of delicious meals, but these are my favorite. Their microwaveable meals are of a much higher quality than other supermarkets, and they have the lowest prices in town. If you’re looking for a specific brand you’re out of luck, but Joe’s has everything else under the sun covered.
