How to Shop at Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's is a great grocery chain specializing in natural and organic foods and household products at reasonable prices. Trader Joe's is also known for its excellent, inexpensive wine selection. Families love to shop at Trader Joe's (known affectionately as TJ's by many) for the food, fun and friendly faces. Here's how to enjoy your Trader Joe's shopping trip, and what to buy.

Instructions

1. Grab a complimentary cup of hot coffee as you begin your shopping trip. Do this to sample Trader Joe's coffee and cream or to get a quick little cup of java for energy.

2. Taste the sample of the day. Trader Joe's usually prepares a meal sample throughout the day for everyone to try, and you can purchase all the food items right there.

3. Choose bread and bagels. Trader Joe's bakery items include sprouted wheat bread and cinnamon raisin mini bagels.

4. Select from the wide variety of cheeses and fresh dairy products, such as organic, whole-milk vanilla yogurt.

5. Buy fresh vegetables. Trader Joe's generally carries a very good selection of organic produce.

6. Look for frozen fish, such as wild-caught salmon, for a healthy, nutritious dinner option. Trader Joe's also has wild ahi tuna steaks.

7. Stock up on natural soap, biodegradable laundry detergent and phosphate-free automatic dishwasher detergent. While you're at it, pick up some fluoride-free toothpaste for clean and healthy teeth.

Tips & Warnings

• Look for Steve, the monkey. Steve (or perhaps he goes by another name at your local Trader Joe's) is hiding somewhere in the store, and there's a prize for whoever finds him.

• Get balloons. Trader Joe's has helium balloons for the kids just for fun.

• Read the labels on the frozen vegetables carefully--some, including the broccoli, have been labeled "Product of China" in the past.

Resources

• Trader Joe's