I fly 9 hours from Italy to shop at Trader Joe's. Here are 10 things I fill my suitcase with every time.

Though I love Italian delicacies, my heart belongs to Trader Joe's.Eva Sandoval

• I'm a food writer based in Italy who loves grabbing snacks from Trader Joe's when I come to the US.
• On this trip, I made sure to add the jerk-style plantain chips and chile-lime almonds to my cart.

I'm an American food writer based in Italy, and every time I come to the US, I leave with a suitcase full of Trader Joe's snacks and condiments.

I usually ping-pong between the St. Petersburg, Florida, Greenwich, Connecticut, and New York City Trader Joe's locations, as my family lives in different areas of the US.

But no matter the location, I always look for my favorite items and make three trips.

On the first trip, I case the joint — I focus on seeing what's new, have some samples, and grab treats to enjoy during my stay. On my second, I get the nonperishables. Then, I make my final trip the day before departure to buy baked goods or cheese.

Most of my Trader Joe's picks are condiments and snacks because they travel well, and I don't have to worry about mold in my suitcase or alerting the dogs at customs. I wrap sauces and other delicate items in bubble wrap.

Here are 10 products I always get at Trader Joe's when I'm in the US.