I live an hour away from Trader Joe's and only shop there twice a year. Here are 11 items I always stock up on.

Megan HarringtonJan 31, 2024, 00:03 IST

I stock up on family favorites when I shop at Trader Joe's twice a year.Megan Harrington

I live nearly an hour away from the closest Trader Joe's, so I only shop there a few times a year.
On my twice-yearly visits, I stock up on frozen favorites and pantry staples for my family.

I'm a mom of two school-aged kids, and we love Trader Joe's.

But since we live almost an hour away from the nearest location, I only get there two to three times a year.

When I do make a trip to Trader Joe's, I stock up big time on shelf-stable and frozen foods. We even have an extra fridge in our basement to store food, most of which is from Trader Joe's.

Here are the 11 things I always buy when I travel to Trader Joe's.

My kids love Trader Joe's cereal bars.

The "This Apple Walks Into a Bar" cereal bars are a hit in my house.Megan Harrington

Trader Joe's organic, creamy tomato soup is affordable and tasty.

Each box of Trader Joe's creamy tomato soup contains three servings.Megan Harrington

I love using Trader Joe's unexpected cheddar on sandwiches.

I like to use Trader Joe's unexpected cheddar cheese as a substitute for Parmesan. Megan Harrington

Trader Joe's steel-cut oatmeal is perfect for a quick breakfast.

Trader Joe's steel-cut oatmeal is ready in about three minutes.Megan Harrington

I always stock up on Trader Joe's pop-up sponges.

I stockpile Trader Joe's pop-up sponges for friends and family.Megan Harrington

Trader Joe's PB&J bars are a must-have when traveling with kids.

Trader Joe's PB&J bars taste like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Megan Harrington

Trader Joe's fruit-sauce crushers are also a great snack for kids.

Trader Joe's fruit-sauce crushers come in a variety of different flavors.Megan Harrington

Trader Joe's yogurt cups are great to keep in the fridge.

Trader Joe's yogurt cups have flavor combinations I can't find anywhere else.Megan Harrington

I like to roll homemade bagels in Trader Joe's Everything but the Bagel Seasoning Blend.

Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend is a versatile favorite.Megan Harrington

Trader Joe's Mandarin-orange chicken is a great substitute for take-out.

Trader Joe's slightly spicy Mandarin-orange chicken is a family favorite.Megan Harrington

I love how creamy Trader Joe's Mediterranean-style hummus is.

I use Trader Joe's Mediterranean-style hummus in everything from sandwiches to salads.Megan Harrington

I'm a professional baker. I made 5 brands of boxed brownie mix to see which is the best.

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