I'm a private chef who loves shopping at Trader Joe's. Here are 10 items I always buy when creating meals for my clients.

<p class="ingestion featured-caption">I prioritize Trader Joe's items that can be used to make a variety of diverse meals.Allison Wellman</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>I'm a <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-trader-joes-items-chef-buys-for-family-on-budget-2024-9">private chef</a>, and Trader Joe's is my go-to store for buying unique yet versatile ingredients.</li><li>To avoid waste, I prioritize buying items that can be used in several dishes.</li></ul><p>As a private chef, I prepare a variety of meals each week for my clients. When cooking for them, I try to create meals that aren't redundant but use as many of the same ingredients as possible. This allows me to make the most of my clients' <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-vs-target-grocery-shopping-which-is-better-review-2024-9">grocery budgets</a> and avoid food waste.</p><p>Trader Joe's is my favorite place to shop for ingredients I can get creative with in the kitchen without breaking the bank. </p><p>Here are 10 items I rarely head to a client's house without.</p><p><em>Editor's Note: Product availability varies. Some items on this list may not be available at Trader Joe's nationwide. </em></p>