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.

Orzo is incredibly versatile, as it can be used in both warm and cold dishes across a variety of cuisines. This hearty grain also saves well throughout the week after being cooked.

Plus, Trader Joe's offers the best price I've found yet. At only $1 for a pound, this item always makes its way into my cart.

The harvest blend — consisting of couscous, orzo, split baby-garbanzo beans, and red quinoa — is another Trader Joe's item that I can count on to add a unique touch to my meals.

It's wonderful as a side paired with simple proteins but also makes a great base for the veggie power bowls that many of my clients request.

There's nothing I've put Green Goddess seasoning blend on that isn't better because of it. This Trader Joe's favorite is as versatile and flavorful as seasonings come.

I love adding this blend to roasted vegetables, proteins, and even homemade salad dressings and condiments.

When cooking a large variety of meals, fresh citrus is an ingredient I can count on utilizing in almost every dish. Trader Joe's has great prices on lemons and limes, which I rely on to bring bright, zesty flavors to my dishes.

The options are endless when it comes to Trader Joe's frozen green beans. I tend to split the bag and roast half of it in the oven with olive oil, garlic, and Green Goddess seasoning.

I then sauté the other half with olive oil, coconut aminos, sesame oil, and a drizzle of hot honey. Both cooking variations produce a side dish with lots of flavor and excellent texture.

Trader Joe's Argentinian red shrimp are, by far, the best frozen shrimp I've ever purchased.

I like to sauté them with Mediterranean orzo or simmer them in Buffalo sauce to enjoy on a salad.

Avoiding redundancy in meals usually requires switching up proteins and flavor profiles. Trader Joe's pork tenderloin is a client favorite, and I love that it can be prepared and seasoned in so many ways.

The pork is divine when roasted with fresh herbs and whole-grain mustard, but it's also tasty when diced into small pieces and used in a stir-fry.

Fresh herbs add abundant flavor to dishes, and many of them, like basil, are best when added just before enjoying the meal.

In my experience, the basil plants at Trader Joe's are just as affordable as buying the pre-cut version. The leaves stay fresh on the plant, allowing my clients to cut and use them when needed to avoid waste.

Shallots can be difficult to find at some grocers, but Trader Joe's hasn't let me down yet. I much prefer them over any type of onion because of their sweet, subtle flavor.

Trader Joe's shaved Parmesan, Romano, and asiago cheese blend is perfect for enhancing salads, soups, and pasta dishes.

The blend's bold flavor and coarsely grated texture make it a great addition to sandwiches, dips, and sauces. I also pair this with fresh lemon, lots of basil, and pine nuts for an easy pesto that adds an immediate, unique flavor to even the simplest dishes.

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