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[sunnysideup]

So im a swede, living in sweden. I have never visited trader joes. But youtube feeds me these videos on stores like trader joes. I have no idea why.

But anyway. Trader joes seems to be an upscale lidl or aldi like store. Just like lidl they more or less only have their own brands. And little to no produce, ie untampered meat and vegetables. Instead its 90% factory massproduced stuff. junk food. Only it says organic and fresh on the box. But its still junk food..

 

[AJUMP23]

That is why it taste good and is popular. I have also never been to one.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Isn't most junk food mass produced though?

 

[sunnysideup]

Isn't most junk food mass produced though?

that is the definition.

 

[bender]

It's the best food I've never tried.

 

[EviLore]

They have fun/unique products and relatively low prices. Decent amount of fresh produce at the ones in the States. Not meant to be a primary supermarket, but you can supplement your haul there.

 

[eddie4]

Just because it's organic doesn't mean it's good for you.

 

[Raven117]

But anyway. Trader joes seems to be an upscale lidl or aldi like store. Just like lidl they more or less only have their own brands. And little to no produce, ie untampered meat and vegetables. Instead its 90% factory massproduced stuff. junk food. Only it says organic and fresh on the box. But its still junk food..

Pretty sure the are owned by aldi.

And I agree with you. Sure you can find a few good things, but otherwise, there is absolutely no replacement for actual cooking healthy food.

 

[zeorhymer]

Supposedly, what Trader Joe does is that they buy directly from farmers and package it themselves. This creates a savings as everything is done in-house and cuts out the cost of branding from other products. Whether or not they are "better" than others is something to look at.

 

[sunnysideup]

Supposedly, what Trader Joe does is that they buy directly from farmers and package it themselves. This creates a savings as everything is done in-house and cuts out the cost of branding from other products. Whether or not they are "better" than others is something to look at.

If they are owned by aldi they are not buying anything from any farmers. It works exactly the same as all store brands.

They do market research on what product they think they can sell, say they see that koshersalt tsatsiki cookies are trending. Then they call cookie producers and ask them to make the cookies for them. With lots of cornsugar, vegetable oils as filling so they can makes monies.

 

[AJUMP23]

It is like the Chipotle of grocery stores. Chipotle pretends to be healthy but it isn't.

 

[belmarduk]

They're owned by Aldi.
Love their food, wish there was one closer.

 

[DeepEnigma]

They have fun/unique products and relatively low prices. Decent amount of fresh produce at the ones in the States. Not meant to be a primary supermarket, but you can supplement your haul there.

It's what I do with them. They have some cool stuff, especially seasonal or limited run items.

I'm not a cereal person, but their chocolate almond cereal is phenomenal once in a blue moon. Like too damned good.

Trader Joe's Just the Clusters Chocolate Almond Granola Cereal

I used to get on really big cereal kicks where I'd eat the stuff every morning for breakfast. I mean, sometimes for years on end, I was ju...

www.whatsgoodattraderjoes.com

 

[SpiceRacz]

The stores are about 20 or 25% fresh foods. Their meat and produce is generally better quality than the bigger grocery stores too. I'd say most of what's sold there is generally healthy. They carry desserts and bullshit like other stores, but they definitely have healthier options than say Fry's/Kroger or Safeway. A lot of their frozen stuff is quality as well.

 

[macfoshizzle]

I like Trader Joes! Trader Joes is a supermarket similar to Whole Foods, Safeway, Ralphs, etc.. They have their own thing going. They are not upscale at all. They have produce, just like Whole Foods and any other major grocery store chain.

 

[sunnysideup]

It's what I do with them. They have some cool stuff, especially seasonal or limited run items.

I'm not a cereal person, but their chocolate almond cereal is phenomenal once in a blue moon. Like too damned good.

Trader Joe's Just the Clusters Chocolate Almond Granola Cereal

I used to get on really big cereal kicks where I'd eat the stuff every morning for breakfast. I mean, sometimes for years on end, I was ju...

www.whatsgoodattraderjoes.com

Thats like the definiton of total junk food. There is nothing good about that. Its essentially a cookie/candy repackaged as a cereal. Why not have a cookie for dessert instead?

And cereals are not great food to begin with.

 

[a multicultural team of v]

Trader Joe's always felt like the perfect example of where paying just a little more substantially increases the quality. The stuff there is usually just a buck or two more than cheap stuff elsewhere, but the quality is way better than a buck or two increase would indicate.

Not that it is fine dining or anything, but I've rarely been disappointed.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Thats like the definiton of total junk food. There is nothing good about that. Its essentially a cookie/candy repackaged as a cereal. Why not have a cookie for dessert instead?

And cereals are not great food to begin with.

Hence the once in a blue moon. As a treat.

Why? Because I like the mouth feels differently than a cookie or candy (which I don't eat the latter), that's why.

Let me guess, you're "one of those people."

 

[jshackles]

I've never been to a Trader Joes before. But I've also never been in a grocery store in America that wasn't at least 70% mass produced highly-processed junk food.

And the non-processed foods you can buy are usually bakery goods (made with highly processed junk food, just in-store) or deli meats and cheeses (that are just them slicing up mass produced factory meat cuts). I would venture to guess that someone living in Sweden has no concept of just how unhealthy things are here.

 

[HoodWinked]

It's kind of inaccurate trader joe's usually have decent sized produce sections at least 1/4 of the footprint of the store. It's just that of course the videos wouldn't focus on them since an onion is the same here as it is in another store.

But ya they relabel the same stuff as other stores from the same suppliers.

Of course they sell chips and cookies but since their stores are smaller they're more selective about which supplier's products they carry, so if they can carry tortillas from one company that has shittier ingredients vs one with better they'll pick the better, but they also have less overhead and don't run sales they can offer better pricing overall.

It's mostly about being able to read ingredients and generally Trader Joe's will have better ingredients comparatively because they are more picky about their suppliers. And if they're doing that then it just makes it easier for their customers.

 

[synchronicity]

This (and its ilk) is food:

Along with healthy, natural fats (like Olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, etc.) and properly tended meats. (And fruit in moderation.)

 

[DeepEnigma]

Called it.

 

[EviLore]

This (and its ilk) is food:

Along with healthy, natural fats (like Olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, etc.) and properly tended meats. (And fruit in moderation.)

Are you sure?

 

[synchronicity]

Are you sure?

I stand corrected.

 

[sunnysideup]

To me when i watch the youtube vids that i am forcefed. Trader joes looks exactly like lidl, but with faux hand made signs.

 

[StormCell]

They have fun/unique products and relatively low prices. Decent amount of fresh produce at the ones in the States. Not meant to be a primary supermarket, but you can supplement your haul there.

Was about to say, we have Aldi in my area and about a third of that store is fresh produce and meat. The nice thing about Aldi is that they also seem to carry a nice selection of international products (mainly European, I believe) that you will likely not find at Walmart, Super Target, or anywhere else local.

Can't say much about Trader Joes except that apparently you can get large tubs of cashews and such at a great price when on sale. Junk food or not, I'm for more options not less.

 

[haxan7]

Tiny and overcrowded stores filled to the brim with entitled people? Yes.

Junk food? No.

 

[Davey Cakes]

For packaged food the quality is good to great and the variety makes it a fun alternative to regular supermarkets.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

I've only bought one thing from them. So a sample size of one. LOL.

Was in the US and went to a TJ to check it out for the first time. Bought a pack of TJ pop tart knock offs as the prices were high for store brand stuff and I only wanted to carry something small on my flight back.

Terrible.

I ate a couple and threw out the rest. Those cheap shitty Kraft Pop Tarts (whomever makes them) are much better. Who knew shit that can be bought for $1.99 would be better.

 

[teezzy]

Most food is junk food.

Veggies, fruits, meats, dairy, eggs, whole grains

You dont need a fancy supermarket to get that

People is dumb

 

[GeorgioCostanzaX]

Trader Joe’s has the best house label alcohol around and tortillas. Significantly less expensive than Whole Foods without the prime discount too. I’m super glad they’re opening one up closer to where I live in San Jose since the previous location wasn’t necessarily far but required hopping on the freeway or high traffic back roads to get to.

 

[Orutisu Furio]

From my experience buying there, it's mostly of good quality and low price, and they also have very good customer service. They have a huge selection of international foods from different countries and it's cheap overall.

It is owned by Aldi, but Trader Joes are only found in higher income neighborhoods (upper middle class) , while Aldi is found in traditional middle class areas.

 

[JSoup]

I don't know what the rest of you are doing in there, but I go to my local Trader Joes every couple months to buy curry and call it a day.

 

[Mitsuda Maniac]

They are ok, I would never shop there regularly but like some of their snacks. I do use their spices almost every time I cook since we got a set as a gift. Good stuff.

 

[pel1300]

I used to buy coconut oil, flaxseed oil, greek yogurt, cottage cheese, nuts, coconut water, canned herring and sardines, brown rice, assorted veggies, and wine at Trader Joe's when I lived in Irvine. I got my salmon salmon and chicken breasts elsewhere. Cooked them on a George Foreman grill.

I was in the best shape of my life.

 

[JetSetJustin]

We just got a Lidl. I was excited, but it's just an Aldi clone.

 

[Schattenjäger]

i don’t know what is worse … the clientele at Trader Joe’s or the clientele at Whole Foods

 

[Reality Czar]

little to no produce, ie untampered meat and vegetables. Instead its 90% factory massproduced stuff. junk food. Only it says organic and fresh on the box. But its still junk food

Oddly enough from my experience vegetarians eat a lot of processed crap rather than vegetables. Think about "The Impossible Burger". Why? Why not just eat veggies? You have to process food into a meat-like shape? Vegetarians are weird.

Trader Joe's is cool though, nice chain place and usually cheaper than Whole Foods. They have really cheap wine.

 

[Dr Bass]

They are no different from any other grocery store. Every store in the U.S. is full of "junk food" items.

Trader Joes has plenty of fresh meats, produce etc. Then they have their selection of branded "food products."

I don't even get the point of this if you're not even in the U.S. and have never even been in a store.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Everybody says Trader Joe’s is great the decision on picking a grocery store is weird.

 

[Blade2.0]

Are you fucking telling me that cookie butter isn't good for me? The hell you say!

 

[johntown]

Just because it is mass produced does not mean it is junk food. Nutritional value is what I use to determine what is junk food.

 

[zeorhymer]

Are you fucking telling me that cookie butter isn't good for me? The hell you say!

No it isn't. Snickerdoodles are far superior.

 

[gunslikewhoa]

This (and its ilk) is food:

Along with healthy, natural fats (like Olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, etc.) and properly tended meats. (And fruit in moderation.)

poverty food

 

[Lone Wolf]

My ex wife works for Trader Joe’s So I generally avoid the store.

 

[MrA]

Pretty sure the are owned by aldi.

And I agree with you. Sure you can find a few good things, but otherwise, there is absolutely no replacement for actual cooking healthy food.

they are and they aren't, they are owned by aldi nord, which I think is the one that wanted to sell cigarettes, aldi sud is the aldi that americans and brits refer to when they refer to aldi, they are 2 different companies, though founded by brothers and originally one

 

[Raven117]

they are and they aren't, they are owned by aldi nord, which I think is the one that wanted to sell cigarettes, aldi sud is the aldi that americans and brits refer to when they refer to aldi, they are 2 different companies, though founded by brothers and originally one

Ah! Gotcha

 

[Reptars Revenge]

Publix chicken tender subs. That is all

 

[CrankyJay™]

Yeah it’s a store to supplement things. Found a few cool and unique items I can’t find in other local stores.

That cookie butter is overrated though.

 

[Liljagare]

Instead of their junk, find a local farm to go to in order to buy better stuff, imho.