Hey loves! It’s been a week or so since I’ve posted, but things have been crazy with clients. Coming at you with this post, which I had such a pleasure writing. I’m over here drooling RN. Hope you enjoy! -xoxo

When it comes to Trader Joe’s, I consider myself a connoisseur. We go there once a week, at least (unless we stock up, which we also do fairly often). I love that I can find unique foods and staples alike, and they’re so much cheaper than anywhere else. It’s one of those places that you may not necessarily want to go to if you have a very specific recipe in mind, but when it comes to things I want to eat again and again (…and again), T Joe’s has all of the things I crave the most. I actually get excited to go. I feel like a kid in a candy store when I’m there…which is kinda weird (adult life?). These are the things I always buy at Trader Joe’s. I’ve updated this list for summer.

Coconut Cold Brew Concentrate

One of the ways I’ve been saving money is by cutting back on the amount of afternoon coffees I buy. For summer, I like to switch over to cold brew, and this new coconut version is amazing with a heavy splash of coconut milk or almond milk. It’s got four twelve ounce servings in one bottle, but I usually end up stretching it out to about six servings. What’s also great about this is that the coconut isn’t fake and sugary–it’s natural coconut, and only 10 calories (not that I count them).

Coconut Cold Brew Coffee, $4.99

Everything But The Bagel Seasoning

Bagels are a weekend treat, but now I can have all of the goodness that comes with everything bagels with this seasoning. It tastes amazing on eggs and I love topping my avocado toast with it, too. For summer, I’ve been especially enjoying it on blistered shishito peppers.

Everything But The Bagel Seasoning, $1.99

Coconut Water

When you commute by walking or waiting in unbearably hot subway stations like I do, hydration during the summer months is critical. Coconut water is very hydrating and has electrolytes, but it’s usually ridiculously expensive to have on the reg. T Joe’s version is almost half the price of brands like Zico, which means I can enjoy it every day.

Coconut Water, $2.99 for 1 liter

Fresh Flowers/Plants

Trader Joe’s has some of the most affordable fresh flowers and a wide variety of types. It beats most grocery stores when it comes to both aspects. I like to keep them on my dining table and night stand. For summer, I love assorted green leaves, sunflowers and peonies.

Chili Spiced Mango Slices

I’ve been really into all of the dried fruit slices at Trader Joes (dried pineapple & persimmon slices, you’ll have my heart forever), but my latest obsession is these mango slices. They’re sweet, spicy, salty, and tart all in one bite. These have been my go-to dessert lately, and probably will be all summer. They also make an amazing garnish to mango margaritas.

Riced Cauliflower

If you haven’t yet tried riced cauliflower, y’allllllllll….you’re missing out! I’ve been swapping it for rice or a carb-y side dish several times a week to get more vegetables. The thing is, not all riced cauliflowers are created equal. I’ve tried a ton of them, and this frozen version is hands down the best in terms of mimicking rice’s texture. It’s so good that it often sells out, so I recommend a mid-week shopping trip to ensure you get some. You basically pull it out of the freezer, pour it into a sauce pan and sauté it for a few minutes. Couldn’t get any easier! It’s delicious as a fried rice substitute or mixed with garlic, onions and/or pesto.

Organic Riced Cauliflower, $1.99

Crunchy Almond Butter

I fell in love with almond butter last year, and it’s become a necessary item in my pantry. Problem is, most jars run at least $12 per jar. T Joe’s sells it for $5.99 and it’s fucking delicious. I use it in smoothies, on toasts, in yogurt and in these absolutely amazing chocolate stuffed paleo blondies from Joy Food Sunshine.

Almond Butter, $5.99

Potato Gnocchi 

We live on the top floor of our building, so come July, the heat has risen up and makes keeping our apartment cool a challenge. Needless to say, the oven doesn’t get much use during this time. Enter this potato gnocchi, which I have been using in endless ways. You only have to boil it for three minutes! I like to pan fry it with fresh summer veggies after boiling, and I usually add in that nutritional yeast for extra flavor and a creamier texture.

Nutritional Yeast

Summertime means we end up doing movie nights allll the time. Instead of making store-bought popcorn, which usually has a ton of preservatives and additives, I like to pop my own and top it with nutritional yeast (thank you Sullivan Street Eats for the idea!). Nutritional yeast is a form of deactivated yeast that tastes deliciously cheesy and has tons of vitamins and protein. It’s also amazing on sautéed veggies. I love it on kale and asparagus.

Nutritional Yeast, $2.99