Things I buy at Trader Joe's

For those who live in and around the Nashville area, there is a Trader Joe's in Green Hills right beside the mall.  When I talk to people about eating healthy, they always comment, "It's so expensive, I can't afford it."  So my reply to those kind of comments is simple, can you afford to be sick and go to the doctor and buy prescriptions? Then you can afford to eat healthy.  See if you make a real effort to not eat boxed and processed foods, then over a short amount of time, you will notice your health will greatly improve and you will not need to go to the doctor as much nor take medication.  It is all in the way you look at how you spend your money now, and how you want to invest in your future.  I don't know about any of you, but I want to live to be 110!  Not only live to that age, but feel great, still be doing yoga and taking no medications!  So I have found that Trader Joe's has organic and Non-GMO (genetically Modified) foods as well as no preservatives and artificial ingredients.  The best part of that is also that they are WAY cheaper than most retail chain grocery stores.  For example, a bag of whole organic carrots, $0.89.  Yep, no typo there, truly they are eighty-nine cents.
So here is a list of what I typically buy there: (and keep in mind I also drive an hour to get to  my local store)
Applegate Farms lunch meat, I buy about 5 packs of an assortment from ham to turkey
(this company has no nitrites or nitrates in any of their meat products)
Applegate farms organic beef hotdogs, 1 pk (these were found to be in the top 5 best hotdogs available)
Trader Joe's applewood bacon, 4 packs (again their brand also has no nitrites or nitrates)
Herb infused goats cheese (this is a large roll for the same price as the small one anywhere else)
Chicken thighs, 3 pks (these are boneless and skinless, and cook up so much more moist than the breast)
Organic baby spinach, 1 bag
bag of whole organic carrots
bag of organic celery
baby bok choy (look up what this is if you've never heard of it)
cucumbers 5 pack
bag of Kale
hummus, my husband likes the horseradish flavor (only way I can get him to eat raw veggies!)
Gluten Free mac n cheese (now this is a special treat for my kids because it is a boxed food)
gluten free oats
frozen green beans (the ones for $1.99, and these are AMAZING stir fried in coconut oil with garlic)
frozen fish (just make sure its wild caught)
supper food frozen mix (it's quinoa, sweet potatoes, kale and some other stuff)
Organic greek yogurt (the big tub, I use in place of sour cream)
eggs
coconut milk in the carton (original, unsweetened) use in smoothies and that mac n cheese
kerrygold butter (this is made from grass fed cows)
almond meal (I cook most all baked goods with this!) 5 bags
crushed garlic (its in a jar, makes cooking with garlic so much easier!)
sea salt grinder
black pepper grinder
assorted spices
assorted herbal teas (my fav, Ruby Red Chai)
Chia seeds (great source of omegas, can put in smoothies or on top of salads!)
Nourish shampoo & conditioner (chemical free, I'll post more on that later)
oatmeal & honey soap bars
tea tree oil facial soap pump
moisturizing facial lotion
jerkey (and assortment) their beef is grass fed
raw nuts (an assortment, almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts) 
organic rasins
freeze dried mangos (again a treat for the kidos)
organic popcorn (the whole kernel kind, I pop on stove top in coconut oil)
cocoa powder
organic tomato paste
applesauce squeezers (carrot and apple, treat for kids)
tortilla chips (they are the kind that are tri colored and have flax seed in them)
avacados
sweet potatoes
pearl baby tomatoes
onions


If this list seems incomplete, I also shop at sams, the farmers market, and publix to fill in the gaps
I'll post those lists another day!

Note: don't go shopping on a weekend, or in the evening.  A Sunday morning or some afternoon before school is out is best.  This local T.J. is crazy busy and has a not so great parking lot!