Trader Joe's

[PatBrown]

TJ's praline pecans are probably my favorite thing ever. They are so good it's ridiculous. So decadent... soooo yummy!!!

- Lauren

My son pointed out that their tamales are gluten free. They are pretty good. I eat one for lunch if I dont have leftovers.

[Teacher1958]

I love the gluten free bagels and the black licorice that is shaped like Scottie dogs.

One of the first traumas of going gluten free was finding out that most licorice has wheat in it. I have always loved licorice to the point of near addiction, although it was not kind to me. Well, I was assuming that I would never have another piece of licorice again when I discovered those amazing Scottie dogs!!!!!! When I buy them I have to pace myself because they are a little piece of heaven. Sigh....

[cruelshoes]

You can't beat their prices on nuts. I think I paid something like $2.99/lb the last time I bought cashews. Their price on almond meal is great too. I also get Lara bars and Cliff Nectar bars there. Their rice pasta is cheap - $1.99/lb, and they have spaghetti, fusili and ziti. Their banana waffles in the freezer section are nummy. They have envirokids cereal and rice bars there at great prices.

Other people have told me that they like their rice bread, but I think it is horrid, and it goes all moldy the day you buy it. I have also heard that in some stores they have gluten-free english muffins in the freezer section, but they don't have those here.

You can ask for the curent gluten-free list at the customer service desk when you go there. Be careful with it, though. I have found some things that are supposed to be gluten-free on the list, but if you read the label n the package there is wheat clearly listed. Better to use it as a starting point and read the labels to check.

[Mango04]

Some of my new favorite stuff from Traders:

Spanish White Beans and Veggies

Spanish Lentils and Veggies

the small bowls of organic brown rice

Indian Rice Biryani

All of that can be found on the shelves near the soups. It's great stuff to take to work or to travel with

[Susantg3]

Trader Joes has the best gluten free frozen pancakes I have tasted yet. I like their brown rice tortilla, but tends to be pretty dry-like to roll them up with meet, cheese, veggies. The tortillas go bad by their expiration date-can get "fuzzy" fast. Their chocolate cake is good too.

[Diane Flusco]

I've heard alot of good things about Trader Joe's. We are going to take a trip there this weekend. What are your favorite gluten-free products? I'm also dairy free, so no cheeses and such please!

Terri

I like the new gluten free FROZEN pancake. It is both gluten and dairy free.

D. Flusco

[burdee]

We like TJ's light coconut milk and corn tortillas. My husband likes their soy milk. I also liked their prices on Pacific Almond Milk. Unfortunately Pacific changed (improved??) its almond milk. So it now contains soy, to which I have a diagnosed allergy. I avoid most TJ products because they contain my allergens. The carton soups all contain cane sugar. Many other products contain dairy, soy or eggs. They have lots of gluten free products, but very few products free of all the major allergens.

BURDEE

[splash]

Has anyone tried Trader Joe's soups in a carton? A friend was kind enough to pick up a few things she thought were gluten free for me when she went down to the nearest Trader Joes yesterday. While there appears to be no gluten in the soups all the labels say they're made on equipment shared with wheat. This makes me extremely uncomfortable. I appreciate her effort if nothing else. Has anyone else has any experience with Trader Joe's soups?

Why oh why do companies go to all the trouble to make allergen free products and then use possibly contaiminated equipment? It makes no sense.

Violet

I had one of my first post-diagnosis gluten reactions to a serving of Trader Joe's Carrot and Ginger Soup. I was so confused because I had made such an effort to be gluten free, and on top of that my newly gluten-free GI system reacted much worse than I was used to. It made me distrust anything manufactured on equipment shared with wheat. It was a major bummer because I'm a huge fan of Trader Joe's - and they have a great selection of nuts and dried fruit, all of which seem to be manufactured on equipment shared with wheat.

I do like the Garlic Rice Noodle Soup Bowl and the frozen Soycotash is a good staple side dish.

[JennyC]

I actually went to Trader Joe's when someone mentioned on another post about their "cheetos." My son ate them and he did not get sick. He seems to get sick every time he eats a Frito-Lay product. It does bother me that many of their products are made on equipment shared with wheat, but hopefully they have better practices than Frito-Lay! Time will tell.

I also love their prices on olive oil!

[gfmolly]

I just made my second trip to Trader Joe's...yum! Since this post has made the recent board again, I'll tell you my favorites for follow-up. I've not had any cc reactions to their food, thank goodness.

The basmati rice mix, banana waffles, dark chocolate covered mints (tastes just like a york peppermint patty) their soymilk, veggie and flaxseed chips, sweet potato chips, chicken taquitos, their chicken sausages and the olive hummus. Guess I'm a fan, just wish it was closer!

[hathor]

Yes, Trader Joes does seem to put that label on everything. It does give me pause. But ...

The products where I seem to have problems are the nuts and dried fruits. I haven't had a reaction (knock wood) from anything else.

I guess I am willing to try things (except for nuts & dried fruits) despite the label, in that the absence of such a label doesn't mean a food is safe. Those labels are voluntary. I suppose the perceived yumminess of the food involved also comes into play

I haven't been to TJ for awhile. This discussion is making me want to go check it out. It always seems like there is something new & interesting when I go. Of course, this unfortunately means that my favorites sometimes disappear, too.

[splash]

I have to agree, though, with whoever said that it seems pointless to make a "gluten-free" product like pancakes, which is probably not going to be eaten by non-celiacs, and then to manufacture it shared with wheat. Trader Joe's is so conscientious about a lot of other things, so I'm surprised that they would not see the irony there.

[Mango04]

I have a couple new favorite Trader's products - omega dried cranberries and Creamy Vegetable Medley Bisque (or something like that - it's dairy-free, soy-free and yummy). Oh - and I love that they have organic garbanzo beans for 89 cents per can.