Trader Joe’s products that were created with college students in mind

As a self-proclaimed Trader Joe’s enthusiast, I feel compelled to share my undying love for this company and their fantastic products. Not only does Trader Joe’s have insanely low prices and a curated selection, but their unique products are high quality, and you can’t find them anywhere else. Here is a list of products that Trader Joe himself must have created with college students in mind.

1. Cold brew coffee products

Any college student who doesn’t depend on coffee to survive the semester is on another level. Seriously, tell me how you do it. For those who have withdrawals after missing their morning cup of joe, you’re in luck, because Trader Joe’s has a whole line of cold brew coffees.

Their instant cold brew comes in powder form that you can stir into water until it dissolves. Iconic, right? Trader Joe’s also carries canned cold brews, nitro-infused cold brews and cold-brew concentrates. My personal favorite is their Ready to Drink Cold Brew Coffee, which comes in a large bottle that has multiple servings… for only $4.99. All you have to do is pour it over ice, add some milk and sugar and you are ready to go to your 8 a.m. lecture.

This product allows you to get 3 servings of coffee for less than the price of an iced latte at Buddy Brew. Let’s do some math. Say you get a coffee from the Oxford Exchange every morning. That’s roughly $35 a week in coffee. Now say you start using Trader Joe’s Ready to Drink Cold Brew Coffee. You’ll save roughly $20 a week on coffee—that’s almost $300 a semester!

I recommend using Trader Joe’s Blueberry Lavender Flavored Almond Beverage or their Matcha Almond Beverage to add a bit of flavor—you will never go back to regular almond milk. Each 32 oz carton retails for the low price of $1.99.

2. The entire produce section

Trader Joe’s is known for their 19 cent bananas—that’s a week’s worth of bananas for less than $2—but I feel like a lot of people overlook the rest of their produce section.

They have a well-priced selection of fruits and vegetables that are way higher quality than the mushy apples you can find at the caf. Their avocados are only $1 each and they have pre-packed veggie kits which are an easy dinner side if you sauté them with a bit of olive oil and spices.

You can find any common produce product here, from blueberries to bok choy to an entire stalk of brussel sprouts. However, if you want strawberries, I recommend doing your grocery shopping early in the day—I’ve found that they usually run out by the evening.

According to the Inside Trader Joe’s podcast, Trader Joe’s eliminated over 3 million pounds of plastic in 2019—2.5 million pounds of that plastic came from their produce department. A grocery store that’s focused on customer happiness and environmental sustainability? I fall more in love with this place every day.

3. Pre-made meals

If you’re a UT student with a meal plan, you know that eating at the caf every night gets old. Lucky for you, Trader Joe’s carries a plethora of quick meals. Whether you’re craving a pizza, salad, soup or fried rice, Trader Joe’s has an option for you.

When I moved into my apartment, I had the mindset of “wow. I can’t wait to cook for myself every single night.” I have now concluded that cooking every night sucks. However, mister Trader Joe was ahead of me in this field, and he has created a full menu of easy to make, yummy, inexpensive meals.

Trader Joe’s offers an entire selection of frozen pizzas—cheese, cauliflower crust, pesto, BBQ chicken and many more. I highly recommend their Wild Mushroom & Truffle Flatbread—perfect for if you’re feeling fancy. Trader Joe’s also carries a large selection of lunch items like pre-made salads, sandwiches and wraps, all ranging from $3.99 to $6. These options are perfect if you need to grab a quick lunch before class, or if you are craving salad but are tired of the monotonous salad bar at the caf.

My favorite section of Trader Joe’s is the frozen section. They carry all kinds of foods, from fried rice ($2.49) to cauliflower gnocchi ($3) to microwavable meals. These are easy to make and are a good thing to stock up on if all you have is a mini-fridge and a microwave. For those who have a kitchen, I recommend the Pork Gyoza Potstickers ($2.99) or the Mexican Style Roasted Corn ($3.29)—these are both quick meals and are ideal for a quick after-work dinner.

4. Spices and sauces

If you haven’t tried Trader Joe’s Everything but the Bagel Seasoning ($1.99), then you are missing out in life. This blend of poppy seeds, sesame seeds, garlic, onion and salt is what I imagine heaven would taste like if it were edible. Next time you grab a bagel from Einstein’s, sprinkle this on it and be prepared to have your mind blown.

Trader Joe’s has a large selection of spices that are under $2. Some of my favorites are their Pumpkin Pie Spice, Vegan Chicken-less Seasoning Salt, Garlic Powder and Onion Salt. We all know that the caf food is extremely bland, so next time you go, sneak in your favorite Trader Joe’s spice and make your dining hall experience a little bit better.

Sauces are another iconic Trader Joe’s delicacy, and there’s a huge selection of them. You’ll be able to find anything from alfredo sauce to Thai curry sauce. Sweet tooth? Try their chocolate hummus ($1.99) which pairs perfectly with fruit, pretzels and if you’re feeling crazy, potato chips. Trader Joe’s also carries a variety of salsas, guacamoles and pasta sauces that are sure to change your dinner game.

5. Frozen treats

I don’t know about you, but my favorite meal of the day is dessert. I always make sure my freezer is stocked with Trader Joe’s chocolate-covered banana slices ($1.99) and mini Hold the Cone ice cream treats ($2.99)

Trader Joe’s also caters to those with allergies, so if you’re dairy-free, be sure to check out their non-dairy oatmilk ice cream ($3.99) or their soymilk cherry chocolate chip ice cream ($3.99). Ben & Jerry’s is quaking.

You can find novelty treats in the frozen aisle as well. Trader Joe’s lines their shelves with different flavors of mochi ice cream ($4.49) as well as milk chocolate peanut butter cups ($3.99) and their iconic take on the Oreo—Trader Joe’s Joe-Joe’s Cookies which come out in different flavors depending on the season.

Trader Joe’s isn’t just a grocery store, it’s an experience. The employees are friendly and helpful, the prices are low and the product names are quirky. Trader Joe’s names their global products after the country—Trader Jose (Mexican), Trader Ming’s (Chinese) and Trader Jacque’s (French). In 2018, C Space released a report that surveyed 26,000 consumers on which companies “get them.” Trader Joe’s ranked number three.

Think about it like this: if you switch out your daily Buddy Brew coffee for Trader Joe’s Ready to Drink Cold Brew Coffee, you will be able to enjoy all of these products with the money you save. Trader Joe’s is a great option for those looking to spend less on groceries as well as those who only have a mini-fridge, microwave and hot plate to work with. Next time you stop by Publix, consider your wallet and your tastebuds, and swing by Trader Joe’s instead—they’ll be happy to have you.

If you’re looking for more Trader Joe’s inspiration, follow @onlytraderjoesrecipes on TikTok.

P.S. Trader Joe’s is also a great place to find a DIY Halloween costume.

Photos by Brittany Reed.