Under $40 Vegan Trader Joe’s Budget Grocery Haul
Here’s how you can shop smart and save money at the grocery store.
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Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog! I just got back from Trader Joe’s and did my weekly grocery shopping, so I thought that I would share everything that I got.
Trader Joe’s is one of my FAVORITE places to shop at because of the assortment of items they carry, as well as their affordability. And if you’ve been keeping up with my blog, then you know that almost all of my recipes are super affordable and require basic, everyday ingredients that you likely already have lying around in your kitchen. All of these items are vegan, so they’re great for anyone who follows a plant-based diet.
Let’s dive into everything I bought from Trader Joe’s.
1. Fruit: Bananas, Apples & Frozen Blueberries
First on my list was an assortment of fruit. I absolute love fruit, and it’s a staple in my diet. Fruit is great to grab on the go, and it’s the perfect snack to have when you’re short on time.
As a vegan, I eat some sort of fruit every single day. Some of my favorite fruits to buy are apples, bananas, and frozen blueberries. I usually slice up apples and have them with peanut butter, and
for my breakfast in the mornings, I almost always add banana or blueberries to my oatmeal.
Cost breakdown:
- Apples: $2.99 for a bag
- Bananas: $0.19 each
- Frozen Blueberries: $1.99
2. Breads: Whole Wheat Pita Bread & Whole Wheat English Muffins
Trader Joe’s has some of my favorite breads to eat. I recently discovered that they sell whole wheat English muffins, and I had to give them a try. They did not disappoint, and it’s now a staple of mine that I buy every time I make my way to Trader Joe’s.
I also really like their whole wheat pita bread. I love snacking on pita bread with hummus, and this pita bread they sell is one of my favorite pita breads I have ever had.
Cost Breakdown:
- Whole Wheat Pita Bread: $1.49
- Whole Wheat English Muffins: $1.69
3. Veggies: Carrots & Frozen Broccoli
This next category is veggies. As a vegan, I eat a lot of vegetables. My favorite vegetables to buy are carrots and frozen broccoli. I like to have carrots with hummus, and I usually have a side of broccoli after my lunch or dinner.
Cost Breakdown:
- Carrots: $1.49
- Frozen Broccoli: $1.69
4. Peanut Butter (2 jars)
This next item is peanut butter. I have tried so many different peanut butters because peanut butter is one of my favorite foods, and Trader Joe’s has some of the best peanut butters. I bought the roasted salted creamy peanut butter, but they have an assortment of peanut butters there–both crunchy and creamy. It’s great to have on oatmeal, toast, or with fruit.
Cost Breakdown:
- $1.99 each
5. Tofu
As a vegan, I eat tofu quite often for additional protein. It’s really affordable at Trader Joe’s, and I add it to my pasta, tacos, nourish bowls, and avocado toast.
Cost Breakdown:
- $1.99
6. Black Beans
I also bought a can of black beans. Black beans are great to add to burritos, tacos, nourish bowls, and pasta. Like the tofu, I eat beans often because they’re a great source of protein.
Cost Breakdown:
- $0.99
7. Whole Wheat Pasta & Pasta Sauce
I also bought whole wheat pasta and organic pasta sauce. One of my favorite meals to meal prep is pasta, and I usually spend an hour on Sunday evenings making a large batch of pasta for the week. Trader Joe’s has endless pasta and pasta sauces.
Cost Breakdown:
- Whole Wheat Pasta: $1.49
- Pasta Sauce: $2.49
8. Sweet Potatoes
I also bought a bag of sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes and golden potatoes are some of my favorite foods to eat, which is why I buy one or the other every week. Add some hummus, nutritional yeast, and avocado on top and it makes for a super tasty and nourishing meal.
Cost Breakdown:
- $3.99 for a large bag
9. Hummus (2 containers)
Trader Joe’s has this special hummus called the dill pickle hummus, and it’s one of the best hummuses I have ever tried. I like adding hummus to pita bread, on sweet potatoes, in nourish bowls, and with veggies.
Cost Breakdown:
- $1.99 each
10. Avocados (2)
I also bought avocados. Avocados, like peanut butter, are one of my favorite foods to eat. I absolutely love avocado toast, and sometimes I’ll make an avocado tofu sandwich. It’s super tasty and never gets old.
Cost Breakdown:
- $1.49 each
11. Trader Joe’s O’s
The last item I bought from Trader Joe’s were these Trader Joe’s O’s cereal. I’m a sucker for cereal, and so I had to try these when I found them at Trader Joe’s the last time I went. I love adding fruit to cereal and it’s a great snack or quick breakfast to make.
Cost Breakdown:
- $1.99
Final Thoughts
Trader Joe’s is one of my favorite places to shop at for groceries. And, it’s a really affordable grocery store if you’re buying the right items. They also have an assortment of items during the different seasons, and they never fail to amaze me. If you enjoy grocery shopping and have never been to a Trader Joe’s, I highly recommend you check one out.
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