Buying Food: Trader Joe's Staples

I don't have the numbers on this yet, but my observation is that a cartload of groceries at Trader Joe's is one-half of the price of a cart at Whole Foods. Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that you write off Whole Foods, but just use it as more of a specialty market and use Trader Joes for your staples.

Here are some of my favorite Trader Joe's items:

Staples: milk, yogurt, eggs, bread, coffee (the best), grains, pasta

Produce: I now primarily use the farmer's markets for fruits and vegetables, and purchase citrus bananas, and some Prepared vegetables and fruit (best price on blueberries anywhere)

Snacks (for kids and adults): Fruit Leather, Trader Joe's Cheese puffs, LARA Bars, Dried Fruit, Nuts, corn chips, cheese

Frozen: Vegetables, shrimp

Other: flowers, hand soap