One of the Best Things About Trader Joe’s Isn’t in the Store

Nothing gives me a case of FOMO quite like a trip to Trader Joe’s. I’m always very sure I’m missing something good. I wander the aisles, on the hunt for all those remixed snacks and snazzy new ingredients. I even check the area where new items are often showcased (usually an endcap in the back of the store). And yet I still usually leave with a cart full of my standard goodies.

How do people find the really good stuff?

I’ve got the answer now — and a cart piled like a busted-open treasure chest packed by a snack-loving pirate.

If you’re looking to upgrade your Trader Joe’s shopping, you just have to visit the What’s New section on their website before you go. It’s your on-trend personal shopper, always revealing all the new additions that belong on your grocery list. And it goes far beyond those shelves of New Items.

The section is updated pretty frequently (usually every day or two) and each post is a dedicated deep dive on a single product. You get the fun facts, nutritional information, and recommendations on how to use the product.

The new Outside-in-Stuffed Gnocchi post, for example, spells out how to cook them and how to eat them. Organic Buffalo Style Hummus comes with recommended pairing ideas like on top of a veggie burger (from Trader Joe’s, of course) or avocado toast.

The last few weeks have featured a particularly good product haul. Sweet Basil Foaming Hand Soap sounds like the perfect spring cleaning solution. I’ve been particularly stoked about the Gochujang Chop Salad Kit — a mix of traditional salad greens with black sesame seeds, crunchy puffed brown rice, and sweet-spicy gochujang vinaigrette. And the Candy Coated Chocolate Peanuts are definitely coming with me to an outdoor movie. (They get their colors from vegetables and herbs! Instead of dyes!)

Note: The What’s New section is a fun source of inspiration that can add some flair to weeknight dinners, get togethers, and lunch boxes. If you’ve got your heart set on a certain item, though, you may want to call ahead to make sure your store carries it (or to encourage them to add it to their aisles). Because while the products may be rolled out online, they’re not always instantly ready in person.

I love this section because it’s like someone did my grocery shopping sleuth work for me. I don’t always have time to read through endless packages of snacks, but when I have one in mind, I can find it in a snap.

This part of the site also highlights new cosmetics (rose water spray!) and cleaning supplies, and will keep you up to date when old formulas have been improved. Check it out before you get to the store so you know what to look for, and become that person with the envy-inducing cart full of brand new treats.

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Do you have new favorites from Trader Joe’s? What’s new in your cart?