Trader Joe’s Gold: May 2020

Despite the lines, despite the grapefruit hand sanitizer being out of stock, and despite the store employee who suggested I “grab a cart instead of a basket so I don’t have to come back so often,” I’m still finding new items at Trader Joe’s that I’m excited to share.

Oh, and did I mention this post was inspired by the new Instagram account @blackgirlsintraderjoes? Some of you may be wondering “why is the idea of black girls shopping at Trader Joe’s a thing?” Glad you asked.

Let’s talk about food deserts.

Food deserts exist when a quality grocery store with healthy options is not conveniently located near an individual’s home. This can ultimately deter them from eating nutritious food; specifically fruits and vegetables. For instance, if you don’t own a car and live more than one mile from a grocery store you could be considered an inhabitant of a food desert. And surprise, surprise Black, Brown and low-income communities make up an overwhelming majority of the nation’s food deserts.

As a result of the circumstances, predominantly white neighborhoods have four times the access to grocery stores in comparison to black ones. Today, Black people still have less access to grocery stores, leading residents living in underserved communities to rely on fastfood for their typical meals.

Therefore, Black girls in Trader Joe’s is a thing because of access, which can help level the playing field. There are more TJ’s stores closer, allowing us to more easily purchase organic, healthy and fresh produce. With Trader Joe’s stores adding 23 new stores every year for roughly the past 10 years, we oat milk drinking, apple a day eating, bring our salads to work Black girls have way more access to the goodness that is Trader Joe’s.

Here’s What I’m Obsessed With in May 2020

Organic Carrot Turmeric Juice Blend.

During quarantine, I’m trying to keep my schedule as routine as possible. That means making sure I eat and/or snack every 3-4 hours and have a pre-workout snack. So, I’ve been breaking out the blender because I now have time to make smoothies. I combine about a cup of this carrot juice, with a cup of strawberry lemonade, a cup of kale, a cup of frozen mango, a cup of the frozen berry medley and one banana (all from Trader Joe’s.)

Mexican Style Corn & Quinoa Salad.

Every Tuesday at work is Taco Tuesday in our work restaurant. I typically stick to bringing salads every day, so I reserve this salad for Tuesdays. I like to feel like I’m still in on the fun, just without the tortilla and with quinoa and kale. As I work from home, I’m still trying to keep things as normal as possible so this salad is a staple in my fridge.

Milk Chocolate Covered Pretzels.

When the Stay At Home order was announced, I had my priorities in order. I got one bag of pasta, two packs of chicken, my oat milk and four bags of milk chocolate covered pretzels. Was it a lot? Yes. But did I need four bags to get me through the first month of quarantine? Absolutely! I guarantee you will never walk into my home without me having at least one bag of these babies chilling in the fridge.

Gone Bananas- Dark Chocolate Covered Banana Slices

Nobody:… Me: I’m sure you’re all wondering why I haven’t posted any ice cream for a while. Well, I get migraines and dairy is a huge trigger. Diary also causes bloating and increases mucus production which is overall not too great for the body. So, I’ve been substantially reducing my dairy-intake. When I do get an ice cream craving, I go to these chocolate-covered frozen banana bites that never let me down.

Chicken Spring Rolls.

Like the Trader Joe’s frozen pizza, I always make sure to grab a pack of the chicken spring rolls for when I don’t feel like cooking. These are literally the best egg rolls I’ve ever had, period. They’re crispy like you would get at the best Chinese restaurant in your neighborhood and also super flavorful, thanks to the ginger and basil in the rolls.