The life of a college student is not easy. The abrupt transition from childhood to adulthood is a difficult transition. One of the biggest changes collegiettes have to make is learning to feed themselves properly. It is probably fair to say that a large majority of students don’t know how to cook anything without a microwave (myself included). The inability to properly understand nutrition usually results in the infamous freshman fifteen. Fear not, there is an answer to your food folly: Trader Joe’s.
For those who haven’t already discovered the majesty that is Trader Joe’s, prepare to be amazed. Trader Joe’s is grocery chain with a local market vibe that caters to the culinary disabled. The store offers quirky items like Cat Cookies (For People) and Turkey Meatloaf muffins, mixed in with grocery store staples and prepared meals. Although the store is smaller than the average grocery store, they have everything is a starving college student would ever need. Most products are the Trader Joe’s brand, so you know they are high quality at a low price. TJ’s actually has product developers who travel around the world to find new and healthy foods that are inexpensive. Trader Joe’s shoppers stand to save a significant amount of money because there is no middleman, which cuts costs substantially. Products go straight from the manufacturer to the shelves, unlike other grocery chains, which get their products from distributors first. There are no coupons or memberships, just low prices. Depending on how you budget your money, it is very possible to spend $25 at Trader Joe’s and feed yourself for a week and a half.
If you’re a TJ’s newbie, don’t worry! The friendly staff, who wears Hawaiian shits, will guide you on your journey to food freedom. Arguably the best part about Trader Joe’s is the samples that feature new, easy to make items. The store offers organic and non-organic fruits and vegetables that taste good and are inexpensive. Make no mistake, Trader Joe’s is not a health food store, but they do offer more healthy options than most grocery stores and restaurants. Produce is priced by unit, not weight so that means you get more for your money and don’t have to wait in long lines while clerks weigh each item. Alcohol is also cheap. Remember these three words, they will become a lifeline: two-buck-Chuck. Two buck Chuck or Charles Shaw is a brand of wine sold at Trader Joe’s that costs a mere $1.99 and is actually good. You will save tons by making this investment.
Okay, so you’ve saved all this money on food and wine, but you still don’t know how to cook. Rest assured, a stroll through the frozen food section will quell your worries. From breakfast to dinner and everything in between, there is a precooked meal at Trader Joe’s. My personal favorites include chicken cilantro wontons, eggplant Parmesan and turkey meatballs. You can put off learning how to roast a chicken for a few years because the only skills you’ll need are turning on the oven and microwave. The options seem endless and pretty much everything tastes home cooked. Tucson has three Trader Joe’s, the closest location to campus is Campbell and Limberlost, as well as on Grant and Wilmot.
So, if you’re reading this article on your iPhone at Safeway, put the powdered mashed potatoes down, get in your car and drive up Campbell to have a real Trader Joe’s meal. No disrespect to Ramen Noodles, but those days are over.