I worked at Trader Joe's for almost 3 years. Here are 12 things I always buy there.

The sourdough baguette is fresh and perfect for sandwiches.

trader joes sourdough baguettes on the shelf
The loaves are fresh and affordable. Jonathan Chandler for Insider

Trader Joe's sourdough baguettes are delivered every morning freshly baked, and they're perfect for sandwiches.

I personally like to use it to make grilled cheese or garlic bread.

The quality loaf is just $2.49.

The fruitful medley is always fresh.

trader joe's mixed fruit container in produce section
I like the blend of fresh fruit. Jonathan Chandler for Insider

At $3.69, the mixed-fruit container with grapes, pineapple, cantaloupe, and melon is fresh, affordable, and keeps me from snacking on processed foods throughout the day.

The store has the best kale around.

hand holding bag of trader joes kale
I use the kale in salads, smoothies, and more. Jonathan Chandler for Insider

I love using Trader Joe's prewashed kale to make salads, smoothies, and kale chips.

You get a lot of kale in each bag for $1.99, but I usually buy two or three at a time.

The store's corn chip dippers are perfect for snacking.

trader joes corn dipper on the shelf
The chips pair well with a number of dips. Jonathan Chandler for Insider

The corn dippers pair well with a variety of Trader Joe's dips, but they taste really good plain as well.

They're less salty and thicker than name-brand corn chips, and they're just $1.99 a bag.

Trader Joe's dried strawberries taste like candy.

trader joes dried strawberries on shelf
I put the strawberries in oatmeal, cereal, and salads. Jonathan Chandler for Insider

I love putting dried strawberries in my oatmeal, cereal, or even salads.

They taste like candy, but there's no added sugar.

They're $3.49 a bag, and I usually grab two.

The five-layer dip tastes homemade.

trader joe's 5 layer dip on shelf
The dip would go nicely with the corn dippers. Jonathan Chandler for Insider

Trader Joe's five-layer dip is perfect for any party, and I usually pair it with the corn dippers.

For $4.99, the dip includes sour cream, black-bean hummus, mixed Mexican cheese, pico de gallo, and guacamole.

I think the famous orange chicken tastes better than takeout.

trader joes orange chicken in freezer aisle
The orange chicken is famous for a reason. Jonathan Chandler for Insider

Trader Joe's is known for its frozen meals, and the classic orange chicken doesn't disappoint.

I love to cook it in the air fryer and pair it with brown rice. It makes an easy, tasty meal for $4.99 a bag.

Nothing compares to the frozen hatch-chile mac and cheese.

hand holding trader joes green chile mac and cheese
I prefer to make the frozen meal in the oven. Jonathan Chandler for Insider

I promise you won't find another frozen mac and cheese that's as good as Trader Joe's hatch-chile variety.

I prefer to make it in the oven, but you can easily cook the filling meal in the microwave.

It's super flavorful and all for $2.99.

The kale chicken Caesar is my favorite salad to eat on my lunch breaks.

trader joes kale chicken caeser salad
The premade salads are super convenient. Jonathan Chandler for Insider

Trader Joe's premade kale chicken Caesar salad is the best if you're looking for a quick lunch or an easy dinner side.

For $5.99, the salad is pretty filling. But I like to add avocado so it keeps me fuller longer.

This Grana Padano cheese from Trader Joe's is amazing.

hand holding trader joes parmesan cheese
The cheese is perfect for grating on salads and pizzas. Jonathan Chandler for Insider

Trader Joe's has an amazing collection of artisanal cheeses, but this imported Parmesan is absolutely divine.

I love adding it to salads and on top of pizzas.

The price depends on the weight of the cheese, but I tend to pick up blocks in the $5 range.

The potato tots are amazing in the air fryer.

trader joes potato tots in the freezer aisle
The air fryer makes them nice and crispy. Jonathan Chandler for Insider

The potato tots are the perfect, crunchy air-fryer snack.

I like to add avocado and mixed cheese on top for added flavor, but they're also great on their own.

Each bag of frozen tots is $2.49.

The dark-chocolate peanut-butter cups are worth the hype.

hand holding trader joes dark chocolate peanut butter cups
I like to pick up the smaller pack of this treat. Jonathan Chandler for Insider

The dark-chocolate peanut-butter cups are the perfect dessert.

There's a larger container in the dessert aisle, but I like to pick up the smaller, $0.99 bag of individually wrapped cups near the checkout stands.

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