Yay: Extra Lean Angus Ground Beef 96% Lean/4% Fat

This lean ground beef always looks fresh and natural, and it claims right on the package that the cattle were raised with no hormones or antibiotics. Be aware that this beef is much pricier than what you'll find in your standard grocery store, however if you need meat quickly and are close to a TJs, it is worth the extra few dollars because it always tastes good and freezes very well for later use.

Yay: 50% Less Salt Roasted & Salted Whole Cashews

These cashews are a must-have item for any pantry. Among several of TJ's "50% Less Salt" options, they are priced better and taste better than the leading name brand cashews. They truly are less salty than your average bag of nuts, and while they make a great snack, they also add distinct flavor to stir-fry and baked goods. Everyone always eats the cashews out of the nut mix first, so why not grab yourself an entire bag of cashewy goodness?

Yay: Sparkling Lemon Spring Water

I'm a self-proclaimed bubbly water aficionado, and never realized TJs had sparkling water until I found it tucked away in a corner of my store. This isn't my favorite bubbly water by any means, but the price (79 CENTS! although prices may vary by store) and overall taste is why it gets a Yay. The bubbles are much smaller than other sparkling waters (i.e., La Croix), which some people might find pleasing. I prefer a larger bubble of carbonation. The natural lemon flavor is barely noticeable, which some people may also find pleasing. How do you think it would measure up in a carbonated water taste test?

Yay: Kale for Cooking

This kale is conveniently pre-washed and cut for easy steaming and sauteing. Always fresh and crispy, TJs makes it easy to include a powerful punch of vitamins in your meal. This kale can also be used in salads, although it is highly recommended to wash it beforehand and consider ripping the leaves from the meaty stalks (it is harder to chew and digest the raw stalks).

Yay: Brown Rice

Brown rice can be difficult to cook on the stove top, especially if you're an amateur cook who only eats homemade rice a few times a month. Not to mention cleaning a pot that cooked rice is an annoying chore, thanks to the rice paste reside left behind. Have no fear, TJs frozen Brown Rice is here! Packaged in three separate 10oz. microwaveable bags, you can choose how much rice you'd like to have without having to estimate water-rice ratios used in stove top cooking. In 3 minutes or less, you'll have fluffy, delicious, healthy (well healthier than white rice) brown rice. This little miracle in a bag will cut your food preparation time down drastically!

Nay: Spinach & Kale Bites

Surprisingly, these taste much better than they look. They are small lumps of spinach, kale some cheese, and onion. The texture was decent for a frozen food; it was not mushy but it left something to be desired. Maybe a dipping sauce would help? These earn a "Nay" because it is not something I'd recommend to others or willingly serve to friends and family. Also, they are not very convenient for a frozen food: they have to bake for 15-20 minutes and cool for another 10. You're better off spending that 30 minutes making a salad with fresh spinach, kale, cheese and seasoning to achieve the same flavor.

Yay: Hummus Dip

Name brand hummus can be relatively expensive in typical grocery stores (over $5 in some stores). This hummus dip not only wins on price (about half the cost of name brands, depending on location), but flavor as well. It has only 6 six ingredients: chick peas, sunflower/olive oil blend, water, lemon juice, sea salt and garlic. Don't be fooled by the simplicity though! This all natural dip is a great accompaniment to any cracker, chip or veggie. Great for parties or any regular snacking.

Yay: Breaded Chicken Tenderloin Breasts

These frozen breaded chicken tenders are a league above any big brand frozen chicken tenders found in standard grocery stores. They are easy to cook (done in 20 minutes!), and taste crispier and less greasy than your typical frozen chicken tenders. The possibilities are endless with this product. While the tastefully plain breading may appeal to the 7-year-old picky eater in just about everyone, you can also add a variety of toppings during the last few minutes of baking to change up your meals: cheese and salsa for a southwestern inspired dish, bacon and Swiss cheese for a cordon bleu taste, or red sauce and mozzarella for classic chicken parm. Whatever your tastes are, these are sure to become a staple in your freezer.

Yay: Just Mango Slices

Just Mango Slices are a rare find in the world of dried fruit because they are unsulfered (no preservatives) and unsweetened (not coated in sugar). They are literally just dried mangoes. If you live in an area with limited access to tropical fruit, these leathery strips of tasty sweetness fulfill a void. Even if you have daily access to fresh mango, these are a great, Vitamin A rich snack for any time.

Nay: Vegetable Birds Nests

These look much better in the packaging photo than they do after cooking them. In fact, eating the box packaging would be preferable to eating this soggy, flavorless "veggie" appetizer. The nests each allegedly contain zucchini and carrots, but most of the nests were a small lump of onions with a morsel of carrot and/or zucchini. The onion flavor completely overwhelms any other flavors, and the crunchy panko-like topping seen in the packaging is merely a soggy dusting of stale crumbs.

Yay: Gummy Bears

These sweet candies are a great alternative to traditional gummy bears. If you are looking for a more natural, preservative-free and dye-free candy snack, these are a great choice! They are made with all natural fruit and veggie extract, which makes them a little softer and less dense than standard gummy candies, but they are not as soft as a fruit snack. There are six flavors in every bag: strawberry, apple, orange, lemon, pineapple and cherry. Because the flavoring is all natural, it is not as strong as regular gummy bears, but they are just as gummy and yummy!

Yay: Yogurt Stars

These crispy, yogurt covered cookies are a delicious mix for the palette that will satisfy any sweet tooth. Small, start-shaped vanilla cookies are coated in three different yogurt flavors (raspberry, blueberry or vanilla), giving them a tangy crunch. The best part is these cookies do not use artificial food coloring. The yogurt coating does melt quickly, so these are best enjoyed cold.
Have you tried these cookies?
Let us know what you think! Yay or nay?

Yay: Sparkling Clementine Flavored Juice Drink

This orangey flavored spritzer is quite tasty and refreshing on a hot day. It works well with breakfast, tasting almost like a mimosa, and seems like it would make a good mixer for cocktails.

Be careful not to drink too much of it though, as it's quite acidic and can really be tough on the stomach. But in small doses it is delicious.

Have you tried this drink?
Let us know what you think. Yay or nay?

Nay: 100% Whole Wheat Hot Dog Buns

I've never been a fan of the breads available at Trader Joe's grocery stores, but I was in a jam last 

night and needed some buns for grilled sausages.

So I grabbed these 100% Whole Wheat Hot Dog Buns, and while they're not the worst thing in the world, they're not the best either.

The bread is super dense, giving it the texture you'd expect from old, stale buns.  They're not soft and fluffy, like you'd expect from a typical hot dog bun.  

This is my complaint for nearly all the breads I've tried from Trader Joe's.  

I'm not sure if its due to the ingredients they use, or if they just sit on the shelves for too long. 

In either case, I recommend that you get your hot dog buns from a traditional grocery store.

Yay: Marcona Almonds with Rosemary

Marcona almonds are apparently the most rare almond species in the world so these are a little on the expensive side.

But they are totally worth it. The nuts are delicious and the light seasoning of salt and rosemary makes them a very fulfilling snack.