Trader Joe’s grocery stores have the reputation of being health food stores, and that is not entirely true. Trader Joe’s stores carry food that is good and good for you, to be sure, but you’ll find everything there that you could find in a regular chain grocery store, and then some. While Trader Joe’s does carry lots of healthy items, you can still find lots of your favorite desserts and snack foods, as well. An added profit/bonus is that Trader Joe’s prices are much lower than other chain grocery stores, which makes good food good for your wallet, too. History of Trader Joe’s Believe it or not, Trader Joe’s first opened its doors as Pronto Markets in 1958. In 1967, the name was changed to Trader Joe’s and a new kind of grocery store was born. Trader Joe’s is committed to giving customers the lowest prices possible by buying in bulk and signing contracts with suppliers early to get the best prices on the goods that you see in the store. They also carefully track what sells and what doesn’t, so they can remove products that are just taking up space and costing money to keep on the shelves. This also means that, every time you go into a Trader Joe’s store, you’ll probably find something new to try. If you are looking to add variety in your diet, Trader Joe’s is the place to go. They also never have items on sale. They have low prices all the time, without sales and coupons, which is great because no one likes walking into the store with a purse full of torn slips of paper from the newspaper. Highlighted Products Many of the items you will find in Trader Joe’s carry the Trader Joe’s brand name, which is another way they keep costs down. Unlike most off-brand food items, though, Trader Joe’s brand usually tastes better than the stuff your mom used to buy when you were a kid. Trader Joe’s also does not offer any food that has any trans fats in it, and makes a point to include whole grains wherever possible. This makes their breads, cereals, granola bars, and potato chips not only tasty, but guilt free. Or, as Trader Joe’s puts it, "Reduced Guilt." In the frozen section, there is an abundance of choices. The marinated meats are great for a quick dinner. All you have to do is thaw them and put them in the oven for a bit and you have a great, fresh meal. Trader Joe’s frozen desserts are also to die for. You can pop the desserts in the oven as you are eating your meal, and you will have a warm, gooey taste of something sweet by the time you’re finished with the main course. Trader Joe’s also carries many snack foods and fresh cheeses that will give your regular choices a run for their money. Friendly Staff The staff at Trader Joe’s is super friendly and helpful. As you are walking through the store, they are around, sporting their trademark Hawaiian shirts, to help you decide everything about the meal you are planning, down to what wine to serve with your choice of food. They can also give you great suggestions for what to buy, and if you ask, you might find something you didn’t even know was there. At the checkout, they will also tell you everything you need to know about your purchases, from recommendations to tips and tricks for preparing the meal. Shopping at Trader Joe’s is truly a fun experience.