Depending on what kind of tofu and what's on the salad, I'll either just use balsamic vinegar and some fresh herbs or if it's more of a thai tofu I use a mix of liquid aminos (which is like soy sauce just with less sodium- Bragg's is the name brand), water, wasabi(sometimes) and ginger (I like fresh, but you can use powdered also). I don't typically purchase fat free dressings, so I can't help you with any name brands.
Hope this helps!

Yes,very helpful thanks! I forgot about Bragg's,that would be good!

Sarah, don't you just LOVE Woodmans? You can find almost anything there! That is the only store that I can find Zone cereal.

I DO love Woodmans! It's so much closer than Trader Joes and Whole Foods and they have a great organic selection! I will have to look for the Zone cereal. I have never looked for it there. You must live in the midwest? I don't know where else they have Woodmans!

Sue~ my day just keeps getting better and better....I get to go to Trader Joe's once a month!! I just printed out your list! And I am grateful for recipes that don't ALWAYS have to begin from scratch. Thanks again for this forum!

Glad you like this thread Melody!

I buy lots of other foods there, too. That was just a list of what I happened to buy that day. :-)

Sarah,
Yes, I am from the midwest--Wisconsin.

Did you find Zone Cereal at Woodmans?

Actually Cranberrycat, no. They don't carry it at the one I shop at. My mom has seen it by Appleton. I
am going to ask them if they will order some for us. Thanks!

So, you must be from Wisconsin, too? I think I remember looking in Madison and I didn't see it there. But, I usually go to the Appleton store. Sometimes it is there, and sometimes it is not, but there is usually a spot on the shelf for it.

For all you TJ's lovers, don't forget about their frozen pre-cooked steel-cut oatmeal! zap it for 4 minutes and whip up some scrambled eggs for protein while you're waiting, easy and relatively portable 5 minute meal!

Yes, they have lots of Zone friendly food there. I haven't seen those pre-cooked steel cut oats. Thanks for the tip!

Trixie, don't worrry about the fat in tofu...just add your usual blks of fat. The zone accounts for the fact that some foods have fat...unless it's a high fat food, like full fat cheese.

Trixie, don't worrry about the fat in tofu...just add your usual blks of fat. The zone accounts for the fact that some foods have fat...unless it's a high fat food, like full fat cheese.

Okay,thanks Janet!

Hi, I checked out those frozen steel cut oats when I was in Trader Joe's today. I'd say go easy with those because, in addition to steel cut oats, there are some unfavorable ingredients in them (brown sugar, rolled oats, and, if I remember right, maple syrup also). I decided to pass on that item in favor of 100% steel cut oats.

Another favorite at our house is "Trader Joe's Cage Free Fresh Hard-Cooked Peeled Eggs". For a delicious classic Zone snack just cut two eggs in half, pop out the yolks and fill each half with 1T hummus. Takes less than a minute to make. We like TJ's "Fresh Made Original Hummus Dip" (very Zone friendly fat, and cheaper than any other hummus I've found). I have a serving scoop from Pampered Chef that holds 1T and makes it very easy. It’s the type of scoop where you squeeze the handle and the contents of the scoop drops right out.

And another...

I especially love to use their prepared packaged cooked meats. They make delicious easy Zone meals with the addition of some Zone favorable carb and monounsaturated fat. Be sure to check the fat and carb on the labels to be sure you're choosing the low fat, good fat and negligible carb, Zone friendly varieties.

Thanks so much, Sue, for this thread. I printed a list of the items you mentioned here and take it with me when I go to TJs. It gives me a direction (not to mention a clue) when I go shopping. Without the list, I tend to loiter endlessly trying to figure out which products are good for zoning.

I get the West Soy milk at TJs, as well.

You're welcome Cici! That place is full of lots of Zone friendly foods, and many excellent values, too. The one I shopped at yesterday had 3 pound bags of georgeous Gala apples, sized just right for the Zone, at only $3.99 a bag ($1.33 a pound). That's less than half the price as compared to stores and organic orchards here.

It is a shame that TJ stores are not more plentiful. For us in Wisconsin, there are only 2 in the entire state, none of which are anywhere close to where I live.

But, fortunately, I am pretty sure we can get apples at our local orchard pretty close or even a bit less than that.

Here are some more things I buy at Trader Joe's (OG means organic):

OG lemons in bag
OG limes in bag
OG Gala apples in 3 lb bags
shredded green cabbage (bagged)
TJ's California white goat cheese log
Genova pesto
boneless pork tenderloin
1/2 fresh turkey breast (Empire Kosher)
TJ's Cage Free Hard-Cooked Peeled eggs (in bags of 10 eggs)
TJ's Blister Peanuts
TJ's canned Crisp Sweet Corn (there's no sugar added; most brands have added sugar)
OG bell peppers
OG cucumbers
TJ's Arabiatta (spaghetti sauce)
TJ's Reduced Fat Mayo (eggless, unsweetened and made with canola oil)
TJ's canned OG tomatoes, no salt
TJ's OG chamomile tea
Yogi Ginger Tea
TJ's Salsa Autentica
TL's Chunky Salsa
TJ's 21 Seasoning Salute (spice blend)
Colossal shrimp (21-25), frozen
TJ's frozen sweet Bing cherries
TJ's Original Hummus Dip
TJ's OG nonfat plain yogurt
TJ's shrimp cocktail sauce
TJ's Chicken and Turkey Pesto Sausage
TJ's Pure Alcohol Free Vanilla extract
TJ's Berry Medley (w/o strawberries; they have two types)
Applegate Sliced Oven Roasted Turkey (deli-style)
TJ's Rustica Pomodoro Sauce (spaghetti sauce)
TJ's Uncured Turkey Bacon
TJ's Chili Turkey with Beans (canned)
TJ's canned Marinated Bean Salad
TJ's Tetra Chicken Broth
OG frozen spinach
Frozen artichoke hearts
Roasted chicken patties (with the prepared entrees and meats)

The food all sounds so good! Wish we had TJs in Canada...... :-(

I miss TJ's too! There was one down the street from where we lived in VA, but now that I'm in Naples, FL.....the closest one is in Atlanta, GA!!!

I can't complain too much though. A Whole Foods Market opened up last year just 1 mile from where I live!

I like the quality, convenience and the prices of their food. The closest one to me is a little over a half hour drive away (when there's no traffic over the river), but small 'price' to pay, as I see it.

HA! I drive a little over a 1/2 hour just for groceries!

When talking about a 1 1/2 hour trip to go to a specialty food store, that is a different story. That is really more of a day trip, 3 hours driving time, plus an hour or so to shop, and then you are also talking planning a meal away from home. I would love to have that kind of time on my hands!