I'm a professional chef who's often too tired to cook for myself. I swear by these 6 Trader Joe's items.

Trader Joe's is my go-to store for affordable, easy-to-make food. Laura Keys I'm a chef at a meal-prep company, and by the time I get home, I'm often too tired to cook more. I've been leaning on Trader Joe's for budget-friendly, easy-to-cook meals . Some of my favorite products include vegetable fried rice and the store's fresh pasta. I work as a chef for a meal-prep company, often spending almost 10 hours a day on my feet in the kitchen. By the time I get home, I'm usually exhausted, and I don't want to spend a second longer making dinner than I have to. Sometimes I can bring leftovers home from work, but most nights I have to cook dinner — especially since my husband also works long hours and usually comes home after me. Although I'm tired, I don't want to rely on expensive take-out.