I work at Trader Joe's. I swear by these 12 purchases every time.

As a Trader Joe's employee, I am familiar with a lot of the chain's products. However, only a few are staples in my cart each week. Heather Leith I work at Trader Joe's and regularly swear by a lot of the chain's products. In the freezer aisle, I love the fiocchetti, diner mac 'n cheese, and bulgogi beef fried rice. I also love Trader Joe's apple-cinnamon sourdough bread and non-dairy brown-sugar oat creamer. If you come through my line at Trader Joe's, you'll hear me cheerfully recommending many items — the seasonal popcorns, the newest dip, the most expensive-tasting wines under $6. However, only a few items are always in my basket during my post-shift shopping sesh. My partner and I make most meals from scratch using Trader Joe's ingredients, but I am no stranger to a microwave meal or a salad kit.