Our TeamMara Weinraub

Mara Weinraub

Director, Groceries & Shopping

I cover the latest and most exciting news about grocery launches and retailers, reviews of tried-and-true products, ingenious advice, and aha(!) industry trends.Brooklyn, NY

About Me

Believe it or not, I didn’t start out covering groceries, though early signs from my childhood would suggest otherwise. (As a kid, I fantasized about getting locked in a BJ’s Wholesale Club overnight and having free reign of the place — especially the bakery section.) I went to college to study business, and ended up with a degree in Communication.

After graduating, I went to portfolio school at night while working full-time during the day. I ended up writing TV commercials and such at various advertising agencies in New York, eventually making my way over to the world of food media, where I finally felt at home.

I live and breathe (and eat) groceries. One of the best parts of my job is sharing insightful stories that help people better navigate the aisles — and their budgets — without it feeling like a chore. No idea is too small or too out there, so please pitch me!

My pronouns

she/her/hers

I'm an expert in

  • predicting when the next Inside Trader Joe's podcast episode will drop

My education

Boston University (BS in Communication)


Latest Stories

The 2-Ingredient Appetizer My Mom’s Been Making for 10 Years
It takes less than five minutes.
Nov 22, 2025
The Rule-Bending Crust Is What Makes This $4 Frozen Chicken Pot Pie So Good
There's always one in my freezer.
Sep 2, 2025
We Tried 7 Brands of Canned Pumpkin — And the Winner Is Not What You Think
Groceries
There’s a new number one in town.
Sep 1, 2025
These Chocolate Cream Cheese Bars Are the Best Dessert I've Made All Year
It has showstopping good looks.
Aug 4, 2025
Costco’s New Dessert Is So Good, My Sister and I Ate It in the Parking Lot
I’m surprised it’s not sold out.
Jul 22, 2025
We Tried 20 Bottles of Barbecue Sauce — These Are the Ones Worth Eating
Groceries
Number 1 is “the platonic ideal of BBQ sauce.”
Jun 8, 2025
We Tried 12 Jars of Salsa — And No One Saw the Winner Coming
“It’s bright and fresh.”
May 12, 2025
We Tried As Many Margarita Mixes As We Could Find — And the $9 Favorite Won By a Landslide (It Tastes So Fresh!)
Every single taster said, “Yes, I’d buy it.”


Apr 30, 2025
We Tried and Ranked Every Oreo Flavor We Could Find — And We Were Shocked by the Winner
The winner just narrowly secured top honors.
Apr 27, 2025
Trader Joe’s Just Leaked Info on a Brand-New Italian Grocery Hitting Shelves This Summer
It’ll be “fantastic” on summer salads.
Apr 9, 2025
We Tried 14 Cans of Chili — And One Iconic Brand Swept All 3 Categories
Groceries
We were truly shocked by the results.
Feb 14, 2025
We’re a Family of 4 in New Jersey — Here’s How We Spent Only $72 on Groceries for the Week
“I don’t force myself to stick to a weekly budget.”
Nov 14, 2024
I Always Make a Double Batch of This Old-Fashioned British Pastry
Do future you a favor.
Oct 20, 2024
The 18 Best Groceries You Can Buy at BJ’s
Don't sleep on number 11.
Oct 9, 2024
The One Trader Joe’s Item You Should Grab Before Halloween, According to Store Employees
Plus, three more sweets returning to shelves.
Oct 8, 2024
How a Pennsylvania Family of 4 Spends $230 a Week on Groceries (Mostly) at Aldi
Meal planning also helps cut extra spending.
Oct 6, 2024
My Simple Swap for Vegetable Oil That Makes Boxed Cake Mix Taste 1000x Better
I’ve been doing it for decades.
Sep 20, 2024
I’m a Seasonal Actor, and My Partner Works at a Home Health Agency — We Spent $23 on a Week’s Worth of Groceries
They picked up some staples for free at a local food pantry.
Sep 19, 2024
My Husband and I Are Both Retired Teachers Living in Arizona — We Spent $146 on a Weekly Grocery Haul and Came in $34 Under Budget
Groceries
Meats are frequently added as a “condiment” in vegetable dishes.
Aug 23, 2023