My Top 10 Favorite Finds at Costco

I really love Costco. It's one of my favorite places to get bulk pantry and frozen foods that will last for awhile in our kitchen. Plus, they have an especially good selection of organic options that are a bit easier on the wallet.

Below are ten of my favorite Costco finds! I have plenty of other staples that I buy there, but I've narrowed it down for now; perhaps I'll make a part two later on. Keep in mind not every Costco sells the same products, so there is a possibility you may not see all of these at your store.

1. Organic Grass-fed Ground Beef or Ground Bison

I try to buy organic meat as often as I can, because there are slight but significant nutritional differences between grass-fed animals and conventionally-raised in my opinion. These come with 2 (bison) or 3 (beef) separate packages so you can take out one that you need immediately and freeze the others.

What I use it for: burgers, tacos, meatballs, chili/soup

2. Organic Fruit (Fresh & Frozen)

They have a great selection of organic fruits - both fresh and frozen. For the fresh, I typically go for the berries when they're in season and apples. For the frozen varieties, you can find individual fruits or mixed fruit blends. I am particularly fond of the frozen blueberries or cherries. Frozen fruit is picked at peak ripeness and in some cases is actually MORE nutrient-rich than fresh because the freezing process halts the enzymes that begin degrading its quality. Plus, it lasts way longer in the kitchen so we reduce food waste. Two bonuses in my book.

What I use them for: in cereal/oatmeal, smoothies, warm compote on pancakes/waffles, plain for a snack, on a salad

3. Taylor Farms Chopped Salad Kits

We almost always have a salad kit on hand because they are just so convenient to throw together for a quick lunch or side to dinner when we want veggies. I also love the flavors and styles of the salad kits, especially the Mediterranean Crunch. One thing to remember is that you're not limited to just what is in the salad kit, you can always customize it: add leftover chicken or steak from dinner the night before; put a pouch of tuna or salmon on top; use other veggies you have on hand to bulk it up; add extra nuts or seeds; or use your own dressing if you don't like the one provided. The sky's the limit!

What I use it for: quick lunch with a protein (e.g. leftover chicken, tuna pouch/can, boiled eggs), side salad with dinner

4. Dave's Killer Bread

Ever since my trip to Portland in 2015, I've been obsessed with Dave's and I was so happy to see it gain popularity because that meant Costco sold it (at a bargain price). You get two loaves for $6.99 (prices may vary), meaning each loaf is about $3.50; I've never seen a loaf under $5 at my local grocery chains. We keep one loaf in the freezer until the other one runs out so it remains fresh longer.

What I use it for: sandwiches (e.g. PB & berries, turkey & muenster, hummus & veggie), toast (avocado & fried egg, goat cheese & fig jam, PB & banana), blended to make bread crumbs for meatballs/meatloaf/veggie patties

5. Bulk Nuts

I think we can all agree that nuts are not the most affordable food out there, but their health benefits are well-documented; research shows they may help lower the risk for heart disease and diabetes, and may assist in healthy weight management (Ros, 2010). At Costco, you can buy almonds, pecans, walnuts, cashews, peanuts or mixed nuts in a large bag or container for much cheaper than you'd find at a grocery store. A 48-ounce bag of almonds was just $12.99 at my Costco!

What I use them for: in homemade trail mix, as a topping on yogurt, in muffins/breads/pancakes, added to cereal/oatmeal

6. Duke's Smoked Shorty Sausages

Good ol' beef jerky is a really handy source of protein to have around for snacks. If you've ever scoured the jerky aisle reading labels you may have noticed that many brands have quite a bit of added sugar. That's one of the reasons I like Duke's; only 1g of added sugar per serving (=2 links), plus 7g of protein. They come in the link style vs the strip style, which I prefer, because the strips are usually difficult to bite off and chew in my opinion. A regular 5-ounce bag of Duke's at the grocery store generally runs around $6-$8 from what I've seen in Denver, but Costco sells a 16-ounce bag for around $13.

What I use them for: snacks on the go/traveling, usually pair it with a fruit for a complete snack or eat it alone if I'm not super hungry but need something to get me to my next meal

7. Waterloo or La Croix Sparkling Water

When regular water gets a little boring, I like to drink sparkling water for flavor and bubbles without the added sugars or sugar alternatives. Waterloo is my favorite brand and I could find it in Texas because it's distributed in Austin, but unfortunately haven't seen it in Colorado...yet (fingers crossed). The La Croix comes in a 24-pack for about $7.99, which is pretty good considering most 8-packs at grocery stores run closer to $3.50-$4 a pop.

What I use it for: drink by itself refrigerated or on ice, mixed with kombucha, mixer for alcoholic beverages, when I feel nauseous or have an uneasy tummy

8. Milton's Cauliflower Crust Pizza

This pizza is certified gluten-free for those that need to abstain from gluten; fortunately I'm not one of them, but I'm always looking for ways to increase my veggie intake and what better way than in pizza! I still eat the real deal occasionally, but I actually really love the taste of this crust - it has a nice crispy outside, but it's still soft on the inside (so it's not like eating cardboard).

What I use it for: served fresh from the oven with a side salad, and sometimes I'll add extra toppings (e.g. bell peppers, mushrooms, leftover chicken or canadian bacon)

9. Organic Frozen Veggies

Just like the organic fruit, Costco has plenty of variety when it comes to organic frozen veggies. You can buy a giant bag of broccoli or green beans, or opt for a mixed vegetable variety like stir fry blend or root medley (pictured below). One thing I've noticed lately is that the frozen veggies are packed in steamable bags, so they can easily be removed in smaller portions and popped in the microwave. I love how easy companies are making it for all of us busy bees to get veggies on our plate.

What I use them for: steamed along with a protein for a meal, added to soups/casseroles/stir fry/omelette

10. Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes Buttermilk Flapjack & Waffle Mix

If you've followed along my instagram (@hungrynutritionist) at all, you probably know I love pancakes. A lot. I prefer my pancakes to be made with whole grains (for the fiber and vitamins/minerals), low in sugar, and with some protein to help keep me satisfied longer; enter Kodiak Cakes mix. Costco sells a 4.5-pound box for around $12 (although it was recently on sale for $8.50 - score!), while the 1.25-pound box sells for $4-$5 at a grocery store.

What I use them for: pancakes or waffles with added blueberries or dark chocolate chips, muffins, energy bars