Costco Food Finds - Healthy Style

Although I can't stress enough the important of fresh food, farm food, and real food - there is also an element of buying in bulk that can really help out a family on a budget. With that being said, I still have a hard time getting out of there without spending over $200! Recently I decided to take on the warehouse store we go to - Costco - and scope out some healthier items you and your family can purchase to have on hand for those quick and healthy family meals.

What you have to keep in mind with any warehouse store is that even though they sell fruits and vegetables, you have no idea how long ago they were picked, packaged, and driven to that store to then sit on a shelf to be purchased. However, buying fruits and vegetables anywhere is better than not buying them at all!

Some of the healthier items I purchase for my family are:

100 Calorie Popcorn Packs- Perfect kid snack and friends love it too.
Almond Butter - Great buy! Use on sand which bread, apples, celery, etc
Amy's Lentil Soup - Perfect Fall/Winter lunch.
Avocados - Make homemade guacamole, slice up on salads, dice for kids or mash for babies.
Black/Navy/Kidney Beans - My kids love beans. Eat plain, with rice, in chili/tacos instead of meat.
Brown Rice & Quinoa Quick Packs - A one minute side dish to any meal.
Cheerios - When you have toddlers this is a staple.
Chobioni Greek Yogurt - Plain, add granola or fresh fruit, add to smoothies, etc.
Craisons - Put on salads, or a go-to snack at our house is "goldfish & cranberries".
Fresh Fish - not as fresh as I would like, but great for larger anticipated dinner needs.
Frozen Fruit - Smoothies!!
Frozen Perdue Chicken - Easy single servings you can thaw in hours and have for dinner.
Frozen Salmon - Easy single servings you can thaw in hours and have for dinner.
Hummus - Buy the small individual packs for school/snacks.
Hot Sauce - My husband puts this on everything.
Kashi Go Lean Cereal - My whole family loves plain or with Almond Milk.
Lemons - Put in water, squeeze on salads, slice on fish, etc.
Macaroni & Cheese - Annie's Homegrown is a staple in my pantry.
Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar - Great for sautes or salad dressings.
Organic Crushed Tomatoes - Homemade spaghetti sauce!
Organic Diced Tomatoes - Mexican dishes, chili, sauces, etc.
Organic Eggs - Need I say more.
Organic Jelly - I prefer all natural, but you can't beat the price per ounce.
Organic Tomato Sauce - Make your own enchilada sauce, add to ground beef or chili.
Organic Tortilla Chips - What is Mexican night dinner without tortilla chips?
Pretzels - Another bulk item I always have on hand. I try not to have chips in the house.
Red/Yellow Onions - Saute, grill, or roast. We add onions to everything!
Spices - Buying spices in bulk saves a ton of money!
Sweet Potatoes - Dice and bake or slice up like "fries" which is a favorite in our house.
Tunafish - Try mixing it with brown spicy mustard instead of mayo.
Veggie Straws - School snacks or take on the go.
Walnuts/Almonds/Pine Nuts - Buying in bulk saves money. Eat plain as a snack or add to salads.
Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread - By far one of the best deals going. We go through alot of bread.
Whole Carrots - So much better tasting than baby carrots...its worth peeling your own.
Whole Grain Pasta - Good for any last minute dinner.


We all know I'm not a fan of fast food, so I'd rather make a semi-homemade meal with the help of a box or a can than run through a drive-thru anyday! Good luck with your finds - these are just some of my family's favorites. Happy shopping!