6 Things Nutritionists Always Buy at Costco
Whether going to Costco is part of your weekly routine or it’s a twice-a-year stop, it’s guaranteed to be worth your while—after all, where else can you stock up on groceries, clothes, and bulk household items in one fell swoop?
Nutritionists go to Costco for the same reasons you do: “I mostly buy toilet paper, wine, sunscreen, and gum,” confesses Holley Grainger, MS, RD, of Cleverful Living with Holley.
But we also have a handful of must-buy food favorites there (aside from fruits and veggies in bulk). Here’s what you’ll find us loading into our (gigantic) Costco carts:
Kirkland Dried Tart Cherries
This brand of dried cherries strikes the ideal balance of sweet and tart and perfectly plumped morsels that aren’t too oily. My kids eat these by the handful, and I use them year-round mixing them into quick breads, homemade granola bars, salads, and even my cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving. -Brierley Horton, MS, RD
Wonderful In-Shell Pistachios Salt & Pepper
Our family is currently on a salt and pepper pistachios kick. And with the way our 7 year old plows through them, fortunately we can buy them in bulk. Of course we love that they taste great, but also offer quality nutrition: pistachios pack 6 grams of filling protein per ounce, and offer the most nuts per serving (about 49 nuts) compared to other nuts, like 18 cashews or 28 peanuts for the same ounce. Those nuts are perfectly fine to snack on as well, but pistachios will give you the most bang for your buck. -Chris Mohr, PhD, RD, of MohrResults.com
Bibigo Fully Cooked Chicken and Cilantro Mini Wontons
The chicken and cilantro flavor is delicious—and exclusive to Costco. But the main reason these one-bite-sized wontons are in my freezer is because they’re so versatile. You can eat these solo (with some sides, of course) for lunch or dinner, you can serve a tray of them as an appetizer for guests, or stir them into an Asian-flavored soup. -Brierley Horton, MS, RD
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Collagen Peptides by Vital Proteins
As a busy mom, my breakfast is often a smoothie packed with as much nutrition as possible, including a scoop or two of collagen powder. I love to grab the 24-ounce canister at Costco because it lasts me a month or so longer than the standard sizes! -Shannon A. Garcia, MDS, RD, LD with KISS in the Kitchen
Chicken Street-Taco Kit
This quick-and-easy solution to dinner comes with corn tortillas, tasty pre-cooked and chopped chicken, grated cheese, salsa, a delicious cilantro lime crema, and a few wedges of lime. Everyone can build their own tacos exactly how they like them! -Holley Grainger, MS, RD, of Cleverful Living with Holley
Better Than Bouillon Organic Base
This is my go-to when a recipe calls for stock or broth—just mix a little of the paste with water. And I like to buy it at Costco because it’s always available in a larger size—and I can usually find a variety of flavors. The Mushroom and No-Chicken are my top two favorites. Plus, the jar takes up less space in my fridge than a carton of stock, and I love that I can adjust the concentration of the broth if I want to tweak the flavor or saltiness of a recipe. —Brierley Horton, MS, RD
