I went to Costco for the FIRST time, and this is what I would buy again! My First Costco Haul Favorites are whole foods, better-for-you-than-most snacks, and the trick to healthier eating with a big and busy family!
That’s right. These are my FIRST Costco Haul Favorites. I tagged alongside my wise sister, Laura, reading labels and comparing prices. Costco has a wide variety of organic and clean foods for our family looking to eat healthier on a Gluten-free, sugar-free, less processed diet! We are far from perfect, but every bite counts, right? It was great to have her advice from years of experience eating whole foods and her abundance of knowledge as a functional medicine pharmacist.
Snacks are where our family falls short in eating healthy, so three of these top Five Costco Finds are snacks. With five kids between the ages of 3-12, we are constantly busy running from park playdates, family gatherings, and to-and-from sports. Bananas get crushed, and coolers are a pain to lug around, so I would often find myself grabbing chips, junk, and more junk. However, these family-friendly Costco snacks are perfect for our bustling lifestyle!
The best thing about Costco is that they are always offering new products for their consumers to try and experience, but that means products are often seasonal. I will try to link back to Costco as many products as I can; however, most food items are not online and rotate through the stores quickly. So let the countdown begin! Here’s my Top Five First Time Costco Finds!!
#5 Mejdol Dates
Sun Date Organic Medjool Dates was a deal I couldn’t pass up. These dates are the perfect ingredient to healthier snacks to help curve sweet-tooth cravings. We love them in our Date Snickers recipe! Made of dates, almond butter, and chocolate, this frozen snack is Snickers’ healthy friend! You can also use them in Mango-Date Energy Bites and Date Muffins! Yum! The only reason I am taking away one star is that my kids don’t always appreciate my creativity with putting dates in desserts! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#4 Fresh and Frozen Organic Fruits
If I let them, my family will live off of fruit smoothies, so we are constantly stocking our freezer with frozen fruits. And Costco is your place for organic fruits! We have successfully tried Kirkland Organic Blueberries, Strawberries, and Costcos Frozen Mangos. They are perfect in smoothies and as a snack straight from the bag. We have also had luck with finding organic strawberries on sale, so don’t be afraid to look around for those deals! Whether fresh or frozen, the price of fruit is right, and the quality is on par at Costco! This makes my family very happy!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#3 Organic Chickpea Puffs
What kid doesn’t like a puff covered in cheddar? Make that puff made of less stuff, and moms are happy too! Hippeas Organic Chickpea Puffs in white cheddar is a kid’s dream. I brought them to play dates and pool parties. We scored this gigantic 18-ounce bag for $7.99 compared to a 4-ounce bag for $3.28 from other stores, so if you find them, they are worth it. To keep them fresh, I portion them out in multiple containers with the added bonus of easier snacking! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#2 Made Good Granola Minis
Offered in either berry or chocolate flavor, my kids begged for these pre-packaged Granola Minis from Made Good. The fun little balls of packed granola made them a joy to eat (and sometimes portion out😉.) Each granola bite had just enough sweet flavor while not overdoing it on the chocolate. These kid-friendly snacks never crumbled into a mess or made sticky hands and faces. This is my kids’ favorite Costco find! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#1 Veggie Crisps
Veggie Crisps from Off The Eaten Path is made from only seven ingredients! They are rice, peas, and black bean crisps that eat like a chip but have a rice-cake vibe to them. I love the saltiness of them. Veggie Crisps are the perfect chip substitute for packed lunches and snacks. My 12-year-old loved them about as much as me, and the younger kids didn’t complain. Win! We will definitely be buying these crisps again!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Costco Honorable Mentions
Organic Pre-cut and Washed Celery
Laura told me to buy these for quick picnics as a snack on the go, and boy, was she right! Celery is a refreshing snack. Not messy and pretty hardy. You can dress it up with peanut butter and dips or eat it plain. I fell in love with having celery at the ready as a healthy snack for all those spring field trips! Thank you, Laura! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Almond Flour
Almond flour can get expensive bought elsewhere and is a great ingredient in gluten-free baking. This Kirkland Almond Flour is a great deal at $12. Even at $2 more than I spent, this price per pound beats out other big box stores. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Almond Crackers
Gluten-free Simple Mills Almond Crackers are not my kids’ favorite. While not bad(more like plain), they are not the butter-round classics they are used to. However, we bought them for soup season, and these crunchy crackers are the perfect addition to soups (and salads.) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rating My First Costco Haul
Short answer: A total success!
Long answer: We live a fair distance from our nearest Costco, I hate driving, and there is that membership price; however, I think taking advantage of all that Costco has to offer a handful of times a year is worth it! Costco tends to be affordable to those trying to cut out over-processed and preserved foods. It has a great selection of fruits and vegetables, which is key to a whole foods diet. Costco also has cost savings on everyday paper products like tissues, toilet paper, and diapers. Plus, Costco has some unique fun finds too! If you are looking to try out Costco for whatever reason, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
Healthy Recipes for Families
Life is a crazy journey, and these recipes keep us in check on our everyday eating! While we still indulge often, I believe in slow change that lasts, so check back often to see what’s new!
Top Favorite Meal!! This delicious Ground Beef Fried Rice recipe is browned ground beef, rice, and egg, all cooked with peas, carrots, and celery and coated in soy sauce or coconut aminos. Warm, filling, and full of the foods we already love, this easy main gives us all the comfort food vibes in a healthy alternative.
This Easy Baked Pork Chops recipe is a flavorful spice rub made with pantry staples that are oven baked just right for tender, juicy pork chops! Add whole-food steamed veggies and potatoes for a perfect meal!
Is your garden bursting with zucchini? This soup recipe will blow your socks, all while keeping it clean. Diced zucchini, peppers, carrots, celery, and onions combine with Italian sausage in a tomato-base soup for a colorful and flavorful Italian Sausage and Zucchini Soup recipe that will awaken the taste buds!
Leave a Reply