Healthy: Fresh and frozen fruits and veggies
Whether fresh or frozen, Costco’s fruit and veggie selection hosts plenty of fiber and vitamins, and they’re convenient for the price. Meg O’Rourke, RD-LDN, specifically likes Kirkland Signature Three Berry Blend. It is a great source of vitamin K, fiber and antioxidants. “They are the perfect addition to smoothies, yogurts or as a frozen treat for the summer,” she says. Find out more Kirkland items you should definitely buy at Costco.
Unhealthy: Bread
Dr. John La Puma, nutritionist and author of ChefMD’s Big Book of Culinary Medicine, likes to avoid this aisle altogether. Everything looks so delicious, but most of the white bread products Costco sells are low in fiber with only a few exceptions. Most of the bread is incredibly processed and has high calories, with little to no dietary benefit. Here’s your guide to all types of bread!
Healthy: Whole grain bread
The exception? Whole grain bread! Rachel Fine, registered dietician and founder of To The Pointe Nutrition, loves Dave’s Killer Bread, an organic, whole grain option that is both delicious and healthy. Where you can find some nutritious finds like this one may be one of the secrets Costco employees won’t tell you.
Unhealthy: Processed snack foods
Top on licensed dietician and nutritionist Amanda Kostro Miller‘s list of unhealthy foods to limit or control from Costco? Any of their processed snack foods. Most contain lots of fat, sodium and sugar, without a lot of nutrition. Some of her picks for the worst offenders: cheesy puffs, peanut butter cheese crackers, cheesy or caramel popcorn and chips. If you don’t think you can kick your chip addiction to the curb, try these five healthy brands instead.
Healthy: Nuts and seeds
A great substitution for those unhealthy snacks is one of Costco’s massive-sized bags of nuts! One of the most affordable ways to buy some of the pricier nuts is in bulk, which is why almost all the nutritionists we spoke to mentioned them. Nuts are full of fiber, protein and healthy fats, all of which will work together to keep your hunger at bay. Fine added that she likes to stock up on pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds and flax seeds from Costco as well.
Unhealthy: Bakery items
Unfortunately, the pre-made bakery items are also on top of the unhealthy list. O’Rourke specifically points out Kirkland Signature Butter Croissants, which are 45 percent fat and tout only a single gram of fiber. Which is a bummer, because we love using croissants in these irresistible recipes.
Healthy: Fresh whole cuts of meat
The good news? That entire section of fresh, whole cuts of meat is fair game! A huge source of protein, iron and vitamins, just about anything from Costco’s huge selection of fresh meat at bargain prices is a great choice! While it’s usually cheaper to buy in bulk, sometimes a little extra saving can go a long way. Be sure to use these 13 tips frequent Costco shoppers keep to themselves the next time you shop to save as much money as possible.
Unhealthy: Processed meats
You know the drill. The more processed a food selection is, the more additives it has. And while that is not necessarily a bad thing, it generally means more fat, more sodium, more nitrates and more preservatives. A few to steer clear of: bologna, salami and cured deli meat.
Healthy: Canned tuna, chicken and salmon
While more processed than the fresh whole cuts, canned tuna, chicken and salmon still host enough benefits to outweigh anything negative that is being added in the processing process. The protein and convenience offered with these options made Kostro Miller give them a thumbs up. Apprehensive about canned meat? Here are some delicious canned tuna recipes that will change your mind.
Unhealthy: Pre-made pantry goods
Pre-made/processed pantry goods like canned ravioli, Hamburger Helper or box goods that have pre-made, powdered sauces tend to have a lot of fat, sodium and preservatives. Besides, with all the fresh food Costco offers at affordable prices, it can be easy and inexpensive to make your own! Not everything at Costco will save you money, however. Be sure to keep these Costco items that are actually costing you more out of your cart.
Healthy: Pre-made quinoa and brown rice
The trend has been pretty obvious thus far. If it is pre-made or too processed, you’re probably going to want your cart to steer clear of that item—but Costco’s quinoa and brown rice are an exception. Carla Schuit, MPH, RD, LDN, a licensed dietitian at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, always stocks up on these staples when she goes to Costco. “So easy to use as a base and toss some convenient protein in, such as grilled chicken, salmon or shrimp,” Schuit says. “Add a scoop of already made quinoa or brown rice and you have an easy complete meal. I always have two bags on hand.” Here are some quinoa recipes to get you started.
Unhealthy: Giant cookies
If you’ve ever seen one of these monstrosities in person, you probably saw this coming. However, Dr. La Puma notes that the reason these delicious desserts are so bad for you isn’t necessarily what’s inside them; it’s their size. You can still enjoy the chocolate chip goodness by cutting the cookie into quarters and savoring the flavor over the course of several days, he says. Or, try one of these homemade chocolate chip cookies!
Healthy: Greek yogurt
Healthy and delicious! Greek yogurt makes a great snack, the base of a delicious smoothie, and it provides these 9 benefits for your gut health. Combine with fruit, raw honey or just eat plain, and you’ve got a nutritious and delicious snack.
Unhealthy: Pizza
And no, we’re not just talking about the food court by the checkout. Kirkland Signature Cheese Pizza is high in fat and very high in sodium. While most foods can be fit into any diet in moderation, in this case, you’d be much better off picking up one of Costco’s new cauliflower crust pizzas that we are absolutely obsessed with.
Healthy: Olive oil
According to Fine, Costco’s olive oil, in particular, received a thumbs up from Consumer Lab‘s independent testing. While we all know that olive oil is rich in healthier fats and a great way to cook food nutritionally, many brands of olive oil come tainted with additional oils mixed in. Kirkland’s, however, completely passed testing. Here’s how to tell if your olive oil is fake.
Unhealthy: Pre-made desserts
They are delicious, but Costco’s pre-made desserts are primarily pure white flour, sugar, butter and stabilizers. Not exactly what you could call nutritious. One of our favorites, the Kirkland Signature 12″ Cheesecake, unfortunately has 11 grams of fat in a single slice and very little nutritional value to offset the caloric intake. That cheesecake may be one of the things you shouldn’t be buying at Costco, but you definitely should be getting these 15 things you aren’t buying at Costco.
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Isabel Roy