Hello Friends 
I wouldn’t call myself a true foodie since I’m not fancy, have no idea what the hell a truffle is and drink $2.00 bottles of wine (note bottles is pluralized).
But, I LOVE FOOD! I love eating and cooking and buying food. And since I’m so loud and proud about my favorites I get a lot of questions about my “must-haves” from different stores.
Here is my essential list from Costco aka the place of a watermelon lover’s dreams…
Costco is a great place to save on bread. But, I realize not everyone is like me and eats 5 or 6 pieces a day. Luckily, they are packed in individual bags so you can freeze half of it when you get home.
You have to buy 2 of these at a time for the price of $5.99. But they are BIGGER than the normal loafs you get at the grocery store.
STOP EVERYTHING if you have this kind of bread at your Costco. It’s the best kind of non-bakery bread out there. LOVE it.
Next up are my picks from the refrigerated case section. Ben and I both love using the Laughing Cow wedges on sandwiches (especially egg sandwiches!).
In my eyes, Sabra hummus is the only hummus
.
Veggie burgers are pretty expensive – $4.50 for one pack?! No thanks. But, I don’t have time to make them from scratch. Enter bulk veggies burgers:
We go through eggs super fast around here, so this pack comes in handy.
The dairy section has organic milk and greek yogurt. Some Costcos have Chobani, some have Fage (some even have both!).
I buy Gatorade by the case. Since I don’t drink it that often I used to forget until I was walking out the door on a long run. Now I keep a case in the pantry and just put one in the fridge the night before a long run. Easy.
You really cannot beat this price on real Maple Syrup.
Cereal! Costco has some good healthy cereal options including Kashi and Nature’s Path. My Costco also has big boxes of Quaker Oats and Coach’s Oats.
Ben’s super into protein bars these days and I usually have 1 or 2 a week that missed the blog’s eye.
Yep, I buy gum in bulk from Costco.
Fun fact: Every time I go to Costco I visit the 72 oz. bag of chocolate chips. One day when I decide to let my life go to shit, I’m going to buy it and eat them by the handful while watching Golden Girls reruns.
I’ll probably throw it back with swigs of this…
And of course I get my produce from there since I go through it like chocolate chips water. I buy the hearts of romaine, huge bags of broccoli, bell peppers, bananas, grapes and of course Watermelon <3
Lunch included the romaine.
And the final Costco must have is something I actually only let myself have every now and then…
Those hand dipped ice cream bars with nuts are to die for!
Do you have any Costco essentials I didn’t mention?
Love, love, love this list but my favorite quote ever just might be:
“Fun fact: Every time I go to Costco I visit the 72 oz. bag of chocolate chips. One day when I decide to let my life go to shit, I’m going to buy it and eat them by the handful while watching Golden Girls reruns.”
Seriously funny stuff.
so many info, thanks a lot.http://www.jogosdoxmen.com
oh, yes, i saw someone else put this one – quinoa. we definitely get theirs. also pasta, sun dried tomatoes, olives, artichoke hearts, and garlic olive oil for my pasta salads. 🙂
we always get their giant bag of carrots, whatever fruits are in season and look ripe and amazing, mango and guava juices, the giant bag of cat litter, the giant bag of natural dog food, cod skin and duck treats for the dog.
hahahaha…i am pretty sure my life went to shit this year…I went out last night…it was a tuesday..and i was hammered…cool.
#collegegirlproblems
I love the Kirkland fruit and nut medley! I honestly used to have a friend ship it to me before I realized I could get it in Canada (this is the kind of thing there would be a black market for).
I used to think it was a recipe for disaster to have it around, let alone in such large quantities, but now that I’m eating more intuitively and trusting all foods (okay, maybe not chocolate covered peanut butter pretzels) in my house, I keep a bag around. It’s great on salads or my favourite is to have it with Kashi Go Lean Crunch and vanilla soy milk for breakfast!
nom nom nom!
i am so into seeing what other people have at their costco! we have chobani and plain fage, but not flavored fage. and, of course, in utah.. no liquor!
I buy spinach, meat, quinoa, olive oil, canned beans and spices from Costco (as well as a lot of the things you mentioned).
The last time I went to Costco was years ago and I was doing price comparisons. They do have giant packages of things, but the per unit price is the same as my grocery store. I actually save money by not shopping there since I don’t have to pay to belong to WinCo, since it’s just a regular grocery store. Although, being able to buy a 72 oz bag of chocolate chips sounds pretty awesome… 🙂
I love your comment! My boyfriend is hardcore about checking the actual price per ounce and we have wondered how costco or sams club measure up. Good to know! However, somethings are nice for us to buy in bulk- and the produce at costco is way better then at our home town grocery-as well as the qaulity of the meat- so paying the same price IS a bargain in that sense, too bad we cant make it very often because it is 2 hours away.. ahh, rural life.
Ah, yes! Quality is definitely important. I wasn’t exactly eating much produce when we went before, so I have no idea what it was like at CostCo 🙂
Since you mention Chia Seeds quite regularly on your site I’ve been keeping an eye out for them–and I found them at my Costco last weekend! They are wonderful in my smoothies and I’m planning on putting them in my pancakes this weekend as well.
Also, Costco’s deal on Nutella is beyond awesome!
I love, love, love Costco! We always get:
– Healthy Choice Fudge bars (a huge, chocolate ice-cream fix for only 100 calories)
– Chobani cases of flavored Greek yogurt
– Kirkland Greek Yogurt! – You must try this! You get two 32-ounce tubs of amazingly thick, creamy, delicious, fat-free, plain Greek yogurt for only $6.60!!! It tastes amazing and it’s some of the best Greek yogurt I’ve ever had!
– La Tortilla Factory Wraps (huge, high-fiber, delicious 80-calorie wraps)
– Nature’s Own 100% Whole Wheat Bread (50 calories and 4 grams of protein per slice of real bread and it’s more satisfying to me than the Thins)
– Boca Burgers (a 16-pk for only $8.99 and each is larger than the ones at the grocery store)
– Kirkland 3-pk turkey breast slices (delicious, convenient, thick-sliced turkey breast for only 30 calories per slice)
– Babybel Mini Light cheeses (the little ones wrapped in red wax are an amazing protein-packed snack and they’re scrumptious in grilled cheeses and omelettes)
– Acme Smoked Salmon (bagels and lox is my favorite food, so this one-pound package of top-quality smoked salmon for only $12 is an unbelievable deal)
– Island Way Sorbet (these are so cute – they’re individual tropical sorbets packed in real fruit shells. Think coconut sorbet in a coconut shell, pineapple sorbet in a pineapple shell, mango-passion fruit sorbet in an orange shell. A package of 12 is only $13 and they’re low in calories and fat, but so refreshing)
– Palermo’s Primo Thin Margherita pizza (Perfect for a pizza fix! These large, thin-crust, frozen pizzas are topped with garlicky tomatoes and lots of cheese and only 260 calories for 1/3 of a large pizza! Even if you go crazy and eat the whole pizza it’s only 780 calories. And they’re ready in only 10 minutes – for when you need pizza right now! They’re delicious as-is or if you’re feeling creative you can add fun toppings)
– Produce like bags of 10 bananas for $1.47, tubs of mushrooms, the mini bell peppers you love, broccoli slaw, etc…
Those are the essentials – but the list seems to get longer and longer every week!
We also have Laughing Cow wedges here where we live. The light ones. I enjoy them with Whole wheat crackers.
I have one of those bags of chocolate chips! I bake a lot, and the first one I bought lasted me like, 7 months. I bought another before I moved to Kenya and it just arrived! I totally baked chocolate chip banana bread first thing.
The day my mom came home with a giant multi-pack of Chobani from Costco was a very good day.
Oh Costco, how I love thee..
How do you get your eggs to look soooo so patty-like? Do you microwave them? I love eggs!
I’m a huge fan of the giant bags of cranberries, the random granola-esque bars in the bakery, the Babybel cheese packs, and the (awesome) fruit. Oh, and the 2-pack Champion sports bras.
Also, no one has mentioned the SAMPLES, which, let’s be honest, is 80% of the reason I go in the first place. 🙂 That and the deluxe pizza!
Costco is awesome! I wish I had a membership, we used to a long time ago. I would probably go way overboard in there! I need the huge pack of gum, I go through so much so fast.
I am new to the land of “healthy living blogs” and I really like yours so far! I also struggle with binge eating…trying to get my disordered view of food under control while embracing my love for eating and fitness! Love your sense of humor. Thanks for the reminder to hit up my local Costco soon! One more thing: I’d kill to run a 5k under a 9 minute pace…never mind a marathon! You’re faster than you think!
Hi Lindy, Welcome and thank you for the fast comment – I needed that 🙂
I love costco!!! That ice cream looks amazing!
Arg. The closest Costco is 90 minutes from me. But now I’m rethinking my local investments…
My mom got us a Costco membership a few months ago and I think we’ve gone once. Our Costco is just too far away!
I always get the big box of spinach and the huge bag of carrots and a big box of Lara Bars 🙂 I love to get my berries there in the summertime too 🙂
I almost took a picture of the Larabars too 🙂
Rumor has it they’re building a costco here and I’m really, really excited. They’re so much better than Sam’s!
The MaraNantha almond butter and 4 lb of quinoa have already been mentioned, so…
*10 lb of oats (under $8 I believe)
*5 lb of honey (roughly $10)
*7 lb bag of brown sugar ($5ish)
*vanilla extract (will last a small eternity and still be okay)
Then… mega bottle of white vinegar (less than $4)- PERFECT for fabric softener/keeping clothes fresh and smelling GREAT….and WAY better than other products. (just toss in the downy ball and into the washing machine!) …. or the mega (12 lb bag) of baking soda ($7ish) for the same purpose plus cleaning!
Wait – I need help with the white vinegar trick. How does it work exactly?
Our costco carts are nearly identical but I get almond butter for about five bucks. And I just discovered chia seeds
Your Costco has chia seeds?! Lucky!
Oops, I also wanted to ask you if you have tried the Light Jose Cuervo Margaritas? I tried the Skinny Girl and they are pretty strong. Wonder how much sugar the Light JC has?
I think the Light JC has fake sugar, so it’s less calories but SG is probably a smarter choice.
We don’t have a membership anymore but our friends do and thankfully always let us know when they are making a Costco run! In fact, they are going there this week. On the list? Almonds, walnuts, maple syrup, agave, organic peanut butter, egg whites, Lara bars, gummy bear vitamins and diaper wipes 🙂
I ALWAYS buy the bag of chocolate chips! It’s an essential that I just can’t run out of when the baking bug strikes. 😉
We don’t have a Costco membership but use my in-laws’ Sams club one on occasion…for diapes, pullups, and formula. Excitement.
I need to see if they have any goods like this though! Especially that ice cream bar and tequila. 😉
Truth be told, I’m totally still on my mom’s Costco card 🙂
I felt like I was at costco with you:) Now I am craving that ice cream bar! We ALWAYS get cottage cheese and our milk from Costco. Costco bread selection is my favorite!
ahh i need some watermelon!
My boyfriend and I love those bags of trail mix that has dried strawberries, kiwi, mango, apple, pineapple, papaya, etc…. plus nuts. We can go through those 53 servings pretty damn quick. 😉
53 servings?! I need to get my eyes checked, thought it only said 5…
Sabra hummus is definitely the only hummus!! Oh, and I want that bag of chocolate chips. I think it could last me a week. Or, three days…
I think all my essentials were mentioned in the comments- almonds, frozen mango (and cherries), quinoa, and spinach. I also often buy milk there- just because it is cheaper.
I love that Kirkland Ancient Grains Granola- so tasty!
I love to buy their ginormous bags of raw almonds. For parties, it’s the place to go for beer, cheeses, and chips.
We don’t have the room now, but once we get a bigger house, I’m totally renewing my Costco card and taking advantage of it all.
Costco musts for us are 4 lb bags of organic quinoa, Kirkland plain greek yogurt, Sabra hummus and these Sunrise Omega 3 energy bars (YUMMY! and a great ingredient list).
I totally want to try those energy bars!
These photos are all really helpful. I never go to Costco, so I had no idea what was in that place.
I love those sandwich thin buns! But Costco in Canada doesn’t carry them so when I am in the States I buy a few bags and freeze them 🙂
I love Sabra hummus too! Or Tribal is another brand I buy a lot.
Lucky with the Greek yogurt, we only have Liberty plain but I will take it, its better than nothing!
Maple syrup, is also one of our Costco favs and my husband goes through so much cereal we buy a lot of that too.
Our other Costco favs are spinach, berries, peanut butter, quinoa, vanilla, steel cut oats and Cliff bars.
Hey Lindsey,
I am from Canada too and the Costco in my city carries sandwich thin buns! I forget what brand they are but they are way better than the weight watchers’ thins which is what I used to get.
When I see a watermelon, I think of you always! Ha! You love them so much! So does my husband ; )
I actually have no Costco near me, but a Sams Club, which is the same thing!
I am moving though, and I will have a Costco near me, will have to check it out!
Going to Costco is so much fun! I usually end up eating lunch there!
I love the big bags of spinach and their frozen veggies! ps – that ice cream bar looks ridic.
I’ve NEVER been to a Costco. I know. I’m a freak of nature.
I will take you little grasshopper.
I wish we had a Costco where I lived! We have a Sam’s Club and I don’t care what anybody says THEY ARE NOT THE SAME!!!!!!! Costco is like heaven on earth and I can’t wait for the day when we get one (who know when that will be).
Our Costco MUSTS: eggs, turkey sausage links, frozen salmon, salsa, gatorade 2 and cat food! Sometimes I’ll buy the Rice Krispie Treats there too. 🙂
I don’t go to Costco often but every once in a while I find a friend to take me to get those giant $10 bags of frozen mango! Heaven!!
Giant tubs of cottage cheese for $4! We usually buy 3 or 4 at a time. I can’t buy cottage cheese at the regular grocery store anymore–it’s ike $5 for two servings! Crazy!
The big container of organic baby spinach is a must for green smoothies all week! $3.99….can’t beat it. I also get bananas there every week. On a smoothie note, I was waiting in the car with my kids while my husband ran into Costco for a few “essentials” about a month ago. He came back with a Vitamix. I almost choked when he told me how much it was. I do have to say that it has been one of the best purchases ever though!
Lucky!!!
How about a ridiculously large bag of boneless skinless chicken breasts, an absurd size bag or natural almonds, and a ginormous jar of MaraNatha All Natural Almond Butter?
Those chicken breasts are in my freezer now.
Red Bull! (for wings)
Secretly, that big jar of gourmet jelly beans makes it into the cart from time to time…and those liquor filled chocolates during the holidays! 😉
I need wings. Red Bull is on my list for next time 🙂
yay! 🙂
Almond butter! My Costco has a BIG jar of MaraNatha Almond Butter for CHEAP. Great shopping! I am so with you on the cheap wine and the big cases of Gatorade and Chobani : )
My Costco has the Marantha too! And the one I went to in Maryland had it. I love that 🙂
I am also a huge Costco fan (there are many of us!). Always on my Costco list are pineapples–they have the best ones–and bananas which I let get really ripe then freeze for smoothies. Not exactly local produce but I love these two!
My number one Costco essential are the 3 pound bags of spinach, as well as a swirled frozen yogurt to eat on the way home 🙂