I'm a dietitian, personal trainer, and triathlon coach who loves Costco. Here are 11 of my favorite things to buy there.
Cassandra Padula Burke
- As a registered dietitian, personal trainer, and athlete, I buy foods to fuel performance.
- Costco is a great place to buy both whole foods and convenient snacks for the month.
As a dietitian, personal trainer, triathlon coach, and busy mom, I try to fuel my family with a variety of whole foods.
My husband is a distance runner, our daughter is a collegiate swimmer, and I'm training for a triathlon, so proper nutrition is key. But like any family, we also eat plenty of convenience foods.
Costco is one of my favorite places to stock up on everything we need.
Along with our usual whole-food staples, I look for portable options that, ideally, contain only a few ingredients, meet our nutrition needs, and fuel our performance goals.
Here are some of my favorite things to buy at Costco.
Dave’s Killer Bread is one of the best on the market.
I usually grab a two-pack of Dave's Killer Bread and keep one loaf in the refrigerator and the other in the freezer.
I'll pair a slice with eggs, use it for tuna sandwiches, or crumble it up to make breadcrumbs for my homemade chicken meatballs.
My Costco carries a couple of varieties, but the 21 whole grains and seeds loaf is my favorite. It provides protein, omega-3s, and fiber — the latter can help support gut health and regulate blood-sugar levels.
I love the color and flavor tomatoes give to meals.
Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that promotes heart health and may reduce the risk of certain cancers. They're also an excellent source of folate, vitamin C, and potassium, which can support immune health.
I roast a batch of tomatoes weekly to serve on top of proteins or mix in with other veggies.
Amylu teriyaki-pineapple chicken meatballs are delicious.
Lean proteins that taste great are a must to support muscle repair and fuel our performance goals.
Chicken is lower in fat than red meat, and the glaze on the Amylu teriyaki-pineapple meatballs adds a touch of sweetness to the taste.
I love pairing them with rice and roasted veggies for a balanced, satisfying, and quick weeknight meal.
Veggie Cakes are a convenient way to increase your vegetable consumption.
The blend of broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, red peppers, kale, onions, and zucchini in the Veggies Made Great superfood veggie cakes is rich in vitamins A, C, and K and folate.
I like to pair them with eggs at breakfast to add some veggies to the start of my day.
Bean salads are one of my go-to sides.
Beans are a staple in our house — as a side dish and sometimes as the main feature. They're an excellent source of plant-based protein and fiber.
I like to pair the Summer Fresh Tuscan bean salad from Costco with grilled barbecue chicken or add it to a wrap for a hearty meal.
My daughter loves to eat a yogurt parfait as an afternoon snack.
Yogurt is a great source of probiotics, which support gut health. It's also an easy snack to throw together between practices.
I like to pick up a big tub of Fage's 0% milkfat yogurt at Costco and serve it with berries for some extra fiber.
Costco has a great selection of frozen berries.
Kirkland's three-berry blend with raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries is a nice frozen option. It's rich in antioxidants, which can promote immune health and help reduce inflammation.
I like to warm the berries and mix them and the juices with yogurt for a satisfying and sweet treat.
The frozen blend is also a great way to jazz up oatmeal or boost the nutrients in a smoothie.
I like to start my mornings with eggs — bonus points if they're ready to eat on the go.
We buy a lot of eggs from a local friend every week, but I also love to have a quick, portable option on hand for those busy mornings when I need to run out the door after my morning workout.
Kirkland's sous-vide egg bites fit the bill.
Eggs are a complete protein source, which means they contain all the essential amino acids our bodies need. I like that the egg bites can easily be tossed into a cooler bag and taken on the go.
My husband has me grab a box of Bobo’s oat bites.
Bobo's oat bites are a top pick for my husband. They're vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free; plus, they contain pureed fruit and whole-grain oats, which are a great source of soluble fiber and may help lower cholesterol levels.
The oats provide a slow-release energy source, making the bites a good option for runners and anyone who needs sustained energy throughout the day.
That’s It fruit bars are a satisfying treat without the sugar crash.
Both the runner and collegiate swimmer in my house love the taste of the That's It mini fruit bars.
I love that they are 100% fruit with no added sugar or preservatives.
They're also individually packaged, so they're a great portable option for fueling a training session or curbing an afternoon sweet tooth.
SimplyFuel protein balls are a great option when I don't have time to make my own.
I love whipping up protein balls as a quick fueling option before or after a training session, but the SimplyFuel ones are the next best thing to my homemade version.
They travel well, and the mix of healthy fats, protein, and fiber makes them a powerhouse snack option for energy and recovery.
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