Most of us get a warehouse club membership in hopes of saving some money. That is why my family did it. But the more our diet evolved over the years the less we were buying in bulk because the offerings just weren’t available. The good news is these stores have continued to expand their offerings of foods that support our whole food lifestyle. Saving money and eating healthy can be done together. Let me show you some of my favorite finds.
Our family has a Costco Membership and these favorites were found there.
Almond Flour. This 3lb bag is only $19.99 at my local store. I have seen it at others for a little bit more. It is not certified organic but it is one of my favorite choices for grain free baking. This almond flour is the perfect consistency for muffins, bread, cookies and more. A great value if you are looking for a grain free alternative.
Organic Pure Maple Syrup. If you are on a budget, buying pure maple syrup can be a tough one to add to your list. Costco offers the Organic Grade A Maple Syrup for just $10.49 at my local store. Some stores offer this same size for over $20. Pure maple syrup still should be used in moderation but can be a great alternative to more refined sugars. I like to add it to my morning coffee and even bake with it.
Frozen Organic Vegetables. If you were to ever visit my home, my freezer is stocked with frozen vegetables. They are a quick and easy way to get more vegetables in our diet all year. And very affordable. The typically run around $6 to $8 dollars for a large bag. You can get things like broccoli, peas, green beans, and even asparagus. I love the green beans!
Organic Sprouted Grain Bread. This bread is located in the freezer section. It comes in a two loaf pack for $6.99 and other stores I have paid $5 for one. I am very excited to see an organic, flourless, sprouted grain bread option. Why sprouted? Sprouting a grain can have many benefits like increasing many key nutrients and making grains easier to digest. Please note: this bread is not gluten free and does contain organic sprouted soy.
Frozen Organic Fruit. We make smoothies all the time and even though we focus mostly on vegetables, we like to use berries as a lower natural sugar option in some of our smoothie recipes. This bag of organic frozen strawberries is just $10. If you aren’t a smoothie maker, frozen organic fruit is great for making jams or adding to your morning oatmeal.
Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. This is 84 oz for just $19.99 at my local store. One of my favorite brands is Nutiva and runs over $20 for a 54 oz jar. I personally keep one jar in the kitchen and one in the bathroom. Costco provides a great opportunity to get some virgin coconut oil into your diet or to be used as part of your beauty routine.
Organic Fresh Chicken. I prefer to buy pasture raised chickens from my local farmer but in many communities they are harder to find and can get expensive. This organic chicken is a great option. You can buy a whole chicken, breasts, thighs and sometimes legs. Once I began to transition to organic and pasture raised chickens, I started to notice a difference in flavor and texture.
Organic Oven Roasted Turkey Breast. I haven’t actually purchased this one but I was excited to see it. I was impressed it didn’t contain sugar, carrageenan, antibiotics or added nitrates….you would be surprised what is in deli meat at your local store. It isn’t just the meat.- Organic Coconut Sugar. This sugar has become more famous in recent years
because it is lower on the glycemic index, which rates the spike in blood sugar. But still is made up of fructose, which is a negative. I do like to use it in some baking to add some sweetness and a hint of caramel flavor. Coconut sugar also does have some nutritional content versus nothing with cane sugar. It can be used with a 1 to 1 ratio to cane sugar but I like to add even less, you won’t even know it is missing. As always with any sweetener, use in moderation. This bag is only $10.89 at my local Warehouse Store. 
Organic Chia Seeds. These little seeds are loaded with nutrition. Get fiber, protein, calcium, magnesium, omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and so much more. We love to use chia seeds in overnight oats and in our homemade jam. They expand in liquid giving them a great gel texture. A 2lb bag is just $7.49.- Organic Raisins. My daughter loves raisins. She will eat them alone and requests
that they be added to her oatmeal. This is great option for us to save some money on something bought in bulk. The bags last a long time in our house but the raisins stay chewy even though they were bought in bulk. If we are on the go we just throw them in our reusable snack bags versus having to toss the little disposable boxes. We pay $8.99 for 2-2lb bags. - Organic Brown Rice. I have never actually bought this bag but wanted you to know that it is an option. I have a larger pantry now, so I may consider purchasing in the future if I can get large enough canisters to store it. Our family enjoys both white and brown rice on occasion but I have yet to find a white rice option I like at our Wholesale Store. This 12lb bag is just $13.99 at our local store.
Organic Steel Cut Oats. This is a great option for those who love oatmeal. For freshness, I do store this one in the fridge so you want to make sure you have the room if you plan to do the same. The texture is slightly different than rolled oats but they are very similar in nutritional value. Just remember to not overload them with things like sweeteners. I got 7lbs for just $7.99 at my local store.
Organic Tahini. Haven’t heard of it? It is just ground sesame seeds and is very well known for its part in hummus recipes. But it doesn’t stop there; tahini can be used in many recipes as an ingredient in dressings for salads and even with roasted vegetables. I have seen it used in dessert recipes but have yet to try it. I paid $10.99 for a 2lb jar.
Organic Quinoa. My family loves to eat quinoa. Toss it with some vegetables, herbs and olive oil and it can be a meal all itself. My Warehouse Store sells organic pre-made mixes of quinoa and/or rice. I avoid those because typically they contain additives I like to avoid and to me it is very simple to control the ingredients on my own. I spent $11.49 on 4lbs of quinoa.
Organic Deglet Noor Dates. These dates are a great way to add sweetness to your diet with some fiber, potassium and much more. I have typically used medjool dates in smoothies and my raw desserts but I am excited to try these as well. These are a bit smaller but have a great caramel flavor to even enjoy by themselves. I store my dates in the fridge. This 28 oz bag was $8.79.
Cheese Made from the Milk of Grass Fed Cows. I eat very limited dairy but my family will still consume cheese on occasion. Before we moved we would purchase several types of raw milk cheese from our local farm. My family also enjoys goat and sheep milk cheese. My 5 year old is usually the one sampling and picking them out. I was very excited to find the Kerrygold cheese made from the milk of cows that were grass fed at our Warehouse Store. I have found Kerrygold butter at some Costco Stores but did not see it on my last two trips. I spent $10.84 for 1.18lbs of cheese.
Organic Vegetable Broth. I am a huge fan of making my own bone broth. I will admit that we use it often and sometimes I run out, so this Pacific vegetable broth is great option for me to have in my pantry. I prefer this to the Kirkland brand because of the ingredients listed. I am always hesitant of natural flavors listed as an ingredient, because they don’t have to be disclosed as what they are and are not organic. I purchased 6 quarts (individually packaged) for $11.49. At my favorite natural food store I can spend at least $3.50 on one quart.- Local Products. One of my favorite products in Utah was a local raw honey and it was available at my local Costco. Make sure to check out your store for local products.
Some other tips for shopping fresh produce:
- I love when organic berries and grapes are in season at Costco. The prices are amazing and I buy extra to freeze. I wash the fruit and freeze by spreading out on a cookie sheet and place it in the freeze. I then place the frozen berries in a storage bag and they don’t stick together. It is a great way to save money when the prices go back up.
- Fresh organic leafy greens are always an option in the refrigerator section of the store. This is another easy way to add more vegetables at an affordable price to your meal plan.
- I stay away from the trail mix options at Costco but you can find bags of your favorite raw almonds or dry roasted nuts that can be satisfying for an afternoon snack or make nut butter. Note: they are usually only available salted if dry roasted.
- Many times you will see some new or different organic fresh produce added to the assortment, so make sure you allow yourself time to shop.
What to consider while shopping the rest of the store.
I was just reading an article about how Costco is continuing to expand its offerings of organic foods. Their CEO said
We cannot get enough organics to stay in business day in and day out”
This is fantastic but as always I would like to remind you that just because something is labeled organic does not mean it is healthy. They have plenty of unhealthy, organic processed options that I avoid. Just because a granola bar, chips, fruit snacks, ice cream, etc. are labeled organic does mean they are not loaded with sugar or other unhealthy ingredients.
It is time to take these tips and start saving some money! Eating healthy doesn’t have to be so expensive if you know where to shop. Check out your local warehouse store to see what is available for you and your family. Please note: these suggestions and prices are based on my local warehouse store. Prices and selection may vary.
Reference:
http://www.seattletimes.com/business/retail/costco-gets-creative-to-meet-shoppers-huge-appetite-for-organics/
Please share your tips for healthy eating while shopping your local Warehouse Store.
