If the grocery store is eating your budget alive, you aren’t alone! That’s why I’m shouting it from the rooftops for all of the Crunchy Mamas to hear…You’ve got to check out Costco!!
For the longest time I wouldn’t even consider a Costco membership. I just knew that those big box stores wouldn’t carry the healthy, organic, clean foods that I wanted for my family. But let me tell you…I was SO wrong!
Costco is ON IT when it comes to healthy choices for your family. They have so many different items to choose from, making it a great option for a Crunchy Mama who is trying to stretch her dollars.
So, let’s go on a little tour of my Costco shopping cart, shall we? And don’t forget…I’ve got an entire Costco Shopping List series for you! You can find Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 here.
1. Organic Frozen Blueberries
I love buying these giant bags of organic blueberries from Costco. I live in a small-ish town where we don’t have a lot of grocery options. Finding organic blueberries is often impossible! Since blueberries are usually on the EWG’s Dirty dozen list due to high pesticide contamination, I don’t like to buy the conventional version.
These organic blueberries are perfect for making blueberry muffins like these. You can also throw them in smoothies or use them to make your own yogurt like this. It’s such a great deal for a huge bag!
2. Organic Chicken Nuggets
I’m so thankful Costco offers these chicken nuggets! Every mama needs a backup plan. These chicken nuggets are my backup plan!
When the fridge is empty, when we get home late from a ball game, when Mama is sick or just too tired to cook…these chicken nuggets come to the rescue. I can dump a bunch in the basket of my air fryer and have food on the table in no time!
Are they perfect? No. But are they leaps and bounds ahead of going through the drive-thru. Yes! Sometimes we have to do the best we can in the moment! Be sure to check to see if your local Costco carries these chicken nuggets because they are so very handy!
3. Organic Peanut Butter
I’m not really sure why popular brands of peanut butter have over-complicated the matter. I mean, have you seen the ingredients list on some peanut butters?? The ingredients can be crazy!
That’s why I’m so appreciative of this Kirkland brand peanut butter. It contains only 2 simple ingredients: peanut and salt. It’s also a great price! Whether you’re making classic PB & J sandwiches or Chocolate Chip Energy Balls, you need a clean peanut butter on hand. This one makes a great addition to your well-stocked pantry.
4. Pink Himalayan Salt
If you are cooking from scratch for your family, you probably go through a lot of salt. Buying large quantities just makes sense. I love this Pink Himalayan Salt from Spice Lab. It contains 84 different minerals that our bodies need. If you’re looking for a high-quality salt, this is a great choice!
5. Organic Cauliflower Rice
This cauliflower rice is another great Costco find! I use it to make taco bowls for dinner. I’ll toss it in vegetable soup or chicken noodle soup. Sometimes I even serve spaghetti on cauliflower rice rather than noodles. Inside the larger bag, you’ll find 4 one-pound bags of rice. It’s a great size for most recipes!
6. Made Good Granola Minis
These mini granola pouches are certified organic AND nut free, making them a great snack to send in lunchboxes if your child’s school is nut-free. They come in a variety pack, so the kids will have options!
7. Organic Spaghetti Noodles
Spaghetti is one of our favorite things! It stays on regular rotation at our house, so I want to make sure I have noodles that aren’t packed with chemicals I can’t pronounce These Garofalo noodles come in a six pack and are a great deal!
8. Organic Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds
I love making trail mix for my kids and packing it with nutritional nuts and seeds. That’s why I was so excited to find these sprouted pumpkin seeds! Sprouting seeds makes them more digestible so we can absorb more nutrients (source).
9. Maple Syrup
Is there anything better than real maple syrup? I don’t think so! If you pick up a bottle of “syrup”, you’ll find nothing but high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors and colors. Yuck! This Kirkland Maple Syrup has organic maple syrup s the only ingredient. No added sugar or other funny business here.
And if you top these Quick and Easy Sourdough Pancakes with real maple syrup…it is heavenly!
10. Organic Cinnamon
I love using cinnamon in my baking. Because it has anti-inflammatory properties, can help lower cholesterol, and can help lower blood sugar levels (source), it’s a great addition to many healthy snacks. I include it in my homemade elderberry syrup, my Anytime Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies, my Sunshine Muffins and so much more! I love that Costco carries this bulk size organic cinnamon. It is such a good deal.
Final Thoughts on Costco Buys for Crunchy Mamas
Realizing that Costco carries so many items that help a Crunchy Mama feed her family on a budget is one of the best things! Real food at a reasonable price is hard to come by these days, but Costco can help! Whether it’s your first time to shop at Costco or whether you’ve been shopping there for years, be sure to check out the other parts of my Costco series to see all of the new items you can add to your shopping list. You can find Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 here.
