What I Buy At Costco

Here is my plant-based Costco list! What am I missing that you like to buy? Let me know in the comments!

Just like you, I’m constantly trying to eat the healthiest possible on the least amount of money. There are so many trips around the world and good causes I’d rather spend money on than groceries! Below are my Costco staples, and then the nice-to-haves. I never buy all of this at one time. As of right now, with four little kids, I just buy whatever we need most up to $300/month. Then I go to small grocery store each week for small items and fresh produce (I also have bulk items from Azure Standard).  We live only 4 minutes from a Costco, but we try really hard to not go more than once a month. 

Is a Cotsco Membership Worth it? Is the Executive membership worth it?

I have had both the basic membership ($65 a year) and the executive ($130 a year). With the executive membership, you get 2% cash back on all your eligible Costco purchases. Here’s how to know if the executive is worth it: If you’re spending at least $271 a month on Costco on eligible purchases (basically everything except gas and the membership itself), you’ll pay yourself back for the executive membership fee, or break even. If you spend more than that, you’ll basically be getting paid to shop there (albeit very little unless you’re spending way more than $300 a month). 

Here is an article that can also help you decide if a Costco membership would actually save you money, and when it won’t. I think it’s right-on. 

Costco Staples

These are the things I buy every time I shop at Costco. They are the things that are cheaper at Costco than Walmart or any other store I know, and the things that make my membership feel worth it. When they’re out of stock of these things, I feel stuck! 

Peanut Butter

The only ingredients are peanuts and salt, and it’s the cheapest organic natural peanut butter I have ever found. Don’t consume “regular” peanut butter with hydrogenated oils in them as stabalizers. They drive up bad cholesterol and drive down good cholesterol, and overall promote inflammation. Costco peanut butter solves that problem! I use peanut butter in most of these creative dips for apples, and my frequent breakfast: chocolate protein smoothie without protein powder. Can’t exclude these incredible Healthy Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies!

(For lower fat, I also like to buy powdered peanut butter (PB2 or PBfit) at Costco!)

Maple Syrup and Honey

Costco has the best deal on pure maple syrup and honey, which we use as our main sweeteners most of the time. We use this nearly every morning in oatmeal, to sweeten homemade hot cocoa, chia pudding, etc. Even though I remember when it used to be $10 and now it’s $13, it’s still several dollars cheaper at Costco than even Walmart or elsewhere. 

Pasta Sauce

This Organic Classico brand is low in added oils and sugar, and is a better price than anywhere else I’ve found for this healthy of a pasta sauce. I use this pasta sauce for delicious Red Pepper Pasta with Tofu Crumbles.

Frozen Fruits and Vegetables

I especially load up on frozen berries and cherries every month at Costco. The varities they carry go in and out, but they’re always cheaper than other stores. I love when wild blueberries are in stock! One recipe I love with the mixed frozen berries in Berry Cheesecake Overnight Oats. 

We also get organic frozen corn and peas. We all enjoy a thawed out bowl of peas or corn as a snack or quick side dish. 

I also always get the Normandy Blend of frozen vegetables (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower). They are easy to dump out and roast for a yummy vegetable side dish. 

Tofu

When Costco has tofu in stock, I save money. This averages to $1.47 for a package of tofu, and in most stores it’s at least $2.75. I buy three of these boxes a month! Perfect for Orange Tofu, a crowd favorite. 

Tomato Sauce, Paste, and Diced Tomatoes

These are great prices for organic tomatoes, and I love always having them on hand and not having to remember to buy them in my weekly grocery shopping. 

Organic Flour

I don’t eat all organic, but I do try to eat organic wheat, corn, and soy. Since those crops are typically very heavily sprayed with synthetic pesticides, they have a higher chance of affecting our gut health, and can be lower in antioxidants. Anyway, I get this organic flour for making sourdough and the occasional white-flour baking I do. 

Power Greens

I buy power greens and put them directly into my freezer for smoothies! I pack every smoothie with as many greens as I can, whether it be my go-to green smoothie or my chocolate protein smoothie, or my chocolate cherry smoothie! The package sold at Costco is much bigger than the same-priced packages at other stores. They sometimes come in a 1.5 lb bag (my preferred) but currently are in a 10-oz plastic tub (not my fave but grateful I don’t have to grow my own!). 

Almond Flour

I forgot to take a picture, but the almond flour is also a staple for me! I use it in a lot of baking for whole-food fat instead of oil, like Cornbread and Healthier Sugar Cookies. Also this Almond Strawberry Shortcake for birthdays. 

Nice-to-Have Items at Costco

Organic Fruit and Vegetable Pouches for Babies

My babies and toddlers have loved these, and they feel life saving when you don’t have the time or opportunity to do the whole spoon-feeding ordeal, like on trips or outings. They are 41 cents a piece. 

Sun-Dried Tomatoes

This is a great deal and the jar will last you a long time. I use these in pasta salad and Marry Me Chickpeas mostly. If you want to avoid all oil, get the bags of sun dried tomatoes NOT packed in oil, not sold at Costco.

Japanese Barbeque Sauce

This big bottle will season a lot of tofu and vegetables when you don’t want to make a homemade sauce. My kids love it and it is a welcome relief to have something convenient when I have this. The ingredients are pretty clean, although it is a lot of sugar. 

Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are SO healthy for you! This bag makes it effortless to eat them–throw them in salads, trail mix, or granola. One handful (1/4 cup) has more protein than an egg or a beef stick, plus they’re a great source of magnesium and zinc. For breakfast, I love a big bowl of thawed wild blueberries with homemade yogurt and pumpkin seeds on top for crunch. 

Nuts

The nuts are a good deal at Costco. I get almonds, pecans, and walnuts. They are so anti-inflammatory and good for your brain. My daugther has asthma and walnuts and flax seeds are proven to help with it, so I try to fit walnuts into everything I can. 

I also get the mixed salted nuts during the school year to put into packed lunches for quick and healthy calories. 

Almond Butter

Almond butter is not cheaper anywhere else that I’ve seen, and this is only one ingredient: roasted almonds. I prefer to use nuts and nut butters instead of dairy butter or oil in cookies and treats, like these Almond Poppyseed Energy Bites or Gingerbread Cookies. 

Jam

We get jam at Costco regularly for all the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches we eat. They have organic and low-sugar varieties (like this delicious Smash brand sweetened with only dates!). 

Hemp Seeds and Chia Seeds

Hemp seeds at Walmart are 68 cents/oz, and at Costco they are 37 cents/ounce. I add hemp seeds liberally to our smoothies, for homemade Nutella, and as sprinkles on toast, yogurt, etc. as an incredible source of nutrients. 

Chia seeds at Walmart are 43 cents/oz, at Costco they are 22. 

Refried Beans

We use these for quick quesadillas and burritos for lunch. The best price per ounce, once again. Although if you buy them in a case at other stores it’s a pretty close price for non-organic. 

Quinoa

Perfect for quinoa salads and upping your fiber and protein, this is a good deal for quinoa. Try out this Mango Quinoa Salad with Honey Lime Dressing. 

Coconut Milk

Who doesn’t love a good creamy curry? Some brands of coconut milk are nasty and taste like the can. Thai Kitchen is worth it. Chickpea Curry is one of my favorites!

Ramen Noodles

These ramen noodes are made of millet and brown rice, that’s it! They are so yummy! My kids especially love them cooked in vegetable broth with my homemade ramen seasoning. 

Brami Protein Pasta

This is my favorite pasta. It tastes just like white flour pasta except it has lupini beans in it for extra protein. It’s the key ingredienttzx for pasta salad and mac ‘n cheese.

Vanilla Extract

A good deal for pure vanilla extract–not imitation. 

No-Salt Seasoning

This blend is so flavorful. I like to heap it on cooked vegetables (and add salt! haha). 

Vegetable Broth Bouillon

Vegetable broth is a must-have for soups. While you can make your own which is awesome, I find this super convenient for adding savory flavor. 

Super Fruit Popsicles

Made of 100% juice, these are a hot-day favorite for my children. They are only available in the summertime. 

Sauerkraut

It’s so hard to find saurkraut at my other stores! This is an excellent price. I do NOT love sauerkraut but I do try to eat it for the gut health benefits. My favorite way is on avocado toast with a sprinkle of smoked paprika. 

Dried Mango

Unsweetened dried mango tastes like literal candy to us. This is a rare buy for me but when I do splurge, it’s the best hiking and travel treat!

Jackfruit Chips

These are made of just one ingredient–jackfruit. I think they are really yummy. They are lightly sweet and don’t have much flavor (or calories). The crunch is so addicting. Great source of fiber and crunch. 

Raisins and other dried fruit

Costco makes organic raisins so convenient, I figure why not buy organic. I have some major raisin lovers at my house, so maybe I should put this on the staple list. Besides trail mix and eating them plain, we love Oatmeal Raisin Cookies  or the raw energy bite version, Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Bites. 

Dates

Costco has the best price on dates! Both Medjool dates (about $5.50 a pound) and deglet noor dates like these. My favorite treat ever is these Brownie Bites, made with dates and walnuts.

What would you add to this list!? Let me know your favorite healthy-ish Costco finds!

In another post, I also share what I buy from Azure Standard.