15 Costco Favorites

In the spirit of (attempted) savings in 2015, I’ve been doing something revolutionary: actually using my Costco card! Every year, I dole out the $50 to renew, then every year, I go maybe once. New year, new me! I’m embracing this frightening warehouse. The samples lessen my fears.

Okay, it’s not only for savings; it’s also in the name of convenience. I’ve made it no secret that pregnancy zaps my energy, so more than ever, I’m on the lookout for quick meals, quick kid snacks, quick party food. The road to a baby is LONG, and I need some shortcuts!

Thankfully, I have struck gold! I’m excited to branch out of my usual Trader Joe’s trickery to share some tips from my Costco treasure trove. Here are 15 of my favorite gems:

1.  Clif Kid Organic ZBars—THESE THINGS! Emerson is obsessed! (And fine, so am I.) Quick, healthy and actually yummy youth snacks are hard to come by, and these just nail it. This variety pack comes with three flavors: Chocolate Brownie, Chocolate Chip and Iced Oatmeal Cookie.

2.  Whole Grain Mickey Nuggets—Chicken Nuggets + Mickey = Toddler Heaven. Plus, these are made with white meat chicken and whole grains, and contain no preservatives. They’re perfect! Total winner.

3.  Sweet Kale Chou Frisé Doux—I love when Costco and TJ’s try to make me feel better about my shortcuts with fancy food names. No, really, I do love it; it genuinely makes me feel better! And so does this incredible salad. It’s delicious. Great for serving large groups of people or portioning out for part of a meal.

4.  Fresh Produce—Costco fresh produce never fails me. Not only is it consistently WAY cheaper than at my normal grocery store—particularly the berries—but the quality is also just far superior. The mango and blueberries are the current faves in our house.

5.  La Terra Fina Quiche—If you are a mom, or a human for that matter, chances are you are tasked with providing a hot brunch food for people every now and again. I simply adore these quiches! This two-pack includes one Spinach & Artichoke Florentine Quiche and one Cheddar & Broccoli Quiche. Also, they’re made with egg whites only! A little like ordering a diet coke with my fries, but HEY, I’ll take it!

6.  Ready Snax Carrots, Grapes & Cheese with Pretzels—This one speaks for itself! A healthy, well-rounded snack, ideal for tots on the go. We are big fans. Mostly because Mom doesn’t have to cut up the fruits/veggies/cheese.

7.  Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad—This is might be my FAVE from the whole list! Sometimes I meal prep chicken salad from Trader Joe’s Just Chicken, organic mayo, sliced almonds, chopped apples, cranberries, celery, etc. But these tasty cups do my meal prep for me! They are scrumptious plain as a good protein snack or on wheat bread as part of a sandwich. Plus, they’re made with Greek yogurt, which I think tastes way better than mayo!

8.  Don Lee Farms Organic Gluten-Free Veggie Patties—I knew I would love these veggie patties, but Emerson’s obsession has shocked me. She devours them for dinner or lunch! Packed with veggies and flavor, they’re totally yummy cooked in the microwave, and even better cooked in a skillet with a little olive oil.

9.  Souplantation The Original Joan’s Broccoli Madness Salad Kit—I’ve had a weakness for this stuff since I first ate at Souplantation in the ‘80s! It’s perfectly sweet with the dressing and also salty with the sprinkling of bacon bits. Yes.

10.  Rotisserie Chicken—I’m a big fan of using rotisserie chicken in recipes, and you just can’t beat the Costco price of $4.99. Chicken chili, chicken tacos, chicken enchiladas, chicken in a yummy green salad, I could go on and on.

11.  Sukhi’s All-Natural Chicken Tikka Masala—I’ve always loved Trader Joe’s Chicken Tikka Masala, but I might like this one even better! If you’re an Indian food fan, you MUST try, served over jasmine rice.

12.  Organic Quinoa & Kale—I have almost no patience for cleaning and prepping quinoa on my own, but I truly love it and of course it’s super healthy. Enter this frozen sensation! It’s the perfect snack or side! I like it with a little extra lime or lemon juice.

13.  Tortilla Crusted Tilapia—I can’t tell you how impressed I am by this fish. While straight from the frozen section, it tastes nothing short of fresh, flaky and mouthwateringly flavorful. INCREDIBLE! I add a little extra lime juice to this as well. I have a small citrus addiction. It would also be ridiculously good as fish tacos.

14.  Vicky’s Kitchen Spinach & Artichoke Stuffed Chicken Breast—Every once in a while, a good stuffed chicken breast just hits the spot. So does any good mixture of spinach and artichoke. I highly recommend these stuffed breasts.

15.  Frankly Fresh Turkey & Spinach Lasagna—Our little family has adored this healthy take on lasagna for quite a while now. We all lick our plates. It’s amazing. Great served with (bonus tip!) the Costco Organic Caesar Salad kit found in the produce section.

Your turn! Do you shop at Costco?! What do you buy?! What do you love?!