My Favorite Things: Costco Edition

Costco is a glorious gift to mankind. And parents. However, it's so vast and exhausting that unless you want to spend hours there, you may not know the entirety of what Costco can offer you.

Lucky for you, I have wandered Costco many times. {Sometimes looking for items that they discontinued without my permission, but I digress.}

Costco's Best Clean-Eating Items (* denotes THM friendly)

1. Dry Goods Aisles - *Apple cider vinegar WITH "the mother." It's raw and unfiltered, just like the slightly more expensive variety in the grocery stores for a much better price ($4.99). *Distilled white vinegar. I use it for laundry and cleaning mostly, but it's still a better buy in bulk ($2.99). Vega Protein and Greens. The only difference between this and the One formula is that it doesn't have omega 3s or probiotics, other than that the formula is the same with a lower carb count. *Unsalted mixed nuts (no peanuts, if that's a concern for you). *Almond butter and peanut butter. I was surprised to learn that Kirkland's nut butters ONLY contain nuts - no sweeteners or additives of any kind. *Parmesan Whisps. These are basically baked "crackers" that only contain parmesan cheese. They're fantastic as a chip, crouton, or any other fun use you can think of. Kids like them too! *Coffee, *coconut water, *dried beans and quinoa, *canned tuna and salmon, and *marinara sauce (the Premium Organic Paesana brand uses ZERO sugar and is quite tasty). *Bai is available where the boxed drinks are, and it's amazing. It's sweetened with erythritol, which is zero calorie and zero glycemic impact. Some stores carry the flat (pictured), and others carry the bubbles. Big bottles of *vanilla extract are also available on the baking aisle.
2. Refrigerated Foods - *Cream cheese, *unsalted butter quarters (Kerrygold is also available), * 0% Fage plain yogurt, *half and half, *heavy cream, *bacon (Many varieties - I like the Farmer's brand and the Kirkland thick-cut.), *cage-free eggs, and *unsweetened vanilla almond milk.
3. Freezer Aisles - *fruit (they have everything from mango to cherries and berries), *vegetables (I like the broccoli florets and green beans. Mixed are also available), and * Dr. Praeger's veggie burgers.
4. Deli Aisles - *cheese (SO MUCH CHEESE. Sliced, shredded, chunk, block. I like to get *asiago blocks - cheaper than Parmesan, *Cabot cheddar blocks, and *sliced cheddar/muenster/havarti. There are also *deli meats available. Which, if you can eat 2lbs in about a week it's good. If not, stick to the grocery store for that.*Seafood - Costco has the best salmon around, unless you live in a coastal area with an awesome fish monger. In which case, I am jealous. They also have crab, lobster, shrimp, scallops, and tilapia fresh.
5. Fresh Vegetables and Fruit - I am LOVING their 3-pack of *English cucumbers, and I have a feeling it's a seasonal item. *Avocados, and any other fruit or veggie that you eat a lot of in a fairly short time. This is bulk buying, so it will be multiple pounds, but you don't want to buy it solely for the deal and have half of it go bad before you eat it.