Costco, a warehouse-style chain store in the United States, has many loyal fans due to its reasonable prices, regular seasonal updates, reliable quality, and bulk supply of products. The retailer offers a wide range of food items, and the question arises – what foods do nutritionists buy at Costco?
Costco’s own brand covers almost everything people need in their daily lives, from food and groceries to clothing and household products like batteries. Their philosophy is simple – to provide high-quality goods comparable to international brands at discounted prices to their members, who highly acclaim Costco products.
Jessica Ball, a registered nutritionist and the nutrition editor at EatingWell website, shared her insights on Costco purchases. As a household of two, not all Costco products suit her regular shopping needs. However, she always keeps some essential items stocked at home, with a preference for Kirkland Signature branded food products from Costco.
“These products are usually more cost-effective than other brands, and many times I even prefer their taste,” she said.
Jessica Ball, residing in Vermont where summers are short, usually opts for fresh tomatoes over canned ones during the few months of summer. However, canned tomatoes, a staple in her pantry, offer more anti-inflammatory and antioxidant lycopene compared to fresh tomatoes due to the high-heat processing during preservation.
Incorporating canned tomatoes into soups and stews is one of the simplest ways of cooking with them, according to Ball. She also enjoys making a Mediterranean-style tomato sauce stew with eggs called “Shakshuka” as part of her weekly meal plan.
Costco’s Kirkland Signature organic diced tomatoes, available in packs of 8 cans for $7.99, each costing less than $1, make it a budget-friendly choice compared to similar products priced over $2 per can at other stores.
Fresh fish can be expensive and doesn’t have a long shelf life. To balance fish intake and budget, many households opt for canned fish. Ball recommends Kirkland Signature Albacore Tuna, containing eight 7-ounce cans for $19.99 at Costco.
She highlights the nutritional richness of tuna, abundant in essential omega-3 fatty acids crucial for heart, brain, and eye health.
In a 2003 interview with Money magazine, Costco’s Executive Vice President Tim Rose mentioned that the quality of canned tuna in the market was declining, leading Costco to partner with global seafood company Bumble Bee to produce a better canned fish product.
“One of the most economically practical items I love to buy at Costco is Kirkland Signature Parmesan cheese,” Ball stated.
Parmesan cheese, a hard, unpressed cheese with a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and slightly bitter flavors, offers a sandy, slightly firm texture with lingering rich nutty and milky notes.
A 2-pound block of Parmesan cheese at Costco costs $22.99, while similar products elsewhere can go as high as $24 per pound.
“A 2-pound block of cheese lasts for a long time. If stored properly, this hard cheese can keep in the fridge for up to six weeks and freeze for six months without worrying about spoilage before use,” says Ball.
Kirkland Signature organic creamy peanut butter, made from dry-roasted peanuts and minimal salt with only 65mg of sodium per 2 tablespoons, stands out for its quality at Costco. This peanut butter variety is produced from 100% American Valencia peanuts, ensuring high nutritional value and quality.
Ball explains that her family enjoys eating the peanut butter straight from the jar as a snack, while she prefers mixing a spoonful into oatmeal or spreading it on toast for a protein-rich breakfast.
To simplify her weekly meal planning, Ball stocks various protein sources in her refrigerator, including Kirkland Signature chicken thighs.
“I prefer bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs as they are juicier, but Costco also offers boneless, skinless chicken thighs and breasts, all packed in 10-pound packages. Chicken thighs are an important source of protein containing selenium, potassium, zinc, vitamin B12, and iron essential for muscle repair and growth, digestion, bone health, skin health, among other important nutrients,” she explains.
Ball favors Kirkland Signature organic ground beef for making a variety of dishes from lettuce wraps to meat pies. She emphasizes the rich nutritional profile of ground beef, providing about 23 grams of protein in a 3-ounce serving, along with essential nutrients like iron, potassium, zinc, and magnesium required for bodily functions.
Kirkland Signature sparkling water, available in a 35-can pack with three different flavors – lime, lemon, and grapefruit, is recommended by Ball for making cocktails and mocktail beverages due to their citrusy taste.
Costco not only offers quality products but also provides cost-effective options, making it a favorite shopping destination for many consumers seeking value and variety in their purchases.