Costco Shopping List

Costco is the healthy eater’s best friend.  Why?  Fresh fruits and vegetables are hideously expensive in the supermarket.  Costco enables us to eat great fresh foods for a fraction of the cost at the supermarket.   This list is a subset/superset of my favorite foods and pantry staples, but it’s a great list to have on hand when going to Costco.  Here’s my regular shopping list:

• Fuji Apples.  Pack of 12 from Washington state.
• Oranges.  Navel, Clementines, Cara Cara…whatever they have on hand.
• Bananas.  I bought a hand of bananas at the supermarket for about $4.50 today.  At Costco (they were out during my last trip), that same hand (plus a couple of bananas) is less than $2.
• Kiwi.  Yummy and a great change from the mundane everyday fruit.
• Spinach.  Large bag for less than $4.
• Salad Greens.  Don’t buy the salad kits.  Waste of money–the dressing is full of fat.
• Peeled Baby Carrots.
• Broccoli Florets.  3lb. bag…doesn’t last long!
• Fresh Asparagus.  When in season.
• D’Anjou Pears.  Yum!!!
• Maui Gold pineapple, when they have it.  Oh so good…reminds me of Maui.
• Any other fruit in season.
• Baby Bella mushrooms.
• Grape Tomatoes.  Tasty, low in points.
• Sun-Dried Tomatoes.  Soft, dehydrated (NOT in oil).  What a punch of flavor…very yummy.
• Fresh Salsa.  Mango Salsa if they have it.
• Laughing Cow Light cheese.  Oh, big yum!
• Boca Original Burgers.
• 99% Fat-Free Egg Substitute.  Wilcox Farms is the brand that is stocked by our Costco.
• Healthy Choice Premium Fudge Bars.  Yum!  1 Point each!
• Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches.  Yum!  2 Points each!
• Cooked/Grilled Chicken Strips.  A couple of minutes in the microwave and you have quick protein.
• Frozen fresh/cooked shrimp.  Great quick protein.
• Fiber One Snack Bars.  Yum!  I wish they had the Caramel flavor, but the Chocolate Chip is fine.
• Canned Diced Tomatoes.  Great for soups, sauces, etc.
• Canned Mushrooms.  Works in a pinch.
• Canned Green Beans.  Good for quick veggies in soups/stews.
• Canned Beans.  Kidney, garbanzo…whatever they have.
• Low Sodium Chicken Broth.  Swanson Natural Goodness is sufficient.  The organic stuff has more fat and sodium.
• Pam Non-Stick Spray.  Absolutely essential for a low-fat lifestyle.
• Spenda.  Both in packets and “spoonable.”
• Quaker Old Fashioned Oats.  Mix this with oat bran for a great morning cereal.
• Crystal Light.  Unfortunately, they often only carry the lemonade flavor.  They also have the “to go” packets.
• Orville Redenbacher’s Smart Pop 94% Fat-Free Popcorn.  A staple in my diet.  I wish they carried the Kettle Corn Smart Pop as well.
• Progresso/Healthy Choice soups.  I’m waiting for them to carry the Progresso Light soups…only 1.5 points per can, or 0 points per serving.  The Progresso 99% Fat-Free and the Healthy Choice soups are still light, and the Healthy Choice soups have less sodium than others.
• Butterball Roasted Turkey Breast Slices.  Must-have for low-point sandwiches, and work well in a pinch for salads as well.
• Foster Farms (fresh) Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts and Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs.  Nicely packed in sealed pouches.
• Spices.  I like the no-salt seasoning, but the other mixes and rubs are nice.  Check for sodium content before buying.
• Vitamins.

I’ll revise this list if I think of other regular purchases that I missed in the initial draft.