Have I ever told you how much I love Costco? They do an amazing job of finding high quality products at the best prices so we buy most of our grocery staples there. Let's take a trip around the store, and I'll point out some of my favorites along the way.
1. In my store, the first section you come to after you pass the clothing and housewares is the alcohol section, so we'll start there. :) If you want to stay low-carb and still enjoy a cocktail from time to time, grab a bottle of the Kirkland vodka and a case of sparkling water.
2. Next comes the meat section, where we pick up a pack of organic ground beef, some organic chicken thighs, breasts, and/or wings, and whatever else might be on our list for the week.
3. In the refrigerated section we often find snack packs of cheese, sausage, pre-cooked chicken, and guacamole or avocado mash. They also have a great selection of good quality brie, aged cheddar, Parmesan, mozzarella, etc. Look for the ones that come straight from Europe. They are more likely to come from grass-fed cows without the additives, hormones, and processing we find in the U.S.
4. If you use a lot of heavy cream and/or eggs, take a quick trip inside the dairy cooler. They have the best prices on organic cream, milk, and eggs.
5. The produce section sometimes has good deals, sometimes not. If it's too much to use, it's really not a deal. There are a few things you can freeze, though, if you don't use them right away, like spinach or tomatoes. In Arizona you can usually find avocados for cheaper elsewhere.
6. Next comes the freezer section. We always keep some berries in our freezer, and Costco has them for the best prices. I love their organic broccoli, cauliflower rice, and organic cauliflower fried rice. They also have good deals on wild-caught seafood and frozen grass-fed burgers. Further down you can find Greek yogurt, KerryGold grass-fed butter, and Kirkland grass-fed butter.
7. In the dry-goods aisles we get our natural peanut butter, almond butter, avocado oil mayo, coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, sugar-free ketchup, almond flour, spices, nuts, canned tuna and salmon, sugar-free marinara (Victoria's or Rao's), and so much more! I've even been known to pick up some cheese Whisps and beef sticks to snack on.
Did you know that most mayos are full of pro inflammatory oils and added sugar? Soybean oil is not your friend. Neither is canola. I know, I know, it says it's heart healthy right there on the label. Trust me on this. Here's a better option:
If you've been paying attention, you know that most ketchups are mostly sugar, right? Admittedly the Primal Kitchen ketchup does taste a little different, but once your taste buds get off the sugar train you’ll find it’s not so bad.
I use almond flour for everything from breading my chicken tenders to baking muffins and adding heft to meatballs and meatloaf. Again, you can't beat the price of Costco's version.
Here are my big three oils for cooking and baking. You can usually substitute coconut oil for butter or any other type of oil in baking. Avocado oil is great for homemade mayo and almost anything else because of its high smoke point and neutral flavor. When you're buying olive oil, make sure you look for the product of Italy seal certifying that it's pure Italian oil not mixed with other low-quality oils.
Honestly, I used to be a Costco hater and couldn't figure out all the hype. Every time I shop there, however, I find something else to love. Check it out yourself, and let me know what else I should add to my shopping list.Happy shopping, friends!
If you'd like to talk to me more about creating a nutrition plan that works for you, I've got you! I'm a certified Nutrition Coach who will create a simple, customized meal plan for you and coach you through how to implement it into your busy life. We also talk about all the pitfalls that make it hard, and help you make it the anchor that keeps you healthy, energized, and sane through the whirlwind of your everyday life.
I'd love to talk to you about the program, so please check out my website at CG Nutrition, contact me at JenniferIben@campgladiator.com or book a free consultation with me by clicking the Calendly button. I look forward to talking to you!
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