Costco

Sugar Snap Peas

I eat these right out of the package, just as they are or dipped into one of my dressings, hummus, guacamole, salsa featured at www.TheNutritionProfessor.com or in the my book - The Foodie Bar Way.

These colorful potatoes are perfect for steaming and having on hand to sprinkle with mesquite, Cajun or taco seasoning, or dip into hummus, mustard, your favorite oil free dressing (many recipes and even 2 Dressing Foodie Bars can be found in The Foodie Bar Way).

Power Greens!

We buy 2-3 bags of Power Greens every week at Costco! I use them in MANY of the Foodie Bars and recipes, including my Crazy Salad Foodie Bar, Smoothie Foodie Bar, Pasta Foodie Bar, Mexican Quinoa, Southwestern Loaded Sweet Potato and more!

Almond milk (shelf-stable/aseptic packaging)

Most of the nut milks can be purchased in shelf-stable/aseptic boxes on the supermarket shelves (refrigerate after opening), or in more "traditional" cartons in the refrigerated section (dairy aisle or natural foods refrigerator case).

Apples (organic whenever possible)

Apples tend to be heavily sprayed, so whenever possible, buy organic! I tend to buy them in 3 pound bags at the grocery store or Trader Joe's (or 5.5 pound plastic containers at Costco - when they have organic varieties). I keep them in the refrigerator (in the lowest...

Beans – canned

When shopping for canned beans, be sure to look for those marked "BPA free" - though it is probably best to cook beans from dry when you can! I have found that organic varieties of canned beans are packed in much less sodium (85 mg/svg vs 440 mg/svg)!

Bouillon Base (to make veggie broth)

I love this Better Than Bouillon Base to make veggie broth. While it can be purchased at grocery stores, larger jars were being sold at Costco. Look carefully at the label, you want the jar marked Organic Reduced Sodium Seasoned Vegetable Base. Once opened, store in...

Bread – Whole Grain – Dave’s Killer Bread

My family LOVES this bread! When we first started purchasing it, I was thrilled, as it was 100% organic, 100% whole grain, 100% free of any animal products, and they used fruit as a sweetener. It is now available at Costco (production shot through the roof) and it...

Brussels Sprouts – fresh

Though I didn't grow up eating them, I LOVE Brussels Sprouts! My mom did not enjoy them as a child (overcooking them makes the flavor overpowering and the texture mush), so she never prepared them for our family. When done right, they are amazing! (gently steamed...

Celery (organic when possible)

Whenever possible, buy organic celery, as pesicide residues have been higher than for other veggies (check out this list of fruits and veggies - Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 to help you decide which to buy organic.

Chocolate Chips

I prefer to use cacao nibs (and cacao/cocoa powder) whenever possible. My husband and kids really like chocolate chips. Look at the ingredient label to make sure that they do not contain any dairy (milk/butter/cream).

Coconut water

I like to use coconut water for some of my smoothies (see the Smoothie Foodie Bar), so I keep small containers of coconut water in my pantry. Larger containers of coconut water saves on packaging, but once opened, need to be kept in the refrigerator and used within a...

Crackers – whole grain, oil-free, gluten-free

Mary's Gone Crackers are my favorite whole grain crackers, as they are made without oil (very rare) and are suitable for those avoiding gluten. They are amazingly crunchy, which I enjoy and although they can be pricey at the grocery store, they are much more...

Cranberries (frozen)

Cranberries can be purchased either frozen (all year round) or fresh (typically in the produce area around the holidays in Nov/Dec) and put directly into the freezer in their original package (no prep necessary). When you take out the amount you plan to use for a...

Dates – Medjool

Medjool dates are very plump and sweet, while also being larger than the Delget Noor variety. I typically purchase them at Costco in a plastic tub. I remove the pit and little crown piece (if still on the date), which is easiest when they are still at room...

Plums – dried (a.k.a. Prunes)

Dried plums, formerly known as prunes, are sold in grocery stores and Costco. Once the bag is open, I keep them in the fridge (lower drawer).

Edamame – Ready to Eat

We buy Organic Edamame (ready-to-eat) in the refrigerated area at Costco. I always look for packages with the date furthest in the future. When I get home, I divide up the pods into 3 quart zip-top bags and put two in the freezer, because I know we won't eat them all...

Blueberries – frozen

I always keep a bag of frozen organic blueberries on hand. Costco sells a 3 pound bag of these gems in the freezer section. I rarely buy fresh blueberries because they mold so quickly (like between leaving the grocery store and arriving on my kitchen counter!).

Tropical Frozen Organic Fruit (Strawberries, Mango, Papaya)

I was delighted to find this organic fruit mix in the freezer case at Costco. It is perfect to use in smoothies.

Super Fruit Blend – Organic – Frozen

We buy a bag of this organic super fruit blend every week at Costco, as it includes cherries, pomegranate arils, blackberries, blueberries and strawberries. It goes into our morning smoothie and the phytonutrients protect our cells from the inside out!

Tart Cherries – Organic – Frozen

Every once in a while, Costco will sell organic frozen tart cherries, not to be confused with sweet cherries. I buy several bags for the freezer, as they are great to incorporate in my post-run smoothies!

Vinegar – Balsamic

Although every supermarket carries balsamic vinegar, my favorite is Kirkland brand (Costco).

Vinegar – Apple Cider

I use apple cider vinegar in a lot of the dressings that I make for myself. I haven't noticed a big difference in flavor among various brands.

Vegetable Broth – in box

Vegetable broth comes in aseptic containers like the one below (always look for low sodium varieties). I tend to use the refrigerated broth base, but usually have one carton in my pantry. Keep any open cartons in the fridge.

Bok choy

While some of my students grew up eating bok choy in stir-fries and soups, others have never tasted this wonderful vegetable from the cabbage family. It is super crispy and can be enjoyed raw in a salad or cooked. It is very nutrient dense and provides calcium that is...

Beets – fresh and roasted

Beets can be purchased and cooked or enjoyed raw (grated in salad... amazing -better than you think it would be!), or available already cooked and vacuum sealed. Perfect for your Crazy Salad Foodie Bar or the Beet with Citrus recipe in The Foodie Bar Way. For fresh...

Tofu – silken

Silken tofu is sold in water or in shelf-stable aseptic boxes (like a juice box), typically in the refrigerated section of the produce aisle. Check the label to ensure that the tofu is made from organic soybeans and the company is not adding any protein isolates. Do...

Paprika – Smoked – dry spice

Smoked paprika should not be confused with "regular" paprika (bell peppers dried and ground), as the flavors are completely different. Be sure to have smoked paprika on hand, as it is a wonderful addition to many soups, marinades and several recipes in The Foodie Bar...

No-Salt Seasoning – 21 blend (organic)

This my favorite no-salt seasoning blend - as it has a bit of zip to it and combines 21 organic ingredients. It is nearly a pound (14.5 oz) and sells for less than $9.00 at Costco. I use it in many recipes, when cooking whole grains for savory dishes and when I want...

Onion – dried chopped

Dried onion last for months and can easily be added to dressings and soups, especially great for travel...

Sesame seeds

Sesame seeds are one of the most nutrient dense sources of calcium! They can be purchased in bulk bins, bagged or in bottles. I keep them in my freezer and use them in a variety of recipes as well as in place of tahini (sesame seed "butter" - expensive). Black sesame...

Chia seeds

Chia seeds provide protein, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, are flavorless and have the ability to thicken when stirred/blended with a liquid (in a dressing/sauce, to make a chia "egg", or in a smoothie). I use them in many recipes They are sold in bulk and bagged and...

Sea vegetables – Seaweed – nori snacks and dulse

Seaweed snacks made from nori are showing up at many stores, from the local supermarket to Costco. Sea vegetables, including "seaweed" are very nutrient rich, especially when it comes to minerals like iodine. Dulse is another type of sea veggie that can be found...

Soy Sauce or Tamari

I buy "regular" soy sauce or tamari, instead of low-sodium and simply dilute it with water (this is cheaper way to go). Both soy sauce and tamari are made from fermented soy beans, with soy sauce incorporating wheat and tamari made with very little to no wheat (check...

Salsa (store-bought)

While I love making my own salsa (See my Salsa Foodie Bar in the book), when I do buy it, this is one of my favorites (Costco).

Potatoes – sweet – orange colored flesh

These sweet potatoes are delicious and commonly labeled as "yams" - though true yams are very large roots, can weigh over a hundred of pounds, are white in color, and commonly grown in Africa, Asia or the Caribbean. If you plan to roast them whole, but have had these...

Peanut Butter

Your peanut butter should have 1-2 ingredients - peanuts (and maybe salt). That is it! No other ingredients are needed! I usually buy peanut butter, at Trader Joe's (organic if they have it in stock). We like the chunky variety. If you are used to the "no-stir" kind,...

Pasta – You have options!

My Pasta Foodie Bar includes many different noodle options - some of which are pictured below: Whole Grain (durum wheat), Edamame & Mung Bean, Edamame, Quinoa & Corn. Also look for noodles made from black beans, chickpeas (garbanzo beans) and lentil. The...

Pine nuts

Unless I find them for a great deal, I only keep a small amount of pine nuts in my freezer (they can be expensive) - use walnuts in their place. (Trader Joe's also sells pine nuts).

Almonds

When I can't find local almonds at our Farmers' Market, I usually purchase them at Trader Joe's. I store all nuts in the freezer.

Almond Butter

I use almond butter (either creamy or chunky) in our Granola Foodie Bar and Scot's Granola. I either purchase it at Trader Joe's or Costco for the best price. Keep in refrigerated after opening.

Mushrooms – fresh

Fresh mushrooms can be purchased at any grocery store, though I buy a 24 oz container of them at Costco each week for my Garlic Mushrooms (recipe in The Foodie Bar Way) and on my website (www.TheNutritionProfessor.com). When choosing white button mushrooms, always...

Maple Syrup – the real stuff!

Although I prefer to use Date Syrup (see recipe in The Foodie Bar Way) and on my website (www.thenutritionprofessor.com), when I do use maple syrup, I made sure that it is not a "maple flavored imposter" made with coloring and flavor agents. Costco seems to have the...

Italian Seasoning – store-bought

Costco started selling larger containers of organic Italian seasoning. Although I typically make my own (recipe in The Foodie Bar Way and on my website www.TheNutritionProfessor.com), this is nice to have on hand.

Mixed Greens – (a.k.a. Salad Greens)

I buy triple washed organic salad greens (16 oz container) every week for my Crazy Salad Base. I am very picky when I choose the container, and every once in a while, I will find leaves that have already started to decay. I will typically throw away a few leaves, but...

Shopping Guide