Shopping at Costco is one of the easiest ways to get good quality food, simplify your routine and save money. If you don't feel like cooking elaborate meals every day (me neither!), there are so many great options you can buy at Costco.
As a women’s health coach and someone who wants to stay healthy and fit, my goal is simple. I want to eat well while keeping things practical and also as affordable as I can.
That means choosing foods that are high in protein, easy to prepare, and tasty. But it's not just about protein, I also buy all my veggies, fruits, eggs, breads and snacks there. Costco is literally a one-stop-shop for us.
I’m always a little surprised when people say a Costco membership doesn’t make sense for them because they are “only” a family of four. We are a family of two, and it works extremely well for us. We rarely let food go to waste and we make a point to use everything we buy, which is a habit I’ve had since I was young and really value.
We eat most of our meals at home, we freeze a lot of what we purchase, and we plan ahead. For example, most of the proteins and even the bread go straight into the freezer so nothing gets wasted. If this system works for two people, it can absolutely work for a larger family.
So, let's get started and see what I bought this time. If you'd like to see my previous Costco grocery hauls, you can find the videos HERE and HERE.
I have added links to where I could find them. I am not affiliated to any of these products, I am simply sharing what I'm buying.
I do not avoid carbs, and I do not avoid bread.
Bread is a regular part of my Costco shopping and I eat it daily. This time I got the Kirkland Artisan Rolls, but occasionally I also get their bagels. To make it last, I usually buy two packages and store them in the freezer. This keeps it fresh and ready whenever I need it. After taking it out of the freezer I just pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds and then toast it.
Carbs can be part of a balanced diet, and no, carbs don't make you fat. Especially women who are working out, need carbs. It really comes down to overall intake. When calories are consistently too high, that is what leads to fat gain, not carbs on their own.
Protein is a priority, but I keep it simple.
I do buy meats like chicken breast and thighs, ground turkey and ground beef. This time I bought just ground turkey because I had enough chicken and ground beef at home already.
But I also look for options that are already cooked or require very little prep. Grass Fed Beef Sirloin only needs to be heated and is one of my go to items. It is quick, convenient, high in protein, low in fat and low in calories. Which makes it extremely easy and healthy.
I also bought Realgood Chicken Strips which I buy pretty much every time I'm at Costco, and Chicken Maple Meatballs. Tortilla Crusted Tilapia is a new find for us and we have been very impressed with it because tilapia doesn't usually taste all that good.
All these foods are very easy to make and they only take about 5-15 minutes to heat up.
When choosing pre packaged meats like pulled pork or pot roast, I check the fat content and choose what fits my goals best. The Smoked Pulled Pork that I bought this time is quite fatty, but then you just have to watch the quantities and not overdo it. It tastes good though!
If you'd like a guide that features 12 very quick, high protein foods you can get at Costco and most grocery stores, check out my free guide below. Take it with you the next time you go grocery shopping.
I always buy vegetables, especially ones that are easy to use. I go through phases where I like my veggies cooked, so this is when I get more things like broccoli and cauliflower. However, now that it's getting really warm, I've been into salads more, so this time I got plenty of fresh veggies.
Here's what I got: mixed greens, bell peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, avocado and cucumbers. There's no other magic than just cutting them up and turning them into a salad. I also like bell peppers and zuccini roasted.
Usually I also get either apples, bananas or berries. This time we went with bananas and grapes.
For dairy, I usually buy plain non fat Greek yogurt. It is high in protein and easy to use in different meals. Occasionally I also buy Oikos yogurt cups which are also high in protein and come at 15g protein each serving. Hugh likes his Noosa brand, which is not high in protein and has more sugar, but not everything needs to be focused on just protein.
We always get a lot of eggs. And while everything is more affordable at Costco, eggs are particularly affordable there.
As you saw, I do buy and eat bread. For quite some time now, my first meal of the day has been half an artisan roll (the one I showed above), with a slice of cheese, either Black Forest Ham or sliced turkey or chicken, and topped with a fried egg.
I got all these ingredients this time too: Black Forest Ham and Four Cheese Variety Pack. I like this cheese because you get 4 different kinds in this one package. I already mentioned eggs.
I was also really happy to see that our favorite bread and butter chips, Bubbies, are back! We used to buy them all the time maybe a few years ago, but then they didn't carry them anymore. Until now. I hope that they stay, because they are the best pickles I've bought.
I really like Costco coconut water. It has to be specifically THIS one for me! If you've ever bought the Harmless Harvest brand, you know that that's a lot better than anything else we have available. Well, this particular one from Costco is just as good, and it has that beautiful light pink color and delicious sweet taste.
For snacks, I keep things simple. Beef sticks are easy to grab and provide a good source of protein. There were so many choices this time, so I just compared the macros, calories and price. These are the ones we ended up getting, but they also had many other options that were equally as good.
I also buy nuts. They are not high in protein, but they are enjoyable. Just be mindful of portion sizes since they are calorie dense.
Costco is a great place to make healthy eating easier and more affordable.
By focusing on simple, high protein foods, easy produce, and convenient options, you can build meals quickly without overcomplicating things.
Nutrition is just one part of the puzzle. If you want to get fitter, stronger, and feel better in your body, you need to train your muscles regularly, not just eat well.
That’s why I created Fit From Scratch: a completely free workout plan that helps you build strength from the ground up. It’s available in two versions:
Choose what works for you and start feeling the difference in your energy, mindset, and results.
FREE Calorie Setup Guide: https://kerstenkimura.com/the-calorie-setup-guide/ – figure out how many calories and protein you need to eat for fat loss
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Fit and Fueled Vault: A collection of 75+ video trainings providing sustainable, holistic approach to strength, nourishment, and nervous system regulation for women. NO DIETS. https://courses.kerstenkimura.com/fit-and-fueled-vault-course/
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