The Best Healthy Costco Finds (Snack Edition!)
I might be biased in my relationship with Kirkland branded-anything, having had a dad who is a Costco employee for the last 20+ years. Buuuut I also think the hype is well-founded when I can find some of the best snacks for my family at the best prices! This post is sharing my latest Costco haul for my family of 4-- including all the toddler-friendly snacks that make a good option for on-the-go while still being nourishing and healthy!
Some of My Priorities for the Perfect Snack
As a registered nurse and health coach, who has a whole business focused on health and wellness, of course I have some priorities when it comes to the snacks I buy for my family. But if you have been around the blog for any amount of time, you know I am all about balance, sustainability, and holistic health over perfection.
That means while I try to eat as healthy as possible and source the highest-quality foods for my family, I also value convenience. Not stressing about every single ingredient is part of my own holistic wellness. So, I'll share some of the goals I try to stick to with my famili’s groceries, but these may be very different than those you follow for your family. And that is a-okay. Each season of wellness looks a bit different for each person... because true life-long wellness comes from making the best choice you can over months and years. So choose the “better” option as you are able to and focus on making that healthier choice sustainably over time.
With all that out of the way, here are some of the things I prioritize while grocery shopping:
whole foods based- I love finding snacks that use real food ingredients over processed alternatives. That means when you read the ingredient list, you see ingredients that are real food. Not chemicals or additives that you cannot pronounce
simple ingredients- on the subject of ingredient lists, you should find a list of simple ingredients. Instead of a long lists of hundreds of items, opt for ones that have 10 or less. Ideally, your ingredient list will be less than 5!
no seed oils- seed oils are unstable at high temperatures, meaning they oxidize quickly. This oxidation can cause inflammation in the body— making it something I try to avoid as much as possible.
no artificial food dyes - food dyes are a controversial topic to say the least….. So, I found some studies that people can look into to make their own decision. For myself and my family, they are something we generally try to avoid. But for special occasions, i don’t worry too much. Here are some links for you to look into a bit more:
a systematic review of 27 clinical trials on artificial food dyes. 25 of the 27 were considered “challenge studies”. Sixteen (64%) out of 25 challenge studies identified some evidence of a positive association, and in 13 (52%) the association was statistically significant between artificial food dyes and symptoms of hyperactivity.
a small study that showed an improvement in symptoms for children with ADHD when food dyes and preservatives were removed from their diet
no added sugar - Did you know that the more sugar you eat, the more you want? You can also change your taste buds to become less acclimated to sugar— that means that you can train your taste buds to prefer less sweet foods. This is something I have dramatically noticed in my own life— I very very rarely crave something sweet and when I do, i prefer it being sweetened with a little bit of honey or maple syrup.
organic products when possible-- i am not a stickler about organic.. but I do try to prioritize it when its an available option
Another thing I like to keep in mind with snacks is how we eat them. That means I am always trying to ensure they are supporting our overall health-- that means I am keeping in mind the nutritional value, how they affect our blood sugar levels, and that they are fostering healthy eating habits in my kiddos (did you know that the foods kids are exposed to early, can influence their food intake for the rest of their lives?!). Also, these are truly things that I am using on the go, while traveling, or during other activities-- so they are not making up a significant portion of our nutritional intake. So it goes back to balance-- they are not all perfect options, and that is alright. They serve the need of bringing us convenient foods and sometimes, that is the healthiest thing you can do.
Related Reads:
Consumerism and Snacking
Have you ever seen those hauls where people spend $1000 on snacks for their kids and pack all those plastic containers in the pantry? That is just not reality for me (nor do I want it to be). The fact of the matter is pre-packaged snacks are more expensive for your family. So if you are trying to save money, skip the pre-packaged options and read the next section of DIY snack options. These are all really awesome options that require a little prep work, but are honestly some of my favorite healthy snack options!
I am all about trying to make healthy living feel accessible for everyone, and not everyone has a big budget for snacks (my family included 🙋🏻♀️). So we really try to limit pre-packaged snacks to have only when we are out of the house, or during busy seasons when we need to add more convenience into our days.
Related Reads:
My Favorite Costco Snacks (healthy edition)
All Costco shoppers know the excitement when stepping into the snack aisle-- are they going to have my favorite chips this time?! Or maybe a fun, new snack option?! Or maybe for you, it's overwhelming not knowing what choices to make. Hopefully this list of vetted, healthy costco snacks will make it a bit easier! Also, another thing to note anytime I talk about costco favorites is that all difference branches carry slightly different things. For example, where I live, we have 3 different Costco's in the valley-- and they all carry some things unique to the others.
These are all great snacks that are pre-packaged portion sizes and good choices for on-the-go snacking! The thing with pre-packaged snacks though is they are more expensive... So if you are trying to save money, you have two great options: think of a way to DIY the product recommendations or skip ahead to the "DIY Snack" Section where they aren't pre=packaged and generally a little more affordable :)
Bare apple chips- I love these apple chips for when I want a little sweet snack. They're good snacks on their own or with a cheese stick for some added protein!
dried mango - my daughter and husband are obsessed with dried mango. I will generally pack ~one serving size in small reusable snack bags and have them ready in the pantry. This allows us to take them on the go a lot easier than lugging around the big bag of dried mangos
chomps grass-fed beef sticks- beef sticks are a great snack option if you are looking for an easy way to increase your protein intake!
that's it mini fruit bars
siete tortilla chips- if you are a fan of crunchy snacks, you will love siete-- they make my favorite tortilla chips (and many of my other favorite products too). They are grain free, making them naturally gluten free and they also avoid all highly-processed seed oils.
turkey jerky
organic applesauce pouches
rx bars
perfect bar
simple mills almond flour crackers - these are one of our favorite snacks! And they are so versatile-- we will top them with cheese, dip them in homemade hummus, or just eat them plain. I have tried many gluten-free crackers through the years and these are truly our favorite!
seaweed snacks - There are so many health benefits from seaweed! We love these on their own, or also to make baked sushi cups
Costco Snacks That Are Not Pre-packaged
These are items that I buy with the intent of them being for snacks at home. They are also items that are easy to package yourself into smaller, reusable bags.
apples - apples are literally a snack staple in my house (as with any other piece of fresh fruit)! My kids love eating cut-up apples and cheese, or dipping them in peanut butter
speaking of cheese- I love buying large blocks of cheese and then making my own cheese sticks at home. It ends up being so much more cost effective this way! (i will also do this for shredded cheese)
sliced turkey- turkey wraps, pair it with some crackers, or even on its own! Such a good protein-packed snack option.
Siete almond flour tortillas- we are a big quesadilla family 🤪 they are literally the easiest lunch for your family! Tortilla, cheese, and maybe some leftover chicken or ground beef for some added protein—voila! I will also add some spinach if I am looking to add a bit more fiber!
plain greek yogurt - perfect for homemade yogurt bowls, adding into smoothies, or using as a substitute for sour cream!
hard-boiled eggs- truly one of the easiest high protein snacks around! Each hard-boiled egg offers 6 grams of protein, plus so many healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals inside the yolk. You can either buy these pre-made or save some money and boil them yourself at home! You can also make them in the instant pot and, I swear, they peel so easy.
PRO TIP: if you are feeding hard boiled eggs to little ones, I prefer doing a medium-boil. I find the yolk doesn't get chalky and is easier for them to eat. Not to mention, cutting them to age appropriate sizes!
oats- While Costco has many great choices, I have yet to find a good granola bar option. So when I have the time, I love making my own with organic oats, maple syrup, chocolate chips, and whatever other ingredients I have in my pantry. This is a great way to use real food ingredients and personalize your snacks to your families needs-- sometimes I will add some chia seeds for added grams of fiber, sometimes i will add cinnamon or vanilla or pumpkin for different flavors and variety.
Snacks are a great way to help support your energy levels throughout the day, meet your macro goals, and add more nutrients to your day. I’d love to hear from you— what are your favorite healthy Costco snacks?!
Kaelyn RN- BSN, CEN