aI have to say I’m impressed… every single time I shop at Costco I find something new that is healthy, organic and ‘real food.’ I have complied a list of things I purchase at my Costco in Idaho. Each Costco is different, but this list should get you started purchasing real food at Costco!

Getting started at Costco:


1) Costco is membership based, so you have to get the yearly $55 membership.
2) Costco will have varied selection depending on where you live, including their organic offerings, but they are responsive to customer demands.
3) Make a shopping list and stick to it. Yes, there are always hundreds of ultra-tempting items that will dramatically change the cost of your bill when you check out.
4) Remember to read labels. Don’t fall for thinking it’s healthy just because it says ‘natural’ or ‘gluten-free.’

Produce:
Remember the dirty dozen, clean 15 when purchasing produce here (or any grocery store.)
If the label’s code starts with a 9, it’s organic!

Dirty Dozen: Apples, Strawberries, Grapes, Celery, Peaches, Spinach, Sweet bell peppers
Nectarines, Cucumbers, Cherry tomatoes, Snap peas, Potatoes

Clean 15: Avocados, Sweet corn, Pineapples, Cabbage, Sweet peas, Onions, Asparagus
Mangoes, Papayas, Kiwi, Eggplant, Grapefruit, Cantaloupe, Cauliflower, Sweet potatoes

Produce:

Earth Bound Organic Mixed Greens
Avocados (clean 15)
Onions (clean 15)
Bunny Love Organic Carrots
Organic Sweet Potatos
Lemons/Limes
Asparagus

Refrigeration

Kerrygold grass fed butter
Organic Chicken
Organic Beef
Perfect foods bars
Beets
Organic Chicken sausage
HOPE hummus
Aidells’s organic sliced chicken
Basil Pesto
Natural applewood smoked bacon

Frozen:

Cascadian Farms Organic Berries
Organic Blueberries
Organic Mango Chunks
Organic frozen peas
Organic Broccoli Florets
Organic asparagus spears
Organic salted butter
Wild alaskan salmon
Udi’s gluten-free bread

Pantry Items

Nuts/Seeds/Flours/Grains

Organic Chia Seeds
Organic Coconut Flour
Blanched almond flour
Mara Natha Almond Butter
Earth Choice Hemp Seeds
Whole almonds
Sliced Almonds
Pecans
Pinenuts
Organic brown rice
Tru Roots Quinoa/rice blend
Gluten-free bread (7 grain)
Namaste Gluten-free flour
Brown Rice Pasta

Oils/Sweeteners/Condiments

Nutivas Coconut Oil
Organic salsa
Avocado Oil
Organic Olive Oil
Himalyan Pink Salt
Maple Syrup

Other pantry items

Wild canned sockeye salmon
Wild Albacore tuna
Organic Diced Tomatos
Organic green beans
Coconut water
Lara Bars
Unsweetened Almond milk
Unsweetened Coconut milk
Roasted seaweed snacks
Organic corn tortilla chips
Vega protein powder
Kind Bars
Paleo Simplified protein bars