Dinner Diva column by Leanne Ely/SavingDinner.com
I’ve been supporting local farmers markets since before it was the trendy thing to do. For years, I’ve been recommending that folks make more of an effort to eat what’s in season, locally. And where you can, it’s always preferred to eat organic.
But that being said, it’s unreasonable to think that everyone (especially those you feeding families) can run to Whole Foods or the local health food store for all of your groceries. Besides the fact that not everyone has access to a Whole Foods, not everyone has the budget to shop there, either.
Lucky for you, you can find many of the exact same items you’ll find at Whole Foods, at your local Costco, for some serious savings.
The following are some of the healthy items you can pick up at Costco and save yourself some money. And please keep in mind that selection will vary depending on which location you shop at!
Organic Fruits & Vegetables
- Apples
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Dates
- Green Beans
- Spinach
- Spring Mix
(Remember to check out the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists at ewg.org to get an up-to-date list of what you should be buying organic, where possible.)
Canned goods
- Natural Olives
- Organic Diced Tomatoes
- Organic Oven Dried Roma Tomatoes
- Organic Sliced Mushrooms
- Organic Tomato Paste
- Organic Tomato Sauce
- Sardines
- Tuna
- Wild Alaskan Tuna
- Wild Sockeye Salmon
(BPA-free cans should be the only ones you eat out of, so watch for the brands that are free of BPA. And where you can, look for glass instead of cans.)
Dried fruit
- Dried and Unsulfured Antioxidant Blend (berries)
- Dried and Unsulfured Apricots
- Raisins
- Sun-dried Organic Figs
Organic Frozen Items
- Berry Supreme
- Cherries
- Mangoes
- Mixed Vegetables
- Peas
- Wild-Caught Salmon
Meat & Eggs
- Chickens
- Chicken breasts
- Chicken thighs
- Eggs
- Grassfed Beef
- Jerky
- Organic Stock
- Uncured Canadian Bacon
- Wild Salmon (freezer section)
Always look for organic meats.
Dairy
- Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter
- Kerrygold Dubliner Cheese
Oil & Sweeteners
- Avocado Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Organic Honey
- Organic Maple Syrup
- Organic Sugar
- Organic Hemp Oil
Nuts, Seeds, and Flour
- Almonds
- Almond Butter
- Almond Flour
- Cashews
- Coconut Flour
- Golden Flax Seeds
- Macadamia Nuts
- Organic Chia Seeds
- Pistachios
Other
- Organic Coffee
- Pure Sea Salt
- Lara Bars
- Spices
- Applegate Gluten-free Chicken Nuggets
- Organic Hummus
- Gluten Free Perfect Flour Blend (Namaste Brand)
- Organic black bean spaghetti
- Aidells Sausage
- POM Juice
- Organic Carrot Juice
- Mateo’s Gourmet Salsa
- GoGo Squeez Apple Sauce
- Kind Bars
- Ricklands Organics Trail Mix
- Udi’s Gluten-free Bread
- Organic Gimme Teriyaki Seaweed Snacks
Happy shopping and enjoy those savings!