As a Nutritional Therapist I often hear that eating “healthy” or organic is just too expensive and inconvenient. I get it! Sourcing quality clean produce, grass-fed meat & wild caught fish does involve extra time and effort and it does indeed cost more.
Living in the Midwest I do not have access to good clean food from local farmers and growers year round. In the off-season I have to shop at big box stores. I still however, purchase the bulk of my grass-fed meats through local farm deliveries.
In a perfect world we would all have the time (and energy) to grow our own food, make fermented veggies, whip up snacks from scratch and put up tomatoes, right? As much as I would like to say that I do all these things all the time, in reality time often does not allow so convenience foods do exist in my household.
Here are some healthy time and money-saving finds from my recent trip to Costco:
Golden Label Organic Chicken Sipping Bone Broth – 6 – 1 qt. cartons – $16.00
Pros: Organic USA, cage free, slow cooked bones, no vegetable oils, gluten-free, convenience, price. Cons: Packaged, cage free & natural flavors are questionable.
I prefer to make my own bone broth, but I use it quite often so I like to keep this on hand when I run out of my own.
Kirkland Organic Diced Tomatoes – 8 – 14.5 oz. cans – $7.79
Pros: Organic USA, convenience, steel cans, price. Cons: Citric acid (can be gmo), heat processed, not local.
I use canned tomatoes when I run out of my extra garden tomatoes that I put up (freeze) over the summer.
Kerrygold Butter – 4 – 8 oz. bars – $10.99
Pros: Grass fed, nice yellow color, price & delicious! Cons: Imported, packaged.
Teton Waters Ranch Polish Sausage – 36 oz. (3 pkgs. of 4 sausages) – $13.79
Pros: 100%Grass fed USA, certified humane, nitrate free, no added sugar or fillers, gluten-free, price. Cons: Packaged, not local.
Wildbrine Raw Organic Sauerkraut – 50 oz. – $7.99
Pros: Raw, fermented, organic USA, non-gmo, BPA free pkg., price, convenient & delish! Cons: Made in a facility that uses soy and sesame & mustard seed (possible allergens), plastic container, not local.
I enjoy making my own but this is a nice alternative.
Natures Garden Roasted Hazelnuts – 26 oz. – $11.89
Pros: Dry roasted, no other ingredients, USA, price. Cons: Not organic, processed in a facility that packages peanuts, tree nuts, milk, soy, wheat and eggs (common allergens), plastic packaging.
Hazelnuts are heart healthy, high in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Great for snacking, low carb alternative flour and baking.
Lara Bars – 20 – 1.6 oz. bars -$13.79
Pros: 4 ingredients, USA, gluten-free, dairy free, non-gmo, convenience, price. Cons: Not organic, contains peanuts (allergen), higher carb/sugar, packaging.
Handy snack in a pinch.
Earthbound Farm Organic Power Greens – 24 oz. – $5.99
Pros: Organic, USA, convenient, price. Cons: Not local, bleach bath, (packaged greens may be bleach washed for longevity/eliminate bacteria), packaging, not local.
I use in salads, saute, soups, smoothies.
Taylor Farms Organic Spring Mix – 16 oz – $4.49
Pros: Organic USA, price. Cons: Not local, bleach bath, packaging, not local.
Fresh salad greens are the thing I miss the most in the winter. There is just no comparison in taste as to home or locally grown fresh greens!
Essential Living Foods Superfood Trail Mix Snack Pack – 16 – 1 oz. bags – $11.89
Pros: Organic USA, raw, non-gmo, gluten-free, peanut free, vegan. convenience, price. Cons: Not all ingredients are raw, packaging.
Moon Cheese – 10 oz. – $9.69
Pros: 100% cheese, gluten-free. low carb. Cons: Not organic or grass-fed, contains Annatto (vegetable food coloring) may cause reaction with individuals who have peanut & tree nut reactions, packaging.
If you are following a Keto diet and miss “crunchy” food, Moon Cheese can fill that void. If you ever purchased the smaller size bags at Starbucks (where I first discovered) this price is a whole lot better! And those in the know know this product sells out fast and is not continually carried so stock up!
Path of Life Organic Broccoli Florets – 64 oz./4 – 1 lb. bags – $6.69
Pros: Organic, non-gmo, convenience, divided into smaller bags, price. Cons: Imported (organic standards in other countries may not be enforced), packaging.
Frozen is picked at peak, retains nutrients and no chopping is a plus! But again, nothing beats fresh!
Premium Selection Organic Riced Cauliflower – 5 – 16 oz. Steamable Bags – $7.59
Pros: Organic, non-gmo, convenience, divided into smaller steamable bags, price. Cons: Imported (organic standards in other countries may not be enforced), packaging.
Cauliflower is a staple in Paleo/Keto lifestyles. Riced cauliflower definitely saves time! Not a fan of steamable bags (possible toxins leaching from bags). Frozen is picked at peak, retains nutrients. Again, nothing beats fresh!
Summary: Costco has an impressive selection of organic, quality, healthy food. If you are willing to buy in bulk and take a little extra time searching/reading labels, you can save money and maybe not have to go shopping quite as often. Prices in this article are reflective of the Costco near me, February 2019.
Always in health,
Cynthia Hill, NTP
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