When it comes to eating healthy and losing weight, there’s nothing quite like shopping at Costco. With its vast selection of affordable food choices, Easy finger foods Costco guides can help you find nutritious and delicious options. To help you choose the best weight-loss foods available at Costco, we asked registered dietitian nutritionist Rachel Beller for her top picks. Here are the 10 items she recommends adding to your cart next time you hit up this bulk store.
1. Greek Yogurt
One of the best weight-loss foods you can buy at Costco is plain Greek yogurt. It’s packed with protein – which helps you feel fuller longer – and probiotics, which aid digestion and boost the immune system. Plus, it’s incredibly versatile; try adding it to smoothies for a creamy texture, or use it as a sour cream substitute on tacos or baked potatoes.
2. Nut butter
If you’re looking beyond basic peanut butter, there are plenty of other nut butter available at Costco that offer a range of beneficial nutrients, such as monounsaturated fats, which can lower cholesterol, and even omega-3 fatty acids, which can help promote heart health. Try almond butter, walnut butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter as some healthier alternatives and spread them on whole grain toast or add them to oatmeal bowls for extra protein and fiber!
3. Frozen berries
Frozen berries are not only great for making smoothies, but are also a great addition to salads or oatmeal bowls. They’re particularly high in antioxidants, which can help protect cells from oxidative damage, and frozen fruit tends to be cheaper than fresh, so it’s definitely a win-win situation!
4. Wholemeal pasta
Wholemeal pasta has more fiber than regular white pasta, making it ideal for those trying to lose weight, as fiber plays an important role in keeping us feeling full longer after meals. In addition, replacing white pasta with wholemeal pasta significantly increases its nutritional value, providing more vitamins and minerals per serving than white pasta!
5. Nuts & Seeds
Nuts are another great source of healthy fats that can help lower LDL cholesterol levels, while seeds provide essential fatty acids such as omega-3, which can help reduce inflammation in our bodies and promote better overall health. Grab some unsalted mixed nuts or a bag of hemp hearts – both available at most Costcos – and sprinkle them on salads or mix them into trail mix snacks for easy snacking throughout the day!
6. Quinoa
Quinoa has grown in popularity over the years, largely due to its higher protein content compared to other grains, making it an ideal choice when looking for quick meal options when trying to lose weight (or keep it off!). It’s also gluten-free, so perfect if someone in your family has celiac disease or a gluten intolerance/sensitivity – two birds, one stone!
7. Canned Salmon
Canned salmon is packed with lean protein plus healthy omega-3 fatty acids and is low in calories – what more could you ask for? Not only does salmon taste delicious, but it’s also very versatile, so feel free to get creative by adding flakes to soups & stews or spreading it on crackers with some diced vegetables – yum!
8. Frozen vegetables
Frozen veggies contain many of the same nutritional benefits as fresh produce, but they tend to cost less than buying veggies from the supermarket every week, so they can help you save money on groceries without sacrificing nutritional quality! Plus, there’s no need to worry about spoilage, as frozen veggies last much longer than fresh – double bonus points there, folks!
With these top eight picks from registered dietitian Rachel Beller, any home chef will have no problem finding delicious yet nutritious foods at their local Costco – especially if they have weight loss goals in mind! Whether you’re stocking up on frozen berries, quinoa packets, canned salmon, or jars of nut butter, these recommended items can easily fit into any budget without compromising on taste OR nutrition – the perfect combination, if I do say so myself 🙂