Lifestyle

Eat This, Not That!

Sure, you know about the infamous sheet cakes and the legendary rotisserie chickens. But that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Costco foods. When it comes to fresh produce and healthy snacks, Costco should be your go-to grocer.If you haven't shopped at the warehouse club in a while, you might not be aware of everything the store has to offer. Here are some of the most surprising foods you can buy at Costco. (Just know that store selection varies by location, and you might not find all of these foods on your next trip.)And for more, don't miss these 15 Classic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback.1 Kirkland Signature Parmigiano ReggianoPut down the "Parmesan" and pick up a tub of this authentic Parmigiano Reggiano, straight from Costco's house brand, Kirkland Signature. It's perfect on everything from asparagus to mashed potatoes.RELATED: Sign up for our newsletter to get daily recipes and food news in your inbox!2 Califia Farms Barista Blend Oat MilkIf you're making lattes at home during the pandemic, you need this barista-friendly oat milk.And for more ways that the pandemic could affect your next grocery-shopping trip, check out these 5 Foods Suddenly Selling Out at Costco.3 Good Foods Chunky GuacamoleDon't feel like whipping up a batch of homemade guac? This version, which you can find at Costco, is just as delicious as guacamole made from scratch.Whatever you do, be sure to stay away from these 13 Unhealthiest Costco Foods.4 Kirkland Signature Basil PestoYou don't need to break out the mortar and pestle to get a delicious pesto sauce going! This Costco version is imported from Italy and is great for pasta or sandwiches.5 Kodiak CakesIf protein pancakes are your idea of starting the day off right, you'll be happy to know you can buy Kodiak Cakes at the warehouse chain. They're just one of the 7 Best Foods to Buy in Bulk at Costco.6 Garofalo Italian PastaCome on, you need some authentic Italian pasta to go with that pesto sauce! Costco sells Garofalo pasta in a variety of shapes for all your carb needs.7 Pure Organic Layered Fruit BarsIt's never a bad idea to have packaged snacks on hand, especially during the pandemic. These fruit leathers come in delicious flavors like pineapple passionfruit and strawberry banana.These fruit bars are just one of the 17 Foods You Should Buy at Costco During the Coronavirus Pandemic.8 Kirkland Signature Organic Blue AgaveYep, Costco's in-house brand makes agave, too! Use it in all your recipes for a natural sweetener.9 Bare Fruit ChipsAnother great way to extend the time between your grocery trips while still getting nutritious foods is by buying dried fruit. Kirkland Signature has plenty of great house-brand dried fruit options, and we've spotted Bare chips at Costco, too.Just be sure to steer clear of these 18 Worst Foods to Buy in Bulk at Costco.10 Shrimp CocktailCostco's deli section sells a lot more than just the rotisserie chickens! If you're looking for a quick appetizer for your next family meal, you can't go wrong with the shrimp cocktail from Costco.11 King's Hawaiian RollsIs there anything better than these sweet, bite-size rolls? They'll make any dinner at home a little more fun.12 Fresh MozzarellaIf you're passing over Costco's cheese cases, you're making a huge mistake. From Babybel cheeses to fresh brie and mozzarella, Costco has a cheese for every dairy lover out there.13 Spinach, Artichoke, and Parmesan DipIf you can't eat at your favorite chain restaurant at home, recreate the magic of the appetizer sampler by warming up this dip.14 Pocky Biscuit SticksSometimes you just want a sweet treat, and that's OK! Pocky sticks are perfectly portioned and are an easy snack to keep at home.15 Bob's Red Mill Oatmeal CupsNo time to make a pot of oatmeal on the stove? You can still start your day off right with these pre-portioned oatmeal cups.RELATED: Your ultimate restaurant and supermarket survival guide is here!16 BarkThins Snacking ChocolateIf you have a sweet tooth, you'll be happy to know that Costco sells BarkThins dark chocolate. Yum!17 Amy's Frozen BurritosAs much as we all want to prepare nutritious meals for ourselves at home, sometimes it just doesn't happen. That's where frozen foods like Amy's burritos come in.18 E&C's Heavenly Hunks Oatmeal Dark Chocolate CookiesOnce again, Costco saves the day with these healthy, tasty cookies.19 Explore Cuisine Organic Edamame SpaghettiIf you're looking for a healthier alternative to traditional pasta, give this edamame spaghetti a try. Not into edamame? We've seen lentil-based pasta at Costco, too.20 Coco-RoonsWant a snack that's gluten-free and vegan? Try these Coco-Roons from Costco.And if you're looking for something to pair with all of these delicious foods, here are the 25 Best Wines You Can Buy at Costco.21 Aidell's Chicken&Apple SausageThese tasty chicken sausages work just as well alongside a plate of pasta as they do with a hearty breakfast dish.22 NuttZo Nut&Seed ButterSure, you know that you can buy Kirkland Signature almond butter and peanut butter. But Costco also sells name-brand nut butter, like this one from NuttZo, which is packed with vitamins and minerals.23 Telula Organic Juice BlendCostco's refrigerated section has a rotating cast of green juices, smoothies, and kombucha bottles for you to take home. These individual bottles from Telula come in a variety of healthy flavors.24 Kirkland Signature Peanut Butter-Filled Pretzel NuggetsTrader Joe's is a well-known purveyor of peanut butter-filled pretzels, but Costco has a version of them, too. They're the perfect snack for when you're working from home or just watching Netflix.25 Chobani Greek YogurtIf you're not picky about the flavors, Costco has some great variety packs of Greek and Icelandic yogurt that are a great deal. We've seen Chobani and Siggi's there on past shopping trips.And for the foods you should steer clear of, here are the 7 Food Items You're Buying at Costco That Aren't Deals at All.26 Olive OilFair warning: This is only a deal if you're going to be doing a lot of cooking with olive oil. Otherwise, it might spoil before you can use the whole XL bottle. But if you do go through a ton of olive oil regularly, Costco is a great place to buy it.27 CashewsNuts are a great healthy snack, and Costco is a great place to buy them. From peanuts to cashews to mixed nut varieties, the warehouse club has you covered.28 Quaker Old-Fashioned OatsIf you start each day with a bowl of oatmeal, it might be time to buy a Costco-sized container of oats. You'll be set for months, and they won't go bad in your pantry.29 LaCroixIf you aren't picky about which flavor of LaCroix to buy, check out what's in stock at your local Costco. Most likely, you can pick up a huge variety pack and not have to worry about adding it to your shopping list for a smaller grocery store.30 Peanut ButterYes, we're fans of the fancier types of nut butter. But sometimes, you can't beat a classic PB&J. If you consume the stuff regularly, you'll save a lot of money by buying it at Costco.And for more tricks, don't miss these 52 Life-Changing Kitchen Hacks That'll Make You Enjoy Cooking Again.31 Red's EggWich Turkey Sausage SandwichesAn eight-pack of these frozen, keto-friendly breakfast sandwiches will set you back just $12.99.32 Pumpkin PieIt's that time of year! Costco's pumpkin pie is back, and it's just $5.99 for a 3.5-pound pie.33 Rotisserie ChickenWe can't go without mentioning the Costco rotisserie chicken. It's $4.99, and it's perfect for all of your rotisserie chicken recipes.34 Beyond BurgerIf you're looking to add more plant-based protein to your diet, pick up a pack of frozen Beyond Burgers at Costco.35 Beef BulgogiDon't have time to cook dinner from scratch? Pick up this tasty Korean dish at the Costco deli, and just heat it in a skillet when you get home.36 Yasso Mint Chocolate Chip Greek Yogurt BarsKids of all ages love frozen treats on sticks—it's just a fact. These Greek yogurt bars are way better for you than ice cream is, and the Costco pack is cheaper than what you'd find in a grocery store.37 Veggies Made Great Spinach Egg White FrittatasIf you love Starbucks' sous vide egg bites, you need to try this frozen breakfast option from Costco. When you don't feel like making an omelet from scratch, these are a game-changer.38 Kirkland Signature Hard SeltzerIf you love White Claw, you'll be happy to know that Costco is selling a hard seltzer under its Kirkland Signature line. You can get 24 12-ounce cans for just $17.99 at the warehouse.39 Starbucks Holiday BlendDo you have a Nespresso machine? You're in luck! Starbucks holiday blend Nespresso capsules have been spotted at Costco, as well as on the Costco website.40 Sweet Loren's Chocolate Chunk Cookie DoughVegans can shop at Costco, too! This refrigerated, vegan cookie dough is now on Costco shelves. Yum!For more, check out these 108 most popular sodas ranked by how toxic they are.