If you’re anything like me,  you get distracted by the rotisserie chicken, baked goods and the new food items they have in stock every time I happen to go there. It’s so tempting to go from aisle to aisle just to see what you can get.

Yes, it’s hard not to pick up that massive cheesecake for a deep discount, but Costco is more than that. There are some pretty die-hard fans out there that rave about healthy Costco foods. You can find a whole range of organic products, as well as ones that cater to most diets (has anyone ever tried paleo around here?).

Not sure what to buy? No problem, I’ve got you covered, I’ve included a shopping list of things you can most likely find at your local Costco.

You won’t find prices below because they could change at anytime, and I wouldn’t want you to be reading an inaccurate post. Know that most of the items listed are probably cheaper than your local grocery store, and some you may not even find there (like the edamame noodles I recently spotted).

Healthy Costco Foods Shopping List

Produce

• Frozen vegetables -Sometimes these are even healthier than fresh! If items aren’t in season, consider getting the frozen equivalent. They have mixed veggies, like a stir fry mix.
• Organic meats – Costco carries their own Kirkland brand which tends to be cheaper. Some meats, like their beef are also grass fed. If in doubt, ask the butcher.
• Frozen seafood – Again, Kirkland brand has a lot of offer in the way of wild caught salmon and tuna. You can also find other brands of wild caught shrimp and scallops.
• Dairy and eggs – If you’re into butter from grass fed cows, Kerrygold is a great choice. You can also find delicious imported organic cheese, almond and other non-dairy milk.
• Frozen fruit – Cascadian is a great go-to brand for organic fruit.

Pantry Items

• Oil – There are quite a lot of options, such as olive oil, flaxseed oil, avocado oil and virgin coconut oil.
• Nuts – You find the Kirkland brand of pine nuts, walnuts, cashews, and pistachios
• Spices – Not all are organic, but Kirkland pure vanilla is a great choice
• Sweeteners – You can find organic maple syrup and raw unfiltered honey
• Organic peanut and almond butter

Tips on Shopping at Costco

• Make sure you’re actually going to be using those ingredients! While buying an entire bag of lemons might sound like a great idea, but if you don’t use it, you’ve wasted your money.
• If you’re trying a new ingredient, it might be a better idea to try a small sample (if they have some or get it at your local supermarket) and see if you actually like before committing to a big amount.
• Even if you’re buying healthy ingredients, make sure to check the labels regardless. You just never know.
• If you don’t to purchase a membership, see if a friend or family member wants to get in on the deal. At the time of writing, you can get two Costco cards, but only if members are in the same household
• See if you can split up ingredients or items. That way, you can still score the discount without having to eat rice for weeks.

Costco also has a really terrific return policy. They’ll take pretty much anything back as long as its not older than 90 days.

So the next time you head to Costco, make sure you take this list with you!