{"id":37422,"date":"2025-11-02T13:01:45","date_gmt":"2025-11-02T13:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/usa\/im-a-dietitian-who-hates-meal-planning-here-are-12-things-i-buy-at-costco-to-make-feeding-my-family-easier\/"},"modified":"2025-11-02T13:01:45","modified_gmt":"2025-11-02T13:01:45","slug":"im-a-dietitian-who-hates-meal-planning-here-are-12-things-i-buy-at-costco-to-make-feeding-my-family-easier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/usa\/im-a-dietitian-who-hates-meal-planning-here-are-12-things-i-buy-at-costco-to-make-feeding-my-family-easier\/","title":{"rendered":"I&#8217;m a dietitian who hates meal planning. Here are 12 things I buy at Costco to make feeding my family easier."},"content":{"rendered":"<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/68ffb40ec007ca8c2737b2c0?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Composite of photo of Kirkland Signature garlic butter shrimp next to photo of Pura Vida skillet meals chicken stir-fry at Costco\"\/><figcaption>I buy a few frozen staples from Costco to use when feeding my family for the week. <\/p>\n<p>Maxine Yeung<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>I&#039;m a dietitian and mom of two who doesn&#039;t like planning and prepping meals. <\/li>\n<li>I buy pouches of quinoa and brown rice, canned beans, and frozen veggies at Costco to use as sides.<\/li>\n<li>Kirkland Signature frozen broccoli and garlic-butter shrimp are great ingredients for quick dinners.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Even as a dietitian, meal prepping really isn&#039;t my thing. After all, I&#039;m also a busy parent of two toddlers.<\/p>\n<p>Still, I prioritize serving nutritious meals to my family as efficiently as possible, and shopping at places like Costco helps me do this. <\/p>\n<p>I love the chain&#039;s mix of fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable items that make throwing together low-effort, balanced meals, sides, and snacks so much easier. Plus, buying in bulk saves me time because I can avoid extra trips to the grocery store.<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few meal staples from Costco that I typically keep stocked at home.<\/p>\n<p>Veggies Made Great&#039;s egg-white frittatas make getting vegetables in at breakfast effortless.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/68ffa2c7599d46a4ccc0e7e3?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Veggies Mde Great spinach egg white frittatas pack at Costco\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Maxine Yeung<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A warm, nourishing meal usually takes time to cook, but these Veggies Made Great frittatas can be ready in just a few moments. Heat in the oven, air fryer, or microwave. <\/p>\n<p>Each egg-white bite has 5 grams of protein and just 70 calories, making them a quick and satisfying breakfast or snack.<\/p>\n<p>Madras lentils from Tasty Bite are a lunch staple for me.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/68ffa2bc0be9845f2dc527c6?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Tasty Bite organic mdras lentils at Costco\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Maxine Yeung<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>These microwavable lentils have saved me from skipping lunch more times than I can count. <\/p>\n<p>In just 60 seconds, you get a hearty mix of lentils, red beans, and spices in a creamy tomato sauce \u2014 plus, there&#039;s 11 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber per pouch. <\/p>\n<p>Enjoy the lentils alone, with rice, or over a bed of spinach for a fast and fulfilling meal.<\/p>\n<p>Noka superfood smoothies are great for kids and adults.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/68ffa2bec007ca8c2737aff7?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Noka organic superfood smoothies 12-pack at Costco\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Maxine Yeung<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When I can find bulk packs of Noka organic superfood smoothies at Costco, I grab them. <\/p>\n<p>These plant-based smoothies are perfect anytime, whether I want a convenient on-the-go boost or a pre- or post-workout snack. <\/p>\n<p>Each pouch provides 5 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber \u2014 all with no added sugar.<\/p>\n<p>Frozen broccoli florets are my weeknight hero.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/68ffa2ba599d46a4ccc0e7de?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Kirkland Signature frozen organic broccoli florets\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Maxine Yeung<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>My kids love plain steamed broccoli, and these organic florets from Kirkland Signature are my favorite Costco find for keeping our family meals complete. <\/p>\n<p>Each 4-pound bag contains four 1-pound bags of broccoli that can be fully cooked in just a few minutes in the microwave.<\/p>\n<p>Tattooed Chef frozen sheet-pan vegetables are a total time-saver.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/68ffa2bac007ca8c2737aff4?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Frozen bags of sheet pan vegetables at Costco\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Maxine Yeung<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This frozen mix of Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, broccoli, red onions, and zucchini is prepped and ready to go.<\/p>\n<p>Just toss with oil and extra seasonings (if desired), spread out on a sheet pan, and bake. <\/p>\n<p>The best part? While they cook, you can walk away and tackle other things like prepping the rest of dinner, playing with the kids, or even doing some chores.<\/p>\n<p>Frozen fish fillets are an easy, heart-healthy protein option.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/68ffa2ba599d46a4ccc0e7dd?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Frozen black cod at Costco\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Maxine Yeung<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Costco&#039;s freezer section has lots of options for easy-to-prep fish, from plain salmon you season yourself to flavorful, ready-to-cook picks like miso-marinated black cod from Alaskan Leader Seafoods. <\/p>\n<p>Just toss a few fillets on a sheet pan with veggies (like the mix above), and dinner&#039;s done all at once.<\/p>\n<p>Frozen mango chunks let us enjoy tropical fruit all year round.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/68ffa2ba0be9845f2dc527c4?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Frozen organic mango chunks at Costco\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Maxine Yeung<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Using frozen mango chunks means no washing, no cutting, and no mess. At Costco, I&#039;ve been able to score organic ones for under $2 a pound from Columbia Fruit.<\/p>\n<p>These mango chunks are easy to toss into smoothies or simply serve as a refreshing snack.<\/p>\n<p>Canned beans are a convenient and easy way to add plant-based protein to dishes.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/68ffa2ba0be9845f2dc527c5?format=jpeg\" alt=\"SW organic canned black beans pack at Costco\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Maxine Yeung<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When I don&#039;t have time to prep meat or just need a no-fuss protein and fiber boost, I reach for canned beans. <\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, Costco has several varieties to choose from. I like the organic black beans from S&amp;W, which can be used for rice bowls, salads, and wraps. Each \u00bd-cup serving contains 7 grams of protein. <\/p>\n<p>Seeds of Change pouches of quinoa and brown rice simplify adding whole grains to any meal.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/68ffa2c2599d46a4ccc0e7e2?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Seeds of Change organic quinoa and brown rice at Costco\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Maxine Yeung<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Cooking grains from scratch takes planning ahead. <\/p>\n<p>So, I love these heat-and-serve pouches of quinoa and brown rice from Seeds of Change, which are ready in just 90 seconds in the microwave. They make it easy to pull together any well-rounded meal. <\/p>\n<p>Each 1-cup serving has 5 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber.<\/p>\n<p>Hemp hearts are loaded with heart-healthy fats.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/68ffa2c0c007ca8c2737aff8?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Kirkland Signature organic hemp hearts bag\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Maxine Yeung<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Omega-3 fatty acids offer many health benefits and can promote heart health. However, it can be tough to get enough of them in a typical diet.<\/p>\n<p>To help my family consume more, we keep 2-pound bags of Kirkland Signature hemp hearts, which are rich in omega-3s, on hand. <\/p>\n<p>Just one tablespoon of the shelled hemp seeds provides over 4 grams of unsaturated fats and 3 grams of plant-based protein. I sprinkle them on smoothies, oatmeal, yogurt, peanut-butter sandwiches, roasted veggies, and salads. <\/p>\n<p>These frozen garlic-butter shrimp make dinner feel gourmet without all the hassle.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/68ffa2c0c007ca8c2737aff9?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Kirkland Signature garlic butter shrimp in freezer section\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Maxine Yeung<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Marinating and prepping seafood takes time I don&#039;t always have, so I appreciate that this frozen Kirkland Signature shrimp comes ready to go, with no washing, peeling, or hassle. <\/p>\n<p>The garlic-butter shrimp is perfect for adding flavor and protein to pastas, tacos, stir-fries, or salads. <\/p>\n<p>Frozen PuraVida skillet meals make dinner a breeze.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/68ffa2c1599d46a4ccc0e7e1?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Pura Vide chicken stir-fry skillet meal at Costco\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Maxine Yeung<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>One of my favorite frozen PuraVida skillet meals contains a mix of ingredients like chicken breast, bell peppers, green beans, mushrooms, and carrots in a flavorful pineapple soy sauce.<\/p>\n<p>Cook straight from the freezer, and pair with precooked grains for a quick, balanced meal that&#039;s ready in about 15 minutes. <\/p>\n<p>Each serving of this stir-fry has 12 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber.<\/p>\n<p>Read the original article on Business Insider<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I buy a few frozen staples from Costco to use when feeding my family for the week. Maxine Yeung I&#039;m a dietitian and mom of two who doesn&#039;t like planning and prepping meals. I buy pouches of quinoa and brown rice, canned beans, and frozen veggies at Costco to use as sides. Kirkland Signature frozen [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37423,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-37422","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-usa"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37422","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37422"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37422\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}