Discover 25 healthy snacks from Costco to fuel you between meals and prevent hangry meltdowns.
We became a Costco family when I was pregnant with our twins, and we haven’t looked back! Although we don’t get everything there, most of our groceries come from Costco, and I’ve come to appreciate buying in bulk for our family of four.
The produce and the snack selection are particularly outstanding, and several friends have asked me what I buy at Costco as an RD. Before I get to my healthy snack finds from Costco, I thought it might be helpful to review how to build a healthy, satisfying snack.
How to Build a healthy snack
My framework for creating a healthy snack is simple: Pair a fruit, veggie, or whole-grain carb with a source of fat or protein for long-lasting energy. Why? Fruit/ veggies/ whole-grain carbs provide fiber (and various other nutrients) to promote satiety, digestive health, and more. Meanwhile, fat/protein improves satisfaction, provides energy, and supports muscle building. The net effect of combining fruit/ veggie/ wholegrain carb with a source of fat/protein is a snack that keeps your fuller for longer.
Remember, this is just a snack-building framework, not a rule, and snacking needs can vary from person to person. For example, if you’re a nursing mother, you may have to increase the portion size of your snack to get the calories you need for milk production.
Conversely, if you’re just about to jump into an intense workout, a light, carb-only snack can be helpful to avoid GI distress and fuel activity. A bigger snack with carbs and protein is more appropriate after you’ve finished exercising.
The best healthy snacks from Costco according to a dietitian
Whether you need a to get you through to lunch or you’re fueling for a workout, these are my favorite snacks from Costco. Each one is packed with a host of nutrients to help you bridge the gap between meals.
Refrigerated Snacks
- Perfect Bar Refrigerated Organic Protein Bars: With 17g of protein and 340 kcal per bar, Perfect Bars are on the heartier side but offer a little of everything when you need an easy-to-eat high-energy snack. They also provide an array of micronutrients including B vitamins, folate, phosphorus, calcium, vitamin E, magnesium, and copper.
- Stonyfield Organic Whole Milk Pouches: These yogurt pouches are made with whole milk and contain less than a teaspoon of sugar, making them a wonderful choice for kids.
- Chobani Less Sugar Greek Yogurt Variety Pack: Although not always available, these are a favorite when I can get them! Each cup offers just the right amount of sweetness without resorting to sugar substitutes. Plus, you get around 12g of high-quality protein per serving.
- Tillamook Medium Cheddar Snacking Cheese: With 5g of. protein per serving, these single-serve cheddar slices are an easy protein option for snacks. Plus, they provide calcium too. Pair with fruit or whole-grain crackers for a filling combo.
- BelGioioso Fresh Mozzarella Snacking Cheese: Another great single-serve cheese option offering a little bit of protein and fat.
- Kirkland Signature Organic Hummus: These mini hummus cups are a convenient source of plant-based protein, fiber, and heart-healthy fats. Pair with wholegrain crackers, baby carrots, or mini-peppers for long-lasting energy.
- Pure Provisions Hard-Boiled Free Range Eggs: Not everyone loves hard-boiled eggs, but if you’re a fan, these are another easy source of protein to pair with crackers or wholegrain bread. (Read more about the health benefits of eggs HERE).
- Three Bridges Spinach & Bell Pepper Egg Bites: This is another solid, ready-to-eat egg option with 220kcal and 15g of protein per 2-bite serving.
- WestEnd Cuisine Grilled Chicken Skewers, Mediterranean Style: West End Cuisine’s snack-size chicken skewers offer 12g of protein per stick and are flavored with simple ingredients like olive oil, vinegar, and dehydrated garlic. I like to pair these with veggies and hummus for a delicious, satisfying snack.
Non-Perishable Snacks
- RXBARs: RXBARs are made with real food ingredients and offer a bit of everything including protein, fat, and carbs. They’re a great travel snack because they don’t require refrigeration and take up little space in backpacks and handbags.
- Skinny Pop: I’m married to a (pop)corn-loving midwesterner, so we always have a bag of this in the pantry. Fun fact: Popcorn is a whole grain and offers 3g of fiber per 3.75 cup serving. And yes, the serving size is huge, making it a satisfying snack especially when paired with a source of protein.
- Live Love Pop! Truffle Salt Gourmet Popcorn: Live Love Pop is a recent discovery and is fast becoming a family fave. The hint of truffle makes this wholegrain snack feel luxurious. Plus, it offers 3g of fiber per 4 cup serving. (Read more about the nutrients in corn HERE).
- Bare Apple Chips: I’ve been a fan of Bare Apple Chips for years, and these single-serve packs are so convenient. They deliver a satisfying crunch, are non-perishable, and kid- and adult-friendly. Win, win, win. Pair with nuts, nut butter or cheese for extra filling power.
- That’s It Fruit Bars Minis: That’s It bars are simply dried fruit shaped into a bar. That’s It. Our toddlers love these bars – the mini is just the right size for them. I love them too as a handbag snack.
- Kirkland Signature Organic Dried Mangoes: Another great no-added sugar, non-perishable fruit option when you’re craving a sweet snack.
- The Snak Yard Organic Sweet Potato Sticks: I found these at Costco recently and decided to give them a go. With just one ingredient – sweet potato – I was intrigued! And as it turns out, they’re delicious. They have a chewy texture similar to dried fruit but are made entirely from sweet potato. Pair with nut butter for a tasty, filling snack or enjoy them alone before a workout.
- Kirkland Signature Snacking Nuts: These single-serve bags of peanuts, cashews, and almonds, are packed with heart-healthy fats and are an easy way to satisfy a salty-snack craving.
- Sonoma Creamery Tomato Basil Pizza Crisps: I’ve been eating the Sonoma Creamery Parmesan Crisps since my days at Yummly and was excited to see a variation of their parmesan crisps at Costco again. They’re a fun, high-protein snack option that tastes similar to Arnott’s Pizza Shapes – a nostalgic Aussie snack.
- Simply Fuel Protein Balls: Created by fellow dietitian, Michelle Dudash, these protein balls are packed with whole food ingredients and offer 2g of fiber and 8g of protein per 2-ball serving. They’re also a source of probiotics.
- Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers: Crunchmaster’s seedy, gluten-free crackers pair well with hummus or guacamole and are my go-to when a salty craving strikes. GF crackers vary widely in nutrition content and these are among the more fiber- and protein-rich options.
- Kirkland Signature Wild Alaskan Pink Salmon: Canned salmon is a wonderful, non-perishable source of protein and anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats. Pair with wholegrain crackers for a filling snack.
Snacks From The Produce Section
- Bananas: We go through an enormous number of bananas each week in this house. They’re sweet, portable, and pair nicely with sources of protein and fat such as yogurt and nut butter. They’re also rich in potassium, a nutrient that offsets the effect of sodium and supports blood pressure regulation. What’s not to love?
- Organic Mini Bell Peppers: These crunchy, sweet peppers are perfect for snacking, and offer a generous amount of vitamin C. I like to pair these with hummus or snacking cheese.
- Baby Carrots: Baby carrots are another great crunchy option to pair with hummus or cheese.
- Medjool Dates: Medjool dates are a delicious addition to snacks if you have a sweet tooth like me. Pair a couple of dates with nut butter or chocolate for a sweet, energy-boosting snack. (Learn more about the health benefits of dates HERE).
So, there you have it. My top 25 healthy snack picks from Costco. Happy shopping (and snacking), friends!
