On Costco...

Warehouse and bulk buying can be a bit overwhelming. The truth of the matter is, do I really need 10 lbs. of anything! The secret to shopping in warehouse stores is to make sure you are purchasing items that work for you and the size of your family.

First of all, check your freezer and do an inventory of what’s in the fridge and pantry. Buddy shop with a friend and share big bulk items. Buy items that have a long shelf or fridge life to avoid waste. Look for local ingredients; that's where you will get the best price. Get inspired by their daily specials – try a new recipe! Take along a calculator so you will inevitably put back unnecessary items. Whatever you do, DON’T impulse buy!

Now for the items worth trying:

• Kirkland Red Grapefruit in 8 oz. containers: Case packed in fruit juice; each cup is 2 servings equaling 100 calories. I eat the whole cup. It’s a great 100-calorie snack!
• Kirkland Signature Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil: is a great buy and tastes great.
• Organic Ground Beef: comes vacuumed in a 3 pack. Each pack is 1 lb. so you can easily freeze what you are not using.
• Kirkland Frozen Pineapple Chunks: come in a 4 lb. bag in the freezer section. We use them for everything! Defrost and eat, eat frozen or make smoothies with them.
• Kirkland Whole Roasted Turkey Breast: in the cold cut deli isle. It weighs in about 4 lbs. When I get it home, I break it down into freezer bags. I cut some into chunks for salads, slice some for sandwiches and freeze what I’m not using immediately. It is cooked and ready to serve, is very lean and tastes yummy.
• Mary’s Gone Crackers: By far the best tasting Gluten Free cracker around. The entire family eats them!
• Cheeses: Shop around in the cheese section. They are always getting new types and almost always have a sampler available.
• Fruits and Vegetables: Always fresh and always seasonal. Except the crates of oranges.
• Chunky Artichoke Jalapeno Dip: in the fridge area near the vegetable room. I have to admit we are a little addicted!
• Philippine Dried Mangoes: Naturally delicious and soooooo good!
• Hummus: Haven’t had a bad hummus yet. Try all of the brands.

Now for what NOT to buy:

• Organic Chicken Broth: Taste like dishwater. Dull, dull, and dull.
• Navel Oranges: The crates seem fresh, but we have noticed that the oranges on the bottom spoil quickly. Maybe they get smashed?
• Cereal: I have found better buys in the supermarket.
• Rotisserie Chicken: I’m probably going to get a lot of slack about this one. Although you can’t beat the price, you can beat the taste. It never seems to be cooked enough and we just don’t like the taste. Who wants to come home and cook it again? I might as well start from scratch.
• Anything you can’t store!