When there are a lot of mouths to feed at home, as is my case, we feel the weight of inflation and the costs of eating healthy. Sometimes it costs every dollar to feed the family with dishes prepared based on fresh products, avoiding junk food and restaurants. We have found through the web a personal trainer named Rachel who tells us her secrets to feed her family of six people, wisely shopping at Costco.
If you are a fan of Costco like me, you will know that it is already one of the favorite places for Americans to save money every day. Their bulk products allow you to get the most out of your money, and they give you much more than buying in small packs.
Feed a Large Family on a Budget at Costco
Potatoes are my family’s favorite, and I don’t think there’s a person who doesn’t like a good mashed potatoes, some French fries, or even a salad with diced potatoes. At Costco, the 15-pound bag costs less than $7, and lasts for several weeks even in large families. You can prepare some dishes such as baked potatoes with butter and sour cream, or stuffed with bacon and cheese.
But potatoes are a carbohydrate, and you have to add a protein at least once a day: Sealtest cottage cheese has enough protein and calcium to balance the diet of adults and children. It can work for breakfasts, mixing it with cereal and nuts, or for dessert after lunch with fresh fruits. A pack of two 500 gram containers costs $6.19 and lasts us a week. Such a great deal!
You can’t miss the wonderful Christopher brand carrots in any cupboard that, I think, are exclusive to Costco (I’m not sure, but we haven’t seen them anywhere else). They are full of vitamins and minerals, they are healthy, delicious and versatile. A 10 pound bag costs $7 and will last about a month for $1.75 per week. If you find any promotion, you can buy more quantity and freeze the unused ones, cut into dice.
Larger Packs = Larger Savings at Costco
Having legumes is always a good idea, Rachel tells us. The next time you go to Costco, look for the Dunya Harvest chickpeas that can be used in various dishes. Prepare salads, hummus, soups, stews and much more. Some people can even season them with lemon powder, salt, pepper, and olive oil, and place on a baking sheet to toast for a few minutes. They are a fantastic snack to watch a movie or enjoy in the middle of the afternoon.
They come pre-cooked in a can, so they are easy and quick to turn into fantastic meals. A 12-count box $17, and in a family of five or six people they can last up to two weeks. Thanks for that, Costco.
It is not a fresh product, but it is one of the great classics from Costco: it is the Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken that costs less than $5 per unit and feeds four or five people at a dinner. Even if you combine it with vegetables and greens, you can most certainly spread it out much more and be one or two additional dishes.
Feel like an expert in Asian or Latin food with the Thai Hom Mali jasmine rice: an 8-kilogram bag is worth $20 and lasts up to three months. That’s $1.70 per week. Can you believe it?!
Cheese can be an expensive grocery, and yet Costco has its own affordable versions of the house brand, Kirkland Signature. On your next visit to the store, look for their block cheddar cheese. A 2 and 1/2 pound piece costs $15 and lasts up to two weeks. You can prepare sandwiches, snacks, taco fillings, and much more with this one little friend.
Keep Adding, We’re Still on a Budget!
Rachel also recommends adding the Burnbrae Farms brand eggs to the shopping cart, as they are a tasty and abundant source of whole protein. Not only that, but they are also inexpensive: A pack of 30 large eggs costs $9.39 and lasts a week for a family of 5 or 6 people.
As a natural trea for yourself and your family, try the Clementine tangerines which are juicy, savory, and sweet. They’re perfect as a dessert or for the kid’s lunchboxes. A large bag at Costco costs only $6.49, and will last for an entire week.
Some other products the expert shopper always throw inside the shopping cart, for a budget-friendly family meals plan, are:
- Bananas: two bunches costs $4, and lasts up to two weeks.
- Nature’s Touch frozen broccoli: a 4.4 lb bag costs $10 and will last up to 10 days.
- Attitude Fraiche mixed greens for sandwiches: one container lasts a week, and it’s just $3.79.
- Crunchmaster multigrain crackers: a large box is as low as $10.50, and has 1 pound in separated packs.
- Antonio Amato pasta: a great value for the money. A 10-pound bag is just $11 and lasts for up to two weeks.