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- I’m a dietitian who hates meal planning. Here are 12 things I buy at Costco to make feeding my family easier. (businessinsider.com)
Local Dietitian Mom Shares Costco Staples for Quick, Healthy Family Meals
[City, State] – For many busy parents, the idea of meal prepping can feel like another item on an already overflowing to-do list. But what if you could still serve nutritious meals efficiently, even without extensive planning? Local dietitian and mom of two, Maxine Yeung, shares her secret weapon: Costco.
Yeung, who admits meal prepping “isn’t her thing” despite her professional background, relies on the bulk retailer’s diverse selection of fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable items to create balanced, low-effort meals for her family. “Buying in bulk saves me time because I can avoid extra trips to the grocery store,” she explains.
Here are some of Yeung’s go-to Costco staples that help her keep her family well-fed and her kitchen stress-free:
Effortless Breakfasts and Lunches:
- Veggies Made Great Egg-White Frittatas: These quick-cooking frittatas offer 5 grams of protein and just 70 calories per bite, making them a perfect, veggie-packed start to the day or a satisfying snack.
- Tasty Bite Madras Lentils: A lifesaver for skipped lunches, these microwavable pouches deliver a hearty blend of lentils, red beans, and spices with 11 grams of protein and fiber in just 60 seconds.
Enjoy them on their own, with rice, or over spinach.
- Noka Organic Superfood Smoothies: When available in bulk, these plant-based smoothies are an excellent on-the-go option, providing 5 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber without any added sugar.
Weeknight Dinner Heroes:
- Kirkland Signature Frozen Broccoli Florets: A constant in Yeung’s freezer, these organic florets come in convenient 1-pound bags and are ready in minutes, making it easy to ensure a vegetable is on the plate.
- Tattooed Chef Frozen Sheet-Pan Vegetables: This prepped mix of Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, broccoli, red onions, and zucchini simplifies dinner.
Just toss with oil, spread on a pan, and bake, freeing up time for other tasks.
- Frozen Fish Fillets: Costco’s freezer aisle offers a variety of options, from plain salmon to pre-marinated choices like miso-marinated black cod.
Pair them with the sheet-pan veggies for a complete, one-pan meal.
- Kirkland Signature Frozen Garlic-Butter Shrimp: For a “gourmet” feel without the fuss, these ready-to-cook shrimp add flavor and protein to pastas, tacos, stir-fries, or salads.
- PuraVida Skillet Meals: These frozen meals, like the chicken breast and vegetable stir-fry with pineapple soy sauce, cook straight from the freezer in about 15 minutes, offering 12 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber per serving.
Pantry and Freezer Power-Ups:
- Frozen Mango Chunks: Enjoy tropical fruit year-round without the prep. These organic chunks are perfect for smoothies or a refreshing snack.
- Canned Beans: For a quick, plant-based protein and fiber boost, Yeung reaches for canned beans like S&W organic black beans, which are versatile for rice bowls, salads, and wraps.
- Seeds of Change Quinoa and Brown Rice Pouches: These heat-and-serve pouches are ready in 90 seconds, making it simple to add whole grains to any meal without the need for advance cooking.
- Kirkland Signature Hemp Hearts: Packed with omega-3 fatty acids, these shelled hemp seeds provide over 4 grams of unsaturated fats and 3 grams of plant-based protein per tablespoon, easily sprinkled on a variety of dishes.
Yeung’s strategy highlights that with a few smart choices from Costco, even the busiest families can enjoy nutritious, home-cooked meals without the pressure of extensive meal preparation.