The purpose of a snack is to fuel your body between meals right? Most “snack foods” don’t do this well. Snacks like rice cakes, crackers, healthy popcorn, and granola bars may be low in calories, but they’re also low in nutrients and don’t provide your body with the energy it needs.
Here are some Costco finds to up your game with snacks that will satisfy the tummy AND the taste buds while giving you the fuel you need to fuel your day.
A complete snack on their own AND they have chocolate? Sign me up. simpleFUEL was actually founded by a fellow Registered Dietitian who started making these protein balls for the professional athletes he worked with. Another plus is the added probiotics for gut health. Sometimes I have some of these for breakfast along with the next find…
Chobani Complete Shakes
We always recommend these shakes for our customers as an easy to grab option, so it was great to see them at Costco. What sets them apart: 20 grams of protein and no artificial sweeteners. I also really like the Siggi yogurt shakes (most grocery stores carry both). If you’re looking for recommendations for ready-to-drink shakes that aren’t yogurt-based, check out our post The Best Ready-to-Drink Protein Shakes (According to a Dietitian).
GoRaw Sprouted pumpkin seeds
These are great as a snack right out of the bag or as a topping for salads, oatmeal, yogurt and soup. Pumpkin seeds are packed with magnesium, zinc, and rich healthy fats to send your brain that feel-good signal. Pumpkin seeds are also a good plant source of iron and protein. Here is a list of more vegan foods that are high in protein.
RXBAR Protein bars
Many protein and energy bars have a lot of crappy ingredients and aren’t much better for you than a candy bar. RXBars are probably the simplest protein bars on the market with no BS ingredients. My personal favorite flavors are sea salt chocolate and peanut butter dark chocolate. Want more bar recommendations? Check out our post: The Best (and Worst) Protein Bars
Kirkland Spiced almonds
Omg these are so good! I like to add them to my charcuterie boards or have them as a snack along with a sliced apple or pear. A handful of fruit, a handful of those almonds, and a few chunks of fancy cheese and I’m in snack heaven!
Almonds are good sources of fiber, manganese, magnesium, healthy fats and protein. They pack a big nutritional punch in a tiny package.
Did you know that by eating just one Brazil nut a day you ensure you meet your daily selenium needs? Selenium is essential for your immune system and thyroid. Low selenium intake can lead to cell damage, reduced thyroid activity, and autoimmune disorders.
Brazil nuts also have healthy fats, protein, vitamin E and fiber.
I always recommend that my clients have a fruit OR a vegetable with every meal or snack to meet their micronutrient needs, but sometimes reaching for a banana or an apple just isn’t an option. These bars, however, are shelf stable and can be moved anywhere. It really is what the label says, just fruit and that’s it! For a complete snack, pair one or 2 of these bars with the pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts, or almonds above.
Confession time: In high school, every day after school and before softball practice, I would go to the convenience store and buy a Slim Jim and fruit snacks. My nutritionist’s heart goes out of whack over this, but now we know better and have better options available! Consider it better for you, the grown-up version of Slim Jims.
Oatmeal as a snack? Yes, when it is so convenient! I usually steer people away from oatmeal packets (they’re usually full of sugar), but these have whole oats and added sunflower, pumpkin, flax, and chia seeds for healthy fat, protein, and strength. These have been a go-to for me postpartum as a quick, low-stress meal or snack. I recommend adding cow’s milk or a plant-based milk with protein, such as Ripple.
A perfect topper for your yogurt or just eat straight from the bag.
Very simple ingredients (the best I’ve ever seen in granola!): almonds, coconut, sunflower seeds, dates, pecans, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, flax and chia, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, raspberries, vanilla extract and sea salt.
I hope you enjoy these healthy snacks I found at Costco! Let me know if you think I missed it.
We were not paid to review any of the above products. All opinions are our own. This post may contain contracted hyperlinks.
About the Author: Megan Poczekaj, RDN, LD, is a registered dietitian nutritionist in Orlando, Florida. He owns his private practice, Nutrition Awareness, where he teaches other entrepreneurs how to maximize their productivity and performance with nutrition. She is the author of the book The Optimized Life: A Nutrition Guide for Entrepreneurs and his co-host Nutrition Information Podcast.
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