Buying Bulk...and Choosing Wisely!

This is a post that I have been wanting to make since I started my blog! There are many reasons why I was excited about this post...and many different people that I wanted to do it for. This is for those that think they aren't able to purchase Organic or Natural foods for their family because shopping at Health Food Stores isn't in their budget...and also those that already shop at stores like Costco, but are stuck on comfortable habits of buying cases of KD and loaves of white bread in bulk...when the healthy alternatives are sitting right next door! Save the searching and wondering for me...I scoped out Costco for you this week...and this is what I came up with! Costco is literally almost every week adding a new Organic product to their stash...it's awesome...it also tells me that this is what people are buying (how exciting is that!!), or else they wouldn't bother to research it and bring it in! The prices compared to the Health Food Store or local grocery store are incredible!

I apologize if you don't have a membership and can't put this to practice...but I guarantee that you know someone who does and who wouldn't mind you tagging along on their next trip! Also...you may think our store is different because we are in BC....but...I have recently been in both Calgary and Ontario...and saw almost all the same things...so go check it out! If you're in the USA I'm willing to bet you have even more available to you!!

Sorry in advance if some of the photos are a little sketchy...it was kinda a weird feeling to have people watching me take random photos on my phone...so most were taken pretty quickly!

Let's begin!



Silverhills Squirrelly Bread...bread made without flour!...many varieties...AMAZING price...regular $4.99 for ONE loaf at other stores...here $5.99 for TWO! (savings of $4)



Organic pasta sauce...often close to $4 for ONE jar...$6.99 for THREE! (savings of $5)



Everyone's new favourite grain...Quinoa...by far the best place to buy it...$8.59...organic...it will get your family through many many meals! (savings of about $8)



Annie's macaroni...every kid (and husband!) deserves this once in a while for a treat!
Usually on sale at other stores for $1.99-$2.99 a box...$11.99 for TWELVE boxes! (savings of $12)



Kirkland brand Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil...actually cheaper than their non-organic brand! $10.89...about half the price as anywhere else. (savings of $10)



Amy's soups...a great quick go-to meal for any age! Flavour is amazing...and they are filling! Usually on sale for $2.99 a can...here 8 cans for $12.79 (savings of $12)



Stock in a box...I use this a lot for cooking...especially in the winter...very convenient! Usually about $3.99 for one...$10.69 for 8! (savings of $14)



This is a new product for Costco...one I was VERY excited about! My boys love these thin rice/flax crackers. I've been buying them for a few years at $2.99 for one sleeve...here you get 4 sleeves for $6.79. (savings of $5)



A rare and occasional treat for Noah...great to have on hand though. Amy's snack packs of crackers and cookies...individually packed. A normal box of one variety is $4.99 at other stores...here you get 4 different flavours...in 24 servings...for $7.99. (savings of about $12) Remember, organic sugar is STILL sugar! Organic white flour is STILL white flour:)



Our favourite chip for the past year...$4.99 for one very small bag (one serving basically) at the health food store...voted the most 'clean' chip by many sources...$6.99 for a very large bag...so good!!! And often on a coupon for $4.99! (savings of about $15-$20...no typo!) Makes a great cracker too!



A great Organic, Non GMO Tortilla chip...always fresh and light...$4.99 for a huge bag. (savings of $5)



The Larabar...a great raw food energy booster snack...great treat with a cup of tea too! I think I had one of these everyday when I was pregnant with Noah..and for that reason I can no longer stand them...but still, they taste awesome and are a GREAT value. Usually on sale for $1.99 at other stores...here $11.89 for 12! (savings of $12-$15)



Spinach and lettuce...organic...usually around $4.99-$6.99 a container...here $3.79. (savings of $2)



Baby carrots...always organic at Costco...$2.99 for a teeny tiny bag elsewhere...here $5.49 for a bag you can hardly lift with one hand...these also freeze well for steaming later if you can't eat them all before they spoil! (savings of about $15...seriously!)



Almond milk...fingers crossed they soon start carrying Original Unsweetened...cause that's our family favourite! Right now they only have Vanilla, which makes for a yummy treat when warmed up! Normally $3.99 for ONE..here $9.99 for six. (savings of $12)



Organic Cow's milk...we aren't dairy lovers in our house...but if you are...they have that too! $7.79 for 4 liters...just had a lovely reader inform me that it's about $5.50 for 2 liters at other stores. (savings of $3)



We aren't juice drinkers here (unless it's fresh from the juicer!)...but if you or your kids are...this is a great Organic Super Fruit juice! $9.39 for two. (savings of about $5)



One of our family's favourite buys! Organic frozen veggies...our boys LOVE them! They beg for a bowl of frozen peas...it's weird I know. Anyhow...$5.79 for a huge bag...these are really $ at health food stores. (savings of about $25) They also carry frozen organic non-gmo corn and in Calgary they have green beans too!



Alexia Sweet Potato fries...Jay loves these...$3.99 for a tiny bag elsewhere...here $7.59 for a party size bag! (savings of $7)



Occasionally we treat ourselves to a processed cereal..this is a favourite, but we usually mix it with some Millet flakes to cut down on the sweetness. $5.49 for a double pack (stop laughing at the Fruit Loops you see in the background...both people beside me were buying them!! (savings of $5)



Another new product...and very yummy treat to have occasionally!



Yeah! Costco's only option for Peanut Butter is Organic...however it still contains sugar...but...better than the alternative! $8.99 for a HUGE tub (savings of $15-$20)



Almond Butter...great alternative to peanut butter...little better for you:) Exact same brand in a tiny jar anywhere else is about $8.99...this tall guy is $6.79! (savings of $12)



We have pancakes or waffles atleast once a weekend for breakfast...always made from scratch because the healthy mixes are just too $...until we found this! Our other new favourite Costco product! Spelt pancake/waffle mix...made in Alberta...tastes AMAZING! Not that we can't make them ourselves from scratch...but we just don't always feel like dragging all the ingredients and measuring spoons out! This takes about 3 minutes to start cooking...they are SOOOOOOO good!! $7.69 (savings of about $12)



This next one is a ridiculous savings! Bob's Mill Spelt Flour...$9.99 for a slim short bag anywhere else...$6.89 for this big guy at Costco. (savings of $15)



Dried spices...many organic varieties...VERY reasonable! They ARE out there!! (savings of $15) Sure the bigger non-organic one sitting beside MIGHT be cheaper...but are you really going to use ALL that oregano before it expires??!!


That's it! There were definitely some more things I could have added to the list...but I thought I'd get you started! Oh...and if you lost track, this shopping list here at Costco was a grand savings of APPROXIMATELY $285! And I would fully enjoy eating each of these purchases...and more importantly never feel guilt about eating any of them! Take a minute to really think about that!

And don't get me wrong...I'm a firm supporter of our small local community stores...we want to keep them running...but there are some items that you just can't help but pick up somewhere else!!!

Happy shopping! Anyone want to join me for a Costco/Starbucks run this afternoon??!!