If you have multiple mouths to feed, shopping in bulk can be a lifesaver. When you know that your family will eat dozens of eggs or multiple packages of ground beef before they go bad, you can feel good knowing that you're saving money on your grocery trips.
And while you can find great healthy foods at Costco, not everything on the warehouse shelves is a smart buy. Frozen vegetables and fresh fruits? Great! Frozen dinners loaded with fat and sodium? Not so much. Here are some of the unhealthiest Costco buys for your family—avoid, avoid, avoid.
And for more, don't miss these 15 Classic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback.
Pierre Signatures Angus Cheeseburger
These cheeseburgers are an easy dinner—just pop them in the microwave and go. But like so many other frozen meals, they're loaded with sodium. You're better off heating a frozen burger patty and topping it with some fresh veggies.
Marie Callender's Chicken Pot Pies
We get it: There's not always time to make a pot pie from scratch. But this frozen meal isn't a good alternative. It's packed with fat, sodium, and calories. Save the pot pie for a day when you have a little more time to make a homemade version—you can't go wrong with our Healthy Chicken Pot Pie Recipe.
Kirkland Signature Pepperoni Pizza
Frozen pizzas tend to be loaded with fat and sodium, and this one is no exception. One serving of this pizza packs a whopping 990 milligrams of sodium. That's almost half of the recommended daily amount.
Haagen-Dazs Vanilla Milk Chocolate Almond Bars
If you're serving your kids a frozen treat, you may not want to choose one that has 14 grams of added sugar. Instead, go for Yasso's frozen Greek yogurt bars, which you'll find in the freezers at Costco, too.
Panera Mac & Cheese Cups
Unless you're looking for a bowl of empty carbs, skip this cheesy Costco offering. Each cup contains 20 grams of saturated fat and a shocking 1,450 milligrams of sodium. Yikes!
Gabila's Potato Knishes
If the knish isn't homemade, we don't want it! These frozen options are loaded with empty carbs, which means they won't be a filling snack for your family.
El Monterey Chicken & Cheese Taquitos
Frozen taquitos are a classic after-school snack. But you don't need us to tell you they're not the healthiest option. And if you or your kids end up eating more than two, you'll really set back your health goals.
Tyson Crispy Chicken Strips
This is another freezer-aisle after-school classic that's better left in the store. With each serving packing in 500 milligrams of sodium (and that's before any dipping sauces for that chicken, too), these chicken strips are far from being a healthy snack choice.
Kirkland Signature Butter Croissants
With everyone spending more time at home during quarantine, the idea of a leisurely breakfast spread sounds lovely. But don't make these Kirkland Signature croissants a part of the festivities. They're full of empty carbs and contain half a gram of trans fat. No, thank you!
Lucky Charms
The Costco cereal aisle can be tempting! But just because something is a good deal, doesn't mean it's good for you or your kids. This cereal is high in carbs and low in fiber. And if you eat more than the serving size (who doesn't when it comes to cereal?), you'll be taking in a lot of sugar, too.
Kirkland Signature Sliced Turkey Breast
Sandwiches are another classic lunch option. But steer clear of this sodium-packed turkey breast from Costco. A better option? Buy a Costco rotisserie chicken and make sandwiches with the meat!
Cuisine Adventures Spanakopita Spinach & Feta Phyllo Triangles
This Greek-style appetizer doesn't deserve a place in your freezer. It's full of empty carbs, and you'll eat a lot of sodium if you don't stick to the serving size.
Nutella & Go Snacks
These dippable snacks are appealing—they're sort of a 21st-century version of Dunkaroos. But for 260 calories, we'd like to see more protein and fiber in this snack.
Kirkland Signature Chicken Bakes
Chicken bakes are a classic at the Costco food court, and you can get them frozen in the warehouse aisles, too. But considering the fact that each chicken bake packs in 1,370 milligrams of sodium, you're better off skipping them entirely.
Pierre Chicken Cordon Bleu
Breaded chicken, ham, and cheese, all in the same meal? This is a recipe for disaster. You're much better off sticking with regular chicken breasts.
For more, check out these 108 most popular sodas ranked by how toxic they are.
