15 Unhealthiest Costco Foods
Its sheer size alone can intimidate Costco regulars and newbies alike. Whichever pool you fall in, you probably already know that the savings are worth pushing your cart down endless aisles. But if you're health-conscious about the groceries you buy for your family, sifting the wholesome products from the unhealthy food items is no easy feat at Costco.
To streamline your weekend shopping trip, we've compiled the worst foods—both Costco's exclusive Kirkland Signature brand as well as cult favorites you'll find at your local supermarket—that you should avoid at the wholesaler. From frozen party appetizers to pounds of meat that can keep in the freezer for months, find out which picks are not worth seeking coupons for. And while you're learning which foods to avoid during your next grocery trip, check out The 100 Unhealthiest Foods on the Planet!
Inland Market Blue Crab Spread
If you're looking to entertain and pair this blue crap dip with crunchy tortillas, seek a savory spread elsewhere. Inland's creamy dip boasts a laundry list of ingredients that include multiple sources of added sugars.
Kirkland Signature Sliced Turkey Breast
While we're all for stacking sandwiches with lean protein, Kirkland's Signature Sliced Turkey Breast is probably your worst bet. Just two slices pack in a walloping 460 milligrams of heart-harming sodium. That's nearly as much salt as in 53 Rold Gold pretzel sticks!
Gabila's Potato Knishes
This Jewish classic will take a serious toll on your waistline. One knish packs in about a fifth of your day's worth of sodium and barely any fiber to justify that carb count. Plus, will just one knish satisfy your craving? You're bound to go back in for seconds and double snacktime's sodium intake.
And while you're shopping, steer clear of The One Thing You Should Never Order at Costco's Food Court.
Kirkland Signature Chicken Bakes
We're big fans of healthy frozen foods—they cut down prep time and don't require a recipe. However, these fatty chicken bakes don't fit the bill. With over half a day's worth of sodium and an ingredient list that resembles a horror novel, this dish shouldn't be in your shopping cart.
Cuisine Adventures Spanakopita Spinach & Feta Phyllo Triangles
Three small veggie-and-cheese-stuffed phyllo triangles pack in 200 calories and 11 grams of fat. Yikes!
El Monterey Chicken & Cheese Taquitos
Taquitos are never a good idea if you're watching your waistline, and these Monterey Chicken and Cheese roll-ups are no exception.
Kirkland Signature Cheese Pizza
If you're choosing the right cheese pizza—one with low-fat cheese, no-sugar-added tomato sauce, and a garden of veggies—you can benefit from a balanced meal that crushes cravings. However, Kirkland's Signature Cheese Pizza serves up more than 600 milligrams of blood-pressure-spiking sodium and includes inflammatory soybean oil and added sugar in its recipe. No thanks.
Lorna Doone Shortbread Cookies
Soybean oil, palm oil, artificial flavor, and high fructose corn syrup are just some of the sketchy additives tossed into these shortbread cookies. A study out of the University of the Philippines Diliman linked fructose, like that found in high fructose corn syrup, to diabetes and metabolic diseases.
Keebler Sugar Wafers, Vanilla
The first ingredient in these sugar wafers is—you guessed it—sugar! Unfortunately, the crunchy sweet treats contain more than just the belly-busting carbohydrate. Keebler elves sneak artificial dyes into their vanilla wafers such as red #3, yellow #5, and yellow #6, which have been linked to ADHD symptoms in children, a study in the journal Neurotherapeutics found.
Oreo Sandwich Cookies
We love a good sandwich cookie stuffed with velvety creme, but you'll want to kick milk's favorite cookie to the curb after discovering this. Aside from containing more than half a day's worth of added sugar, Oreos contain phosphates, which may be linked to kidney disease, a study in Diabetes Journals found. If that's the way the cookie crumbles, we don't need the bulk box.
Kirkland Signature Gourmet Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Walking into Costco's bakery aisle is kind of like strolling into an Auntie Anne's—the wafting smell of baked goods is enough to spark cravings. Unfortunately, these chocolate chip treats won't make your scale too chipper. Each cookie contains five grams of saturated fat and 16 grams of sugar.
Kirkland Signature Butter Croissants
Who doesn't love a croissant, egg, and cheese? Avoid grabbing the bulk box of these buttery baked goods, though, as just one crescent packs in a staggering 10 grams of saturated fat, a half-gram of trans fat, and just one gram of fiber, making for 35 grams of empty carbs.
Kirkland Signature 12" Cheesecake
We're hoping you're not picking up this cheesecake. With 18 grams of saturated fat, one gram of trans fat, and 27 grams of sugar, this treat is simply unjustifiable. Save this sweet vice for a special occasion. And even then, avoiding slicing out seconds.
Pierre Signatures Angus Cheeseburger
These frozen burgers are packed with 820 milligrams of sodium, along with a gram of trans fat. Yikes!
Marie Callender's Chicken Pot Pies
With 770 milligrams of sodium per serving—which, by the way, is only half of the pot pie—this frozen meal gets a hard thumbs-down.
And while you're at Costco, don't miss these 30 Cheap Costco Buys That Make the Membership Worth It.
