I focus on foods that help me balance my blood sugar with carbs, healthy fats, and protein.
I only shop for me and my fiancé, so I opt for items with a long shelf life, like frozen fruit.
After working with a functional nutritionist to improve my overall health, I've learned about the importance of keeping my blood sugar balanced by eating a healthy mix of protein, carbs, and fat.
According to the CDC, one in three Americans (that's 98 million) have prediabetes because their blood sugar is higher than normal. I don't want to fall down that path, and luckily, my nutritionist helped me find some great Costco products that help me meet my health goals.
Here are some of my favorite things to buy.
I've switched to cooking with avocado oil.
I like that Chosen Foods also stocks avocado-oil sprays.
Jamie Killin
Chosen Foods is a high-quality avocado oil option. I love cooking with it because it has a higher smoke point than other oils (like olive or canola), making it versatile for sautéing, baking, and pan-frying.
Costco is a great place to stock up because the bulk store carries jumbo sizes. I usually either pick up a 2-liter bottle of the regular oil or a two-pack of 13.5-ounce cooking sprays.
Siete almond-flour wraps are a great option for anyone with dietary restrictions.
Siete is one of my favorite brands, and I love the almond-flour tortillas.
Jamie Killin
Siete's almond-flour wraps are gluten-free, vegan, and soy-free.
I've never seen a 20-count of these wraps sold anywhere else. I'm only buying groceries for two, so I usually freeze them to keep on hand for quick wraps or Mexican-inspired dishes.
I love all of Siete's products, and I often also grab a large bag of the brand's tortilla chips when I see them at Costco.
Lesser Evil has some great snacks, but the Himalayan gold popcorn is my favorite.
I don't want anything less than a bulk bag of Lesser Evil Himalayan Gold popcorn.
Jamie Killin
I'm a fan of any snacks by Lesser Evil — many of the brand's ingredients are organic and simple. But the Himalayan Gold popcorn is my favorite, so I love having the big bag from Costco.
To make sure the popcorn doesn't spike my blood sugar, I usually eat it with a meal or pair it with some kind of beef jerky for protein.
Autumn’s Gold grain-free granola is always in my cart.
There are a ton of great nuts in the Autumn's Gold granola.
Jamie Killin
I love that Autumn's Gold granola is grain-free and packed with nuts — I've learned that it can be better for blood-sugar balance than a typical oat granola.
It also has a straightforward and simple list of ingredients, so I feel good about eating it.
Spindrift is my fun drink of choice.
Spindrift is the most flavorful sparkling water I've come across.
Jamie Killin
Spindrift is my go-to drink option and has helped me (mostly!) kick my Diet Coke habit.
My nutritionist told me that even diet sodas can lead to insulin sensitivity, which spikes blood sugar. So I do my best to avoid them.
Plus, it's nice to have sparkling water on hand for extra hydration in the summer. I also like that Sprindrift uses fruit, and the cans have a bit more flavor than other brands I've tried.
Organic Greek yogurt is a great source of protein.
I like that Kirkland has a huge tub of Greek yogurt.
Jamie Killin
Greek yogurt is one of my favorite ingredients for boosting protein in my diet and keeping my blood sugar balanced. Costco's giant (48-ounce) organic option is perfect for me.
I add it to my smoothies, use it to make my own sauces, and load it with toppings to make Greek-yogurt bowls.
Simple Mills is another go-to brand for me thanks to its straightforward ingredients lists.
Simple Mills almond-flour crackers are great for charcuterie boards and snacky meals.
Jamie Killin
I love having a basic cracker on hand for charcuterie boards, and my go-to right now is Simple Mills' almond-flour crackers.
I usually avoid eating them alone because carbs can spike my blood sugar. But they're perfect for a snack plate or "girl dinner" with some protein-packed cheeses, meats, or hummus.
Frozen organic blueberries are more affordable at Costco.
Kirkland's frozen blueberries are pretty affordable.
Jamie Killin
I love organic blueberries for extra antioxidants, but they can be expensive to purchase fresh. Plus, since it's just me and my fiancé, we can't always keep up with a ton of fresh fruit in our fridge before it turns.
Having a bag of high-quality frozen berries is ideal.
I love that Costco's blueberries are free of preservatives and frozen at peak freshness. I most often use them in smoothies and desserts.
Avocado is my favorite healthy fat right now.
Having individual packs of Wholly Avocado means we never waste half an avocado.
Jamie Killin
I've found that adding avocado is a great way to add healthy fats to my meal to get the perfect balance of carbs, fat, and protein.
Wholly Avocado's little individual cups take the stress out of trying to time eating a perfectly ripe avocado without adding a bunch of filler ingredients.
Sabatino’s chicken meatballs are a lifesaver on busy nights.
Having a fully cooked protein, like Sabatino's meatballs, ready to go makes dinner simple.
The albondigas-flavored chicken meatballs are already fully cooked, so putting a meal together takes no time. I like to pair them with a healthy-fat-filled sauce and a carb (like rice or pasta).
I also recommend trying the brand's basil and cracked black pepper sausages and teriyaki-pineapple chicken meatballs.
