I’m a dietitian on the Mediterranean diet. Here are 12 things I’m buying at Costco this spring.

I’m a dietitian on the Mediterranean diet. Here are 12 things I’m buying at Costco this spring.


cart full of food from costco



I stock up on staples and fun seasonal additions at Costco.

Lauren Manaker



  • I’m a dietitian on the Mediterranean diet, and I love shopping at Costco in the spring.
  • I make sure to stock up on staples like Dave’s Killer Bread, olive oil, and low-sugar granola. 
  • Burrata, avocados, grapes, and pistachios are also always in my cart when the weather warms up.

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I’ve been following a Mediterranean-style diet for as long as I can remember, thanks to the combination of my chosen profession (registered dietitian) and my heritage (part of my family is from the Mediterranean region). I was eating hummus stateside before it was cool.

The Mediterranean diet is constantly being touted as the best way to eat, and I love that it still works for me as someone who doesn’t like to cook that much.

Costco isn’t my go-to spot for all of my everyday staples. But there are some products I’m excited to toss in my grocery cart to help me eat seasonally, especially when spring rolls around.

Here are the 12 things I’m buying at Costco this spring, as a registered dietitian who follows the Mediterranean diet.

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Pistachios are a great source of plant-based protein.

big bag of Kirkland pistachios at costco

Pistachios are great as a snack or on salads. Lauren Manaker

The Mediterranean diet is all about plant-based proteins and antioxidants. Pistachios fit the bill.

The nuts are one of the few sources of complete plant-based proteins and they have a high antioxidant capacity.

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Grapes can be a lovely frozen treat when the weather warms up.

hand holding up a carton of red grapes at Costco

Frozen grapes are a nice replacement for sugary ice pops. Lauren Manaker

Grapes are rich in antioxidants, especially polyphenols, making them one of my favorite additions to my springtime diet.

My family loves eating them as-is or freezing them for an icy treat.

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I always stock up on Dave’s Killer Bread at Costco.

hand grabbing a pack of dave's killer bread from the shelves at Costco

I buy the thin-sliced packs of Dave’s Killer Bread. Lauren Manaker

Dave’s Killer Bread is full of whole grains, comes thinly sliced, and tastes lighter than other brands, which is appealing to me.

I love it as a base for a hummus-veggie sandwich at lunchtime.

Costco sells packs of two, so I always freeze one to enjoy later in the season.

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I use avocados in meals throughout the day.

hand holding up a bulk bag of avocados at Costco

I can get a big bag of avocados at Costco. Lauren Manaker

Avocados go well on top of my springtime salads, sandwiches, and omelets.

The healthy monounsaturated fats found in the fruits make them a superstar addition to the Mediterranean diet.

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I like to have plenty of asparagus on hand in the spring.

boxes of organic asparagus at costco

The bulk packs of Hippie Organics asparagus last us a few meals. Lauren Manaker

Nothing screams springtime quite like asparagus, and the bulk packages at Costco provide way more than what we can eat in one sitting.

Thankfully, leftover asparagus is a fantastic addition to a frittata or chilled soup.

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Burrata is a great addition to salads.

hand holding up a big tub of burrata cheese at costco

I don’t eat a ton of dairy, but burrata is nice in the spring. Lauren Manaker

I love to top my springtime salads with burrata and shelled pistachios.

I get calcium from the cheese and protein from the nuts to keep me full.

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The Sous Vide seared salmon at Costco makes dinner easy.

boxes of sous vide seared salmon at costco

The precooked salmon from Sous Vide is delicious. Lauren Manaker

In my family, springtime means the start of swim-team season, which means I need some easy meals to prep for busy school nights.

Sous Vide’s seared salmon is ready in minutes and it tastes divine.

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I sneak veggies into my family’s diet where I can, including in our muffins.

boxes of veggies made great chocolate raspberry muffins at costco

My daughter likes the chocolate-raspberry muffins with zucchini and beets. Lauren Manaker

My daughter loves Veggies Made Great’s muffins as a part of her after-school snack.

And I love that they help me sneak some veggies into her diet.

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Olive oil is a staple, regardless of the season.

hand holding up a big bottle pf pompeian olive oil at costco

I go through a lot of olive oil. Lauren Manaker

Olive oil is a major part of the Mediterranean diet, and Costco has several options at great price points.

I snagged the Pompein brand this time. But I’ve also tried the generic Kirkland oil before, and it was just as good.

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I’m a big fan of Bachan’s barbecue sauce.

hand holding up a big bottle of bachan's Japanese barbecue sauce at costco

Bachan’s barbecue sauce is tasty and doesn’t have a ton of extra ingredients. Lauren Manaker

Japanese barbecue sauce isn’t something you’d automatically think to buy when following the Mediterranean diet. But I love that Bachan’s is made from quality ingredients.

I like to use it as a marinade, dip, or sauce for all kinds of meals.

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I’ve finally found a granola I like that doesn’t have a ton of sugar.

hand holding up a big bag of quinoa cacao granola at costco

I look for granola with mostly natural sweeteners. Lauren Manaker

Whole grains are a must on the Mediterranean diet. Unfortunately, many store-bought granolas are loaded with added sugar.

But One Degree’s sprouted granola at Costco is relatively low in sugar. I love adding it to yogurt parfaits along with some spring fruits and local honey.

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When I need something sweet, I reach for dark-chocolate peanut-butter cups.

hand picking up a bag of skinny sipped dark chocolate peanut butter cups at costco

Skinny Dipped dark-chocolate peanut-butter cups are a fun treat. Lauren Manaker

I love that the Mediterranean diet allows for sweets in moderation.

Dark chocolate is one of my favorite desserts because it contains antioxidants and is typically lower in added sugar.

The Skinny Dipped cups have 2 grams of added sugar and are free from artificial sweeteners.

Click to keep reading Costco diaries like this one.

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Kerri Waldron

My name is Kerri Waldron and I am an avid healthy lifestyle participant who lives by proper nutrition and keeping active. One of the things I love best is to get to where I am going by walking every chance I get. If you want to feel great with renewed energy, you have to practice good nutrition and stay active.

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