We also both stay active. I'm a retired personal trainer, certified yoga instructor, swimmer, and author who's published four fitness books — including "Fitter Than Ever at 60 and Beyond."
My husband swims, runs, lifts weights, and practices yoga. We eat a Mediterranean diet rich in lean meat, eggs, dairy, fruits, vegetables and nuts.
That said, we try to select groceries at the wholesale retailer that support our healthy lifestyle. Here are some items we buy at Costco that fit the bill and also make our executive membership well worth the cost.
Sockeye salmon is a common purchase for us.
Kirkland Signature sockeye salmon turns out nicely on the grill.
Susan Dawson-Cook
We use Kirkland Signature sockeye salmon to make our favorite grilled-fish recipe that includes dill seasoning and coconut milk.
Salmon is loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids, which are heart-healthy and can help reduce inflammation in the body.
On this trip, we got a 1.27-pound filet for $16.50.
We buy a lot of veggies at Costco.
The produce fridge at a Costco.
Talia Lakritz
We typically buy organic vegetables at Costco, including asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, green beans, and broccoli.
We often prepare stir-fry meals and enjoy having a variety of vegetables to toss in.
On a recent visit, we picked up about 2 pounds of Prime Time organic asparagus for $7.
Kirkland Signature organic eggs are a staple in our cart.
Kirkland Signature eggs are the key component of many of our breakfasts.
Susan Dawson-Cook
Eggs are rich in protein and essential vitamins. They're also the foundation of our breakfasts.
I often use them to make omelets with mushrooms, spinach, tomato, and feta cheese that are filling and packed with produce.
A package of 24 Kirkland Signature organic eggs was $9 on this trip.
We buy a variety of Kirkland Signature nuts at Costco because the price is right.
Costco sells a variety of organic nuts.
Lara Walsh
Nuts are nutritious and provide extra calories we need since we live a very active lifestyle.
Cashews are one of my husband's favorite snacks, so we pick up the whole unroasted, unsalted ones in bulk at Costco. Cashews are rich in protein, fiber, antioxidants, and minerals such as potassium and magnesium.
I also like to pick up almonds or macadamia nuts to mix into yogurt or chia pudding.
On this trip, we paid $15 for a 2.5-pound bag of Kirkland Signature organic whole cashews.
I also pick up Horizon organic half-and-half.
Half-and-half can add some creaminess to coffee.
Susan Dawson-Cook
I use a splash of Horizon organic half-and-half to add a creamy taste to coffee or a cacao drink. Sometimes, I also use it to make creamy homemade yogurt.
On this trip, I got a half-gallon for $7.29.
Simple Mills almond-flour crackers are a solid snack option.
Simple Mills almond-flour crackers are gluten-free.
Lindy Vogel
Simple Mills almond-flour crackers are our go-to pick when we want a fairly light and healthy snack. We often pack these crackers with sliced cheese on road trips.
Most recently, we got a box of two 10-ounce bags of Simple Mills almond-flour crackers for $10.
NuttZo organic nut and seed butter was one of my splurges on this trip.
I like the taste of NuttZo organic nut and seed butter.
Susan Dawson-Cook
On this trip, my splurge was NuttZo organic nut and seed butter. It's a mixed medley of cashews, almonds, Brazil nuts, flax seeds, chia seeds, hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds, and Celtic sea salt.
It's delicious and not as thick as regular peanut butter. It would be perfect to stir into a breakfast smoothie to add more protein and iron.
I'm also a big fan of pairing celery with nut butter, which can be a good source of protein.
The 26-ounce jar cost $14.89 but I had an instant savings offer from Costco and got $3 off.
My husband's splurge for the day was a package of Nutty & Fruity dried dragon fruit.
Nutty & Fruity dried dragon fruit is a chewy snack.
Susan Dawson-Cook
On this trip, my husband picked up Nutty & Fruity dried dragon fruit to have on hand for a snack. Dragon fruit is rich in fiber and contains Vitamin C.
He said these are harder to chew than dried apricots, but he liked the flavor of them.
The 14-ounce package of dried fruit cost us $10.
Musco Family Early California black olives work well in some recipes.
We buy the pitted olives at Costco.
Susan Dawson-Cook
We usually toss one can of Early California extra-large pitted olives into a chicken, green bean, and artichoke stew recipe I make in my slow cooker.
It's an especially great meal on rainy or cold days.
On this trip, we got eight 6-ounce cans of olives for $13.
We use Kirkland Signature organic extra-virgin olive oil often.
Kirkland Signature organic extra-virgin olive oil is quite versatile.
Lizzy Briskin
Kirkland Signature organic extra-virgin olive oil is our go-to cooking oil since it has a high smoke point and includes monounsaturated fats, which can help lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol.
A 2-liter bottle of this olive oil was $23 on this trip.
Kirkland Signature organic feta can be used in a range of dishes.
I typically get a container of Kirkland Signature organic feta.
Susan Dawson-Cook
We crumble the Kirkland Signature organic feta and use it to add flavor, protein, and calcium to salads and stir-fries.
On a recent trip, we got a 1-pound block of Kirkland Signature organic feta for $13.50.
