I'm a dietitian who hates meal planning. Here are 12 things I buy at Costco to make feeding my family easier.

I buy a few frozen staples from Costco to use when feeding my family for the week. Maxine YeungI'm a dietitian and mom of two who doesn't like planning and prepping meals. I buy pouches of quinoa and brown rice, canned beans, and frozen veggies at Costco to use as sides.Kirkland Signature frozen broccoli and garlic-butter shrimp are great ingredients for quick dinners.Even as a dietitian, meal prepping really isn't my thing. After all, I'm also a busy parent of two toddlers.Still, I prioritize serving nutritious meals to my family as efficiently as possible, and shopping at places like Costco helps me do this. I love the chain's mix of fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable items that make throwing together low-effort, balanced meals, sides, and snacks so much easier. Plus, buying in bulk saves me time because I can avoid extra trips to the grocery store.Here are a few meal staples from Costco that I typically keep stocked at home.Veggies Made Great's egg-white frittatas make getting vegetables in at breakfast effortless.Maxine YeungA warm, nourishing meal usually takes time to cook, but these Veggies Made Great frittatas can be ready in just a few moments. Heat in the oven, air fryer, or microwave. Each egg-white bite has 5 grams of protein and just 70 calories, making them a quick and satisfying breakfast or snack.Madras lentils from Tasty Bite are a lunch staple for me.Maxine YeungThese microwavable lentils have saved me from skipping lunch more times than I can count. In just 60 seconds, you get a hearty mix of lentils, red beans, and spices in a creamy tomato sauce — plus, there's 11 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber per pouch. Enjoy the lentils alone, with rice, or over a bed of spinach for a fast and fulfilling meal.Noka superfood smoothies are great for kids and adults.Maxine YeungWhen I can find bulk packs of Noka organic superfood smoothies at Costco, I grab them. These plant-based smoothies are perfect anytime, whether I want a convenient on-the-go boost or a pre- or post-workout snack. Each pouch provides 5 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber — all with no added sugar.Frozen broccoli florets are my weeknight hero.Maxine YeungMy kids love plain steamed broccoli, and these organic florets from Kirkland Signature are my favorite Costco find for keeping our family meals complete. Each 4-pound bag contains four 1-pound bags of broccoli that can be fully cooked in just a few minutes in the microwave.Tattooed Chef frozen sheet-pan vegetables are a total time-saver.Maxine YeungThis frozen mix of Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, broccoli, red onions, and zucchini is prepped and ready to go.Just toss with oil and extra seasonings (if desired), spread out on a sheet pan, and bake. The best part? While they cook, you can walk away and tackle other things like prepping the rest of dinner, playing with the kids, or even doing some chores.Frozen fish fillets are an easy, heart-healthy protein option.Maxine YeungCostco's freezer section has lots of options for easy-to-prep fish, from plain salmon you season yourself to flavorful, ready-to-cook picks like miso-marinated black cod from Alaskan Leader Seafoods. Just toss a few fillets on a sheet pan with veggies (like the mix above), and dinner's done all at once.Frozen mango chunks let us enjoy tropical fruit all year round.Maxine YeungUsing frozen mango chunks means no washing, no cutting, and no mess. At Costco, I've been able to score organic ones for under $2 a pound from Columbia Fruit.These mango chunks are easy to toss into smoothies or simply serve as a refreshing snack.Canned beans are a convenient and easy way to add plant-based protein to dishes.Maxine YeungWhen I don't have time to prep meat or just need a no-fuss protein and fiber boost, I reach for canned beans. Fortunately, Costco has several varieties to choose from. I like the organic black beans from S&W, which can be used for rice bowls, salads, and wraps. Each ½-cup serving contains 7 grams of protein. Seeds of Change pouches of quinoa and brown rice simplify adding whole grains to any meal.Maxine YeungCooking grains from scratch takes planning ahead. So, I love these heat-and-serve pouches of quinoa and brown rice from Seeds of Change, which are ready in just 90 seconds in the microwave. They make it easy to pull together any well-rounded meal. Each 1-cup serving has 5 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber.Hemp hearts are loaded with heart-healthy fats.Maxine YeungOmega-3 fatty acids offer many health benefits and can promote heart health. However, it can be tough to get enough of them in a typical diet.To help my family consume more, we keep 2-pound bags of Kirkland Signature hemp hearts, which are rich in omega-3s, on hand. Just one tablespoon of the shelled hemp seeds provides over 4 grams of unsaturated fats and 3 grams of plant-based protein. I sprinkle them on smoothies, oatmeal, yogurt, peanut-butter sandwiches, roasted veggies, and salads. These frozen garlic-butter shrimp make dinner feel gourmet without all the hassle.Maxine YeungMarinating and prepping seafood takes time I don't always have, so I appreciate that this frozen Kirkland Signature shrimp comes ready to go, with no washing, peeling, or hassle. The garlic-butter shrimp is perfect for adding flavor and protein to pastas, tacos, stir-fries, or salads. Frozen PuraVida skillet meals make dinner a breeze.Maxine YeungOne of my favorite frozen PuraVida skillet meals contains a mix of ingredients like chicken breast, bell peppers, green beans, mushrooms, and carrots in a flavorful pineapple soy sauce.Cook straight from the freezer, and pair with precooked grains for a quick, balanced meal that's ready in about 15 minutes. Each serving of this stir-fry has 12 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber.Read the original article on Business Insider

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