Embarking on a Whole30? Need to know what Whole30 Costco items are the must-haves and the best purchases? Look no further – this post has it all!

Embarking on a Whole30 can be incredibly intimidating if you’re not prepared for what lies ahead of you.

Costco can be an amazing resource for your Whole30, as long as you know what you’re looking for!

What is Whole30

Whole30 is a 30 day “challenge” of sorts that requires you to eliminate a number of food groups out of your diet. It works as a reset for your entire body, and teaches you what your body reacts to in both positive and negative ways.

If this is your first ever Whole30, you may want to check out my posts on Tips and Tricks for an Easy Whole30 and Whole30 Q&A.

What to buy for Whole30

Prepping freezer meals, cooking in bulk, and making sure you have options on hand are always great ways to stay on track for your Whole30. But the thing that I’ve always found to be tough is knowing what to buy at what store.

With options at Amazon, Trader Joe’s, Costco, Aldi, Whole Foods, and all your local regular grocery stores, there’s a sea of possibilities.

Costco is a great option when you’re prepping for a Whole30. Sure, you’re not going to be able to make it through 5 pounds of asparagus by yourself before it goes bad, but they have lots of other awesome things available for your Whole30 list!

Whole30 options at Costco

Depending on where you live, your Whole30 Costco shopping cart might vary, as all the stores don’t always carry all of the same things. I did a quick roundup at my local store here in Charleston, SC.

Even if your store doesn’t carry all these exact items, it should give you some good ideas of the type of things available to you.

Nuts & Seeds

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There were quite a few more bags of nuts and seeds I could have taken photos of, but I figure you guys get the point with these.

Pumpkin seeds, pistachios, cashews, almonds, walnuts, sliced almonds, pine nuts, pecans, chia seeds, and more. Just make sure you check the ingredients list before you buy. Many of the raw nuts will just contain nuts, and the roasted ones will contain salt and sometimes an oil (make sure it’s a Whole30 compliant one!)

I usually just prefer to roast them myself and add some spices and flavoring. With this many different options, there’s no excuse not to get in your healthy fats on Whole30!

Dried Fruits & Snacks

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Remember, you’ve got to be careful with dried fruit on Whole30, as they can pack a decent punch of sugar, but snacks like these can be incredibly handy in a pinch.

I’ll often grab a handful of dried apricots and raw cashews on my way out the door if I need a quick snack. My Costco had raisins, dried broccoli, apricots, apple rings, figs, and dates.

(Whole30 tip: I like to use these pre-pitted dates to make my Nutty Espresso Bars and my Sweet and Spicy Date Bars, which are great snacks to have on hand!)

Sauces, Oils, Condiments, Garnishes and Spices

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Ok, I might have been a little sauce/condiment/garnish happy. But really, sauces and spices are the things that truly make or break a Whole30 for me. There’s so much potential flavor to be added to your meals!

This is definitely a wide category, but I love the tomato & basil pasta sauce pictured for an easy meal with some spaghetti squash and ground beef (totally Whole30 compliant, even snapped a photo of the ingredient list for you)!

I use the Kerrygold to make ghee, the Frank’s Red Hot to make my Buffalo Chicken Casserole, and the avocado oil to make my 5 Minute Mayo and/or my Homemade Ranch Dressing.

I cook almost everything in coconut oil on a Whole30, and you can use things like olives, garlic, salsa, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers and capers to add flavor and interest to any meat and veggie combo.

Olive Oil Confession: I don’t buy my olive oil at a store, for two reasons. One, because I’ve found literally the best olive oil ever, and will never go back to another kind ever again.

Two, because most olive oil that you purchase from a 3rd party (not directly from the source) is not actually olive oil. You can read all about it, and find my favorite olive oil that I recommend, in this post.

Meat & Protein

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Again, maybe a little photo happy? The options are pretty widely varied on this one too. The point here is to show you that there are LOTS of options when it comes to protein at Costco.

They have organic options, non-organic, fresh, frozen, and even a few Whole30 compliant pre-cooked meats, such as the chicken & apple sausage, the packaged prosciutto, and the roasted red pepper & spinach chicken sausage.

As always, just make sure you read your ingredient labels. The chicken & apple is Whole30 approved, but other flavors by the same brand contain sugar and are not!

Fresh & Frozen Produce

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If you’re flying solo, you might want to steer clear of purchasing things like a 10 pound bag of sweet potatoes from Costco for your Whole30 – I’ve found they end up going bad faster than you can get through them.

Some of the frozen vegetable options there are great, though, as you can use them only as you need them and keep the rest frozen. I particularly love the frozen stir-fry mix – toss some of that with some sliced steak or chicken in a skillet with some coconut oil, top with some salsa and avocado, and you’ve got an easy meal!

If you prefer to purchase fresh, buy in bulk, then cook and freeze what you’re not going to eat in a week or so. Ingredient prep is key on a Whole30!

Beverages and Food Storage

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Random category, I know. But drinking plain tap water for 30 days can get boring in a hurry. Try some flavored seltzer water (watch out for the ones with added sugar!) to give you some different options.

You’ll also find yourself cooking a LOT on Whole30, and need an efficient way to store your leftovers. We use these stackable Rubbermaid containers.

I actually label them with some painter’s tape and a Sharpie that I keep near the fridge so we know what we have. The painter’s tape peels right off and doesn’t leave any residue.

What should go on my Whole30 Costco Shopping List?

I created a handy-dandy printable for you, with ideas of things to look for in your Costco.

Even if they don’t have the exact things on the list, it will give you some ideas of where to look and what to look for. Just enter your name and email address below, and you’ll have it in your inbox in no time.

Happy shopping!

Don’t miss my other Whole30 Shopping Lists:

Aldi Whole30 Shopping List

Trader Joe’s Whole30 Shopping List

Amazon Whole30 Shopping List

Did you find something awesome to add to your Whole3o Costco list? Share it in the comments so we all know to look for it! 

Enjoyed this post? Be sure to also check out our Top 10 List for on-the-go Whole30 snacks, Tips & Tricks for an Easy Whole30, and Whole30 Q&A.