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For many shoppers, Costco is the holy grail of retail. Selling everything from food to clothes to patio furniture, this warehouse is full of items you need (or don’t, but can always grab on the way out). This mega store is home to a variety of brands for you to choose from a wide selection, and one of those brands is Costco’s own, Kirkland Signature.
Kirkland Signature is a private label that defines itself as synonymous with “quality and value”, which means that you will get what you pay for while getting top notch products. Take his food, for example. Kirkland brand foods stand out from the crowd with their affordable prices as well as quality ingredients.
We asked three Registered Dietitians to recommend the highest quality Costco brand foods. When deciding what is high quality, they say don’t look for unusual additives, rather opt for products that are as natural as possible. Read on for our dietitian-approved list of Kirkland Signature foods with the highest quality ingredients, and for more shopping tips, check out The 10 Worst Foods To Buy At Costco, According To Dietitians.
![kirkland extra virgin olive oil](https://oponame.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/7-Costco-Brand-Foods-With-The-Highest-Quality-Ingredients.jpg)
Extra virgin olive oil is the foundation for many culinary needs and it’s a good staple ingredient to keep in your pantry. Costco’s version happens to be au naturel, containing nothing more than what’s bottled in its purest form.
“This is 100% high-quality olive oil at an affordable price,” says dietitian Sydney Greene, MS, RDN. “Unlike other brands, some olive oils also contain other seed or vegetable oils that detract from the nutritional benefits of olive oil.”
Why choose the organic type? Greene says that means the olives weren’t grown with harmful pesticides. Depending on the type and amount consumed, pesticides can lead to problematic health issues such as hormonal disruption, cognitive problems, and even cancer.
![kirkland signature triple berry blend](https://oponame.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1666338459_698_7-Costco-Brand-Foods-With-The-Highest-Quality-Ingredients.jpg)
Frozen fruit is great to store in your freezer. They don’t spoil as quickly as fresh fruit and you still get the benefit. The only questionable issue would be if the brand added sugars or other preservatives to keep the berries fresh. Kirkland’s version has none of that.
“These frozen berries are delicious and perfect to add to smoothies or yogurt,” says Lisa Young, Ph.D., RDNdietitian and author Finally full, finally thinand The teller plan. “This mix contains a blend of blackberries, blueberries and raspberries with no added ingredients.”
Dr. Young says this blend is “simple and delicious.”
![kirkland biological signature. greek yogurt](https://oponame.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1666338459_204_7-Costco-Brand-Foods-With-The-Highest-Quality-Ingredients.jpg)
Consumers like to eat Greek yogurt because of its high protein content and other benefits such as weight loss, bone health and digestive health. But the brand of yogurt you get can make or break the nutritional value by being low quality.
Dr. Young prefers Kirkland’s version of Greek yogurt because “the ingredients in this yogurt are organic and simple.” There are no additives or added sugar, but it tastes great and is affordable.
![Kirkland Creamy Almond Butter](https://oponame.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1666338459_835_7-Costco-Brand-Foods-With-The-Highest-Quality-Ingredients.jpg)
With so many different types of nut butter on the market, this almond option from Kirkland is popular with our dietitians due to its natural, high quality ingredients.
“Many almond butters add additional oils like sunflower oil to help with creaminess,” says Greene. “Also, some brands will add sugar to their nut butter to make it more palatable.” The extra oils simply add calories to a product that doesn’t need them because there are natural oils in almonds. It also means there are fewer almonds than you would without the oil.
Greene’s opinion is that the only ingredients in any nut butter should be “just the nut itself or sometimes the addition of salt”. This specific version of almond butter contains no added oils, salt or sugars.
Dr. Young also praises this spread, saying the almond butter and peanut butter are organic and contain no added sugar or palm oil, which is high in saturated fat.
![kirkland signature organic chicken broth](https://oponame.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1666338459_85_7-Costco-Brand-Foods-With-The-Highest-Quality-Ingredients.jpg)
Broth is another pantry necessity that you can use for many recipes (especially now that soup season has arrived). Chicken broth offers plenty of flavor and is a popular choice among shoppers. But here’s the thing: you have to be careful about the brands you choose.
“When it comes to animal products, it’s best to buy organic when possible,” advises Greene. “Organic chicken broth means the chickens have not been fed GMO feed and have not used added hormones or antibiotics.”
That being said, Greene’s pick of Kirkland’s Organic Chicken Broth is his choice. It’s also gluten-free and has less sodium per serving than other brands on the market.
“This one uses organic poultry and vegetables and contains no preservatives or massive amounts of sodium,” she says.
![kirkland signature sunsweet dried plums](https://oponame.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1666338459_419_7-Costco-Brand-Foods-With-The-Highest-Quality-Ingredients.jpg)
If you need a sweet fix but don’t want the added sugar of candy or other artificial products, turn to dried plums, which Costco stocks by the big full bag.
“Dried prunes, or prunes, are a convenient fruit that has a lower glycemic index and is a natural source of many nutrients,” explains Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, LDN, CLEC, CPTdietitian and author First Time Mom Pregnancy Cookbook, The 7 Ingredient Healthy Pregnancy Cookbookand Fueling Male Fertility.
This variety of Kirkland prunes is grown in California. Manaker says California prunes are a source of calcium, magnesium, vitamin K, and many other nutrients that promote bone health, and she recommends this bag to get your daily intake.
“Since many of us don’t eat enough fruit every day, relying on prunes can help many of us meet our quota.”
![kirkland signature organic quinoa](https://oponame.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1666338459_487_7-Costco-Brand-Foods-With-The-Highest-Quality-Ingredients.jpg)
Kirkland Quinoa is simple: there’s nothing you can’t pronounce on the nutrition label.
“Made with just one ingredient, this organic quinoa is packed with antioxidants and makes a delicious side dish or base for a dish,” says Manaker.
As a bonus, Manaker says the bulk size helps keep the cost of this item down, and you can pre-cook this quinoa and freeze extra servings for those busy nights.
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