Shop Costco for These Simple Diabetes Friendly Recipes

Shop Costco for These Simple Diabetes Friendly Recipes!

Shop Costco for these diabetes friendly recipes

I admit I’m a little bit of a Costco addict. I arrive with the intention of picking up a few items and leave with twenty. I’ve been a member for over fifteen years so it’s a regular stop on my errand list. As a dietitian, I frequent Costco because so many of my clients are members as well, and often ask me about the nutritional value of items they sell. I find a shopping trip to Costco feels more like an experience than a simple stop at the grocery store. Honestly, there is something magical about those little sample cups that entice kids and adults alike to taste unfamiliar, unusual or exotic foods. My picky eaters definitely enjoy accompanying me on my excursions and often find a new food they are willing to bring home.

Living with diabetes or prediabetes presents many challenges, and Costco is definitely an ally in the journey. It’s important for anyone with diabetes or prediabetes to learn how to combine protein, healthy carbohydrates and good fats into all meals and snacks. This balancing of nutrients will help stabilize blood sugar, boost energy levels and manage hunger to promote weight loss if necessary. After a recent trip to Costco, I put together two full days of diabetes-friendly recipes, all with ingredients available at the warehouse. Change them up by varying the fruits and vegetables included, or swapping out protein sources such as chicken for beef, or trying different varieties of fish.

Breakfast:
Vegan Chocolate Strawberry Chia Pudding:
Combine 2 Tablespoons chia seeds, 3/4 cup Silk Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk, 2 Tablespoons Orgain Vegan Chocolate Protein Powder, 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder, ½ packet Truvia or another preferred sweetener, and 1/2 cup strawberries diced small. Whisk to combine, cover and refrigerate overnight.

Vegan Chocolate Strawberry Chia Pudding

Blueberry Overnight Oats:
Combine 1/3 cup Quaker old fashioned oats, 1/3 cup Silk Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk, 1/3 cup Kirkland plain fat free Greek yogurt, 1 teaspoon chia seeds, 1 packet Truvia or preferred sweetener and 1 cup blueberries in a jar or container with a lid. Mix well, refrigerate overnight and enjoy.

Blueberry Overnight Oats

Eggs over Avocado Toast:
Toast 2 halves of Arnold Sandwich Thins or Arnold Nature’s Harvest 40 calorie slices of whole wheat bread. Saute one Eggland’s Best egg and two egg whites (or ¼ cup plus 2T Egg Beaters liquid egg whites), turning to make one huge over easy egg. Mash ½ an avocado and spread on toast, then top with the eggs. If desired, sprinkle a touch of Kosher salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes.

Eggs Over Avocado Toast

If you want to have some fun with the kids (or just enjoy making your food pretty), use the same recipe to try some sunny eggs and avocado trees 🙂

Sunny Eggs and Avocado Trees

Lunch:
Chicken and Kale Salad:
In a very large bowl add the greens from Costco’s Sweet Kale salad, chopped Sunset cucumbers, and halved grape, cherry or heirloom tomatoes. Toss with one packet of dressing from the kale salad. Add Kirkland diced rotisserie chicken or Nature Raised Farms heated grilled chicken strips. Sprinkle with add-ins from the salad package. (This will make several days worth of lunches!)

Chicken and Kale Salad

Turkey Wrap with Guac And Greens:
On a whole wheat wrap (110 calories), spread 2 Tablespoons of Good Foods Chunky Guacamole, Kirkland Oven Roasted Turkey Breast, Earthbound Farms Power Greens and any other veggies you like. Serve with a side of fruit.

Turkey Wrap with Guac and Greens

Snacks:
One apple or package of apple slices with 1 Tablespoon Kirkland Natural Peanut Butter or Almond Butter

2 Tablespoons Hannah or Sabra Hummus with sliced peppers, grape tomatoes or other preferred veggies

½ cup Breakstone Cottage Cheese with 1 cup frozen berries, defrosted (or fresh when in season)

Diabetic Friendly Snacks

Dinner:
Salmon with Quinoa and Veggies:
1 piece Kirkland Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon over organic quinoa and Kirkland Normandy Vegetables. Use a small amount of the marinade of your choice or a low sodium/sodium free dry rub on the salmon. Cook the quinoa with low sodium chicken or vegetable broth for extra flavor and season the veggies with your favorite spices.

Wild Salmon over Quinoa and Veggies

Shrimp Marinara over Whole Wheat or Bean Pasta:
Cook Explore Asian Organic Edamame Spaghetti or Barilla Whole Grain Thin Spaghetti according to package directions. Saute frozen shrimp in a touch of olive oil, add Victoria Marinara Sauce and heat through. Serve over preferred pasta with a side veggie or salad.

Shrimp Marinara with Whole Wheat or Bean Pasta

Dessert:
Apple Quinoa Bake
This recipe is one of my favorites and always a crowd pleaser. It contains no added sugar, and is gluten free, vegan and delicious. Click for the recipe and nutrition information.

Apple Quinoa Bake

Tons of my recipes can be made with ingredients purchased at Costco and they are all diabetes-friendly. (Each individual’s needs may vary, check with your registered dietitian and doctor to determine your nutritional needs)

Blueberry Protein Pancakes:

Blueberry Protein Pancakes

Apple Pie Breakfast Tacos:

Apple Pie Breakfast Tacos

Chocolate Mousse Filled Strawberries:

Chocolate Mousse Filled Strawberries

Parmesan Zucchini Chips

Parmesan Zucchini Chips

I hope you’ll shop Costco for these simple diabetes friendly recipes. Please let me know what you make and any variations you create. Tag me on social media with your photos!

Twitter: @LaurenPincusRD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NutritionStarringYou
Instagram: @LaurenPincusRD Pinterest: @LaurenPincusRD

Also, find tons of resources, healthy recipes and expert advice at www.cdiabetes.com

Happy Shopping!

Disclosure: This is an updated post, the original post was sponsored by CDiabetes.com in 2015.