The 10 Items You Should Always Buy at Costco, According to 12 Parents

These Kirkland products are the key to keeping a family fed and happy.

Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Getty Images

There are two types of Costco trips: with and without kids. When I get the luxury of strolling the warehouse aisles without any kids, there’s no telling what will wind up in my cart. New socks? Yes, please. A plush bath mat? Absolutely. Then there are the days when I visit with three kids in tow, running through the aisles pushing a gigantic cart filled with as much milk as I can carry, trying to set a new personal record.

No matter the type of trip I take to Costco, there are several Kirkland brand items I buy every single time I go. They keep my household functioning and make this wild ride of parenting just a little easier.

Turns out, my passion for all things Costco is something I have in common with a lot of parents. I spoke to 12 parents who regularly shop at Costco to pull together the top ten must-have Kirkland items. After all, a well-stocked fridge and pantry is one of the few aspects of parenting that you have a little control over!

Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Retailers below

1. Kirkland Signature Organic Peanut Butter (2-count, $12.99)

My three-year-old’s body was built on this delicious peanut butter. It’s made with just organic peanuts and salt and has a nice consistency. Unlike other all-natural peanut butter, this one doesn’t separate easily and is never oily. It’s great for quick PB&J and baking projects, too. A close runner-up in this category for me and a lot of the other parents I spoke to is Kirkland’s Signature Creamy Almond Butter (27 ounces, $7.99). It’s a great price for almond butter and it has an amazing flavor and texture. I add a scoop of it to my morning smoothie to make it creamy.

2. Kirkland Organic 1% Milk (3-count, $12.67)

I NEVER leave my Costco without at least two packs of organic milk. I usually buy whole milk for drinking and cooking, but most of the parents I compared Costco lists with preferred the 1% milk. This price includes three half-gallons, which is an amazing deal. My local grocery store currently sells one-half gallon for about $7.50, so the savings are substantial, especially when you go through three gallons a week like one family that will remain anonymous (OK fine, it’s me!).

Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Retailers below

3. Kirkland Signature Organic Fruit and Vegetable Pouches, Variety Pack (24-count, $14.99) 

A running joke among my mom friends is that no parenting book prepares you for the amount of time and money you will spend buying and preparing fruit. You can add fruit pouches to that list, too. With my first child, I made homemade fruit pouches. Then I wised up and bought these. On days it seems that my middle child has survived on Goldfish and four strawberries alone, these organic pouches save the day. I like that they contain both fruits and vegetables, and they are shelf stable, making them perfect to toss in backpacks for a quick and healthy school snack.

4. Kirkland Signature Trail Mix (4 lbs, $15.99) 

Pretending that I buy this snack mix for my kids would be a complete and utter lie. Parents need snacks, too! This mix is filled with mixed nuts, plump raisins, and both plain and peanut M&M's. It’s the perfect sweet and salty snack for when the afternoon slump hits. This was on the list for almost all of the parents I spoke to, so you know it's a winner!

Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Retailers below

5. Kirkland Signature Organic Pure Maple Syrup (33.8 oz, $14.99) 

Let’s be honest, pure maple syrup is the only way to go. My kids will never know the struggle of the artificial syrup that raised me. That said, the good stuff is not cheap. This is the absolute best price I’ve found it for, and I love the taste. We use this for standard waffles and pancakes, but I bake with it often, too. Also, it makes for a delicious shaken maple iced coffee with Kirkland Cold Brew!

6. Kirkland Signature Organic Eggs (2 dozen, $8.63) 

Two dozen eggs may seem like a lot, but many of the households I spoke to go through this pack in just a week, mine included! Like milk, you can’t beat this price. In a regular grocery store, a single dozen free-range eggs will cost you the same amount. These eggs have great flavor on their own, and I love them for everything from baking to pasta making.

Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Retailers below

7. Kirkland Signature Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (4.5 lbs, $13.99) 

My oldest son has referred to these chocolate chips as "ganache cookies" ever since he was little, and that may be my greatest accomplishment in life. Not only do these delicious chocolate chips make a perfect ganache, cookie, brownie, and more, they also single-handedly potty-trained two of my kids. Bribery works!

8. Kirkland Signature Five Cheese Tortelloni (3 lbs, $10.99) 

These were also super popular with the group—kids of all ages love these adorable tortelloni filled with real Parmigiano-Reggiano. They are usually located in the cheese section in the store, but I keep them in my freezer so I always have some on hand for a quick and easy dinner like this 30-minute tortellini soup.

Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Retailers below

9. Kirkland Signature Soft & Chewy Granola Bars (64 bars, $11.99) 

What would a Costco trip be without snacks? What I love about these granola bars is they are nice and soft for all the parents of toddlers out there. Usually, granola bars are tough to eat and can actually be a choking hazard due to the firm texture. These live up to their name and retain a tender texture that is studded with just the right amount of mini chocolate chips.

10. Kirkland Signature Baby Wipes Fragrance Free (900-count, $21.99) 

OK, so this is not exactly food, but they were on almost every single parent's list! While these are one of my go-to baby gifts (you can NEVER have enough wipes), they are essential for kids of all ages. I have a pack of these seemingly never-ending wipes in almost every single room in my home as well as my car. They are great for cleaning up messy faces, wiping down high chairs, and cleaning up spills.

Read the original article on Simply Recipes.