That cool crispness in the air and pumpkin-spice overload on the shelves can only mean one thing: Fall is coming. We’ve gone from the pool to back-to-school and swapped impromptu grill nights for game days. Along with the change in my routine comes a shift in my grocery needs.
As the new season approaches, I head to Costco to stock up on quick and portable snacks, dinner staples (and shortcuts), and baking supplies. These are the nine items, including frozen pizzas and a limited-edition dip, that you’ll find in my cart right now.
1. Popchips Potato Chips Variety Pack, $14.99 for 24 ounces
Fall marks the beginning of football-watching parties, aka snacking season. These Popchips — available in Sea Salt, BBQ, and Sour Cream & Onion — are a crunchy, satisfying snack with roughly half the fat of traditional potato chips. They’re great for school lunches as well!
2. Envy Apples, $7.99 for 4 pounds
Envy apples have a balanced sweetness, an uplifting floral aroma, and a satisfying crunch. But what makes these apples so appealing is that the slices remain fresh and white longer than your average apple, making them a perfect addition to a salad or a charcuterie board.
3. That’s It Mini Fruit Bars, $13.00 for 16.8 ounces
Made with no added sugars, these naturally sweet snacks are a great lunch-box treat or on-the-go snack. (We pack them for fall picnics and outdoor festivals.) Bonus: These bars are free of the top 12 allergens.
4. Whisps Parmesan Cheese Crisps, $8.99 for 9.5 ounces
I keep a giant bag of these crisps for unexpected entertaining or when I want to add more protein to my diet. (One serving has 26% of the daily value protein.) Made with Parmesan — and nothing else — these crisps are an easy-yet-fancy way to amp up salads or snack boards. Plus, they pair perfectly with a chilled glass of wine.
5. Kirkland Signature Sunsweet Dried Plums, $9.89 for 56 ounces
They’re a natural source of sweetness and moisture, which is why prunes are my secret ingredient in many baking recipes, like breads and muffins. (To cut down on the fat content, I replace up to half of the butter or oil with an equal amount of prune purée.) They’re also a great on-the-road snack.
6. Wonderful Salt & Pepper Pistachios, $5.89 for 48 ounces
Shelled or not, a big bag of nuts are a must-have in my house. These pistachios are a quick snack and they satisfy my post-lunch hunger pangs and are also a good source of fiber (11% of the daily value).
7. Organic Carrots, $4.69 for 6 pounds
While six pounds of carrots may sound like a lot, soup season is in full swing in my home. Between batches of chicken noodle and split pea, and any last-minute entertaining needs, this jumbo bag is gone before I know it.
8. Milton’s Craft Bakers Roasted Vegetable Cauliflower Crust Pizza, $13.89 for 35.6 ounces
In a perfect world, we’d have homemade dinners every night. But the reality is, I sometimes lean on ready-made frozen solutions — especially once school is back in session. Certified gluten-free and totally delicious, I love pairing this cauliflower pizza with a salad for a quick, easy, and filling meal.
9. La Terra Fina Pumpkin Spice Dessert Dip, starting at $7.79 for 24 ounces
This creamy dip combines Neufchâtel cheese (the original low-fat cream cheese) with Greek yogurt, pumpkin purée, and the usual pumpkin spice suspects — cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice — to create your new favorite dip. This limited-edition snack is available in Costco starting October 1, so I highly recommend you mark your calendars now.
What Costco favorites are you adding to your cart this fall? Tell us in the comments below.