A Costco executive member snacks haul built over 11 years of warehouse shopping looks rather different from a casual trolley dash, and writer Allison Lau’s weekly picks illuminate exactly why bulk buying rewards the organised household. Writing for Business Insider, Lau (who holds executive membership and is currently pregnant while raising a toddler) laid out the seven snacks her family returns to again and again, from fresh produce to chocolate treats.
The Costco Executive Member Snacks That Make the Regular List
Bananas top the haul on almost every visit. Lau’s household gets through three to five a day between three people, and a large bunch of roughly ten bananas costs $1.99 at Costco. At that price per unit, it is hard to argue with the arithmetic for a household that eats them at that pace.
The second regular is WildRoots Coastal Berry trail mix. Lau is specific about what she values here: almonds, cashews, dried cranberries, dried blueberries, and yogurt chips, with no surplus of raisins or peanuts. At around $10.49 for 26 ounces, the mix sits at a price point that makes stocking up during sales worthwhile. When the last sale came around, both Lau and her partner bought extra.
Amara’s organic smoothie melts are the toddler’s contribution to the list. Lau describes her son as capable of getting through several bags in a single sitting, which makes bulk purchasing a practical necessity rather than a preference. A box of 20 pouches was on sale for $12.59 at her local store at time of writing, against a usual price of $17.99.
Nature’s Garden probiotic yogurt-coated strawberries occupy the rotating “snack of the week” slot that most parents of toddlers will recognise. Lau keeps several bags on hand at all times. Her nearest Costco sells them in a pack of 30 for $13.49.
Coconut Rolls, Chips, and Chocolate Round Out the Basket
Tropical Fields’ organic crispy coconut rolls have become the family’s answer to a cookie craving. Lau pays $8.89 a bag at her local store. For reference, The Kitchn lists the same Tropical Fields Organic Coconut Rolls at $8.79 for 11 ounces, suggesting price can vary slightly by location. The rolls are gluten-free and dairy-free, which Lau notes makes them a practical option when other children visit.
Kettle-style potato chips from Hawaiian Brand occupy the sixth slot, though Lau is candid that the pick is driven more by her mother-in-law’s preferences than her own. The multigenerational household benefits from Costco’s habit of rotating new flavours through what Lau calls the “crunchy aisle.” A sweet-and-spicy pineapple variety from Hawaiian Brand had caught the family’s eye on their most recent visit.
Hershey’s Nuggets assortment closes the list, and Lau acknowledges the bag does not last long once opened. The supply is kept, with limited success, out of reach of the youngest member of the household.
Taken together, the haul reflects what a Costco executive member snacks strategy actually looks like in practice: anchored by high-turnover staples such as bananas and smoothie melts, supplemented by semi-regular buys timed to sales, and rounded out by the occasional indulgence. Executive membership, which costs more than a standard tier but returns an annual reward based on spending, tends to pay off most clearly for households that shop at this frequency and volume. The $8.89-or-so coconut rolls will be on the conveyor belt again soon enough, with or without a sale.