Saturday may be your family’s Costco run day, but if you’re headed to the bulk store today, take warning. Health experts warn that not everything should be bought in bulk–especially if you are trying to eat healthy. If your focus is on consuming fresh, nutrient-packed foods, Costco’s frozen aisle may be your worst nightmare.
Nutritionists say that you should avoid buying foods that are disguised as healthy meal options, when they are truly just junk food–plain and simple.
“No frozen food has health benefits and can provide essential nutrients like freshly prepared food,” family physician Dr. Waqas Ahmad Buttar of Sachet Infusions warns. “Frozen foods usually mean excess processing, excess sodium, sugars, oils, and excess preservatives.” Yikes!
Here’s the specific frozen food sold at Costco that our health experts *universally* panned:
Frozen Sandwiches
Frozen sandwiches, both breakfast and otherwise, are Costco’s worst offender, health experts warn. Not only are they often mislabeled as “healthy” meals, but they’re also devoid of nutrients and loaded with fat, sugar and carbs.
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"The Costco frozen breakfast section is tantalizing when you are in a hurry. However loading up on sodium, high saturated fat, preservatives and added sugars might satisfy you immediately but only to later have a sluggish crash," Mckenzie Hathaway, NLC of Mindbody tells us. Oh no!
"Most of the frozen breakfast options found at Costco are filled with GMO vegetables, non-organic ingredients all for mass consumption," Hathaway explains. "Before picking up any frozen food in Costco make sure to read the label and not just be caught off guard by their catchy marketing.
Jimmy Dean Croissant Sandwich
"Costco is notorious for having unhealthy items disguised as seemingly diet-friendly treats," fitness trainer Patricia Johnson of Pedal Lovers agrees.
"For instance, the Jimmy Dean Croissant Sandwich looks deceptively healthy, but has 580 mg of sodium per serving," she warns. Wow--that's a very high sodium content. "Always check the label before you commit!" she reminds us.
Nestle's Hot and Lean Pockets
"Certain foods are best left in the freezer section," registered dietitian Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD, of Balance One Supplements chimes in. "One food in particular is Nestle's Hot and Lean Pockets," she says, pointing to the food's high fat and sodium content, as well as high caloric value.
"Frozen Pockets offer little in the way of essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals and are significantly dense in calories and fat," she warns
Totino's Pizza Rolls
Health expert Lisa Richards describes these oven snacks as "cheap, filling, and easy," and not "a viable food option."
"You will consume 230 calories off only 6 pizza rolls--and no one stops at just six," Richards, a nutritionist and author of The Candida Diet, warns.
"They're loaded with sodium, saturated fat, and preservatives. Their nutrient content is nearly void and their processed nature makes them a highly inflammatory food. You may save money on food, but you'll make up for it and more in healthcare costs if this is a staple in your freezer."
Overall, you should avoid any "meal" in the frozen food aisle because it can have very harmful health risks.
"High sodium content may lead to high blood pressure, more sugar means the risk of obesity and diabetes," Dr. Buttar explains. "Chemical preservatives may lead to certain types of cancers e.g. colon cancer."
