I've been buying GF products at Costco for 4 years. Here's my honest list of what's worth the bulk purchase and what's a waste of money - tested with real kids who have opinions.
I spend way too much money at Costco.
But here's the thing - when you're feeding a gluten-free family, buying in bulk actually makes sense. GF food is expensive, and if you find something your kid will eat? Buy 47 of them.
That said, not everything at Costco is worth it. Some stuff sits in my pantry for months because my kids took one bite and said "nope." And when you're stuck with a 40-count box of anything, that's painful.
Here's what's actually worth buying, from someone who's made all the mistakes so you don't have to.
The "Always in My Cart" Items (Tested and Approved)
Milton's Gluten Free Crackers (★★★★★)
What they are: Multi-grain crackers, come in a 2-pack box
Why I buy them: These are the ONLY GF crackers my kids will actually eat for lunch. Not too thick, not too thin, don't taste like cardboard.
Kid verdict: "These are fine" (which is basically 5 stars from an 8-year-old)
Price: Around $10 for two boxes - WAY cheaper than buying GF crackers at regular stores
How we use them:
- School lunches with cheese
- Snack with hummus
- Emergency car snacks
Con: They go stale fast once you open them. I use chip clips or they're gross in like 4 days.
Worth it? 100%. These are a staple in our house.
Kirkland Signature Protein Bars (Gluten-Free) (★★★★★)
What they are: Chewy granola bars, chocolate chip flavor mostly
Why I buy them: My son will actually eat these for breakfast when we're running late (which is always). They have 10g of protein so I don't feel like a terrible parent.
Kid verdict: "Better than the granola bars at school"
Price: Like $20 for a 20-pack? Math isn't my strong suit but that's way better than regular stores.
How we use them:
- Breakfast when we're late for school
- After sports practice
- Bribery (don't judge me)
Con: They're kind of sticky and get chocolate everywhere. My car has chocolate smears on every surface.
Worth it? Yes, if your kid will eat them. Mine do, so we always have them.
Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Bread (★★★★☆)
What it is: Actual decent GF bread that doesn't fall apart
Why I buy it: This is the bread that FINALLY worked for sandwiches. It doesn't taste amazing but it also doesn't taste like sadness.
Kid verdict: "It's okay" (again, that's basically a rave review)
Price: Two loaves for around $10-12 - definitely cheaper than buying one loaf for $7 at the regular store
How we use it:
- PB&J sandwiches
- Grilled cheese
- Toast for breakfast
Con: You have to freeze one loaf or it goes bad. We've wasted a whole loaf before because I forgot.
Pro tip: I slice the whole loaf and freeze it in a gallon bag. Pull out slices as needed and toast them. Tastes fresh.
Worth it? If your kid eats sandwiches, yes.
Udi's Gluten-Free Bagels (★★★★☆)
What they are: Plain and everything bagels, frozen
Why I buy them: Weekend breakfast that isn't cereal. My kids will eat these with cream cheese and actually feel full.
Kid verdict: "Can I have two?"
Price: I think it's like $12 for a big bag? They're individually wrapped which is nice.
How we use them:
- Weekend breakfast
- After-school snack
- Mini pizza bagels (they'll eat those)
Con: You have to toast them or they're weird and dense. Don't microwave them - just don't.
Worth it? Yeah, especially for weekend mornings when I actually have time.
Fruit Pouches (Mott's, GoGo Squeeze) (★★★★★)
What they are: Those squeezable fruit pouches kids love
Why I buy them: They're gluten-free, my kids will eat them, and they're portable. Win-win-win.
Kid verdict: No complaints, which is saying something
Price: MUCH cheaper in bulk at Costco than buying them at regular stores
How we use them:
- School lunches (every single day)
- Car snacks
- "I'm hungry" emergencies
Con: They create SO much trash. I feel guilty about it but also... survival.
Worth it? Absolutely. These are always in my cart.
String Cheese (★★★★★)
What it is: Just regular string cheese but GF and in bulk
Why I buy it: Protein, portable, kids eat it without complaining
Kid verdict: Universal kid approval
Price: Cheaper than anywhere else
How we use them:
- Lunches
- Snacks
- "I'm starving" at 4pm
Con: My kids peel them into 47 tiny strings and leave them everywhere. Why.
Worth it? Yes. Always yes.
The "Sometimes Worth It" Category
Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers (★★★★☆)
What they are: Those flat seedy crackers
Why I sometimes buy them: When I'm feeling like we need more fiber or whatever
Kid verdict: "They're okay but I like the other ones better" (Milton's)
Price: Good deal in bulk
Con: My kids think the seeds are weird
Worth it? Only if your kid likes them. Mine tolerate them.
Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers (★★★☆☆)
What they are: "Healthier" crackers made with almond flour
Why I bought them once: Trying to be a good parent
Kid verdict: "These taste like healthy" (so... no)
Price: Expensive even at Costco
Con: Expensive and my kids won't eat them, so I eat them, which defeats the purpose
Worth it? Not for my kids. Maybe yours are better humans.
Glutino Pretzels (★★★☆☆)
What they are: GF pretzels in a big bag
Why I bought them: Wanted a salty snack option
Kid verdict: Split decision - one kid loves them, one says they taste "wrong"
Price: Okay deal
Con: They're not quite the same as regular pretzels. Close, but not quite.
Worth it? Try a small bag first before committing to Costco size.
The "Don't Buy" List (I Learned the Hard Way)
Udi's Gluten-Free Muffins (★★☆☆☆)
What they were: Blueberry and chocolate chip muffins, frozen
Why I bought them: Thought they'd be good for breakfast
Kid verdict: "These are dry" (accurate)
What happened: Bought them once. Nobody ate them. They sat in the freezer for 6 months until I threw them away.
Why they suck: Just... dry. Even microwaved with butter, still dry.
Worth it? No. Hard pass.
Generic GF Pasta (★★☆☆☆)
What it was: Kirkland brand GF pasta
Why I bought it: Cheaper than name brands
Kid verdict: "This is mushy"
What happened: Turned to mush even following the directions exactly. Threw away half the box.
Why it sucks: Just doesn't hold up. Stick with Barilla GF.
Worth it? Nope. Save your money.
GF Brownie Mix (★★☆☆☆)
What it was: Some bulk pack of GF brownie mix
Why I bought it: Thought I'd bake more
What happened: Made it once. Tasted okay but not great. Sat in pantry for a year.
Why it sucks: I'm not a baker. I don't know why I pretend I am.
Worth it? Not if you never bake. Be honest with yourself.
What I Wish Costco Carried (But Doesn't)
Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets: Why is this not a thing? I'd buy a 10-pound box.
More GF Cereal Options: They usually only have like one kind
GF Mac and Cheese: The Annie's version in bulk would sell out instantly
Better GF Bread Variety: Canyon Bakehouse is fine but more options would be nice
GF Pizza Crusts: I've seen them once and never again
Money-Saving Tips for Costco GF Shopping
Check the price per unit: Sometimes the bulk price isn't actually cheaper. I learned this the hard way with some items.
Only buy what your kid will actually eat: I know it's tempting when stuff is on sale, but if they won't eat it, you're wasting money.
Freeze EVERYTHING: Bread, bagels, muffins (if you buy them despite my warning) - freeze it or it goes bad fast.
Split with a friend: Don't need 2 loaves of bread? Split the pack with another GF family.
Stock up when stuff's on sale: Costco rotates sales. When Milton's crackers are on sale, I buy 3 boxes.
Check expiration dates: Some Costco items have shorter shelf lives. Check before you buy.
The Comparison: Costco vs. Regular Store
I did the math once (okay my husband did the math):
Milton's Crackers:
- Regular store: $5-6 per box
- Costco: $10 for two boxes ($5 each)
- Savings: $1-2 per box
Canyon Bakehouse Bread:
- Regular store: $6-7 per loaf
- Costco: $10-12 for two loaves ($5-6 each)
- Savings: $1-2 per loaf
Kirkland Protein Bars:
- Regular store: $1.50 per bar (if buying similar brand)
- Costco: $1 per bar
- Savings: $0.50 per bar (adds up!)
Over a year, we probably save $500-700 buying GF stuff at Costco instead of regular stores.
That's... actually significant.
Real Talk: Is a Costco Membership Worth It?
If you have one gluten-free kid: Probably yes, if you buy the staples regularly
If you have multiple GF family members: Absolutely worth it
If your kid is super picky: Maybe not - depends if they'll eat Costco's options
Our calculation: We spend about $150/month on GF products at Costco. Save probably $50/month vs. regular stores. Membership pays for itself.
Shopping Strategy (How I Do It)
I go to Costco once a month (that's all I can handle).
My list looks like this:
- ✓ 2 boxes Milton's crackers
- ✓ 1 box protein bars
- ✓ 2-pack Canyon Bakehouse bread (freeze one)
- ✓ Fruit pouches (usually 2 boxes)
- ✓ String cheese (obviously)
- ✓ Udi's bagels if we're low
- ✓ Whatever else is on sale
I avoid "trying new things" at Costco anymore. Too expensive to have a giant box of something nobody eats.
If I want to try something new, I buy it at a regular store first. If the kids eat it, THEN I buy it at Costco.
Regional Differences (Frustrating But True)
Not all Costcos carry the same stuff.
I'm in California and we have decent GF options.
My sister's in Idaho - her Costco has like half of what mine does.
If you're not finding stuff, ask them to stock it. Apparently they listen to customer requests sometimes?
Also check the Costco website - they sell some GF stuff online that isn't in stores.
What Other GF Parents Buy at Costco
I asked in my GF parents group. Here's what they said:
Top mentions:
- Milton's crackers (everyone buys these)
- Kirkland protein bars
- String cheese
- Fruit pouches
- Canyon Bakehouse bread
Regional items people love:
- "Simple Mills crackers but only at some Costcos"
- "Udi's breadsticks when they have them"
- "There's a GF pizza at ours that's amazing" (not at mine, jealous)
Controversial takes:
- "The GF muffins are fine, your kids are just picky" (okay Sharon)
- "I buy the generic pasta and it's fine" (lies)
- "Costco GF options suck compared to Trader Joe's" (fair point actually)
Trader Joe's vs. Costco for GF Shopping
People always ask this.
Trader Joe's wins on:
- Variety (way more options)
- Trying new things (cheaper to experiment)
- Special treats and snacks
Costco wins on:
- Price (if you buy in bulk)
- Staples (bread, crackers, basics)
- Protein bars and nutritional items
My strategy: Staples at Costco, fun stuff at Trader Joe's.
The Costco App (Actually Useful)
The Costco app shows what's in stock at your local store.
I check it before going so I don't get there and they're out of bread.
Also they sometimes have digital coupons for GF items.
I'm not organized enough to use coupons regularly but when I remember, it's nice.
FAQ: Costco GF Shopping
Q: Do I need to read labels at Costco? A: YES. Even though I'm listing these items, always read labels. Formulations change.
Q: Can I return stuff if my kid won't eat it? A: Technically yes - Costco's return policy is generous. But I feel awkward returning food my kid just didn't like.
Q: Is everything marked clearly as GF? A: Mostly, but not always. Look for the "Gluten-Free" label on the package.
Q: What if my Costco doesn't have these items? A: Ask them to stock it, or check the website for online ordering.
Q: Are Costco's GF options getting better? A: Yes! Five years ago there was barely anything. Now there's actually decent selection.
Q: Should I stock up when I find something good? A: Yes, but check expiration dates. Don't buy 6 boxes if they expire in 2 months.
The Bottom Line
What I always buy:
- Milton's crackers
- Kirkland protein bars
- Canyon Bakehouse bread
- Fruit pouches
- String cheese
What I sometimes buy:
- Udi's bagels (when we want them)
- Crunchmaster crackers (if Milton's is out)
What I don't buy anymore:
- Udi's muffins
- Generic GF pasta
- Stuff my kids won't eat
Is Costco perfect for GF shopping? No.
Is it helpful? Yeah, actually.
Does it save money? If you're smart about it, yes.
Will it solve all your GF parenting problems? No, you'll still have those.
But hey, at least you'll have 96 string cheeses for $12.
One Last Thing
Before you buy anything in bulk, make sure your kid will actually eat it.
I cannot stress this enough.
I have made this mistake SO MANY TIMES.
"Oh they'll learn to like it" - no they won't. They'll take one bite and you'll have 47 packages of something you'll eventually throw away or eat yourself.
Learn from my mistakes.
Buy one at a regular store. Test it. THEN buy it at Costco.
Your pantry and your wallet will thank you.
Happy Costco shopping! May your cart be full and your samples gluten-free.
