#1 Unhealthiest Order at Costco's Food Court, According to a Dietitian
After a pandemic-related break, Costco's food court has returned, welcoming peckish shoppers eager to grab a quick meal after perusing the aisles of the beloved big box store. While Costco's food court may have some healthier fare available (check out our list of The Best & Worst Menu Items at Costco's Food Court), there's one item on the store's menu that dietitians say you should never order, no matter how tempting it may be.
"Avoid the churros," recommends Diana Gariglio-Clelland, staff RD at NextLuxury.com. "While they may seem like a steal cost-wise, these churros are just fried bread with a ton of added sugar."
Per serving, these treats pack 570 calories—approximately 29% of your daily total, if you're eating a 2,000-calorie diet—and 20 grams of fat, including 8 grams of saturated fat, over half the 13-gram upper limit of saturated fat most adults should consume in a day.
A serving of Costco churros also contains 550 milligrams of sodium and 88 grams of carbohydrate. Contributing to those carbs are the churros' 25 grams of sugar per serving—the exact 25 grams of added sugar the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends adult women consume in an entire day, and close to the 36-gram upper limit recommended for adult men.
In addition to the churros' less-than-stellar fat, sugar, and sodium content, "refined carbs such as white bread and sugar don't bring anything to the table nutrition-wise," adds Gariglio-Clelland.
However, if you do find yourself jonesing for dessert after your Costco trip, there are better choices to be had.
While it's not exactly healthy food, "if you want a dessert, soft-serve frozen yogurt would even be a better choice because at least it provides some calcium and protein," says Gariglio-Clelland.
If you're looking for some healthier fare to enjoy on your next shopping trip, check out these 5 Healthy Costco Food Court Orders, According to Registered Dietitians, and for the latest food and health news delivered to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter!
