As a nutritionist and frugal grocery shopper, I'm forever trying to save money — while also buying healthy food. Like many other people, I have a strong love of Costco, so I regularly head to the bulk warehouse haven to keep tabs on my budget while also feeding my body well.

Why Costco Is Good for Eating Well on a Budget

Costco is a great place to shop for healthy food because I find that, even though I spend more up front, I spend less time shopping and fewer dollars over the course of the month. One trip to Costco means I don't have to stop at the grocery store every week (where I'm more likely to spend money on extra stuff I don't need!). I don't have to worry about running out of staple items, I get more food (that whole bulk thing!), and I can take advantage of some seriously good deals.

With all of this in mind, here are the items I regularly buy at Costco while I'm trying to eat healthfully on a budget.

The 7 Healthy Things I Buy at Costco When I'm on a Budget

1. Fresh Produce

Many people don't like buying fresh produce in bulk, but I love it because I end up eating more of it and the quality at Costco is great. It's simple: If I have five pounds of apples, I'm gonna eat five pounds of apples.

I can save at least 50 percent when I buy Costco's organic produce versus the same amount at other stores. I like to buy fresh greens, apples, bananas, fresh Medjool dates, oranges, lemons, cucumbers, carrots, sweet potatoes, and grape tomatoes. I freeze whatever is starting to go bad towards the end of the month and just use it in smoothies.

2. Organic Oatmeal

My favorite oatmeal is Bob's Red Mill quick-cooking steel-cut oatmeal, and Costco has a great price on a huge bag of it. At less than $9 for 112 ounces, this oatmeal is about 25 percent cheaper than what the same amount would cost me elsewhere. This bag will last me at least three to four months, which is great because I don't have to buy it that often.

Other good things about this oatmeal: I like that it cooks in just three minutes and has no added sugar, salt, or other ingredients besides oats. Plus, it can even be used in baking!

3. Dried Fruit

My favorite dried fruits from Costco are organic raisins, organic figs, and organic dates. I eat a few of them daily right out of the bag, toss them in oatmeal, or use them in a baking situation. They are so much cheaper at Costco than at other stores. (Only $9 or $10 for two, 2-pound bags of organic dried fruit versus a 16-ounce container for $3 at Walmart or Target!) Dried fruits are full of iron, fiber, calcium, and they also help sweeten my foods naturally, so they're great to buy on a regular basis from Costco.

4. Almond Butter

I'm constantly buying almond butter (and applesauce!) at Costco. The Kirkland Signature brand is seriously legit and I actually seek it out, choosing this over other name-brand options.

5. Frozen Fruits and Vegetables

I spend more money on stuff from the frozen fruits and vegetables aisle than any other section at Costco. Why? One reason is that I choose frozen over fresh when I'm on a tight budget because it lasts longer. I can also use frozen fruits and veggies in pretty much anything, and they are generally sold in bulk at a great price at Costco.

I even like to eat slightly thawed frozen fruit instead of fresh fruit for a delicious, cold, and refreshing snack. I mostly love that I never have to worry about frozen produce spoiling before I get to it.

I buy organic whenever the item is offered, but if not, I'll go for conventional frozen fruits and vegetables because they always taste great. My favorite frozen fruits and vegetables that my local Costco carries are mixed tropical fruit, pineapple, organic mixed berries, organic wild blueberries, organic strawberries, asparagus, green beans, mixed frozen vegetables, and organic broccoli.

6. Unsweetened Almond Milk

My favorite brand of unsweetened non-dairy milk is also sold at Costco — for less than I can find elsewhere — so I always stock up on it whenever I can. I tend to buy two boxes of it each month, which is six cartons, and this is plenty to last me all month.

I use unsweetened almond milk in all my smoothies, in coffee, tea, oatmeal, and sometimes in baked goods. I also love organic soy milk, but it's rarely sold at my local Costco.

7. Random Odds and Ends

I don't buy a lot of packaged snacks, which Costco is well-known for, but there are some other items that I like to buy when I need them and when they are available. This list includes organic lentils, organic coconut flour (for baking), cocoa powder, organic canned tomatoes, coffee K cups, and canned pumpkin.

Sometimes I'll also splurge on one or two specialty or seasonal items at Costco because, let's face it, Costco has some deals that are just too good to pass up!

What healthy foods do you buy at Costco when you're on a budget?