I'm a personal trainer with a family of 6. Here are 12 things I'm buying from Costco this month.

I'm not generally a fan of protein bars, and I've tried my fair share. I'd rather make my own or go without.But when I saw people online raving about the Robert Irvine bars you can get at Costco, I decided to give them a try.It's not exactly like eating a Snickers bar, but they're definitely superior to any other protein bar I've tried. They're a quick, high-protein snack and a nice change from my typical protein shake or bowl of Greek yogurt.We buy a lot of frozen fruit and vegetables since they last a long time and are packaged at peak freshness.Mixed berries are perfect on top of waffles or stirred into oatmeal.I also layer frozen berries into yogurt for my kid's lunches. The berries keep the yogurt cold and thaw by snack time.Simple Mills almond-flour crackers are salty, savory, and crunchy — satisfying so many cravings at once.They work very well as a snack with cheese or nut butter.My whole family loves them, especially my 18-year-old, who said they taste similar (but superior) to name-brand wheat crackers. MadeGood's adorable little balls of granola go beyond your regular bar. They have dried fruit and vegetable extracts like spinach, broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, beets, and shiitake mushrooms.You can't taste the veggies, and they come in little packets that are both portion-controlled and easy to toss into a lunchbox.We eat a lot of chicken breast, but nothing beats a juicy whole chicken with crispy skin.I like to season them each differently and pop them in the oven for meal-prep batch-cooking.I love to make a garlicky lemon-and-oregano version for Mediterranean or Greek dishes. I also make Peruvian chicken slathered in a green sauce made from cilantro, garlic, jalapeno, and mayo and spicy Tex-Mex chicken for burrito bowls or tacos.Aside from using frozen riced cauliflower as a replacement or addition to rice, it's also great for adding bulk, nutrients, and fiber to smoothies, oatmeal, and even waffles.The Via Emilia brand comes in microwavable bags that make prep super easy. For basic recipes, I just heat them up, open the bag, add in a bit of butter and salt, and stir.For oatmeal and smoothies, I mix it in while it's still frozen and heat or blend with the dish.The seeded bread from Carbonaut is packed with protein and healthy fats along with fiber and some carbs.It's a more balanced bread product for anyone counting macros, eating fewer carbs, or trying to add fiber and nutrients to their diet. Plus, it's super filling.I prefer to toast this bread for the best flavor, then I slather it in chia jam and nut butter for sandwiches or snacks.My love of Fairlife began with their jugs of chocolate and skim milk, which are filtered to be higher in protein.When I saw that the brand made a higher-protein version of their chocolate milk in single-serve form, I had to get it. This chocolate milk isn't just nutritionally boosted, it tastes better than any other I've had.It's super delicious all by itself or mixed into smoothies. I also love it added into coffee or warmed up to make hot chocolate.I love whole-grain tortillas (which I also buy from Costco), but egg-based Crepini wraps are a nice change.They're very thin, like crepes, and are excellent with ham, cheese, and salsa. They can be heated in a frying pan to make cheesy breakfast quesadillas or rolled up with a pickle and dipped in mustard for a low-cal snack.My kids and I love smoothies.I have one child who's overdue for a growth spurt at 13 years old, so I encourage him to pack in as many calories and nutrients as possible. His smoothies have pomegranate juice, yogurt, protein powder, frozen fruit, and nuts.Pomegranate juice pairs very well with mixed berries, and it's quite sweet and intense, leaving no need for other sweeteners.There's no easier way to pack in plenty of vegetables than a stir-fry mix.When we're short on time (which is often), we love to pair the Kirkland mix with steak, shrimp, or chicken and a simple homemade sauce made with Chinese five spice. We serve it with rice or soba noodles.It's simple, quick, and delicious, and the whole family enjoys it. I wish I could make every vegetable side from scratch, but as a full-time working parent with kids in sports, that's just not possible every night.Russet House sweet-potato fries cook quickly in the air fryer or oven, and they're crispy and delicious.We love them as a base for homemade chili-cheese fries or under our spicy roasted chicken with some shredded cheese, black beans, salsa, and sour cream.

I'm a personal trainer with a family of 6. Here are 12 things I'm buying from Costco this month.

Robert Irvine protein bars are the only ones I'll buy.

Frozen mixed berries are versatile for breakfast and lunch.

Simple Mills almond-flour crackers are a wholesome snack.

My kids love MadeGood granola minis.

Whole chickens are excellent for batch-cooking.

Frozen riced cauliflower is a wonder food.

Carbonaut bread is a balanced alternative to regular bread.

Fairlife high-protein chocolate milk is a heavenly treat.

Crepini wraps are made from eggs instead of grains.

POM 100% pomegranate juice is great in smoothies.

Costco's frozen stir-fry vegetables make an easy and healthy weeknight meal.

Organic sweet-potato fries save me prep time.