I'm a busy mom who shops at Costco. Here are 14 of the best things I bought this year.

• I work a demanding job and have two kids in numerous activities, so I rely on my trips to Costco.
• Throughout the year, we meal prep for easy breakfasts and lunches and always have snacks on hand.
• Costco makes it easy to buy affordable staples that meet our needs, like jerky and pasta sauce. 

My family of four's schedule is packed. Between work, activities, cooking, and self-care, there aren't many hours left in the day.

But we make it work by stocking up on key items at Costco.

Here's my roundup of the best things I found at my local Vancouver Costco this year.

Rao's Pasta Sauce is now a pantry staple

I no longer make sauce from scratch. Rao's has the best premade pasta sauce I've ever had, and I love that the ingredients are simple and clean.

I buy two jars at a time, so I always have one on hand to whip up a quick pasta dish in minutes.

Beef jerky is my favorite low-calorie, high-protein snack

When I need an afternoon boost or an extra snack for my kids' lunches, I always turn to beef jerky.

The Jack Link's brand strips I buy have 9 grams of protein per serving and taste delicious.

I buy bulk bags at Costco that keep my family stocked for a while.

I make high-protein mocha at home using shakes from Costco

Premier Protein chocolate shakes have been a game-changer for me.

Each is packed with 30 grams of protein and is only 130 calories.

I add one to my morning coffee for the perfect breakfast mocha that helps keep me full until lunch.

Heavenly Hunks are the best mini bars for dessert and snacking

This year, I started keeping one bag of Heavenly Hunks at my office and one at home — they're that good.

I find the combination of oats, dark chocolate, and coconut to be very satisfying.

The avocado oil I get at Costco is the only oil I cook with

The Chosen Foods 100% pure avocado oil is the only oil I use now when I cook.

It's made purely of avocados (so we're getting our unsaturated essential fats) and can be cooked at multiple heat points.

A 1-liter bottle from Costco lasts me a month.

Turkey sausages work for any time of the day

The Greenfield frozen turkey sausages are quick and easy to prepare in my air fryer

They're a great protein source for breakfast, and I've also found ways to incorporate them into lunches and dinners.

El Monterey egg wraps are always on my grocery list

Sometimes my plans to pack a lunch slip through the cracks when I'm trying to get my kids fed and out the door in the morning.

But ever since my coworker told me to keep a pack of El Monterey egg wraps in our office freezer, I haven't had to waste money ordering last-minute meals.

The 300-calorie wraps have 10 grams of protein and can be heated in a microwave.

Costco sells a delicious variety of instant ramen

My family loves ramen, and it's usually soup weather in Vancouver, so instant packs are a no-brainer for us.

We buy the Nongshim Tonkotsu ramen from Costco and usually add boiled eggs to it so it's extra filling.

Sesame Snaps are nostalgic — I can go through a whole box myself

The first time I spotted Sesame Snaps at Costco, I immediately added them to my cart.

I used to eat them as a kid, so they're very nostalgic for me. My kids also like to eat them as a snack before or after sports.

I accidentally tricked my kids into loving crackers made with vegetables

My kids have never liked crackers much but I surprisingly got them hooked on the RW Garcia sweet-potato crackers from Costco.

I like that they're a decent source of carbs and fiber, and my kids like how tasty they are.

I get dried mangosteen at Costco whenever I can find it

I love snacking on dried mangosteen, a delicious, unique fruit native to Southeast Asia.

The dried pieces from Volupta are a perfect tangy pick-me-up.

Unfortunately, bags of mangosteen aren't always available at my Costco. When they are, though, I always grab some.

Better Than Bouillon has made my homemade meals tastier

Better Than Boullion is a concentrated paste I add to meals to make them more flavorful with little effort.

I always keep some in my pantry for easy stews, sauces, and rice.

BoomChickaPop popcorn is great for lunches

I pick up a bulk bag of BoomChickaPop popcorn every time I'm at Costco.

It's great for packed lunches or movie nights, and I prefer it over microwaved popcorn.

I take collagen protein daily for my skin and joint health

I take Organika's enhanced collagen protein every day to support my hair, nail, and joint health. The 1-kilogram tub at Costco lasts me months.

I usually get the original flavor, but sometimes I'll switch it up and grab the chocolate or greens options.

Click to keep reading Costco diaries like this one.