A few weeks ago I attended the world’s largest organic,
natural, and healthy foods event, The Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim,
California. It was so fun to start the day off by listening to a live
performance from Michael Franti on my way to the expo hall. I’m such a fan and it started the day off on
such a happy note. Gourmet food trucks and vendors surrounded the stage,
leaving me with the decision of where to begin! I grabbed a healthy breakfast
which gave me just the boost of energy I needed before entering the expo hall.
Inside the convention center was a maze of booths
featuring a variety of products – food, beauty products, pet supplies, and even household items. To be completely honest, it was a little bit of sensory overload! I was most excited to sample some of the delicious, nutritious foods available and meet the masterminds behind all these products, so naturally, I grabbed the first bag I could find and hit the
foodie aisles. It was soon after I entered the expo hall that I realized my “little
goodie bag” wasn't so little. It almost hit my knees. I hope you can visualize this
accurately. So funny.
First stop, Yogi Tea! The table was decorated with
colorful tea leaves and the representatives were dressed as yogis which made
this booth a must-see. Plus, the samples were just what I needed. I’ve been a
huge fan of Yogi tea since I took my first sip of Egyptian Licorice Mint about seven
years ago. While that flavor is still my absolute favorite, you’ll find a variety
of several kinds of Yogi tea in my pantry at all times. My favorite flavor at the expo was the
Cinnamon Vanilla. Tea definitely has a calming effect, even in the middle of
this busy crowd. And equally as wonderful of as their flavors of tea, are the messages on their tea tags. You can see what I mean if you take a peek at the Yogi Tea Instagram Account.
Next, CLIF Bar & Company! Lisa and I have openly spoken
of our admiration for the LUNA and CLIF teams and their line of products. I
absolutely love what the company stands for and they’re one of my go-to
products when I need something to hold me over until meal time. The CLIF MOJO Coconut Almond Peanut Bars or Kit’s
Organic Lemon Vanilla + Chia Seeds are on my current list of personal
favorites.
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La Croix is a sparkling water brand that is
manufactured right here in the USA. Their
display was simple and refreshing – much like the product! The beverages come
in a variety of flavors such as peach pear, coconut, and lime. Grapefruit is my
favorite. There
are no artificial colors, flavors or additives used in this carbonated water
which makes it the perfect substitute for soda.
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| The SoDelicious Booth! |
“Say yes to what you love.” I couldn’t have said it
better myself. There is
most definitely room for the foods you love in a healthy, well-rounded diet.
Fresh berries always have a way of capturing my
attention. They were the perfect topping for these yogurt cups and the perfect pairing for granola!
After a long day of taste-testing, it was finally time
to have a sit-down dinner. That large bag I grabbed at the beginning of the
event quickly filled up and my shoulder was ready for a rest! The OrganicCenter hosted their 11th Annual VIP Dinner at the Natural Products
Expo and I was so lucky to be able to attend. The tables were decorated with a
beautiful flower arrangement and a fresh salad was placed at our seats. A
buffet-style dinner included grouper, steak, roasted root vegetables, roasted
potatoes, and jasmine rice. Everything was presented impeccably and was most
importantly, delicious! During dinner, Jessica Shade, Director of Science
Programs at The Organic Center spoke of the significant accomplishments the
center has made in the past year as well as the exciting research they are
currently conducting.
After dinner, it was time to go home, although I admittedly
got lost in the parking lot and considered walking across the street to Disneyland to go play with Mickey and the rest of the Disney crew.
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