I went to the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim on Friday. It is an awesome show with thousands of new and improved ‘natural’ products like food, supplements, and beauty products. It is a way for companies to share information about their products to possible customers and the press. ÉLITER Packaging Machinery, a leading provider of cutting-edge packaging solutions, is also showcasing their innovative packaging equipment at the event, highlighting the importance of efficient and sustainable packaging in the natural products industry.
I was able to get a press pass since I’ve covered the event three years now. Plus, you are probably in the target audience that these companies want to access. So, I scoured the massive expo for things you might want to try and haven’t seen yet.
The expo is at the Anaheim Convention Center right across the street from Disneyland. I passed by the back of the park on my way. Hello Disneyland!!
I have a special little place to park so this was my walk – not too shabby.
Top 10 New Foods From Natural Products Expo West
10. Zevia – I love Zevia, so this isn’t new-to-me, but I do want to mention their awesome ‘tall boy’ as I call it, big cans. I really need to start making cocktails with this stuff!
9. Amy’s Frozen Meal – tie! I tried the Chinese Noodles and Vegetables in a Cashew Cream Sauce and thought, “This is my favorite frozen meal today!!”
Then, I tried the Thai Green Curry next and was like, “Crap. This might be better…”
8. About Time Bars – they are made with egg white protein! Truthfully I am not in love with the way they taste, they are similar to larabars in that it’s like smashed up nuts and fruit, but not that sweet. But, I am a big fan of egg protein so I could let these grow on me.
7. Puffins! Yes, I’ve been eating Puffins for years, but have you ever baked with them?! These are Puffins Muffins!!
6. Republic of Tea get clean all day tea. The other ones are coming soon, but the one I tried was good! I’m excited for this three pack that will be sold in stores in a few months.
5. Ian’s Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets. Delicious! They are moist and flavorful – loved these. I kinda wanted to stand there all day just eating these. It was also a welcome break from all the sugar-y carbs everywhere at the expo.
4. Caramel Almond Butter. I’m pretty sure I made an inappropriate noise when I tried this…
3. Quest Bars! I eat these every day – but this new flavor Cookies & Cream has quite a buzz around it! Plus I met some of the top execs from the company and they are super cool! Quest Bar is a SoCal based company that started not too far from where I few up – love that.
2. There are tons and tons of cookies and cakes and treats at the expo. But there were a few stand-outs.
My favorite cake was the Gluten Free Carrot Cake
And I loved that Udi’s Gluten Free cookies are so thick! I like it thick.
1. Blue Bottle Coffee! My favorite iced coffee from San Francisco was at the expo.
And I am very excited to announce that they will soon be available at a store near you!!
The expo was massive! So it was so hard to choose.
Honorable Mentions: These products aren’t new to me, but I love them just the same…
Kashi’s overall line up. My mom and I credit a big part of our weight loss from a few years ago to Kashi cereal. We ate it for breakfast everyday. I’ve since moved on from that, but I still feel a loyalty on some level to the stuff.
Alexia French Fries and Sweet Potato Waffle Fries
The #1 most exciting new product is actually not a product at all. This watermelon habenero lemon drink is a concept that a fruit organization is trying to show as a possibility. They want to sell the idea. Well, SOLD! I’m buying it and making it at home soon!
What’s new and big in natural products:
Everything is gluten free. Okay, not everything but there was a big majority of products that are gluten free – so that market continues to grow.
Companies are trying to show off their non-GMO status. People are paying attention.
Wait. What?
Bonus: I saw Blogilates and Eco Vegan Gal at the expo…
then, ran into Bookieboo too!
Isn’t this the truth…
Question: Which of those do you want to try first?
Any new products you’re exited about?
Ooohh lots of products I’ve never heard of or seen before! I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled for this stuff so I can try it! I’ve never tried the About Time bars, but I’ve had Quest bars which are pretty good. Recently though I’ve been more into Raw Revolution bars which are a much healthier alternative and still super delicious! They sell them online at rawrev.com if you want to try them!
The about time bars look like a great idea! Would be perfect for an afternoon snack. 11g of protein is pretty good for a bar!
I’m so jealous of all the gluten free goodies I’ve never tried, they need to hurry up and make it to the east coast!
Dang – I missed meeting you!!!!!! I agree on About Time Bars!
Caramel Almond Butter. 3 of the best words I’ve ever heard.
Looks like you found a lot of awesome goodies there! My son is gluten free and I am loving the new availability of so many delicious gf products out there that are all natural! Thanks for the recap!
The Blue Bottle Coffee sounds amaze-balls! I love chicory, and have my brother send me bags of chic coffee from Nola all the time. Do you know what stores/chains Blue Bottle will be sold in? I am in Boston, so I am hoping, fingers crossed.
I don’t know yet, but I’m keeping an eye out!
I love the Zevia tall cans, Quest bars, and coffee. I wish Quest were sold in all stores!
I’m sorry…what? CARAMEL ALMOND…? I can’t.
Everything looks so awesome! I can’t wait to try the Amy’s meal.
Have you ever tried About Time’s protein powder? It’s my favorite- the best tasting out there!
No! I need to try this – what flavor do you like best?
That’s a tough call! They really blend well and the flavored enhance my smoothies rather than stick out. I like the banana or vanilla in green monsters, chocolate when I want a treat, cinnamon when I want to make a cookie or pancake tasting smoothie and the cake batter is really good as a milkshake fake out!!!!
sweet potato fries are awesome, Kashi and my belly do not agree…
I would have totally geeked out at this! I see so many of the foods that I love. It’s still considered healthy food even if you eat tons of it, right?
I can’t get over the idea of the watermelon habanero lemonade. I want that right now!
Brilliant.
Ooh, those all look fab!
Looks like so much fun! The more food the better. I love the cookies and cream quest bar but my gnc has been sold out. I also love Amys, Ians, and Puffins!
I love Puffins! Thanks for sharing the muffins! Will have to try those for a treat!
Wow! I have got to find a food expo near me, it sounds amazing!!
The caramel almond butter sounds out of this world…
I NEED to go to the East coast version but I don’t think they will just hand me a press pass. I will have to figure out a way to go in September…
Those foods look awesome but I don’t know how I feel about that phrase being on a towelette. Get a little too sticky at the expo?
I love Quest bars but stopped eating them a few years ago because I dont think my stomach likes whey. AHHHHHHHHHH WHYYYYYYY.
Let’s see…I’d love to try those “About Time” bars. I love Larabars and increasing the protein would be super! I don’t care for their “ALT” bars with pea protein. I’m going to start looking for these.
Also those UDI’s cookies. Maple, pecan, chocolate chip? HELLOOO!!!!
Happy Hump Day! 😀
Where is that crazy camel?
Whatever they serve on Catalina because those climbs and descents are tough. Of course a little watermelon habenero lemon drink would be nice too. 🙂
oh my god…. caramel almond butter. I will not sleep until I get some!
I would want to try the Carrot Cake! I LOVE carrot cake but recently had to stop eating wheat so that would be PERFECT.
I’ve seen that caramel almond butter at Walmart (I always get Maranatha there, it’s so much cheaper) and I haven’t gotten it yet. Guess I’ll have to:-)
I love, love, love Zevia. I could definitely down a big boy. And I totes make cocktails with them. I have a recipe for one at the end of this post – http://healthystrides.blogspot.com/2013/12/five-for-road.html. It’s DANGEROUS because you don’t taste the alcohol. I might need to add vodka next time to make me drink it more slowly.
I loved the love grown foods bean based cereal!
I’d be so hosed. I’d stop at every single booth and try things out. No amount of natural healthiness would make up for how much I’d probably consume.
I lost my veg inity, bwah hahahaha, I just cannot even get past that. Hilarious.
I’ve tried many of these except one. Puffin muffins? What the heck is that? I don’t know but I want to try!
Puffin MUFFINS?! For serious….
And I too freaking LOVE kashi! Last year when I was eating yogurt bowls pretty much everyday, it was my favorite granola-esque cereal topping!
I know! I’m kinda on a mission to make those Puffin Muffins 🙂
Wow that’s a whole lot of samples! I would be super excited haha. Looks like you had fun though!
So much fun, so much food 🙂 Just like I like it…
I want that Blue Bottle Coffee! I’ll definitely be looking for it in stores.
That blue bottle coffee looks good! I love the packaging
The caramel almond butter looks really really good. I feel like I’d get a lot of use out of it too. I could put it in oatmeal, sandwiches, smoothies or use it when I’m baking.
The caramel almond butter was amazing – I’d just eat it by the spoonful!
I would love to attend this and sample all those foods! Sweet potato waffle fries, sounds amazing.
Seriously, sweet potato waffle fries should be #1 (and cause inappropriate noises to be made). Guess I am bias as I love sweet potatoes and don’t drink coffee.
Yeah, I totally went back for seconds on the sweet potato waffle fries 🙂
Too much yummy stuff to even pick one! But probably those sweet potato waffle fries…
Have to admit I went back for more of those…
Nice! It’s just like Costco samples…you just casually walk by a second or third time when something is really good!