There is never a time of year when it does not pay to be eating with healthy habits in mind. However, healthy foods can also have a great taste to them. In turn, there is no shortage of interesting new food and beverage options that manage to be nutritious and delicious. On behalf of A Global Lifestyle, below are 25 Summer 2018 food and drink discoveries of mine.
Cece’s Veggie Co. is a hot start-up out of Austin that is really shaking up the produce section with “simple but twisted” product lines of spiralized and riced veggies. Cece’s is your personal sous chef, prepping 100% organic spiralized noodles and riced veggies that go from pan to table in 8 minutes or less. Cece’s veggies can be enjoyed raw, sautéed as a grain alternative, and in salads, soups and more. Cece’s veggies are responsibly-sourced, USDA-certified organic and Non-GMO Project Verified as well as gluten free, vegan and paleo friendly with no added preservatives, sugars or salts. The company also sells Veggiccini — fettuccini-style noodles — in butternut squash and zucchini as well as riced cauliflower and broccoli.
A “better for you” cookie that is individually packaged, portable and convenient, Kakookies are great for travelers, busy families, lunchboxes, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Unlike other processed cookies and “energy bars,” Kakookies are made with premium superfood ingredients that are healthy and simple. These snacks are loaded with both simple and complex carbs that are sourced from whole grain gluten-free oats, chia seeds, nuts or sunflower seeds, and coconut oil. All Kakookies are vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and soy-free.
INK Soy Sauce makes the world’s first infused 100% Soy Sauces. This new line of gourmet flavored soy sauces take dishes from average to “WOW” in minutes with elevated flavor profiles like Lemongrass, Garlic Sesame, Ginger Sesame, Orange Chili, Wasabi and Thai Chili. Free of chemicals and GMOs, Ink eliminates the need to purchase additional herbs or spices that may — or may not, be used again — thus saving consumers money. They are ideal for use with fish, chicken, shrimp, pork, steak, burgers, salad dressings, curry, soups, stir fry, wraps, and hummus. My favorite of the batch is the Thai Chili.
Gin was invented in Italy in the 11th century by monks on the Salerno Coast. The monks added ginepro (juniper) and other botanicals to the alcohol, and thus gin was born. MALFY uses a selection of coastal grown Italian lemons, some from Amalfi and some from Sicily, to give its gin a fresh and zesty aroma. MALFY Gin comes in 4 great flavors — Originale, Con Limone, Con Arancia and Gin Rosa — all of them are distilled in Italy in Moncalieri, just outside the city of Torino.
Speaking of Italy, one of the largest olive oil companies in all of Italy is Bonolio. Established in 1934 by Vincenzo Bono, the Bonolio olive oil factory now includes the biggest oil-mill in Sicily, Bono brand olive oils have been honored with a variety of honors, including the NYIOOC 2016 Gold Award, the remio Biol 2016 Gold Medal, and the Silver Medal at the Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition.
Upton’s Naturals launched the first pre-seasoned, heat-and-serve Jackfruit to the U.S. and European markets. Available in Bar-B-Que, Chili Lime Carnitas, Thai Curry, Original, Sweet & Smoky, and Sriracha flavors, these products are completely free of cholesterol, gluten, soy, oil, GMOs, and artificial flavors. An independently-owned, ethical vegan company, Upton’s Naturals’ jackfruit products are ideal plant-based meat substitutes, offering the the texture and taste of perfect pulled pork or shredded chicken when cooked and seasoned right. Furthermore, the Jackfruit from Upton’s Naturals is packaged in a retort pouch to maintain freshness.
Also on the vegan end of the spectrum is Milkadamia. Milkadamia’s new Macadamia Nut Creamers offer a real, rich, creamy deliciousness that is closer to dairy than any other vegan milk you will find on the market. Available in Vanilla, Unsweetened Vanilla, and Macadamia Fudge, Milkadamia is made with raw regeneratively-farmed nuts from the family-owned Jindilli farms in Australia. They are dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, non-GMO and cholesterol-free, while also serving as an excellent source of vitamins D and B12.
Born in Portland, Maine, Redd is a first-of-its-kind superfood energy bar designed for people that appreciate flavor and don’t want to let busy lifestyles rule out healthy ones. Founder Alden Blease first experimented with functional foods as a high school athlete. After a career in Manhattan’s fashion industry, Blease returned to his native Maine and enrolled in a Biological Engineering program, where he created an energy bar capable of supporting his demanding schedule. Blease perfected his recipe and started selling his creations to fellow students and health food stores under the name “Rawgasms,” which he soon transitioned to Redd. Part-protein bar, part-energy shot, and part multivitamin, Redd superfood bars are certified gluten-free, 100% vegan, 70% organic, low glycemic and free of dairy, soy, GMOs, refined sugars and anything artificial.
Lee Kum Kee is known for making over 200 premium and gluten-free Asian sauces and condiments. Established in 1888 when its founder Mr. Lee Kum Sheung invented oyster sauce in Nanshui, Zhuhai of the Guangdong Province of China, Lee Kum Kee products can be found in over 100 countries around the world. My favorite of the sauces I tried was its Panda Brand Mushroom Flavored Dark Soy Sauce, which is ideal for marinating meats and seafood alike.
A relatively new protein water out on the market, Protein2o produces 9 low-calorie, sugar-free, fruit-flavored soft drinks. Flavors of those beverages include Classic Lemonade, Tropical Coconut, Mixed Berry and Harvest Grape. Each of those offerings delivers 15 grams of whey isolate protein and 110% of the daily recommended serving of amino acids. You can drink it post-workout to hydrate and recover, or you can keep it at home to make some delicious protein smoothies, or you can even use them as cocktail mixers for your favorite spiked fruit-based drinks.
High Brew Coffee produces premium ready-to-drink cold brew coffee in a can that’s ready whenever and wherever you are. The coffee itself is made from 100% Direct Trade Arabica beans that are cold brewed over time, not heat. Every batch is cold-brewed to be smooth, bold and full of natural energy with way less sugar. As an added bonus of source, this is fair trade coffee and a portion of its sales goes to support the De Los Andes Cooperative, as located in the Antioquia region of Colombia.
Prana brand creates wholesome organic snacks and ingredients for a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. This includes trail mixes, Fairtrade chocolate barks, coconut chips, chia seeds, nut butters, and dried fruits. No matter which Prana product you are talking about, it is promised to be certified-organic, non-GMO, kosher, vegan, gluten-free, preservative-free, and sulfite-free. My favorite of the batch sampled was the Kilimanjaro Deluxe Chocolate Mix.
Athletic Greens’ Ultimate Daily
Developed by Athletic Greens, Ultimate Daily is a premium all-in-one healthy supplement that was developed over 10 years by doctors, nutritionists and naturopaths. Finally launched in July 2018, what sets Ultimate Daily apart from other “green drinks” is that it’s packed with 75 whole-food-sourced ingredients that combine to help with five key areas of health in one single daily serving. Ultimate Daily is already used and recommended by top health and wellness experts, athletes, and entrepreneurs such as Dr. Michael Gervais, Peter Diamandis, MD, Tim Ferriss, Joe De Sena, esteemed healthy chef Dan Churchill and 2-time Olympian Dagmara Wozniak.
Seal The Seasons partners with local family-farms to freeze produce in-season and bring it to grocery stores 365 days a year. Seal The Seasons sells fruit on a state by state and region by region basis, and currently sells North and South Carolina product in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. (North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Tennessee) and New York and New Jersey product in the Northeast (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut). With the upcoming crop season, Seal the Seasons will be expanding to sell local and regionally-grown fruit in the Midwest, Pacific Northwest and Pacific Southwest. As a Certified B Corporation, Seal The Seasons is committed to using business as a force for good in the world. And might I add that their blueberries are fantastic, whether consumed in a smoothie or own their own.
Stonewall Kitchen Fig Dressing
Stonewall Kitchen is award-winning specialty food producer, and its Balsamic Fig Dressing was named a winner of the 2018 Health Packaged Food Awards by Prevention Magazine. That was actually the second award the brand’s Balsamic Fig Dressing has received since its launch in January of 2008, having been awarded a gold medal for “Outstanding Salad Dressing” by the Specialty Food Association in 2008. Simply put, this particular dressing is an excellent blend between rich balsamic vinegar and the sweet flavor of ripe figs.
I cannot emphasize enough that Feel Good Foods has become my go-to brand when it comes to frozen meals. The brand makes chef-inspired, gluten-free versions of your favorite appetizers and guilty pleasures, all of which done with non-GMO ingredients and antibiotic-free meats. In turn, Feel Good has Egg Rolls, Empanadas, Taquitos, Potstickers, and Asian-style entrees on the market that you do not have to feel guilty about enjoying. The Chicken & Chipotle Taquitos meal was my favorite of what I had the opportunity to try, and were surprisingly low-calorie for something breaded and rich.
Wonder Drink Prebiotic Kombucha
Kombucha is generally thought of having an acquired taste, but those people who are hooked can never seem to get enough kombucha in their lives. Wonder Drink’s one-of-a-kind line of kombucha is made with a Certified Organic, plant-based, prebiotic fiber called Xylooligosaccharides (or XOS Fiber) known to selectively nourish certain naturally occurring probiotic bacteria in your gut. Wonder Drink Prebiotic can help promote a happy digestive system by feeding naturally occurring probiotic bacteria in everyone’s gut. It comes in three fruit-forward flavors: Apple Mint, Ginger Peach and Tropical Mango. Each 12-ounce can contains only 10 grams of sugar. As if that were not enough, Wonder Drink Prebiotic Kombucha is certified-organic, Non-GMO, vegan and gluten-free. Please keep refrigerated to maintain prebiotic stability and freshness.
Clio Snacks’ Greek Yogurt Bars
Imagine pure, strained Greek yogurt wrapped in chocolate and you pretty much have visualized what Clio Snacks has on the market. The flavors offered by Clio are Strawberry, Vanilla, Honey, Hazelnut, Blueberry and Espresso, and all of them have 8 grams of protein. While healthy, these bars are suitable for dessert purposes. Beyond that protein, these bars are gluten-free and made with no rBSTs, while also being environmentally-minded in using 15 times less plastic packaging than your average yogurt cup. No matter the flavor, this is my favorite new healthy dessert product of 2018.
Sugar Bowl Bakery’s Button Cakes
Starting with the finest ingredients and a passion for baking, Sugar Bowl Bakery has grown from just one bakery — a San Francisco favorite — to a leading national brand. At The International Dairy Deli Bakery Association Show, Sugar Bowl unveiled its Button Cakes, as available in four delicious flavors including: Tropical Mango, Wild Blueberry, Lemon Zest and Madagascar Vanilla. The Button Cakes contain real fruit and vanilla bean seeds, and contain no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. I had the pleasure of trying the Wild Blueberry variety, and it sufficed for breakfast for me, as it eliminated my cravings for a sugary muffin at a fraction of the calories.
CAULIPOWER is the fastest-growing frozen pizza brand and is reportedly the #1 gluten-free pizza in the United States. At the Summer Fancy Food Show, CAULIPOWER will be showcasing a never-before-tested Frozen Paleo Pizza Crust and an All Natural Uncured Pepperoni Pizza. The company — under the leadership of Gail Becker, former Edelman President — only launched in 2017, yet it has quickly gone from 30 stores to 9,000 stores in 1 year. Furthermore, CAULIPOWER is already making the world a better place via its partnership with OneSun.
In business since 1946, Milo’s Teas come in regular, sweet, unsweetened, and peach flavors, in addition to there being an organic line. There are many things that you can do with Milo’s from creative cocktails and mocktails, to cobblers and granitas, to simply just having a refreshing caffeinated beverage. Milo’s Tea does not have any added acids or preservatives as high-quality, natural ingredients are part of what the brand’s founders Milo and Bea Carlton had in mind. The Sweet Tea was a Bronze Medal winner at the 2017 Global Tea Championship, while the Tea & Lemonade, Organic Green Citrus Tea and Organic Light Sweet Tea all placed high at the 2016 North American Tea Championship competition, so there are plenty of varities of Milo’s worth trying.
A grower-owned apple company that produces high-quality, delicious and nutritious juices, sauces and ingredients, Tree Top Apple Sauce is about to launch its Pure Pressed Sweet & Tart Apple Cider. Tree Top provides food ingredients to over 20 of the nation’s top 25 food companies, and is the world’s largest supplier of dried apple products. It manages to still be U.S. grower-owned while keeping quality ingredients in mind. I had the pleasure of trying its new line of see-through apple sauce pouch, which are the first of its kind on the market. My favorite was the Cinnamon Apple Sauce Pouch, which come 4 to a box, and are enjoyable for children and adults alike.
Secret Squirrel Cold Brew Coffee
Secret Squirrel makes delicious cold brew coffee using handpicked organic beans that are roasted to perfection, cold brewed for 18 to 24 hours, double filtered and then bottled quickly. The end result is a delicious non-GMO cold brew coffee that contains twice as much caffeine as traditional cold brew coffee while containing rBST-free milk. My favorite of the Secret Squirrel offerings is the Caffe Latte, which comes in a clear bottle.
When you think about it, alcohol is not bad for you when consumed in moderation. If you go straight to the sweet stuff, as opposed to drinking a mixed drink with a lot of ingredients, it tends not to be high in calories. In turn, I recommend Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur. The brand may be best known for its Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter, but this smooth and creamy liqueur carries flavors of both oak-aged Irish whiskey and real chocolate, offering an ultra-rich and exceptionally smooth taste. Again, consume in moderation, as much as that may be a struggle when something is both this strong and delicious.
HIPPEAS is a line of delicious chickpea puffs that are spreading “peas and love.” The snacks are simultaneously organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan and baked (not fried). They have 4 grams of plant-based protein, 3 grams of fiber and are only 130 calories per 1-ounce serving. The snacks come in the following delicious flavors: Vegan White Cheddar, Bohemian Barbecue, Sriracha Sunrise, Pepper Power, and Far Out Fajita. Ultimately this is a snack that ought to be a big hit at the lunch table while having that “cool factor.”
