SOHO Expo... Foodapalooza

On Saturday I was still denying my cold. I have been drugging myself with natural meds, like colloidal silver and Vit C; and suppressing my symptoms with Tylenol cold and flu. Nothing really seemed to work until I used this horribly addicting nasal spray…

This stuff is magical.

 My mom is limiting my use of this to 3 days tops.

Saturday was also the annual SOHO expo- every health food lover’s dream- and I was not about to let this cold get me down. Since my step-dad is in the natural health business, we get invited to these sorts of things. Awesome. This event always makes me feel like a kid in a candy store.

This year’s expo was at Gaylord Palms, an absolutely gorgeous hotel in Orlando, FL. My mom, step-dad, Mons, the biffs, and I attended the extravaganza.

Mama, Me, Biff, Mon's biff, Mons

Biff and I posing in front of the poinsettia tree.

The SOHO expo is where a bunch all natural supplement and health food distributers to come together and persuade health food store owners to purchase their product. For me, it’s a place to eat gluten-free, “healthy”, awesome foods to my heart’s content. I say “healthy” in quotation marks, because a lot of the foods are goodies that would otherwise be off limits for us gluten-free peeps, like breads, cakes, cookies, etc (The sugar's not so healthy).

We intentionally did not eat lunch because we knew we would be eating enough samples to count as a meal. Since there were about a million awesome gluten-free foods there, I decided to tell you guys about my favorites.

Shabai Gourmet Snack Cakes and Cookies

Just like Little Debbies

 They have all kinds of yummy things, but my favorite is the Swiss Roll. This tastes exactly like the Little Debbies! The texture is more brownie-like than cake-like, but the taste is exact. I love Love LOVE these!!! Perfect.

Gilchrist Brand Smoked Sausage

These are the only country smoked, gluten-free, nitrate free, antibiotic free sausages on the market. I usually have to be in the mood for sausage to eat it, but these are to die for!

John Mountain All Natural Cinnamon and Honey Spread

This sounds so simple, but it was positively delicious. It was the consistency of peanut butter and is a perfect spread for toast or crackers. Neither the taste of the cinnamon nor the honey is more prevalent than the other. The blend is perfectly balanced.

WOW Baked Goods

I tried everything on this table. No complaints here. The peppermint chocolate brownies were my favorite. That combo gets me every time.

Pamela’s Products

Pamela's Products Simplebites Extreme Chocolate Mini Cookies

Everything in this line is delish. They have batters, cake mixes, bread mixes, cookies, I really like the new Extreme Chocolate Mini Cookies. Anything chocolate floats my boat.

Better Balance Protein Cereal

Better Balance Protein+ Cookie Bites

 All of these were great. I’ve really missed Cheerios. But these Cookie Bites were incredible. AND they are packed with protein, as the name would suggest. I can’t wait to buy some of these.  

Sensible Foods

The flavors are incredible.

Awesome list of ingredients. Tropical Blend

This company is located near the Google headquarters in northern California. Apparently, Sensible Foods is the #1 snack choice of the Google employees. I think that’s pretty awesome.

My other favorite part of this convention is this:

This is a real dog.

 His name is Tiny and he is the face of Flexpet natural joint supplement for pets. This little ball of fluff is at the expo every year, and is possibly the cutest thing I have ever seen. Tiny even has his own blog. No joke.

After the expo, we did some shopping to work off that lunch of samples. Then made our way over to P.F. Changs, or just Changs, as I affectionately call it. Mons (my sister) requested we go here for her birthday. We’ve been celebrating her birthday for 2 weeks now…I was totally supportive of this decision. The gluten-free menu makes me weak in the knees. Biff and I ordered the lettuce wraps with brown rice to share. 

Chicken Lettuce Wraps and Brown Rice

Fortune... without the cookie.

 The day was absolutely awesome. I loved it. I had a fantastic time with my family and friends and ate to my heart's content. Oh, how I love food.

Poppin' Pills

Hello fellow healthy people! We all know that we should take our vitamins. But, I’m not gonna lie- I don’t take mine as regularly as I should. You get busy and realize, “Crap. I forgot my pills…” Or you just say, “I don’t feel like swallowing a million pills today…”

There are about 50 different supplements that could help me be healthier, make me have a Super-human physique or whatever. But let’s be practical. I do not have the time, money, or room in my stomach for that many pills or liquids. SoI have come up with a list of supplements that I think are the best bang for your buck, time, and space in your stomach.

BUT WAIT! Before we get to this list, I have to add a plug for my favorite natural supplement, beauty, and hygiene company. COUNTRY LIFE! Its really great, practical, and diverse. Check it out!

Anyway, without further ado, I give you...

Best Supplements of All Time 

(All of these are gluten-free).

5. Dolphins Pals DHA Gummies for kids

(I like to leave out the “for kids” part)



Ok so these are probably not the most suitable omega oils for an adult to take, but come on.    They are possibly the most delicious supplements that I have ever tasted (and I have tasted A LOT of supplements). I actually have to limit my intake of these a day. Otherwise, I would eat the whole bottle… My sister and I fight over the red ones.

4. Stress Sheild

This stuff is a life-saver. My mom calls them  "Happy Pills". I take 2 when I’m feeling a little crabby or stressed, and it calms me right down. I can focus better and think more clearly when I have these on hand.

3. Enzymes

I seriously CANNOT live without these. Since I am gluten-intolerant, eating out is somewhat of a mission. It’s ok when you go to large chains that have allergy specific menus, but places like Bubba’s Barbeque Shack and Ping Pong's Chinese Cuisine are less sympathetic.

**On a side note, if you can’t get a restaurant to comply with your allergy needs and they don’t seem to want to understand, I have a phrase that will change everything. Just say, "I WILL DIE and my family will sue you."  It solves everything :D

Gluten-Zyme
Helps to break down proteins often associated with wheat and gluten


Pancreatin

• Taken after meals
• Breaks down protein, fat, and carbohydrate

This one is great because I sometimes forget to take my enzymes before I eat.

*Vegetarians- see Maxi-Zyme

2. Buffered Vitamin C

 

Everyone should have a good Vitamin C in their cupboard to fight of any bugs that are flying around. This one has Calcium Carbonate and Magnesium Oxide to “buffer” the acidity of the high dosage of Vit C for those of us with sensitive tummies.

And the #1 Supplement of All Time….

Green Vibrance!!!

Now, if you take nothing else, you really need to consider green superfood drinks. I have tried several different superfood drinks and this is my favorite. Taste-wise, it’s the top of the list. Mix it with about 4 oz. of your favorite fruit juice or in your protein shake and you are good to go!

First of all, Green Vibrance is #1 Selling Superfood in the Nation. It has tons of benefits for your body. The major ones are:

• It's Organic!!
• Immunity building
• Supports digestion  which helps with nutrient absorption- It has 25 Billion probiotics per serving! I don’t have to take probiotics if I take this stuff!
• Improves circulation for better cellular function
• Increases energy
• Detoxification- Get rid of all that crap in your body (no pun intended)
• Brain and heart  health
• Lots of antioxidants

And, according to Vibrant Health’s website, “some consumers swear they look younger.”

Supplements are an extremely important part of a healthy lifestyle.  If you don’t currently take them and are considering it, talk to a homeopathic practitioner or regular M.D. If you already are taking supplements, you are AWESOME! Keep your eyes open for new products. Always do research and compare benefits and prices. And above all, don’t burden yourself with too many, or you will simply not take them. Make sure to ask yourself:

• What am I currently lacking in my diet?
• Am I going to take this?
• Is there anything better out there?
• What can I afford?

Well, there’s your little nutrition class of the day. I hope you feel informed.