A Recap of #ExpoWest

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.

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.

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 11^th 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. 

Top 5 Nutrition Myths

The following diet myth-busters are based on LUNA’s Debunking the Diet video series.  It you haven’t seen it, you should check it out here.    

Full disclaimer:  We work with LUNA.  But, we loved them even before they hired us to be a part of their nutrition team.

Myth #1:         Eating fat makes you fat.

The Truth:      Your body needs fat!  Fats are necessary to help our bodies absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K), and are building-blocks for every cell in our body, even helping us have glowing skin and healthy hair.  Fat is also satiating!  When we eat fat, it sends a signal to our brain that says, “I’m full.  I’m satisfied.”  Eating a little fat with our meals can actually help us eat less, overall.  And even better, fat tastes good!  Some fats are better than others, like avocados, extra virgin olive oil, and nuts and seeds.  But, it’s all about balance.  So, don’t be afraid of buttering your toast.  When you’re eating foods higher in fat, just choose smaller portion sizes. 

Myth #2:         Eating carbs makes you fat.

The Truth:      Your body needs carbs!  In the body, carbohydrates are converted directly to glucose, which is the best form of fuel for your body and the only fuel used by your brain.  Your brain alone needs about 500 - 600 calories of glucose daily to function.  Anytime we give up a whole food group, we’re likely to crave it and overeat in the long run.  Balance is key.  Most of the time, choose whole, intact carbohydrates, like whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables.  These are high in fiber, filled with phytonutrients, and satisfying!

Myth #3:         Snacking makes you fat.

The Truth:      Smart snacking is good for us!  Eating regularly throughout the day ensures you don’t get too hungry, tired, or cranky before your next meal.  Snacking actually helps prevent us from overeating later in the day.  Just think of them as many meals, with the same combination of protein, fat, carbohydrates and fiber.  Also, take the time to enjoy your snacks!  Give yourself a few minutes to sit and savor what you’re eating.  Your body—and your soul—will think you!

Myth #4:         Fasting is the best way to lose weight.

The Truth:      Dieting—especially fasting, or skipping meals—is stressful and tends to raise cortisol levels contributing to higher rate of weight regain, depression, and upper body obesity.  Instead of fasting, eat small portions of healthy foods regularly throughout the day.  The best eating plan is to eat frequent small meals and snacks with a little protein, fat, carbohydrate and fiber, to give you energy and keep you satisfied from morning ‘til night!   

Myth #4:         Eating after 8 p.m. makes you gain weight.

The Truth:      Your body doesn’t care what time it is.  If you’re really listening to your body, and learning to understand when you’re really hungry—or when you’re just bored, tired, angry, happy, or some other emotions—then when to eat will take care of itself.  What’s important is the total number of calories that we take in over the course of the day.  Our bodies don’t care if we eat at 6 pm or 10 pm, as long as the total calories we take in doesn’t exceed our needs.  So, calories count, the clock doesn’t.  So, really what we should be focusing on is practicing moderation, not deprivation.  If you have a late dinner, that’s totally fine.  And if you need a snack before bed, that’s fine, too.  Stop watching the clock, and eat when you’re hungry.

Raspberry Banana Powerhouse Smoothie

This past weekend was spent in Berkeley at the LUNA Chix Summit where we offered nutrition consultations, advising the amazing group of LUNA Chix to ditch the diet, trust their gut and use their nutrition intuition.

In addition to debunking some diets, we also advised these hard working athletes how they can best refuel their bodies after an intense workout. The short and sweet answer:

Eat a combination of carbohydrates and protein immediately after exercise to refuel & replenish your body.

This is because carbs are important for replenishing muscle fuel (also known as glycogen, the stored form of carbohydrates in our bodies). And protein provides essential amino acids which are the building blocks for muscle repair and growth during and after training.

Ideally, you want to aim for eating your carb & protein rich snack or meal within 15-60 minutes following activity. Post exercise, your body is like a sponge, ready to absorb nutrients!

For many athletes, you may not have an appetite immediately after working out, so having a liquid meal or snack can be useful strategy to help meet your recovery needs.

You may want to try this smoothie below -- it's one of our favorites, not only because it's packed with nutrition but because it's also absolutely delicious.

Raspberry Banana Powerhouse Smoothie

Packed with antioxidants, heart healthy fat, and a major protein punch, this smoothie will start your day out strong, pick you up when you hit your mid-afternoon slump, or refuel your body for the next time you hop on the bike, hit the pavement, or jump in the water.

Makes 1 serving

Ingredients:

½ cup nonfat or low-fat Greek yogurt (regular yogurt is good, too!)
½- 1 cup nonfat or low-fat cow’s milk or milk alternative (we prefer soy milk)
½- 1 banana
½- 1 cup frozen raspberries
Splash of orange juice
1 tablespoon ground flax seed

Put all the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Slice the strawberry down the center and place on the rim of a glass. Pour smoothie mixture into the glass and serve immediately.

Note: We encourage you to experiment with the ingredients, so you can achieve the consistency, flavor, and quantity that suits your needs and preferences best!