Making changes is hard. Even when you know it’s the right thing, it can be scary to veer from what you know. A friend of mine recently got offered a new job. She had been unhappy in her current position so it seemed to make sense she would jump at this new chance. But the fear of change made it difficult for her. Old habits die hard, as they say. The same is true whether you are trying to end a bad relationship or change your eating habits.
Since this isn’t a relationship blog I’m going to leave that one for someone else. But I do understand that changing how you eat can be just as difficult for some people.
The good news is that eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to make everything from scratch. Pre-packaged food is often associated with bad fats, sugars and all those additives and preservatives. The good news is that there are companies that take your health seriously and offer solid options with the convenience of pre-packaged food.
One of the biggest obstacles I’ve found in talking to people is that they don’t know what to buy. Most people tend to buy what they know. They buy the brands they grew up with. Maybe they are afraid to spend money trying a new item in case they don’t like it. I totally get it!
Whatever the reason, I get asked a lot about brands that I trust. Consider me your own personal researcher. I’ve tried dozens of brands over the years as I searched for the right balance between health, convenience, cost and taste.
Here are a few brands I am proud to tell others about. They really want people to taste how good healthy can be and have generously donated 100’s of samples for me to share with others in my corporate presentations. I am happy to say I never accept donations that I haven’t tried and that I wouldn’t fully endorse.
Pacific Foods: I use their chicken broth my No-Noodle chicken soup from my Thankful 30 Crockpot Edition. 25 years ago they started using simple ingredients, farming sustainably and acting kinder towards people, animals and the world around us. They make foods that are clean and simple, using only natural and organic grains, meats and veggies, while trying to source as close to home as possible.
Freekeh: Don’t let the funny name scare you from trying this tasty, nutritious ancient grain. Freekeh is a good source of fiber and protein( 6 g protein and 4 g fiber per serving). It was created by accident nearly 2,000 years ago when a Middle Eastern village was attacked and their crop of young green wheat was set on fire. The villagers rubbed it off and cooked it up!
Earth Circle Organics. I first wrote about this brand two years ago after I went to the Natural Products Expo East. I use their cacao powder in several recipes. They carry all sorts of snack packs my girls love. Plus you can get goji berries, coconut products and Hemp seeds. What would you do with all that? Whip up a batch of my Vegan Seed Power Bars.
Eden: I’ve been talking about this company for years too. They were one of the first to offer BPA free canned items. If you are looking for Gluten free options try their Brown Rice & Black Soybean Mochi. It’s made of steamed and pounded JAS certified organic sweet brown rice with organic Japanese black soybeans and a bit of sea salt. Mochi softens and puffs into moist cakes with a crisp chewy crust.
Neat: The coolest vegan meat replacement you’ll find for ground beef. In some recipes you really can’t tell the difference! The star of the product is garbanzo beans. Give it a try and you’ll understand why they call it neat!
Ancient Harvest: Ancient Harvest quinoa is organic, non-GMO and a good source of plant-based protein.Their organic corn-quinoa pasta is a staple in my home. I often suggest their pasta when I am talking about healthier swaps to make in your pantry. They have great hot breakfast cereal and beans too!
Here’s a new product for your home I’ve just discovered.
Molly Suds: Out of a tragedy of one child’s death, grew a company based on educating people about the dangerous toxins that exist in our food, homes and beauty products. The products are safe for even the tiniest consumer. They even have a dog shampoo!
Here are a few old favorites I’ve written about before(but i’ll list them here so you have them all in one big reference)
Beanitos: I love, love, love these chips. Made from black beans they are perfect with my Creamy Cado Dip.
SunButter: I really feel for moms who have to deal with nut allergies. This is a terrific option. It is great on a sandwich. I use it in baking. It’s another pantry swap I recommend often.
Shaklee: Whether its vitamins, supplements or household cleaning products, there is no company I trust more than Shaklee. If you aren’t sure what product would work best for you, I am happy to talk to you about what you are experiencing and help you find a Shaklee solution that will help. Send me an email at [email protected]
Diamond Creek Water: Not all water is created equal! This water tastes amazing and is 6 times more hydrating than other waters. How can that be? Read Here.
Enjoy Life Foods: You seriously can’t believe how good their vegan chocolate chips are. I use the regular chips in my Easy Energy Bites and their mega-chunks in my version of Rice Krispy Treats. All of their products are free-from the “top eight” allergens: wheat/gluten, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish and shellfish.
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