Eclectic Mix at the 2013 Expo East Natural Products Show

Ahhh, my ears are happy during the drive down to Baltimore, Maryland for the 2013 Expo East Natural Products show at the end of September at the Baltimore convention center.  This year I listened to Graceland by my all time favorite artist, Paul Simon, and the soundtrack from the movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower . This is a much needed break from the nursery rhymes CD that my daughter is currently in love with and wants to hear over and over. The parking in Baltimore is less than desired as it fills up quickly. Let me give you a tip. Park farther away from the inner harbor and convention center area and you may pay less and find a garage that actually has space for you!

I LOVE Expo East for many reasons. One reason is I actually get to meet many of the founders behind the products! This year I met Angie from Angie’s popcorn which is gluten free! Hum… now I want to eat some for a snack.  I also love that I can actually sample many of the food products as there are many allergen friendly food companies like Enjoy Life Foods and this year I met the CEO Scott Mandell.  Remember to always check labels and safety before sampling foods at a food show if with food allergies or intolerance! Another reason is the eclectic mix of products at the show from foods to supplements, personal care to stress relief and more!  As a Registered Dietitian and Health Educator I like to know what the food trends are, what new products are coming to market, and find new favorites!

In all honesty, I did not get a chance to stop at every booth, so my list is from the subset of booths that I was able to check out.

My top 10 finds at Expo East – 2013!

1. Wildbrine Fermented Foods – A line of fermented foods that taste great and have health benefits! The line is also vegetarian. You can check out the locations where this line can be found or purchased via Amazon.

2. Manuka (Honey) Guard USA – A line of various strength manuka honey products from New Zealand that can be purchased via Amazon. Manuka honey is used for various heath conditions including gastrointestinal health and a stronger sterile grade is used to help heal wounds.

3. Jesben Slow Cooker Sauces – These gluten free slow cooker sauces were created by a busy mom. Literally you just take the jar and pour over meat and cook in a slow cooker. I tried the Italian Tomato, Peppers, & Herbs with chicken. I was surprised how good it tasted and not too sweet. They also can be bought on amazon. Great to have on hand for a busy day.

4. Naked Infusions Salsa – Great organic, gluten free, non-GMO salsas in several flavors. I liked the Rustic Blue Cheese which is a unique salsa flavor. Currently, this line if found mostly in California stores, but products can be purchased directly from their website.

5. Organic Peppermint Lemonade by Wild Poppy – If you want a drink to wake you up that is caffeine free, this is is the one! I sampled this drink for the first time and it was refreshing and awakening. It reminded me of my visit to the mint room during a Celestial Seasonings tour in Boulder, Colorado. This can also be purchased on Amazon.

6. Enjoy Life Foods Dark Chocolate Chips – I have been waiting for Enjoy Life Foods to come out with Dark Chocolate Chips! Last year I even suggested it in a blog post on my other website, peanutfreerd.org. The dark chocolate has less sugar and is higher in antioxidants. Enjoy Life Foods products can be found on amazon.

7. Gee Free Gluten Free – A new line of gluten free hors d’oeuvres and frozen foods from Gee Free based out of New York was impressive with variety and taste. The spanakopita was my favorite and being part Greek it is great to have a gluten free option! Look for these products in stores soon. Like many companies you can request that your store carry these products.

8. Fruit.O – Two varieties of organic fruit pouches that are marketed for adults. 100 calories a pouch and great tasting! Current flavors are Blueberry, Blackberry, and Banana, and  Mango, Pear, and Pineapple. This would be an easy tasty carbohydrate replacement for use during exercising as well! These products can be purchased on amazon.

9. Smart Flour Pizza Crusts- Their pizza crust is gluten free and made with a mix of ancient flours are higher in nutrients than many other gluten free pizza crusts. It tasted great as well, a win-win! They have other products in their line and you can purchase items directly from their website.

10. Glutino Honey Mustard Gluten Free Pretzels – I have had the “regular” gluten free glutino pretzels before, but the honey mustard version is new and very tasty! A great option. Also, available on amazon.

Other Products
Other products I liked include Bold Organics vegetable gluten free pizza which I discovered last year. The Real Deal Natural Snacks new srirachi flavor veggie chips that are gluten free and vegan, found on amazon.   Angie’s Popcorn which I mentioned earlier. All their popcorn is nut free, gluten free, non-GMO except for the Dark Chocolate Sea Salt and the Holidrizzle which is made in a factory with peanuts, tree nuts, and wheat.  Zoup! soup franchise which has vegeatrian and gluten free options, sandwiches and salads. I met the owner and CEO, Eric Ersher at the show and we discussed their allergen related offerings! Saratoga chips which made the first kettle potato chip in 1853.  PAN DE ORO tortilla chips which are organic, gluten free, and non-GMO.

Hummus
Several hummus companies were there including Lilly’s hummus offering a variety of great tasting hummus flavors that are gluten free, vegan, and made with organic garbanzo beans.  Currently, mostly located on the west coast. The company states they roast their vegetables on hazelnut briquets to get their flavor. I was not familiar with this technique. I emailed the company to learn more and they state that this method is safe for those with tree nut allergy. Hope hummus is organic, gluten free, vegan, and kosher and they offer some interesting flavors like Green Chili Lime Hummus. Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods offer a variety of products including hummus and tzatziki which is very good!

Non Food Items
A few non food items I liked include Spoonk Space acupressure mats which can be purchased on amazon. The mat has over 6,100 pressure points. At the show I tried a mat and it was so great I bought one! One of the reps from Spoonk Space has a peanut allergy so we bonded over that. Allermates, allergy awareness items including wristbands, lunch box cases, medication cases, stickers, labels, and more. Allermates can also be bought on amazon.

My write-up from last years Expo East show can be read here.   To read more about gluten free items at this years Expo East check out the posts on www.glutenfreephilly.com.

Be Well, Lori

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