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healthier

Every once in a while I try out some new healthy food and drink options to see if they are something I could add to my everyday life. Recently, I have tried a new kombucha drink, healthy dark chocolates (because chocolate is life, am I right?), a new coconut oil for cooking healthier, and even a mushroom superfood drink powder.

I like variety and trying new products because it allows me to get out of my everyday rut when it comes to food and drink. So, here are my thoughts about the new items I’ve tried.

Om Mushrooms Superfood Drink Sticks

I might as well start with the one item that I was the most skeptical about. I mean, I like mushrooms … but as a drink? I was doubtful that I would like it, but intrigued enough to give it a shot.

I think it was pretty smart for Om to pair this superfood up with fruit flavors. Most people are used to enjoying drinks that have some degree of sweetness to them, and while mushrooms add a fantastic layer of savory flavor to many dishes they are not something I would sit down and eat just by themselves.

Varieties

Citrus Orange – Energy+

Lemon Lime – Energy+

Super Berry – Immune+

Mocha – Brain Fuel+

Strawberry Lemonade – Beauty+ (Hair, Skin, Nails)

I tend to like red fruits just in a general sense. So, it was really no surprise to me that I liked the taste of the Super Berry and Strawberry Lemonade flavors. I love chocolate and enjoy coffee, on occasion, so I was reasonably certain that I would enjoy the Mocha flavor (I added it to a few cups of coffee and really enjoyed that).

But, I’m not a huge fan of lemon lime or orange drinks. Which is a bummer, because I thought I might not like the Om versions, either, and I really wanted to since they were the two varieties which offer energy benefits. Lack of energy is something I’ve been struggling with as I get older. I tried both, and I think they both tasted great!

I like that Om Organic Mushroom Superfood Drink Sticks offer a variety of different types of flavors, to appeal to people who like different tastes. I love that the supplement powder is so portable and easy to carry with you everywhere. That makes it so easy to add into water or coffee or whatever you happen to be drinking for a healthy boost. And, it looks like these are good for just about everyone as they are gluten free and appropriate for popular dietary programs like Paleo and Keto.

Wonder Drink Prebiotic Kombucha

Speaking of health drinks, here is yet another variety of Kombucha that I’ve tried in the last year or so. Honestly, most kombucha drinks leave me wondering what all the hype is about. I get that they have health benefits, but I can’t generally get into the taste of some of them.

Wonder Drink Prebiotic Kombucha is a bit different. First of all, these are canned drinks versus the other’s I’ve tried which were in glass bottles. I don’t know if that makes a difference in taste or whatever. But, I do know that this is the first kombucha that I have tried and liked well enough to consume the entire drink.

Second, though it is a healthy prebiotic drink, it comes in some definitely delicious sounding flavors: Apple Mint, Ginger Peach, Tropical Mango. I thought they each tasted pretty good, though the Apple Mint was my favorite overall. Not that I have to choose a favorite, but just in case you’re interested.

These drinks contain a certified organic, plant-based, prebiotic fiber called Xylooligosaccharides (XOS Fiber) which will nourish the probiotic bacteria that is naturally present in your gut, helping it to grow. 

While, the previous brands of Kombucha I’ve tasted have never made their way back into my home, I think Wonder Drink would be the one that I could see myself stocking in my fridge on a rotating basis with some other health foods that I like to have around.

Alter Eco Dark Chocolate

Chocolate.

Enough said.

It’s good. Buy these chocolates. You will not be sorry.

LOL — I don’t know what to say here. Chocolate is either good or bad, in my opinion. I’m not usually so black and white in my judgements. But, it’s true here.

And these are good! Taste is everything when it comes to chocolate. I don’t care how healthy it’s made, if it doesn’t taste good I’m not going to eat it. Period.

Alter Eco uses dark chocolate (known to have health benefits), is organic and gluten free, and uses fair trade ingredients. All of these things make it even easier to enjoy one of my favorite snacks.

My daughters are both interested in products that are healthy and that benefit people and communities over corporations, so they have both been interested in learning about the company behind these delicious chocolate bars and truffles and sampling the treats.

Salted caramel chocolates are my number one favorite overall. So, my personal favorite of the ones pictured here are the Salted Caramel Truffles. Of the chocolate bars, my fave would have to be the Crisp Mint.

The chocolate in all of the products is smooth and very satisfying and the truffle centers literally just melt in your mouth! So, so good!!! You can’t really go wrong no matter which one you choose.

Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil

I like to cook. Finding new and interesting recipes, ingredients, and stuff like that is a fun hobby for me. New cooking oils are something I have enjoyed exploring as they each have different tastes and health benefits.

One of the most recent new finds in our house is sesame oil. We love Asian foods, and the peanut-y flavor has made things like my daughter’s fried rice recipe a whole new dish!

Coconut oil is something I began seeing covered in the media a year or two ago and decided to try. I’m still experimenting and learning about different oils and what uses they have and benefits they offer.

Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil is the latest one to grace my pantry. It’s organic, non-GMO, and Keto certified and labelled as an organic superfood.

I know, the other items listed are things you can eat or drink on their own, and coconut oil isn’t. But, I still wanted to mention it here since it’s a health food item that I’ve tried and have enjoyed using. I will, however, talk about it some more in another upcoming article about a new cookbook I’ve been dabbling in preparing recipes from.

It’s called Simply Real Eating by Sarah Adler. It’s all about using real food ingredients and preparing easy and healthy meals. One of the cooking oils talked about in her book is coconut oil, so I will be using this Nutiva Coconut Oil in preparing a recipe from Ms. Adler’s book to share with Beauty Brite readers. Keep a look out for that very soon!

What healthy food swap have you made in your life and how has it worked out for you?