Top 10 Natural Products Expo West Finds (2023)
That’s a wrap on Expo West 2023, and I have so many things I just can’t wait to share with you, trends to tell you about and even a super secret product that I had to get special permission to reveal. This is the world's biggest exhibition of natural and organic products… let’s dive in!
If you missed any of my recap on Instagram, I created a highlight with all my stories with all the cool finds. There are so many great products that didn’t make the list! Follow me on instagram for more!
There were brands that I thought would be there that weren’t, brands that I didn’t think would be there but were AND brands that formerly had a large-and-in-charge presence who had scaled down a ton to tiny table tops rather than two-story booths. If you didn’t know, having a booth at the show is very expensive, plus add in all the product you have to sample, give away and travel expenses. A small brand with a small booth can easily spend 15k to 20k! Were some of these brands not present at the show because of inflation? Budget cuts? Financial issues after the 2020 pannie? Who knows? But there were many brands that were missed this year… AND equal excitement for so many new brands and new-to-Expo-West showcasing their goods!
Trends: Last year it was Keto, canned water and plant-based everything! (see my Top 10 from 2022) This year, it seemed like everyone had a drink of some kind and there was plant-based meats galore (YUCK!). I even saw plant-based runny “egg yolks” which, based on ingredients, I just can’t get behind. Still these plant-based companies use the same slogan… “Bacon! Made with plants!” “Tuna! Made with plants!” “Shredded beef! Made with plants!” Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-plant-based. I don’t eat much dairy, so I love a good clean-ingredient vegan dip or spread, cheese, dessert or milk, but they have minimal and amazing ingredients.
There are a few super cool rebrands this year — the first is my ‘shroom family at Four Sigmatic (my all-time favorite people and products, which I use every single day for the last 5+ years) Use code KrystensKitchen for all your shroomy products on their website. The new designs are very pretty, clean and look so lovely on the shelf.
The second cool rebrand is from Zevia, which I don’t think has changed much in the last 8-10 years, and it also looks really cool.
If you remember, last year I was thirty-five weeks pregnant and did three days at the show. This year looked a lot different because I now have a ten month old and he did all four days at the show with me! He did so good and enjoyed eating two small grilled cheeses from 4th & Heart’s booth and a few bites of Seemore’s chicken soup sausages. He also ate a pouch of Serenity Kids’ new smoothie pouches, their bison pouch and a pouch from Once Upon A Farm.
My sweet baby got to meet Jennifer Garner, as well. Last year, I met her at the show, and she was so kind and excited to see my baby bump, and this year was excited to meet the baby who was in the bump. Very grateful for companies like Once Upon A Farm making clean baby foods! I found a few this year that I’ll share with you at the end of the post.
Okay, let’s get to the good stuff.
In no particular order, here are my favorites at Expo West 2023!
nutpods White Chocolate creamer gluten-free, vegan, paleo, non-GMO, keto
I have been a nutpods fan for years and I’m so grateful to be part of their ambassador team. I use their creamers daily in my coffee, and my most favorite flavor is the Peppermint Mocha (a holiday seasonal flavor). This brand new flavor, which I had to get SPECIAL PERMISSION to share with you, is White Chocolate. It’s brand new and not even available yet (follow me on Instagram for the exact launch date), and when I tell you that it was out-of-this-world… that is a total understatement. It is sweetened unlike some of their others which are unsweetened, and it’s as the cool kids say, “bangin’”. They also launched some new ready-made Creamy Cold Brews with nutpods creamer already mixed in, which were delish, as well… but this White Chocolate creamer takes the cake!
This flavor is coming soon. Use code KrystensKitchen on all orders on nutpods’ website.
Primal Kitchen Foods Whip paleo, vegan, gluten-free, keto, non-dairy, canola-oil-free, soy-free, egg-free, non-GMO, sugar-free
I have never cried trying a product before until I tasted this new new from Primal Kitchen. It’s a healthified version of a childhood favorite: MIRACLE WHIP. I know you’re thinking it’s just “mayo,” why would you cry? First of all, let me just say it’s not mayo… it’s technically dressing. And second of all, this is nostalgia and family memories in a jar. I grew up with Miracle Whip (you were typically either a Miracle Whip or mayo family) and this was my grampa’s favorite. One fun memory is after Thanksgiving (we would normally eat at 1pm), we’d meet in the kitchen to dip some leftover turkey in the jar of Miracle Whip, and it was just our family thing. My grampa passed away in 2017, and I haven’t had Miracle Whip in years because it’s filled with things like soybean oil and high-fructose corn syrup. But I miss that feeling of tradition with it. Enter Primal Kitchen Foods and their genius product development which stopped me in my tracks. I squealed, tasted it and then cried because it’s not just a jar of WHIP, it’s now part of a future food memory that I get to create with my own kids and carry on my grampa’s tradition. That’s priceless. With all that said, this is a MUST if you grew up with Miracle Whip OR if you’re just curious about spicing up your mayo routine. It’s heavenly!
It’s coming soon. Use promo code KrystensKitchen on all orders at Primal Kitchen Foods website.
Jovial Organic Gluten-Free White Cheddar Mac & Cheese gluten-free, organic
Mac & Cheese is total comfort food and Jovial nailed this boxed Mac & Cheese, which is not something I go for on the norm, but I had to try it because we love Jovial and it’s pretty bomb diggity. Their pasta is made with just brown rice flour, is certified gluten-free and made in Italy. They use real organic cheese, and you can really taste the difference in quality compared to other boxed Mac & Cheese brands. I also really love that they are organic! You can also get this same amazing Mac & Cheese in a gluten-free/vegan version, as well, which was really delicious.
Find it on their website
Rebbl’s New Ready-to-Drink Protein Drink Flavors gluten-free, vegan, organic
The new line at Rebbl of ready-to-drink, plant-based protein drinks complete with super herbs and adaptogens, Reishi, maca and MCTs from coconut. We’re already big fans of this brand, their message and the good they do to fight human trafficking. There are five new flavors which are each incredible: Coconut Macaron, Oatmeal Cookie, Strawberries & Creme, Spiced Pumpkin Pie and Peppermint Dark Chocolate (both of which are seasonal). We tried all but the Peppermint Dark Chocolate, and if you know me you know that’s my ultimate favorite flavor of all things. We enjoyed them all, but I can tell you without trying it that the Peppermint Dark Chocolate will be my favorite. The Coconut Macaron might be my second favorite. I loved the Oatmeal Cookie and the Strawberries & Cream (the sweetest of them all). My husband loved the Spice Pumpkin Pie flavor.
Follow Rebbl on Instagram to learn more about this launch.
4th & Heart Ghee Butter (sticks) gluten-free, keto, paleo, non-GMO, Whole30
This is a game-changer and a really cool new find at the show. This booth always has the coolest people, best music and delicious ghee. This year, my son ate two pieces of grilled cheese (which was about 1/2 of a whole one), and he pretty much loved it with all his (4th &) heart, so it was fun to intro him to his first grilled cheese at the show. I’m excited to finally get my hands on these ghee butter sticks and create magical things in the kitchen!
Follow 4th & Heart’s instagram for more info on this launch.
Urban Remedy Coffee & Lions Mane SunSquares organic, gluten-free, vegan, keto-friendly, plant-based, non-GMO
Coffee is one of my favorite flavors for all things, and Urban Remedy nailed this flavor. Made with ingredients like sunflower seed butter, lions mane mushroom, ground coffee beans and sweetened with coconut sugar - these are the perfect 4pm sweet snack. I really love that they are low in sugar and not too sweet. There are only 4 net carbs in each square and 3g of added sugar. I’m eating one now for research purposes… lucky Krysten! Also — their superfood cookies are insane, too. Love this company & the founder, Neka.
You can find these at your local Whole Foods and also online on the Urban Remedy website.
Honey Mamas Chocolate Cake paleo, gluten-free, dairy free, refined sugar-free
This is a bar, not a slice of cake, but the most perfect flavor combination is like you’re eating cake. It’s mind blowing what Honey Mamas has done with just the simplest of ingredients. The best way to describe the texture is if a truffle and some fudge had a baby. These bars should be kept refrigerated and come in a variety of flavors — they are all quite tasty, but this flavor literally takes the cake. You can find them in the fridge section near protein bars or desserts! Here’s a store locator.
Miss Jones Grain Free Ready-To-Bake Gluten-Free Cookie Dough paleo, grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan
Holy-toledo Batman! Miss Jones has done it again - I really loved these cookies and the convenience of being able to whip up a batch of paleo cookies fresh out of the oven without having to get out all of the ingredients… and that’s coming from someone who loves to bake. They are sweetened with coconut sugar and will be in the refrigerator section. If you haven’t tried their line of baking mixes and baking essentials (like their smart coconut sugar) then I highly recommend you check them out.
Simple Mills POPMmms gluten-free, non-GMO, sugar-free
With 1/2 cup of veggies in each serving, these perfect alternative to those “cheesy fish” crackers we all grew up with are going to be a HIT for everyone. I was so impressed with the flavor and love that they use organic cheese in them. They are made with butternut squash and have great taste and texture. They taste JUST like conventional goldfish, but without the canola oil, sugar and ingredients that I cannot pronounce.
This incredible product will launch soon, so stay tuned.
Sparkling BLK Water
I’ve been a fan of BLK Water for a long time, and I’ve been waiting for them to launch a sparkling water line… and they finally did it! BLK Water is actually black due to the fulvic minerals added. There are 3 flavors they are launching with their sparkling water line: Dirty Lemonade, Strawberry Rhubarb and Original (plain). They (minus the original) are lightly sweetened with stevia. My favorite is the original — I like to add their BLK Water Drops to my water or coffee everyday.
Follow BLK Water. This product will launch in the coming months!
Some extras… new-to-me baby brands & products to share with you:
My junior taste tester was put to work at the show!
Amara - We tried the Organic Smoothie Melts which are dairy-free, have no added sugars and are non-GMO with no additives. The ingredients include organic fruit (depending on which flavor you get), organic coconut milk and organic lemon juice. They taste really good and literally melt in your mouth within 10-15 seconds. My kiddo loved them.
Tiny Sprouts - We tried their Organic Superseed Booster powder on some applesauce. It contains Omega3’s, Probiotics, B Vitamins and Iron. My kiddo seemed to like it, and I loved the idea of being able to sprinkle it on some applesauce, a banana or even use it in baking.
