I saw many cool non-organic products (both food and non-food ones) at Expo West and here are the five that impressed me the most.
ENDANGERED SPECIES ECO-FRIENDLY TOYS
I don’t think there was one product, either organic food or non-organic food, that captivated me more than these eco-friendly kids toys.
The paper for the coloring kit is made from reclaimed limestone, and is bleach-free, waterproof, erasable and environmentally degradable. And, the crayons use soy ink.
These are my Top 5 Organic Food Products from Natural Products Expo West 2011.
NURTURME BABY FOOD
NurturMe is dehydrated organic baby food in powder form that you add to water, infant formula or even breast milk. It is convenient and lightweight, and the products are eco-friendly.
Very, very smart idea and I love the fact that the powder can be used for toddlers as well (put the powder into regular foods — the kids will get the nutritional benefits but won’t know it’s in there).
I just got into Baltimore to attend Natural Products Expo East, one of the two biggest trade shows in the organic industry, and I am incredibly excited about this year’s show for several reasons.
One, I am speaking on a panel tomorrow at 4PM called “Allergens, Additives and Special Diets” – the first time that I have been asked to speak at either Expo East or Expo West.
I’ll be covering various topics including: organic vs. natural, the relationship of GMOs and allergies, the different organic labels, and how retailers can better educate consumers about organic.
Ever since I started livingmaxwell less than two years ago I had always been hoping that one day I would get to take part in a panel. Now it is happening.
Two, I am staying at the most organic hotel I have ever come across in my life called the Inn at the Black Olive. This place is AMAZING! I checked in a little while ago and am so over-the-top impressed.
Even though food is a huge component of Natural Products Expo West, it is not the only category that is exhibited there.
Supplements also have a very big presence, but what really fascinates me are a lot of the non-food items. So, what I like to do after each trade show is present to you some of the most memorable and compelling household items that I come across.
Here are my Top 5 Non-Food Products of Natural Products Expo West 2013.
CLEARLY FILTERED WATER PITCHER
Filtered water is a very hot topic because the quality of our water supply is so abysmal and contains toxic chemicals such as fluoride, chlorine, and atrazine.
Many people ask me about Britta and while it is better than no filter at all, I don’t believe that it is ideal by any means.
At Expo West, I came across a company called Clearly Filtered, a competitor to Britta, yet its results seem to be superior.
As you may have already realized, CBD (short for cannabidiol — a cannabis compound) is exploding in popularity and is showing up in an increasing number of food, beverage and personal care products.
Despite the explosion of CBD oils and CBD-infused drinks, almost all of these products do not contain the USDA organic seal.
Boulder-based RE Botanicals has bucked this trend and has become the first national CBD brand to receive USDA organic certification for U.S.-grown hemp. Given who is behind RE Botanicals, the fact that it has achieved this milestone should not come as a surprise at all.
If we want to improve the way children eat, using capitalism as a tool to create this change is certainly one powerful way to do it.
That is precisely what motivated the Whole Kids Foundation to launch its new #WholeKidsBiz sweepstakes, which is giving away $5,000 to student entrepreneurs.
From March 18-25, students ages 11-18 can enter for a chance to win by submitting an under-three-minute video describing how their business or entrepreneurial school program is helping kids eat healthier in one of three areas: gardening, plant-forward cooking or nutrition education.
Not only are children and young adults showing an interest in healthy living at a much earlier age, but youth entrepreneurship — undoubtedly helped by the popularity of Shark Tank — is also on the rise.
According to the Gallup-HOPE Index, 77% of students in grades 5 – 12 say they want to be their own boss, 45% say they plan to start their own business, and 42% say they will invent something that changes the world.
“Students are taking the lead in powering real change in their communities and schools— whether it’s growing and selling vegetables from their school garden or incorporating vegetables into baked goods,” said Nona Evans, Executive Director of the Whole Kids Foundation, a non-profit arm of Whole Foods Market. “We’re excited to support entrepreneurial learning, as the critical thinking skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur will set up our next generation of leaders for success in whatever they aspire to.”
For the Whole Kids Foundation, whose mission is to improve children’s nutrition and wellness, this giveaway is a natural fit. And it is the first of many steps the foundation plans to take to support entrepreneurship, with the goal of building awareness of youth-led businesses and creating a pipeline for a future grant program for students.
Whether it is with a salad or any other dish that I am making at home, organic fermented foods – usually sauerkraut (above) or kimchee – can almost always be found on my plate. Why is this?
I have come to understand that if we want to have a strong immune system, we must take care of our gut and provide it with beneficial bacteria.
And that is exactly what fermented foods give us – beneficial bacteria.
Dr. Natascha Campbell-McBride, a Russian neurologist and founder of the GAPS Diet, says that:
“about 85% of our immune system is located in the gut wall. This fact has been established by basic physiology research in the 1930s and the 1940s. Your gut, your digestive wall, is the biggest and the most important immune organ in your body. There is a very tight conversation and a relationship going on between the gut flora that lives inside your digestive system and your immune system.
