It was raining hard that night and traffic was at a standstill along EDSA. I was excited to go home and sleep through the weekend. Then again, my sister and I had planned to go to Healthy Options at Shangri-la Mall for our monthly shopping escapade…and have dinner at Planet Grapes afterwards. Sticking with the plan, I drove right to the store after work. At any Healthy Options store, seeing an extensive jam-packed range of organic and natural products is a source of happiness. The goodies we brought home, especially those from the grocery section, just made “getting caught in the traffic” all worth it. π
Healthy Options Shopping Haul (July 2016)
Grocery
My sister had a sore throat and suffered through dry cough last week. The Ginger People Beverage (Ginger Soother) was a good natural remedy and it also helped to soothe stomach upsets. I had a sip to have an idea on how it tastes like. The ingredients are water, honey, ginger juice, and lemon juice, and each one tasted very true to the source: a mix of spicy, sweet, and ginger-honey flavor.
We also picked up the Pacific Natural Foods Soy Blenders (Barista Series) from Healthy Options’ tall rack of soy milk beverages. I read somewhere that this drink is typically added to latte for a sweeter vanilla taste. Unlike standard soy milk, it steams and froths up wonderfully with no bitterness. Best of all, it’s dairy-free so vegans and those intolerant with milk can enjoy every sip without the negative side effects. I like drinking it on its own whenever I feel like being a coffee snob in the morning. π
We got our first jar of Silly Cow Farms Hot Chocolate (Peppermint Twist) last May. Since we loved it so much, we thought that trying another flavor variant won’t leave us disappointed. Thankfully, the Chocolate-Moo-usse turned out satisfying. It can be too sweet though when drank alone, so I always mix in powdered milk or dissolve it with a half cup of coffee plus a dash of cinnamon to make my own version of mocha. Thumbs up!
As an alternative to peanut butter, the Natural Nectar Dream Spread Speculoos Spread Crunchy Cookie Butter is a delicious way to enhance toast, bagels, waffles, crepes, and croissants. If you like speculoos or Biscoff cookies, this one is a must-try. This cookie butter spread does not contain hydrogenated oil. It’s not dry and not oily either. Texture is smooth and creamy with little bits of crunch.
Cadia’s Organic Red Wine Pasta Sauce looked appealing and interesting because it has been quite a while since we last served “drunken pasta.” Slow-cooked in small batches in the Old World tradition, this pasta sauce was made with the highest quality organic tomatoes, red wine, parmesan cheese, garlic and a savory blend of Italian herbs. If you agree that making pasta sauce from scratch is out of the question and don’t like spending a significant amount of prep time in the kitchen, Cadia pasta sauces may be a good reason to visit Healthy Options soon.
The gluten-free crunchy/spicy/salty/sweet PopCorners Sweet Chili is my favorite. Each bite never fails to leave a smile on my face. π Other flavors of PopCorners (Butter, White Cheddar, Kettle, Cheesy Jalapeno, Caramel and Sea Salt) are also yummy. These all-natural popped corn chips can be thought out as creative snacks for your picnic and they can jazz up food offerings on the table without any extra effort.
Supplements
From the Supplements section, we got Healthy Options B-Complex (for me), Prostate Support Soft Gels (for my grandfather) and Solgar Advanced Acidophilus Plus (for my mom) to restock our supply at home. We don’t want to run out of them because dietary supplements need to be taken consistently on a timely foundation to be effective and to avoid nutrient deficiencies.
Personal Care
My sister took the ombrΓ© hair plunge recently at D ‘Xpert Salon and Spa. Her hair was bleached and then dyed to her desired tone. To keep the hair healthy and strong and to retain the color longer, Nature’s Gate Conditioner with Chamomile + Mimosa Bark is most raved by online reviewers for color-treated hair for that “magical” bounce. It smells great, conditions well, detangles her long hair and leaves it soft and with body, not greasy or flat.
Last but not least, Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner was recommended by my teammates and they said this product had really made a nice difference in minimizing their pores. I bought the travel-size bottle so I can bring it during travels and also try it first before getting the bigger one.
I saturate a cotton ball with the toner and thoroughly go over my face after washing. After two weeks of regular use, I think this pore perfecting toner does its job well. It does not over-dry and it does not leave a residue the next morning. This is because witch hazel gets rid of excess oil, but it helps to eliminate water loss and improves hydration to the outer layer of skin. Moreover, this natural astringent helps reduce puffy eyes and refreshes the skin.
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
Do Healthy Options have other branches? Are their products expensive? I always try to live a healthy life so the ingredients in the products that I buy matter to me.
To date, Healthy Options has 26 branches across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. You can check out their website to know more about the locations. π Products are varied and have a good price for the value. Undeniably though, costs are higher than regular items in the market which are not organic, natural, soy-free, gluten-free, etc.
That shopping haul seems like a nice place actually.Contains so many great and useful thing.Though you went there after a busy weekend instead of having a good sleep you still enjoyed something great there.
Yup, I think this is also a good form of retail therapy. When you go grocery shopping at Healthy Options, you get to learn more about things you can’t find elsewhere locally.
Looks like a perfect haul. I’ve been thinking about trying Soy Milk. I should!!
There are so many variations of soy milk you can try here. This month, I got another one! π
I’m lactose intolerant so the soy milk would definitely make it in my basket. =) Those Popcorners sound really good, too! Like Kathryn, I was also wondering if these products are affordable?
Popcorners snacks are my favorite. π They are not as affordable as products we normally see in supermarkets. The things is, Healthy Options carries healthy and unique items and it’s safe to say that we are buying quality that’s guaranteed with good value.
A very healthy shopping haul! I love ginger tea for cough and stomach aches. It will be great if I can have it ready made as I always make it myself from fresh ginger.
I have been using Nature’s Gate for sometime now.. really great for hair! strongly recommended!
Thanks for sharing your product feedback also. π Nature’s Gate does not only carry shampoo and conditioner but also a lot of other toiletries like toothpaste.
That silly cow farms hot chocolate must be really good, it’s been a staple in your haul for some time now! The rest are awesome as well, I’m really curious about that non gmo conditioner!
Haha yes, we’re actually on our third bottle, trying out a different flavor per month almost. It’s for keeps!
Your healthy haul is great, that I think, you’ll love to use it at once. More so, the market was polluted now with these kind of products. But these items are so good to try.
Thanks, Fernando! It’s also great to be reminded that aside from taking supplements, we need to eat ample servings of nutritious food to sustain good health and keep us satisfied. At Healthy Options, you can’t go wrong. π
I really like the variety at Healthy Options. They product ranging from healthy snacks and even skin care.
Yup, I’m glad that more people now are aware that Healthy Options does not only sell supplements but also grocery, personal care items, and farm produce.
Noted that you did not put the prices of these products like I think you did in previous Healthy Option haul posts. That ginger drink really makes me very curious to try it. I really like ginger.
I can put the prices up next time for the sake of those who are interested to know. Oh, that ginger drink is great to soothe an itchy and burning throat. π
that hot chocolate! mint and chocolate is a lovely classic combination.i need some myself
Taste is satisfactory. I’m thinking of getting another one. The jar looks cute as well! π
These products are great choice of healthy food and drinks. Im eyeing on the chips and choco drink
The drinks and snacks also come in smaller packs so you can carry them during travels. π
What a wholesome haul! I am also switching to more organic stuff whenever possible.
Thanks, Shubhada. π Shifting to organic products has a lot to do with saving the environment at the same time. By spending your hard-earned money on a product that represents your conscience β even if the actual product itself is only reaching to meet that standard and not always achieving it β you are proclaiming to the world that you want things to be better.
Its great to see personal care products and consumable goods are embedded in such a single store. Hoping its affordable in order to keep customers patronizing.
Shopping in one store is very convenient. Just imagine how it will be more efficient when the items are already available via e-commerce! π
Your haul looks really delicious and healthy at the same time! Silly Cow Farms Hot Chocolate (Peppermint Twist) caught my attention but it’s not here in the picture!
We got it last May. π The peppermint twist flavor is a lot better than the Chocolate-Moo-usse.
I am excited to visit Healthy Options because of the products you just shared! I am most interested with the natural supplements and see if I can find something there that would fit my little one, who needs not only a good dose of Vitamin C but Zinc for his sensitive skin, as well. I just hope they have a local branch here so I do not have to go very far to buy their products.
Healthy Options has many different items that are safe and effective for babies and kids. Hope you get to find and visit a branch that’s near your place. π
These are the products which are so awesome | I want to help women to achieve rs
Wow eating out in not always healthy and cheap. I would like to cook my own meals thank.
Dining out sometimes isn’t a good thing especially for those who are sensitive to some food. If you buy ingredients directly from a store you trust, you’ll end up having a peace of mind when cooking and preparing meals for your family and self.