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. 😉
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. 😛
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. 🙂 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 ombré 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.
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