Three days before Philippine Elections Day, we went to Healthy Options Shangri-la Mall for another shopping episode. (Read previous month’s haul here.) During rush hour, heavy traffic along EDSA and Ortigas Avenue was asΒ we would know it. By the time we arrived at the mall, we were very hungry but still had theΒ energy to carefully choose the items to carry back home. This time, I took more food (grocery stuff) and less of supplements and personal care products. π
Healthy Options Shopping Haul (May 2016)
Groceries
I got two variants of the Silly Cow Farms Hot Chocolate:Β Chocolate-Moo-usse andΒ Peppermint Twist, each in a 16-oz. clear glass milk jug. I thought these would be a great drink for breakfast for a change of pace in place of coffee. TheΒ Chocolate Moo-usse contains natural cane sugar, grand cocoa (cocoa processed with alkali), bittersweet chocolate (cacao beans, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla beans) and Dutch processed cocoa with alkali. The Peppermint Twist containsΒ natural cane sugar, Dutch processed cocoa (with alkali) and natural peppermint flavor. How different do they taste from Milo drink? That I have to find out soon. π
Walden Farms Barbecue Sauce (Thick & Spicy) is said toΒ feature the delicious taste of BBQ without the calories. Yes,Β you read that right. It’s free of calories, fat, gluten, carbohydrates and cholesterol! It’s definitelyΒ recommended to anyone who is following the low-carb diet or is just watching calories.Β Tangy, sweet, and barbecue-y, this sauce can beΒ used for grilling, marinading and dipping.
Think it’s challenging toΒ cook creamyΒ pastaΒ while cutting the calories? With Cadia Organic Vodka Cream Pasta Sauce,Β itΒ can be achieved quite easily. This product was made with all things organic: tomatoes, tomato puree, sweet whey, lemon juice, garlic puree, onion, basil, oregano, vodka, soybean oil, and salt. Thereβs a slight sharpness to the taste but it’sΒ not too bitter. It can also be used to make an “alcoholic version” of your homemade tomato-based pizza.
For green tea lovers, there can be nothing more relaxing than sipping your stress away with a soothing cup ofΒ The Republic of Tea Double Green Matcha. As a fan of matcha, I have been eyeing on this since last year, so you can imagine how happy I was when I finally bought it. πΒ This green tea blend contains less than a quarter the amount of caffeine per cup than in a similar-sized cup of coffee. With regard to health benefits, matcha is rich in antioxidants that are tied to lower risk of heart disease and cancer and lower blood pressure. It neutralizes that the harmful effects of UV rays, radiation and pollution have on your cells.
The package comes withΒ 50 circular tea bags. Blissful and aromatic, The Republic of Tea Double Green MatchaΒ hasΒ a fresh, springtime-grassy flavor, just mild and not overpowering. It’s made with theΒ harmonious blend of 100% organic China green tea (leaves) and organic Japanese matcha (powder form). I tried adding milk and a bit of sugar to make my own matcha green milk tea. Love it!
For snacks to share with my family, I did not hesitate to put theΒ barkTHINS Snacking Chocolate, Dark Chocolate Toasted Coconut with AlmondsΒ into my shopping cart. Made with natural ingredients, the super thin slivers of rich, fair trade dark chocolate are loaded with toasted coconut and almonds. BarkTHINS are perfectly portioned for the serious chocolate lover. If you’re one serious chocoholic though, you might want to hoardΒ theseΒ for yourself. π
A delightful mixΒ of crunchy corn flakes, lightly sweetened oat clusters and thinly-sliced almonds, the Cadia All Natural Almond Clusters and FlakesΒ is a greatΒ way to start theΒ day. I like it withΒ hot milk, even in summer.
Popped with real corn and the finest all natural ingredients, you can snack smart withΒ Popcorners Natural Popped Corn Chips – Sweet Chili FlavorΒ while still satisfying your craving for popcorn. These chips areΒ rather thin and easy to chew, as they were popped and not fried. Flavor is as the label says:Β a little bit spicy (because of chili) and a little bitΒ sweet.
Frozen
Gluten-free franks with noΒ artificial ingredients, not preserved, no nitrates or nitrites added? I got curious and I wanted to know how these uncured turkey franks taste.Β Ingredients include water, potato starch, sea salt, ground mustard seed, spices, and turkey.Β Preparation is simple, as these franksΒ are generally precooked and only need to be heated through.
Supplement
According to statistics and medical researches, one in six men may experience prostate health issues, and one out of two over age 60 will get BPH or benign prostatic hypertrophy. These two factors alone signal the need for ways to reduce men’s risk of developing disease.Β Dad told me to getΒ Prostate Support Soft Gels with PhytosterolsΒ for my grandfather. This is to specifically maintain his health and alleviateΒ the enlargement of prostate.
Personal Care
I had a hair trimΒ two weeks ago and dyed my hair using Herbatint Permanent Hair Color, which was also purchased from Healthy Options. To gently clean and condition my color-treated hair,Β Nature’s Gate Jojoba Revitalizing Shampoo for Damaged Hair and Nature’s GateΒ Fruit Blends Shampoo Mandarin Orange + PatchouliΒ are my revitalizing agents to give itΒ moisture and essential nutrients.
The shampoo has pro-vitamin B-5 and jojoba oil which soften the hair strands. The restoring properties of keratin amino acids help strengthen each strand for added body and bounce. TheΒ Nature’s Gate conditioner uses unique blend of wheat proteins and patented sunflower seed extract that protects the coloredΒ hairΒ from fading and damage caused by daily UV exposure. These two smell so good!
Wrap Up
Consumers and public health authorities alike are now moreΒ vocal in their concerns and desire for nutritionally superior products and categories that drive lifestyle and diet changes. With a goodΒ approach to enhance options on nutritional and healthier alternatives to many traditional favorites, Healthy Options is a one-of-a-kind store in the Philippines that offers several brands and high quality products that suit the tastes and requirements of customers. Which Healthy Options products have you tried and do recommend? Feel free to share in the Comment section below. π
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
It really is a wonderful store to go to especially when you’re new to the healthy lifestyle. I love the items that you get including last month’s. I’m curious about the chocolate drink!
We love the peppermint chocolate drink. We don’t need to order from coffee shops to get this delicious taste every morning. π
This is great! I’m a green tea lover and would definitely try the green tea with matcha. I’m so glad consumers are starting to demand higher quality products and even happier that companies are listening. Awesome!
The organic food market has only been around at its current levels of popularity since the turn of the century. And, as it continues to grow, the industry will likely learn to better recognize the exact details of the demands made by their consumers. This will be better for everyone involved.
I think I like this haul better than your last one. Mainly because of the BarkThins! They look sooo good, but still healthy, so I might have discovered my new guilty pleasure.
BarkThins are a great treat and the pieces can be broken into smaller ones so you don’t go overboard. π
That looks like a really great store. The vodka cream pasta sauce looks incredible for sake of ease.
Walden farm products are generally quite hard to find, their range is extensive and excellent.
We bought another wine (red wine pasta sauce) last month but haven’t tried it. Hope the taste of wine would be evident.
Healthy Options has so many treasures, it is so fun to look around in there. The prices though are usually more than the price you imagine. Thanks for these reviews so we know what is worth buying and not.
You’re welcome! I’m glad to share especially the products I’m happy with.
These are great products! How I wish that we can have a local version of Healthy Options in Bacolod because there are several organic products made in our province as well.
It’s nice to hear that many people are beginning to appreciate the use of organic products in your area. π
Perfect option for healhty being. Health is wealth
Right. Choosing healthy options is critical if we want to live a healthier life. π
There are a lot of great stuff at healthy options and they are the only one who have it. It’s nice to shop there.
Product quality and variety/selection are really two of top things that many consumers find important.
I’ve only tried two of all of those – the Walden Farms and BarkThins. I was very happy with both. The Walden Farms sauce was my go to for chicken when chicken was pretty much all I was eating. I really enjoyed the amount of flavor it added. The BarkThins are just delicious.
The BarkThins can easily be finished when shared with a friend. π
Summer has begun and I’ve got to get the Barbecue sauce too. Thanks for reminding. The snacking chocolate looks interesting!
Chocolate is love. π Getting this bbq sauce is quite convenient if you don’t have the time to create your own from scratch.
Whoah, I remember the last time I visit the shop in Ayala, Cebu. I really find healthy options shop one of the best shops in terms of food supplies such as supplements, snacks, juice, and more. Although I am not particular with the products since we don’t have a store here in our place but I did try one of the chips they sold which my sister bought before. and I can say that among the types of chips I have tried, health options does it in a different way yet still delish just like how other chips taste.
I’m so glad that you’re familiar with Healthy Options and know the diverse products the brand carries. π There are two branches in Cebu.
I really enjoy shopping at Healthy Options! They have so many cool choices and I want to try everything! Haha! π
Haha I can sense your excitement. I felt the same way too when I first visited Healthy Options in Glorietta 2. It’s a big branch that’s really supermarket style.
These looks like a treasure, what a beautiful buy you have done at this store. I actually love to recycle too so eyeing on these bottles too.
Right. The bottles have good packaging. I also reuse some of them to hold liquid soaps. π
This is my kind of store and food options. Good that it has personal care products too.It is important that we eat healthy and stay healthy.
People factor in health as one of the most essential things to consider in life aside from or only next to career, love, and time. π For those who are conscious about health and want only the best and safest personal care products and food, Healthy Options is an ideal store to visit.
You got some great products. Whenever I go food or whatever shopping, I always try and get the products that are as close to natural as possible. I would love to try those bark thins.
These Barkthins are a great hit. π Love snacking on it!
LOVE Healthy Options. It’s God-send because my son has a lot of allergies. We buy his vegan breakfast cereal, cookies, and casava chips there. It’s an added expense to our weekly budget, but it’s worth it because he gets to enjoy cereal and treats.
I’m happy to learn that Healthy Options helps your son with food allergies. You get high value for what you pay for.
This looks like a delicious haul! The Bark Thins look tasty, as does the green tea and pasta cream sauce. Yum! And the combination of mandarin orange and patchouli in your conditioner — I bet that smells heavenly!
We have already tried three variants of Cadia pasta sauce and this one with vodka is my favorite. π
I am all about living and eating healthy. The store looks awesome. The Vodka Cream pasta sauce looks very interesting. That will be the very first item I would look for when I visit this store.
Nice! Preparing pasta for a meal is very easy. This can save you time thinking of more creative dishes to prepare for your family. π
This looks like such a great place to shop! Lots of options that I have never seen before. I would be in heaven shopping here.
I bet you will also feel excited for the opening of bigger Healthy Options branch in Shangri-la Mall. π There will be more space and better choices!
I have not heard of this shopping venue. Seems like a one stop shop for all of the healthy options to stock your pantry with!
Healthy Options is a prime destination for those looking for healthy stuff whether it be personal care, supplements, grocery, farm products, and books. You have to visit one of its branches one day! π
I haven’t heard of any pf these brands though I am pretty sure they are very healthy hence included in this post. I love green tea as well, great antioxidants.
These brands are more widely known to those looking for healthier options as these don’t easily come around just about anywhere in the local market. π
I’d always get my Yogi superantioxidant green tea here! It tastes really good!
I haven’t actually tried Yogi tea. Good thing you mentioned that. π I’ll get it next time!
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