My Large Healthy Options Shopping Haul from Shangri-la Branch (August 2018)

I’m back with a Healthy Options shopping haul! It’s been a rather long time sine the last one. I visit Healthy Options stores at least once a month, but I haven’t had the time to share what I’ve picked up during my trips. Anyway, I hope to get back to my usual routine and post product hauls and even some reviews more frequently. 🙂 Here are my interesting finds from Healthy Options Shangri-la yesterday. My cart was filled with 20+ grocery items, personal care, and supplements for me and my family.

My Large Healthy Options Shopping Haul from Shangri-la Branch

Food

Organic Valley Whole Milk has all the taste and nutrition of a tall glass of milk, without the glass. This whole milk marries farm-fresh organic goodness with revolutionary packaging that preserves the milk’s taste, even without refrigeration. It’s a great drink for breakfast and for any snack, and it’s also perfect on the go.

I was surprised to see that Healthy Options also offers veggie burger patties. As soon as I saw it from the chiller, it caught my attention and I felt excited to share some with my dad who’s a vegetarian. I got two flavor variants: Dr. Praeger’s Frozen Bibimbap Veggie Burger and the Organic Sunshine Barbecue Vegetarian Burger.

The Korean veggie burger consists of veggies, brown rice, and spicy Gochujang sauce. It can be baked in the oven on a baking pan, cooked using a non-stick pan over medium heat via skillet, or microwaved for 1.5 minutes. The Barbecue veggie burger is made with organic pinto beans and spices, with a hint of smoky sweetness and tangy flavors combined. This one’s great on the grill or sauteed in a pan.

Recently, I’ve rediscovered my love for baking. Instead of starting from scratch though, I prefer getting all-natural mixes so it’s faster and easier to prepare. I tried baking soft-baked cookies from the Madhava Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix last week, and it was a success! My husband and I adored the result: the cookies were golden around the edges, but still soft in the center.

This time, I’m excited to bake chocolate brownies out of Madhava’s Ooey-Gooey Chocolate Brownie Mix. It has the goodness of Khorasan Kamut wheat, an ancient grain, and natural, organic sweeteners. Khorasan Kamut wheat is higher in protein and minerals than modern wheat. The good thing is that there’s no overly processed sugars or preservatives here, just naturally crave-worthy brownies fresh from your oven. Sweet!

Next up, I got the non-gmo Alexia Seasoned Waffle Cut Fries. We’ve tried these before and it’s hard not to fall in love with the amazing texture and taste. These organic crispy potatoes are lightly seasoned with a flawless blend of sea salt, pepper, onion and garlic, creating a distinctive taste unlike anything you’ll find in your usual fry. I just put the pieces into the oven, wait a few minutes, and they’re good to go!

We love “collecting” delicious condiments in our pantry. Ginger People Sweet Ginger Chili Sauce looked interesting on the shelf. This sauce combines the flavors of sweet red peppers with the heat of ginger and chilies. It can be used in cooking or drizzled over food such as grilled jumbo prawns, roasted chicken, pork chops, crab cakes, burgers and salmon. We love the versatile blend of sweet and heat, and this sauce is a favorable dipping sauce for spring rolls and pot stickers as well.

For snacks with less guilt, I got Popcorners Smoking Jalapeno and White Cheddar. These corn chips are satisfying, without those unnecessary party crashers of trans fat, gluten, and GMOs. Pop open a bag, and experience the life of the party!

Supplements

Healthy Options is the #1 store we trust when it comes to supplements. To gain and maintain good health, we always stock up on calcium, magnesium, and zinc as these minerals help maintain healthy bones, cell division and growth, and also support the body’s immune system.

My husband and I both take Healthy Options Chelated Magnesium to maintain adequate magnesium in the body. While it’s best to get magnesium through foods, such as green leafy vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains, supplements can fill the gap when your diet falls short. This especially helps with digestion, reduces PMS symptoms, eases anxiety, and helps to improve the sleep quality.

As the skin ages, it becomes less efficient at converting rays from the sun into vitamin D and a gradual loss of bone density can occur, leaving bones more vulnerable to breaks and fractures. We don’t have a lot of sun exposure since we stay in the office throughout the day. For people like us who are deficient in the “sunshine vitamin,” taking Vitamin D3 supplements can help ensure adequate amounts to support bone, teeth, muscle and immune health and also the internal absorption of calcium. Note: If you are unsure about taking supplements, consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.

Personal Care

My mom ran out of facial scrub. To replace her Derma E Purifying Daily Detox Scrub (which she really loves), I got her Alba Sea Enzyme Facial Scrub. This product has received a lot of raves and positive reviews online, and I have also tried it before. It consists of powerful marine complex that stimulates cell regeneration for a more balanced, uniform, even complexion.

What I like about it is that it’s gentle but effective in fighting off dull skin. It’s free of parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances. The texture of the scrub is very fine and slightly gritty, like a very fine sand. There is a nice ratio of exfoliant to cream and it spreads very nicely across the skin. This scrub does not make my face overly dry and it has helped very much with the areas of my face that are prone to blackheads. The scent is also very subtle and just slightly floral.

This is our third container of Avalon Organics Intense Defense with Vitamin C Oil-Free Moisturizer. Apparently, it’s the only moisturizer that works effectively on my husband’s sensitive skin. The scent is fresh and orange-y, and the texture and consistency is great. It’s easy to spread, with soft, non-greasy hydration, light and comfortable while still doing its job to “energize” the skin. It definitely helps combat dry skin without making the face feel too oily. A huge win!

I’m curious to know how a dry shampoo cleanses the hair. I’ve been a fan of Giovanni hair shampoo and conditioner and have used up all the variants since last year. Now is a great chance to also experience using their dry shampoo. It’s also made with organic, vegan ingredients.

Giovanni Dry Shampoo claims that it’s a 2-in-1 power shampoo and hair volumizer that adds body, volume, and bounce, giving hair a boost while absorbing excess oil. How exactly is that possible without washing hair with water? How does it take out all the grease and how does it smell? I’ll find out soon enough! It may take a bit of practice to use.

I now have my own Minka Toothbrush Charcoal. Yay! Made of biodegradable bamboo, this high-quality and eco-friendly toothbrush is naturally antimicrobial and water-resistant as its nylon bristles massage teeth and gums for good oral health. It deodorizes the mouth, prevents bad breath and plaque build-up, and provides a gentle yet thorough clean. I’ve been eyeing on this product for several months. It’s something to support nature and the environment, as part of an all-natural lifestyle.

Finally, from the Baby and Kids section, I got Nature’s Gate Baby Shampoo and Baby Wash, Nature’s Gate Toothpaste Gel for Kids (Cherry), Babyganics Lip and Face Balm, and Field Day Baby Wipes. 😉

Wrap Up

I’m happy with all my purchases. 🙂 Every trip to Healthy Options brings a smile to our faces. We believe that health is about more than just what you put in your body; it’s also about living and breathing a balanced, sustainable lifestyle through every aspect of your being from the home to mental well-being. Leading a healthy lifestyle not only keeps you feeling and looking your best, but it also keeps illness and disease at bay so that you can live a longer, happier and more vibrant life.

From organic food, cruelty-free toiletries, and supplements to eco-friendly household products, Healthy Options in the Philippines is not your average health foods store. It’s a one-stop shop so full of wholesome goodness where you can feel healthy, even while shopping! Here, you can find something to suit all dietary requirements whether you’re on a gluten-free diet, vegan, paleo, low-sodium, ketogenic and everything in between.

Click here to view all my previous Healthy Options shopping haul posts. 🙂

About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco

Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.