NEW TRENDS:
The last hour of the last day of the massive Fancy Food Show (Javits Convention Center)- yielded an interesting convo. It took place on a shuttle bus from the Javits Convention Center ---with a late 50s- 60 something woman who was in charge of wholesale food/beverage purchases for a large mainstream and smaller upscale chain of stores in the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast regions...which had her and her team- walking the aisles of the show, sampling away. Physically, she reminded us of a gal at our gym---who explained to us her 30-35+ 'extra' pounds-at a rate of 2lb/year after having kids...
SO---surprise surprise, when we asked her what was the one thing she ate/drank herself-that might surprise people - her answer...."I've been eating exclusively gluten free, non-GMO, organic the past two weeks and have noticed a huge difference in how I feel and the superior qualities and tastes of the foods.
This Boomer group gal was initially inspired by a friend with food allergies...but in turn, her thoughts... made us very aware that it's not just athletes-or the coveted consumer millennials- who believe in 'you are what you eat.'
The majority of 'Fancy Foods' have noticeably embraced those trends of 'clean' ingredients, transparency of food/ingredient sources, non-GMO (especially if a USA company-it's banned in Europe), and healthier indulgences-often USDA organic. Another we'd like to see more of trend-eco-packaging including recyclables+ BPA free lining/plastic.BRAVO.
Hydrating coconut water -naturally loaded with electrolytes/potassium has been gettin' the love by sweating athletes lately-supplying electrolytes, potassium, sodium and acclaimed anti-fatigue nutrients that can help reduce muscle soreness...BUT... we hate the taste and don't appreciate the high calorie count. (Note: we always JUST SAY NO TO SPORTS DRINKS-even during long distance tri competitions).
What's new=VERY fabulous-Maple Water -with the same natural benefits of hydration & of electrolytes/potassium/manganese/some sodium, but wayyy better tasting-naturally sweeter, zero fat and cholesterol- vegan -and with less than half the calories of the aforementioned (20 calories/250mL serving size). YAYY.
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| SEVA-pure Maple Sap is NAPSI certified, 100% renewable, gluten-free, and USDA organic so GMO free, preservative free-dairy free -and naturally blessed with 46+ nutrients (minerals, amino-+organic acids, phytohormones, polyphenols, pre-biotics, electrolytes)-from forests of St. Laurentian forests, Quebec, Canada. BONUS POINTS in Tetrapaks=eco friendly! Taste great-def drink chilled has a refreshingly slight sweet maple taste. Available world wide...in USA at Fairways, Fresh Farms, Shop Rite plus many other spots including Amazon |
FYI: on workouts of 3+hours in humid heat the sodium gets upped from other sources...BUT we wish maple water was at water stations-the races we do.
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| DRINK MAPLE is available in 250mLs-in 3 packs ($8) or case of 12($28)...cartons and 12oz bottles-case of 12 is $36 (plus flat rate $12 shipping) or available on AMAZON and brick+mortar retailers in northeast including our nearby Urban Outfitters (!) |
BONUS:loved meeting the duo that launched this brand as they both did the mother-of-all full Ironman triathlons-KONA.
Growing up drinking the heralded NYC tap water- (one of the very few USA spots -not mandated to filter-by the Feds)-we never 'got' the bottled water thing-until we started traveling-first to LA-then- around the country, and overseas. Different (yech) tastes caused those purchases. Upshot- waters everywhere -including the bottled kinds -have varied savoury qualities-like other products of terroir -including(wine).
From the PR rep-we learned that the award-winning-water, Pedras-from Portugal -that's naturally refreshing, and naturally lightly carbonated, together-with international water connoisseur Michael Mascha of Fine Waters, hosted a water comparison tasting, sampling Pedras, Perrier, Voss Sparkling, and Vichy Catalan at the Fancy Food Show...with different tastes, duly noticed.
IMO- Pedras favorably compares to Badoit (a major compliment)...with its effervescent fabulous-ness that's very hydrating- imo-better than just plain water after a major sweat fest of a workout. The subtle hint of natural teeny tiny bubbles (characteristic of only 0.5% of the world's sparkling waters)...lends to the distinctive mineral taste. Really refreshing...available in the USA at Shop Rite.
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| from Iceland-Tynant water comes in beautiful bottle designed by Welsh born Ross Lovegrove - a curvaceous PET holder pretty enough to double as a vase |
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| Lacoste's Water Is Life Earth Day tee-sale proceeds benefit Everglades Foundation |
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| Alor® Aloe Vera water with aloe vera chunks (small)...interesting |
Aloe Vera juice is known for its healing properties-and is fairly mainstream -dermis-wise-to soothe/smooth skin, applied topically. As a supplement and in water (2-3 tbsps of pure gel/juice mixed in with a glass of....) is supposed to help regulate blood sugar levels, detoxify (with amino acids, vitamins+minerals calcium, copper, chromium, selenium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, manganese and zinc), and support the immune/digestive system.
At an Editor's Showcase-we tried out CLOR® an import from Thailand ...that has an interesting taste -not too sweet...with tiny tiny chunks of aloe vera in the easy to drink mix...and the benefits of aloe vera=made easy.
Regulation consumption of tart cherry juice is recommended by scores of nutritionists, coaches and athletes-to aid muscle recovery, and meaningfully reduce inflammation- so we were jazzed to see an invite arrive in our inbox to meet the identical twins- NFL players and Cheribundi Brand Ambassadors, Devin (cornerback for N.E Patriots) and Jason McCourty (cornerback for Tennessee Titans and one of NFL's leaders in passes intercepted!!!!)
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| Devin and Jason McCourty-were already drinking cherry juice before this now 3 years+ stint as brand ambassadors for Cheribundi - a fresh-pressed tart cherry juice made from a proprietary juicing process developed by scientists at Cornell University to yield peak antioxidant levels. |
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| tastes really good-imo-not too sweet or tart (130 calories-per 2oz serving- 4 servings in 8oz bottle)...and so we were told-regular consumption of tart cherry juice is reported to reduce post-exercise muscle and joint pain with anti-inflammatory benefits that may reduce pain from gout and arthritis, and have an extensive list of heart health benefits. |
NOTE: we had to ask...their percentage of body fat...answer from Jason McCourtney-in college-he felt the measurements were more accurately tested-he came in at 8%...but at the pro facility...the number is 4%. HOLY MOLY.
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Cheribundi products include five functional tart cherry juices, four Fruit Refresh blends, three Tea Refresh blends
and Black Cherry Juice. Available nationwide in grocery, natural
and specialty retailers, including Kroger, Walmart, Safeway,
Whole Foods, Rite Aid, Wegmans, The Fresh Market, and more
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We once read a piece written by a nutritionist at the Olympic training facility in Colorado Springs---that recommended two nutrition musts for her athletes-beet juice-with Betalain that's anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and in the juicer world-is supposed to dissolve inorganic calcium deposits whose presence can cause a slew of negative ailments.(Fyi-the other tip- Beta Alanine-a supplement).
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| USDA Organic Love™ Beets---has that naturally sweet beet juice taste-we like it a lot and is a convenient way to drink this healing juice-vs opening loads of cans of beets and draining, or juicing whole beets..naturally gluten free, no preservatives or added sugars. A version comes paired with cherry juice.Widely available. |
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| CHIA SLIMS |
The Chosen Foods 'divinely' named made us laugh...but it is a company with many chia centric products including a handy USDA organic packet of Chia Slims...adds a bit of nutty and crunchy taste, a very subtle sweetness (organic coconut sugar), some spice-but imo not strong, plus-with healthy Omega-3 ALA 932 mg-and only 45 calories. Add it --- to water, juice -or in our case, ginger tea. Sold in box of 10...these 100% organic enhancers are of course, non-GMO, gluten free, pesticide free....and hit the spot after a particularly long run that helped fill us a bit so we could stretch afterwards---without the usual hunger pains.
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| also has some other nutrients- |
Other Fancy Food Show 2015 Posts:
Better Crunches-Better Snacks: Part One, Part Two
Better Crunches-Part Three
Classy Condiments
SALT ON
Better Crunches-Part Three
Classy Condiments
SALT ON