8 Dieting Must Haves

This past weekend was my first time attending the Natural Products Expo West which is one of the biggest natural food expos in the country. I've attended a few other expos, but this one has to be at the top of my list in terms of variety of booths, quality of booths, and overall experience.

During the two days I spent at this HUGE event, I discovered quite a few treats that I am excited to add into my diet. Some of them were foods that I've been wanting to try for a while that I hadn't been able to, and others were items I had never even heard of before that I am excited to have learned about. Some of these products are so awesome that I absolutely had to share them with you guys, so I decided to compile a few of my favorite dieting must haves that I'd wish someone had told me about sooner.

8. GoPicnic ready-to-eat meals

This meal package is a great idea for those of us who are occasionally too busy to pack our lunches. The nutrition profile is really good with plenty of protein and fiber, and it's loaded with snacks! There's no need to refrigerate this, so you can just throw it in your car for an emergency meal.

7. bai5 Antioxidant Infusions

I love this product because it has the rich, full bodied flavor of your favorite fruity beverage, but with only 5 calories per serving, so you don't need to worry about going over your calorie budget for the day while you're sipping on this. I tried a few of their flavors and all of them were delicious. Definitely a must have for when you are craving a sweet drink.

6. Ziggy Marley's Coco'Mon Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil

This is a genius twist on traditional good-for-you coconut oil. I've tried this with steaks, with chicken, and with my veggies and it tastes good all around. The curry flavor is not overpowering, but more of a background note. If you like to stick to the basics, they carry the original classic version of coconut oil, but if you're feeling adventurous, I'd recommend that you try one of these flavored oils out and see how you like them. Their other flavors include orange almond and lemon ginger.

5. Frank's RedHot - Wings

Hot sauce should be a part of every persons diet routine. It adds lots of flavor for very little-to-no calories. Frank's RedHot has been one of my favorites for years, and once I discovered their buffalo wings flavor, I was absolutely hooked. I mainly use this on chicken breast to make me feel like I'm digging into some greasy wings instead, but you can definitely get creative with this flavor and use it as the base for a sauce, since it's very sweet and thick. I've slathered this on a salad and eaten it that way, too. Spicy dressing for no calories? I don't see why not.

4. Arctic Zero

Now you can have an entire pint of ice-cream guilt free for only around 150 calories. And not only that, but each pint also includes 16 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber. Score!! It's made from whey, so it is the perfect post-workout treat. This stuff is definitely satisfying! Be on the lookout for some of their newest flavors like sea salt caramel, coconut, and orange cream, perfect for a sherbet lover. 

3. P28 High Protein Bread

Finally, bread with decent macros. This bread is really tasty, and has a higher protein content due to containing whey in its formulation, much like if you were to add protein powder to your pancake batter. It's a bit higher in calories at 130 per (giant) slice, but definitely worth it if you're a carb-a-holic. This brand also has tons of other protein-infused products as well, including flavored peanut butter (yum!). Definitely worth checking out!

2. Quest Protein Bars

This has been a staple in my every day diet for the past several months now. They taste great, have over 20 grams of protein per bar, and nearly just as much fiber. Their new cookies & cream flavor has got to be my favorite, with cookie dough coming in a very close second. Nuke in the microwave for 12 seconds (it's science) for an ooey gooey irresistible treat.

1. ProYo Ice Cream

Last but not least, we have ProYo high protein frozen yogurt. This stuff is delicious, and it's perfect for you to grab out of the freezer, let it thaw for a few minutes, and slurp! Tastes great and has a really enjoyable texture. It's a perfect treat for a hot summer day. 

Definitely do yourself a favor and try some of these products out. Be sure comment below with your favorite diet go-to treats!

Until next time.