"WILW": What I'm LOVING Wednesday!

I've seen lots of recipe bloggers who do a weekly "What I ate Wednesday" post on their blog, in which they literally devote that entire post to sharing everything that they ate on that particular day. I've always loved this idea--it's practically like a free meal plan from a health foodie, am I right?! However, as much as I love this idea and have thought about doing this type of post myself, I finally decided it was kind of pointless for me to do it...I mean, if you follow me on Instagram, you guys pretty much already know everything I eat ;) But, as I mentioned in a previous post not that long ago, I want to start transforming TFVG blog into more than just healthy recipes--I want to start posting about ALL the things I'm interested in, and interested in sharing with you all...start making TFVG a vegan health and fitness blog, instead of just a vegan recipe blog.
With that said, it's been really fun thinking up a new topic to post on each week--be it a new workout, a discussion question, general health and fitness tips, you name it. When this week started, I knew EXACTLY what I wanted to post on for (one of) my non-recipe posts...ALL OF MY FAVORITE PRODUCTS as of late! I'm definitely a vegan health food product connoisseur--no question about it. I love spending hours perusing new health food stores, gourmet food shops, even local grocers that just so happen to have an outstanding organic or natural food section. Some of my all-time favorite products were an "accidental discovery," so to speak--I just ran into them in the most unlikely of places! I love, love, LOVE finding new yummy products to enjoy--but you know what they say...half the fun of doing something (or in this case, FINDING something!) is sharing it with someone else! And my foodie finds are no exception!
So here's a list of my current obsessions: what they are, why I love 'em, and where you can buy 'em! Hope you enjoy these goodies as much as I do :)


1. Grainful Steel Cut Meals and Sides

Grainful is a fairly new company, specializing in healthy, quick-to-prepare frozen meals and packaged sides...ALL MADE WITH STEEL CUT OATS! I know. Amazing, right? (And amazingly delicious, I might add). Grainful's products are all 100% natural, gluten-free, non-GMO, and super yummy. And while not all of their products are vegan-friendly, there are lots of  plant-based options (HELOOOO THAI CURRY!). You can find Grainful products on the company's website, at www.grainful.com


2. wRAWp Raw Wraps

I am completely and totally 100% unashamedly OBSESSED with these wraps. THEY. ARE. UN. BELIEVABLE! All wRAWp's products are certified organic, gluten-free, vegan, low-fat, grain-free, paleo, and nut-free! Not to mention darn delicious. And while most gluten-free tortilla and wrap options tend to be stiff and crack easily, wRAWps are super soft and pliable--the perfect vehicle for an over-stuffed burrito :) You can find wRAWps on the website, at www.wrap.com, in addition to on Amazon, and in various chain grocery stores.


3. Sami's Bakery Products

My love of Sami's Bakery Breads is nothing new--but it's too strong not to mention anyway! This is literally the most delicious bread I've ever had in my whole entire life...gluten-free or non! This bread is literally a dream come true: gluten-free*, oil-free, sugar-free, preservative-free, and NOT FROZEN! Yup, I repeat--NOT FROZEN PEOPLE! Amazingness. Thought you had to kiss your light-as-a-cloud PB & J sammy's goodbye?! Not with Sami's--pun intended. (see what I did there? I know. I'm so clever.) Sami's products are available on their website, www.samisbakery.com, and in countless locations in the southeast (the actual bakery is in Tampa, FL!).
*While many of Sami's products do not contain wheat or any gluten-containing ingredients, none of Sami's products are certified gluten-free. However, I have a gluten-intolerance (non-celiac) and am not bothered at all by Sami's non-gluten products. However, if you are highly sensitive to gluten or have celiac's disease, be advised that Sami's products are NOT certified gluten-free and ARE processed in a facility that produces wheat and gluten-containing products.


4. Zevia Stevia Sweetened "Soda"

I just recently discovered Zevia soda--and immediately fell in love! As someone who was already obsessed with seltzer water, Zevia is a nice option for those times when seltzer just won't cut it...like with a giant bowl of nooch-covered, oil-free popcorn and the latest Grey's Anatomy episode! :) Zevias are all-natural, sugar-free, calorie-free, and artificial sweetener free (sweetened with STEVIA and ERYTHRITOL--both of which are 100% natural plant-based sweeteners!), with TONS of yummy, fizzy flavors (my favorite is the Ginger Root Beer! So good!). Zevia soda can be found at any grocery store with a natural food section (ACME, Food Lion, Kroger, Whole Foods, some ShopRite locations, etc.), and on lots of online retailers (www.zevia.com, Amazon, even Walmart.com!).

5. Wink Frozen Desserts 

Wink is absolutely the most amazing thing ever. Vegan, Gluten-free, Sugar-free, and Nut-free! Oh yeah, and you can eat the WHOLE PINT FOR 100 CALORIES (and 8 grams of plant-based protein, to boot!). I KNOW. The original "100 calorie pint" flavors are shown above (cinnamon bun is my fave!), but I'm currently crushing on their new "mixed up pints"...the strawberry cheesecake in particular....

Wink pints are making their way into more locations by the week--the first pints just hit the west coast this week! But you can always order on the website, www.winkfrozendesserts.com. And don't worry about your pints melting--they ship in dry ice, so pints stay COMPLETELY FROZEN, even if you're far, far away! (Trust me--I get a box every month. No shame.)

6. Just Great Stuff Protein Plus Powdered Peanut Butter

You guys know I love my powdered peanut butter. After discovering my fat intolerance in early 2014,  this stuff has kept me sane ever since...I'm a PB-a-holic! But THIS. I didn't think my love powdered PB could possibly get any better...and then they came out with PROTEIN PLUS! Just Great Stuff Protein Plus boasts an impressive 8 GRAMS of plant-based protein PER 2 TABLESPOON SERVING, compared to the original's 4 grams...all by adding the secret ingredient: PEA PROTEIN POWDER! JGS Protein Plus is available on the company website, www.bettylousinc.com, in addition to many other online retailers (Amazon, Vitacost, Lucky Vitamin, Pure Formulas, etc.). And while Protein Plus is available in the regular, 6.35 oz. canister, let's be realistic: you'll need the big one. ;)

7. Miracle Noodle Miracle Rice

As a Miracle Noodle Ambassador, I love experimenting with MN products--especially the Miracle Rice! I've been a long-time lover of shirataki noodles (as a nice option for those nights you want pizza AND pasta AND breadsticks...), but just recently got to try Miracle Rice for the first time! And oh my goodness--boy was I missing out! Not only is MR great as a lighter sub for regular rice, but is even awesomer to ADD VOLUME to a grain-based dish! It picks up the flavor of any sauce very nicely, with no fishy aftertaste like with tofu shirataki, and is soy-free. Miracle Noodles and Miracle Rice are EVERYWHERE online (Vitacost, Netrition, Amazon, miraclenoodlel.com, just to name a few!), and in lots of health food stores (check out the MN product locator on their website!)


8. Sunkist Freeze-Dried Fruit

Sunkist Freeze-Dried Fruit varieties are a super fun snack and a nice change from dried fruit. I love adding these crunchy goodies on top of my oatmeal, in cereal, in homemade "trail mix," or even straight outta the bag by the handful! And with four different fruits, the possibilities and combo ideas are endless (the grapes are my fave! YUM!). You can usually find these in Walmart, in addition to on the Sunkist company website.

That about wraps up my current list, I think! Well, I could go on (Amy's Gone Crackers pretzels, Wild Garden Hummus, Walden Farms Caramel Dip--because VEGAN CARAMEL PEOPLE--, VEGA One Vanilla Chai Protein Powder, Bird's Eye Frozen, Pre-Cooked Brown Rice...), but I think I've added enough items to your grocery list for now ;) Hope you guys enjoy these fun new yummies! Be sure to let me know whatcha think of 'em, and if YOU have any yummies for ME to try! I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. Until next time, fitties...

--Anna, 

"The Fit Vegan Ginger"