We love the ongoing trend of looking to nature to create products that are good for us.  Whether it’s herbs for our skin, or ancient grains in our food, seems our ancestors were onto something. We recently tried out a new line of skin care products made from herbs and essential oils that we really, really like. And a couple of weeks ago, we explored the Summer Fancy Food show and found some wonderful tasty and healthy food products too. Here’s our review.

A Delightful Line of Organic and Natural Skin Care Products

As you can imagine, we receive a lot of products for reviews, but we only review products we actually have tried and liked. And we definitely liked the MaxandJane line of skin care products.  The products are made from plants grown in the high desert of New Mexico.  Jane is a master herbalist and the product line includes 22 herbs – like chamomile, jasmine and rosemary –  and 11 very concentrated essential oils, to even out skin tone, reduce visible imperfections, and enhance natural luminosity.  The products truly make your skin feel nourished and healthy, and the scents are lovely. Here are our three favorites:  Tourmaline Exfoliant, which gently exfoliates;  the maxandjane Skin Nutrient is a serum that combines 11 oils infused with 22 herbs. Divine! Mandarin Firming Cream is designed for the neck area. The products are reasonably priced and a little goes a long way.

DISCOUNT FOR TOMATOES: Get a 10% discount from now through August 11 with code: 3TO.  (That’s a Zero at the end)

 New Trends in Healthy Foods

 Here are a few fabulous products we discovered at The Summer Fancy Food Show.

Healthy Snacks

Air Cheese 

We don’t know how they do this, but these crunchy and puffy Air Cheese bites are made with 100% cheese and nothing else! Find out more.

Olives In a Snack Pack

Yes, these are real olives in olive oil packed in a snack pack.  Absolutely delicious.  They come in 4 flavors.  Buy them at Amazon.

Chickpea Snacks –  Move Over Pop Corn

Chickpea snacks were everywhere at the Fancy Food Show.  Here are two of our favs:

Organic Chickpea Puffs

These are so delicious. Hippeas are a new line of light and crunchy organic chickpea puffs, high in protein & fiber. They are certified organic, gluten-free, vegan, kosher, allergen free, non-GMO, low calorie snacks.  And they come in 6 awesome flavors. Find out more.

ChickBean Crisps^™

Better nutrition in a better snack. Made from milled chickpeas and a colorful mosaic of real vegetables. Every serving contains real nutrition baked right in and packed with 4 grams of plant-based protein. Try them with your favorite toppings or in a lunchbox. It’s the snack you’ve been waiting for.  Buy them at Amazon.

Gluten and Dairy Free Organic Chocolate 

OMG.  Chocoholics will LOVE Rawmantic Chocolate, freshly handcrafted with the purest organic ingredients. Free-trade. Dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and non-GMO.  Learn more.

Kombucha Tea 

When it comes to health trends, Kombucha, a fermented beverage of black tea and sugar, is right up there. Known as the “Immortal Health Elixir” by the Chinese and originating in the Far East around 2,000 years ago. Regular drinkers of the tonic claim it aids digestion, sleep, weight loss and detoxification; stimulates the immune system, prevents cancer, stops hair loss, and improves liver function.   These teas are now widely available.

We tried the ginger lemon Health-Ade Kombucha which was delicious. Get more details.

HEMP Teas and HEMP Everything

Hemp foods are rich in protein and have all 10 essential amino acids. They also contain omega-3, omega-6, stearidonic acid (SDA), and the rare omega-6 Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA). What’s so great about GLA? Well, GLA has been shown to help with cholesterol, inflammation, skin and hair health, balancing hormones, and general heart health.  In grocery stores, you can now find hemp food products such as hemp seeds, hemp seed oil, hemp milk, hemp tea, and even hemp infusion drinks.

High Tea

Check out this line of teas which include tea bags, bottled iced teas,  They start with the finest teas and then add Hemp CBD – derived from the leaves of the hemp plant contains omega-3 fatty acids, terpenes, vitamins and chlorophyll. It is suggested for relaxation and to provide a calm state of body and well-being.  Get the details.

Hemp Hearts

Hemp Hearts is a great product to sprinkle on salads, cereals, fruits, and smoothies.  Hemp Hearts are soft seeds that have a slightly nutty taste, similar to sunflower seeds or pine nuts. At 10 grams of protein per 30-gram serving, they contain twice the amount of protein compared to flax or chia, and they’re lower in carbohydrates. Hemp foods also contain magnesium, fibre, iron, zinc, and phosphorous.

Pasta without the Carbs or Gluten

We have sampled the Miracle Noodle with different sauces, and it is delicious! This little known zero carb noodle from Japan transforms your favorite meals from heavy to healthy! The noodles are great for anyone but especially people with  with dietary restrictions like diabetes, celiac, certain seizure disorders, and general weight loss goals.  Miracle Noodle comes in 8  pasta shapes and now ready to eat meals!  Available at Amazon.

Nature Nate’s Raw & Unfiltered Honey

Honey naturally contains nutrients and enzymes that have a variety of health benefits and medical uses. It’s even used in some hospitals as a medical treatment for wounds. However, these health benefits are specific to unpasteurized honey, raw honey, which is not what you find on most grocery shelves.  We’re huge fans of Nature Nate’s Raw & Unfiltered Honey.  We buy ours at Costco.