Garden of Life Raw Meal

I've been eating from this humongous jar of meal replacement powder I got from Natural Products Expo West. Big plus: it's Gluten Free. I may have gotten it in 2014 but never felt the need to utilize it. But as my foot increasingly goes beyond 4/5 in the grave, metaboloism slows.

While it's tasty and a good snack, it doesn't replace anything. I'm sure that has nothing to do with this particular item. For me, it doesn't fill me up. It's a good appetizer, I suppose. And I didn't tire of it. Some days I actually craved it. But I commiserate with those who rely on these replacement shakes. If they're anything like me, they'd still be hungry.

EZC Pack Not Easy

I was introduced to EZC Pak at the Natural Products Expo West. I was told that it would defend against some pretty virulent strains such as hospital borne diseases. Hyperbole is an inherent component of exhibitor conduct at large scale expos such as NPEW so I didn't completely disregard the product.

Come Comic-Con 2015, I thought I'd give it a try since it states that it's a 5-day Tapered Immune Support Pack. I don't even know what that means, but since SDCC is 5 days long, I thought I'd give it a try. Turns out you have to pop pills for 5 days.

The first day you pop 2--an Echinacea capsule and Zinc capsule--every six hours. Day 2 is every 8 hours then follow that up with every 12 hours until the supply is gone. And then what? What supposedly happens? It doesn't support your immune system for 5 days; it's a five-day regimen which is pretty difficult to sustain. Yes, I want to wake up or stop my day to take 2 pills every six hours. And why would I want to take that many pills?

I couldn't keep the schedule. Although I didn't get sick, I wouldn't necessarily blame or attribute sickness to the pills I did take.

Gluten Free Products Cheaper at Whole Foods

Last Natural Products Expo West, Glutino gave me a stack of coupons for free products.

I went to the closest supermarket which is Ralphs. Helluva expensive.

Then I went to other stores such as Vons, Hughes, and Gelson's.

Whole Foods was the cheapest and had the most products including breaded products that were in the freezer.

I could only go to one which was the West Hollywood one on Santa Monica though I did get a good selection when I was in the South Bay El Segundo one.

The Whole Foods in Sherman Oaks did not have the breaded products in the freezer.

Definitely buying stuff at Ralph's is a rip-off.

This contradicts a report, for Glutino at least, that Whole Foods is more expensive.

Natural Products Expo West: Congrats to the Scammers

Well, congratulations to the scammers. They got into the Natural Products Expo West. I’ve seen them at the LA Auto Show—they seemed more concentrated on printing tons of documents out. Maybe copies of their will. 

Yes, these are the two advanced in age journalists, and I’ve never seen them write something down in a notebook, take a photo, or whip out a sound recorder. I have them talk about food, lord over the buffet tables, and stuff several sandwiches, soda cans, and packets of mustard and mayonnaise, and wet naps in their roll-away luggage.

They were successful bypassing what was supposed to be a more stringent vetting process for journalists. So there they were with their roll-aways on the exhibit floor, tugging then down the aisle.

Hooray for scammers.

Natural Products Expo West: In the House with House Foods

I did not know House Foods—the company that makes the packaged tofu that you all know and love—owns Curry House restaurants. House Foods America Corporation (HFAC) is a fully-owned subsidiary of the House Foods Corporation (HFC), one of Japan’s oldest and largest food manufacturers. Established in 1913 in Osaka, HFC is renowned for its curry brands as well as a line of spice products. The American branch has been in Los Angeles since 1981. Now with two manufacturing plants in Garden Grove, CA and Somerset, New Jersey, HFAC makes 350,000 pieces of tofu each day.

House Foods has a licensing partnership with Duraemon with the tyke appearing on the packages. They’re limited editions, so to speak, as House Foods does partner with a wide variety of movie and TV properties.

There was a free for all at the House Foods booth at the end of Natural Products Expo West. A woman in a motorized scooter pretty much parked there and loaded up her vehicle. Luckily I was able to get some Tofu Sausage which is so good. Zesty with a nice kick, it worked well with rice, between two slices of bread, or as a meat substitute in your favorite dishes.

I also picked up one of the products House Foods in focusing on, their Tofu Shirataki noodle, which is made from puréed tofu and a root of Konjac, a member of Asian yam family. Vegan, low in calories and carbs, their Shirataki noodles comes in Angel Hair, Spaghetti, and Fettuccine.

Now it is different to cook with than pasta. You do have to rinse the noodles thoroughly because there’s a pungent odor that does rinse off. For the Angel Hair, you’ll really need a strainer or colander with very small holes. Cooking with the noodles takes some practice, but if you know what you’re doing, you’ll have a great meal.

House Foods is a mainstay. Their line includes staples such as their Premium Tofu, Organic Tofu, and Tofu Steak. The majority of their products are gluten-free. My home would be a home without House Foods.

Natural Products Expo West: Boulder Brands Breakfast

Guaranteed the best part of the Natural Products Expo West is the Bould Brands breakfast. Everywhere you look, gluten free goods are ready for the taking. Breakfast bars and muffins and bread and bagels and granola are continuously replenished. Eggs and breakfast burritos and much more line the buffet table while gluten free pancakes are made by chefs. For someone who is gluten sensitive, it’s heaven.

Boulder Brands also arranged a cookbook giveaway for Gluten Free on a Budget.

Food disappears rather quickly as it nears the end time, but while it’s going on, it’s wonderful.