Brandless Haul

The brand that claims to not be a brand-I am not buying that, but I am buying quite the assortment of $3 products. Three dollars. Organic, non-GMO, all that for 3 bucks. I piled my virtual shopping cart high and have been eating away to share my thoughts!

What first got me curious, was the mention of $3 dollar organic maple syrup. You really can't beat real maple syrup. When I am not pouring it on pancakes, I use it to sweeten matcha lattes. But at the grocery store pricing of ten dollars it felt like a luxury. Their coconut oil is another highly mentioned product-so I grabbed that too.

Along with all the snacks-hummus chips, barbeque, Brandless Oreos, crackers, dried mango, granola. It's amazing to have a fully stocked pantry! I also decided to try the body care items and threw in a body wash and hand soap. One item (or three) that I wasn't expecting to add were these spoons. But again, three dollars each for some sexy spoons.

I've already placed my next order-I need more instant oatmeal packets for work, some granola, maybe try a muffin mix-let me know what your favourite Brandless products are!

0

Pantry Organization & Vitacost Staples

I've been in an organizing mood, going through everything I see. Unfortunately, my tiny NYC apartment doesn't allow for many options. Not only have I been trying to physically organize my space, but I have also been trying to organize my head space-pretty much just my life. Between commuting, early morning yoga sessions, long hours at work, and a (sometimes) active social life, I need to streamline the grocery shopping, meal preppin' process. Otherwise, it would be Thai take-out every night (though typing it out now, doesn't sound like a bad thing...)

So I thought I would share how I set up my tiny "pantry" aka the cabinet above the stove, and a few of my staples I order from Vitacost. Online ordering and quick shipping is so convenient and having a few of these staples lets me whip up meals with limited fresh ingredients. So I'm not tempted to sign on to GrubHub.

Superfoods | I love ordering superfoods from Vitacost. If I am watching a healthy YouTube channel and an ingredient piques my interest, I can compare different brands, think about sizes, and check prices. So much cheaper than going to Whole Foods, and it prevents you from impulse buying all the things. I'd much rather see the crazy bill in an online check-out window where I can then proceed to *remove from cart*. Some of my favouries: Goji Berries, Maca Powder, Pumpkin Seeds, Chia Seeds, Cocoa Powder. Also thinking about ordering some Spirulina next. 

Bulk | Quinoa, cashews (for vegan mac&cheese or protein energy balls), cous cous, oats are all items that routinely get added to the cart. Then, I can refill the jars. In addition to cashews, almonds, pine nuts, really any nut, you can order for a good deal and size. I have also ordered canned items (beans, coconut milk), though I can usually find these in my grocery store for roughly the same price. 

Bars | Great to have on hand, and a box usually lasts me a while. I love the Kind bars to keep in my bag or office for a quick snack. I also order Preston's Cliff bars, so he won't steal mine. He could eat a box of Kind bars in like 2 days, defeating the whole purpose of an individually wrapped bar. :) I also like to order the individually wrapped almond butter packets. Throw one of those and an apple or banana for a portable snack.

Spices & Oils | All those cooking ingredients that I really don't want to have to think about having to buy when I'm in the aisles of the grocery store. That is how we ended up with 4 jars of Paprika. My grocery store has a really good selection of various oils and spices, but if yours doesn't, Vitacost has your back. Avocado oil, nutritional yeast, pink salt, coconut oil are my staples. 

Non-pantry related, but vitamins and beauty products are also available. I can't help but sneak a new beauty item in with my orders. Vitacost also runs a lot of additional discounts and promos. I try to order when one is happening to maximize the savings. 

If you want to try Vitacost, here is my referral link that will get you $5 off (and me too).

 

What are your pantry essentials? 

And let me know if I should share other kitchen areas- thinking maybe the fridge next? Or teas & coffees?

0

Plated | A Food Subscription Service

I have been tempted to try a food subscription box for awhile now. What can I say, I love sub boxes. With a code from My Subscription Addiction (one of my favourite sites for all things sub box), I got two servings of two different meals. I chose the Butternut Squash Mac 'n Cheese with Kale and the Tofu Carnitas Burrito Bowls.

I love this box for several reasons. 1. It was so, so, so nice to have two dinners already figured out. I actually was happy to cook when coming home from work. 2. Both meals were delicious. I will definitely be trying them out again. I was worried that two servings would be just that, but I was pleasantly surprised to be able to have seconds and leftovers for lunch.

The menus change each week, and there is quite a bit of variety. If you are a vegetarian or have other dietary concerns, they are clearly labeled on the site. There aren't many vegan options, but the burrito bowls were.

I am excited to try Plated out again. If you are interested in trying it, you can follow my link here. And don't forget to use a code for some free meals!

0