Clif Bar Nut Butter Filled Bars. Sambazon Organic Amazon Energy Drink, Organic Original Blend Superfruit Packs. Patagonia Provisions Organic Red Bean Chili. Annie’s Organic Mac & Bees. Guayaki Yerba Mate Gourd and Bombilla, Biodynamic Yerba Mate. Numi Organic Aged Earl Grey Tea. RW Garcia Sweet Potato Crackers. Nutiva Buttery Coconut Oil, Hempseeds. Harmless Harvest Organic Coconut Water. Arrowhead Mills Organic Popcorn Kernels.
When you’re up late studying and snacking options are limited, you probably just grab something from the vending machine. But have you ever wondered what’s in your late-night fix?
What you eat directly impacts your energy levels, your mood, and your ability to do well in school.
But not all foods are created equal. Despite all the progress we’ve made in the last century, our fast-paced, on-the-go lifestyle has created a culture that prioritizes convenience over quality. As a result, today’s “Frankenfoods” (i.e. packaged meals made with pre-cooked, overly processed, nutritionally void, and chemically laden ingredients) dominate our pantries and grocery stores. A recent study found that more than 60% of Americans’ daily calories come from these “ultraprocessed” foods.
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The good news is that we’re in the midst of a real food revolution! Consumers like you are demanding their right to know what’s in their food, who grew it, how it was grown, and where it came from. We’re slowly but surely remembering that food is fundamental to living a healthy, fulfilling life. So what kinds of foods should you be stocking in your mini-fridge?
At Turning Green, our criteria for sustainable food is FLOSN.
Fresh. Food tastes best and has the highest nutritional value when it travels straight from farm to fork. Try to avoid processed ingredients and stock up on fresh produce to avoid consuming harmful chemicals and preservatives.
Local. The average American meal travels an estimated 1500 miles before consumption. Buy at local farmers markets, and you’ll find cheaper, higher-quality food without the massive carbon footprint.
Organic. Organic food puts human and soil health first, and supports farmers and businesses that do the same. Look for the USDA Certified Organic seal on your trips to the grocery store!
Seasonal. Purchasing in season means you buy, cook and eat foods that are better tasting, harvested at their peak, and grown closer to home. At the same time, eating seasonal benefits soil and the environment as a whole.
Non-GMO. By choosing non-GMO products, you reduce pesticides in our food supply and the quantity of toxic chemicals we are exposed to every day.
FLOSN. It’s as simple as that! Buy items that fulfill as many of these criteria as possible, and you’ll be on your way to nourishing both you and the planet.
To get started, we’ve picked out a few snacks and drinks to keep you fed during those late-night study sessions. Keep these healthy, organic goodies on hand and you’ll never have to resort to the vending machine again!
Clif Nut Butter Bar
Clif’s Nut Butter Energy Bar brings together two great energy foods – a delicious, creamy nut butter inside an organic energy bar – to provide sustained energy. There are many creamy, delicious flavors to pick from, including chocolate peanut butter, almond coconut, caramel chocolate peanut butter, and blueberry almond butter.
Sambazon Acai Bowl
Sambazon’s Organic Original Blend or Pure Unsweetened Superfruit Packs can be used for the perfect, superfood breakfast that’s organic, vegan, non-GMO, and fair trade! Here is the recipe for their famous Pure Acai bowl: Blend 1 Sambazon Pure Unsweetened Superfruit Pack, 1/2 to 1 cup of non-dairy milk (or liquid base of your choice), half a banana (fresh or frozen), and 1/2 cup of frozen mixed berries. Top with granola. You can also add fruit, coconut shavings and/or other healthy toppings! Click here for more information and recipes! Always Simple. Always Pure. Always Sustainable.
Sambazon Organic Amazon Energy Drink
The Sambazon Organic Amazon Energy Drink contains natural caffeine derived from yerba mate, green tea, and guarana with the same caffeine level as two shots of espresso. It is filled with powerful antioxidants from Acai Berry and Acerola Cherry, sustainably sourced from the Brazilian Amazon. This energy drink is USDA Organic certified and Non GMO Project Verified.
Patagonia Provisions Red Bean Chili
Savor the hearty, authentic flavors of home-cooked chili in just 10 minutes. Made with certified-organic red and pinto beans, tomatoes, carrots, bell peppers, herbs and spices, the Red Bean Chili makes comfort food easy on even the most hectic days. It’s also packet with 14 grams of plant-based protein and 12 grams of fiber per serving. Gluten, meat, and dairy free, and all certified-organic ingredients.
Annie’s Organic Mac & Bees
Did you know that one out of every three bites you eat is thanks to earth’s hardworking pollinators? Annie’s Organic Mac & Bees features pollinator shaped noodles like bees, butterflies, wildflowers and trees. It is also Certified Organic, which means it’s grown without persistent pesticides known to be harmful to pollinators. There’s 10 grams of protein and 8 grams of whole grains in every serving.
This loose leaf tea is created from a vibrant, self-sustaining rainforest ecosystem, centered around biodiversity and everlasting soil fertility. It has a fresh, green, herbaceous flavor with a smooth finish and 40 mg of caffeine per serving.
Numi Organic Aged Earl Grey Tea
A great way to wake up or unwind from a busy day is to make a cup of hot tea. Numi Organic Tea has a collection of tea bags and loose leaf blends that are naturally caffeine free and 100% organic. Tea bags are compostable, boxes are made from recycled cardboard and printed with soy-based inks.
RW Garcia 3 Seed Sweet Potato Crackers bring something new to the table. Great with any topping, the nutritious Non GMO, trans fat and cholesterol free ingredients include naturally sweet, North Carolina Beauregard Sweet Potatoes, stone ground yellow corn and a trio of seeds (flax seed, black sesame seeds, and chia seeds) blended together to make a delicious gluten free cracker.
Pure, organic raw coconut water made from a responsibly harvested, exceptionally sweet and fragrant coconut variety native to Thailand. Harmless Harvest chooses Fair for Life certification to share the welfare they create throughout the chain of custody, from plant to farmers and workers to partners.
Arrowhead Mills Organic Popcorn Kernels
Each bag is made with certified organic ingredients that are verified by the Non-GMO Project. Just add a little cooking oil to a pot, coat the bottom with kernels, and cover with a lid; in just minutes, you’ll have a bowl of fresh, hot popcorn that tastes great on its own or dusted lightly with salt. It’s gluten-free and full of fiber. Purchase these popcorn kernels in bulk to reduce your waste!
Nutiva Buttery, Organic, Fair Trade Coconut Oil
Nutiva’s Buttery Coconut Oil has a vegan “buttery flavor” made from pure certified organic non -GMO plants including sunflower, coconut and mint. Their coconuts are sourced from some of the richest soils in Southeast Asia and are never processed with any hexane or other harsh chemicals. It’s a versatile, all purpose cooking oil and is perfect butter alternative for any a variety of uses.
Nutiva Hemp Seeds
Rich in protein, with omega-3 and minerals, hemp is the world’s most nutritious seed. Hemp is also the world’s most sustainable plant as it is easily cultivated and grown in a variety of areas, does not deplete the soil and requires less water than other crops. Enjoy straight out of the bag, blend into a smoothie, or sprinkle on your favorite foods.
FLOSN Fruits and Vegetables
When you are buying produce, look for Fresh Local Organic Seasonal Non-GMO (FLOSN) food to support health, organic regenerative agriculture, farmers and community economies, and the planet – and labels like USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Verified, Fair Trade that care for people, planet and all species.
