I am far from exaggerating when I say that I could spend literally all day shopping at Whole Foods. I am deeply amused in their efforts of making healthy foods taste so damn good. Every time I leave the store, I silently vow to myself that I'll only ask for Whole Foods gift cards this coming Hanukkah. This is because I spend the rest of my day thinking about all of the items I wanted to purchase, but couldn't afford. When I get home to unpack the groceries that I was able to buy, I get a weirdly impatient feeling. I pull apart the grocery bag and admire all of the unique snacks that I found and can't wait to consume. Then, I feverishly start cleaning the kitchen and living room. I don't really know why I do this. If I had to guess, I would honestly say it's because my new food seems so close to perfection that everything else must meet the standards. Confessions of a Whole Foods foodie.
Of course I love coming across new snacks during my shopping ventures. But my very stubborn Capricorn- esque behavior presents itself often in that I will never give up my most favorite Whole Foods offerings. Here are the 3 items that I'll keep in the kitchen for the rest of my life.
This Goji- Cacao Superfood Cereal by Vigilant Eats is my go to breakfast. It's easy to make and good for you, yet it tastes like a really fattening oatmeal cookie. Yum. Goji- Cacao is just a fancy way of saying berry- chocolate flavor. Goji berries are an antioxidant rich fruit from China. They are dried and added to the cereal mixture for sweetness and flavor. The cacao nibs become melty magic morsels when warm milk or water is added, giving off a subtle chocolatey taste. I usually heat up some almond milk and pour it into my cereal until it reaches a creamy consistency that I like. If you love oatmeal but want to take it up a notch, I suggest trying this indulgent Superfood Cereal. It comes in many other breakfast worthy flavors and costs $2.99 for the 2.3 oz serving pictured above.
Next up I present to you the gluten free chip of your dreams. These Hippeas are the new Cheetos. Made out of chickpeas, you can snack on these delightful puffed peas all day long, guilt free. The bohemian barbecue flavor pictured above is my personal favorite. Although if you really want the closest tasting flavor to Cheetos, I would suggest the vegan white cheddar flavor. The puffs are very filling at 4 grams of protein per serving. This bag costs $2.99 and lasts me about a week. I have completely replaced potato chips and Cheetos from my diet thanks to Hippeas. This is major considering that I couldn't go a week without eating Flamin' Hot Cheetos during my first year of college. To satisfy those who also love the Flamin' Hot Cheetos in particular, the Sriracha sunshine flavored Hippeas will do just the trick.
Finally, I have saved the best snack for last. My cherished treasure, Sweet Potato tater tots by Alexia. If you, too, recurrently swoon over sweet potatoes, these baked tots are a must. Something very beautiful happens when the oven timer goes off after 20 minutes at 400 degrees. The sweet potato tots come out just right, and for an extra 5 minutes they will turn slightly crispy. I can eat these for breakfast all the way up until dessert. Remember that game from elementary school where your friends would ask you what one item you'd like to have if stranded on an island? Well, I would choose these sweet potato puffs every time. This 6 serving bag costs about $4.00 from Whole Foods, but in all honestly I'd pay $10.00 without hesitation.
