ALONG COMES MARY

Expo West is in the books for another year. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to attend the world’s largest natural product convention. Expo West is held annually in Anaheim, next door to Disneyland. There are speakers, workshops, and presentations. I feel that most would agree that one of the expo’s biggest draws is the three-day trade show. Five massive exhibit halls become the Comic Con for all things natural, gluten-free, vegan, and all of the crunchy, healthy buzz phrases you can think of.

I first attended Expo West over a decade ago. Since then, I’ve certainly gone more “crunchy” and read labels beyond seeing if something is gluten-free. I’m all about avoiding seed oils, natural flavorings, and unnecessary ingredients. Something that I’ve learned is that just because a brand is at Expo West doesn’t mean they’re healthy. Through my four bags of goodies from my 2026 haul, I found some gems that are ideal for upcoming road trips. Traveling with kids can be a challenge, but luckily, these brands are going to make long drives smooth sailing.

Sunnie Snacks

Sunnie has become a staple in Mabel’s lunchbox. And maybe mine too. We love their cheddar crackers that are a thousand times better than Cheez-its or Annie’s bunny crackers. They use avocado oil and organic cassava flour and are a gluten-free company.

At the expo, they were showcasing their new snack packs, which are this generation’s Lunchables. There’s S’more, Jam, Cocoa, and Pizza. I’m already obsessed with S’more, which is a pack of grain-free crackers, chocolate pumpkin seed spread, and vegan marshmallow fluff. I’ll be honest: I’ve eaten more than Mabel. And the best part? Sunnie uses dates to sweeten their snacks. No junk or chemicals you can’t pronounce.

Simple Mills

From baking mixes to snacks, Simple Mills is another go-to. Although they aren’t organic, It’s a brand I know I can throw in the cart without needing to read the labels closely. Most of their sweet treats like the cocoa and cashew butter sandwich cookies, use coconut sugar for sweetening.

New this year is their cinnamon swirl muffin and cake mix. As always, it’s gluten-free and music to my ears. The brand’s Pop Mmms were having a moment at the Expo. They’re a cleaner take on classic crackers. The cocoa flavor literally “pops” with chocolate taste and is now a favorite in our cupboard.

Purely Elizabeth

Purely Elizabeth is an OG in the gluten-free realm. The company launched in 2009 and continues to grow its list of oatmeals, cereal, and granola. I appreciate that their oats are certified gluten-free, and the entire line is both completely free of gluten and organic.

During my visit to their Expo booth, I helped myself to their delicious cookie granola. The name pretty much sums it up. It’s a granola heavily influenced by cookie flavor favorites like peanut butter and chocolate chip. We’ve been grabbing the peanut butter. Their protein oatmeal packets are handy for home and travel, too. Maple cinnamon roll is great since it’s all real ingredients and not artificial flavors.

Solely

We’re still loving Solely snacks over here. Remember last year that I said I wasn’t a fan of their gummies? Well, that changed at this year’s Expo. The new flavors, like mango strawberry, are amazing and hit the spot just like a conventional gummy candy does.

Solely fruit jerky is especially great for car rides. It provides all of the nutrients and sweetness of fruit but without any mess.

Spindrift

Need a drink to wash down all of these yummies? Check out Spindrift. I cannot stand most sparkling waters because they’re completely fake with no real fruit juice. Spindrift is always 100% what the flavor says it is. When we buy Raspberry Lime, the actual juices from these fruits are in it.

As a tea lover, I was excited to see that Spindrift will be unveiling teas this year. Their peach green tea is sweetened with agave, and it hit the spot while walking the massive Expo.