Best of Expo West 2026
Expo West is the Disney of health-conscious grocery. Here are my top finds, 2026 trends, and the inevitable, "Do we really need protein in this?" list.
Expo West is the largest natural and organics show in the world, featuring all of your favorite food, drink, personal care, and supplement brands. We walked the show for two days, talked to hundreds of people, and found protein in approximately 1,358 products. (Including Whole30 Approved LaCroix’s newest flavor, Pineapple Coconut!)
Here is my 2026 summary of the best finds. In Thursday’s Kiss Marry Kill (for paid subscribers), I’ll do a deeper dive into Expo trends for 2026—the good, the weird, and the WTF are we even doing here.
Expo West: Best finds (in order of my camera roll)
Roots Farm Fresh (fries and more)
We bumped into the Roots Farm Fresh truck within five minutes of setting foot on Expo grounds, and spent the next 30 minutes chatting with their co-founder (Alex) and team. Alex and I had the best conversation, bouncing between seed oils, whether tallow is here to stay (it’s not), tallow sourcing (ugh), and general industry trends.
I already loved their products (I buy them at my local Sprouts), but their new waffle fries really sealed the deal. They taste more potato-y than any other store-bought fries; crisp up deliciously in the air fryer; and have a creamy, fluffy center. They also make fries, potato “toasts” (wide, thin slices), and “croutons,” which are genius.
Ingredients (sweet potato fries): Organic Sweet Potatoes*, Organic Avocado Oil, Organic Batter (Organic Potato Starch, Organic Corn Starch, Organic Tapioca Starch, Salt, Sodium Bicarbonate (Leavening) Xanthan Gum). *=Upcycled
You’ll find Roots Farm Fresh waffle fries at your local Sprouts and on their website in April. (So soon!) Sadly, these are not Whole30 compatible because of the corn starch and (most important) the Pancake Rule—but in your food freedom, you won’t find a tastier, more convenient fry. Follow Roots Farm Fresh on Instagram.
Geisen Sparkling Brut
This year at Expo, I learned that “dealcoholized” is a word. I also learned that I can, in fact, love non-alcoholic replicas of familiar alcoholic drinks like champagne. Geisen Sparkling Brut is crafted with the finest New Zealand grapes, and is "zero proof,” making it the perfect NA toasting beverage. And it tasted delicious! It’s not too sweet and deliciously crisp, with notes of citrus. It’s also pretty low in sugar, with just 7 grams per serving.
Ingredients: Dealcoholized Grape Wine (98%), Grape Juice (2%), Sulfur Dioxide (Preservative—does contain sulphites)
They share the details of how “dealcoholization” works on their website. Note, they guarantee their product contains no more than 0.5% alcohol by volume. By comparison, this is not meaningfully different from what you might get from certain fruit juices (like orange juice), so don’t let that figure throw you.
Geisen has other varietals too, including Sauv Blanc, Rosé, and a Merlot—all of which are NA. Is it still technically “wine?” They say yes, because they start with fermented grapes, like other wines. Is it Whole30 compatible, is the bigger question… and the answer is, “Maybe?” The word “wine” on the label is the tricky part, given the “no alcohol” rule, but there is no alcohol in final product, in which case I’d be fine with you drinking it during your Whole30. (I still need to talk about it with the team.)
In the meantime, if you’ve got a party, wedding, or regular old Tuesday night where you want to drink something fancy, these are a fantastic choice. Follow Geisen Wines on Instagram.
Joolies Date Sours
These aren’t available until May 2026 (I don’t want to bury the lede), but they were a delight and I cannot wait. To be clear, I am not a date fan; they’re sticky and too sweet. But when I saw sour dates? I was intrigued.
In 2012, when I was pregnant, I developed intense sour cravings. I started putting straight vinegar on all my salads, and would suck on lemons as much as my teeth enamel would allow. That sour fixation never left, and these new Joolies packed a serious punch. You’d only need one or two for maximum satisfaction, which means a little goes a long way.
Their web shop is down for maintenance, so I’m linking to the press release sharing more about this new offering. I also don’t have the full ingredient panel yet, although the press release says, “no added sugar or sugar alcohols.”
They’ll be available in four flavors: Blue Raspberry, Peachy, Watermelon (my favorite), and Cherry Cola. It was fun watching everyone’s face as they tried these—the sour cheeks were everywhere. Look for these in Sprouts in May, or find a retailer on the Joolies site. Follow Joolies on Instagram.
Tatemada Salsas
Tatemada’s branding is so pretty, and their salsas are next level. Their flavors are so rich and layered, with the perfect level of spice. (The Jalapeño was my favorite, and though that is marked as “max spice” on their label, I found it a solid medium.) We also loved the Molcajete; in fact, I’m eating that right now as I whip up this newsletter.
Ingredients: Roma Tomatoes, Jalapeño & Serrano Peppers, Onions, Pink Himalayan Salt, Non-GMO Fruit Derived Citric Acid
I was delighted to find a good selection at my local Sprouts; you can use their store locator to find Tatemada near you. I also had a fabulous chat with the founder, Sarah. And the best news ever—Tatemada Salsas are Whole30 compatible! I’d love to make them a Whole30 Approved partner, so if you love their salsas too, let them know on Instagram!
Once Upon a Coconut Water
I am not a coconut water fan. Never have been. It’s always tasted manky to me, which is not a word, but slang to describe something that’s dirty, old, and/or funky. While coconut water is fantastic source of energy and potassium, I’ve never found a brand I liked enough to buy—until Expo West, and Once Upon a Coconut!
Once Upon a Coconut uses fresh, never-from-concentrate, young coconuts harvested directly from the tree before they have time to age and drop. The taste is clean, lightly (naturally) sweet, and unlike any coconut water I’ve tried before. Their flavors, like Pineapple, Watermelon, and Blueberry, are delicious, with no added sugar. (All of these, plus the Original, are Whole30 compatible!)
Ingredients: Coconut water, watermelon juice
They also have two fun varieties: A chocolate coconut milk (sweetened), and sparkling coconut water with caffeine (also sweetened). I thought chocolate coconut milk would be gross, but I loved it. This would make the perfect post-workout carb replenishment, and I’m excited to order some for my kid for after his sporting events. They’re at my local Sprouts and Whole Foods; use their store locator to find Once Upon a Coconut near you. Follow Once Upon a Coconut on Instagram.
Veggie Vice Veggie Chips
Who isn’t going to stop when someone in a broccoli hat offers you a veggie chip? Veggie Vice takes the good green stuff (namely, Broccoli and Zucchini) and turns them into insanely crispy, highly addictive snack chips. They’ve currently got freeze-dried Broccoli Sour Cream and Onion chips, and Zucchini chips. The Broccoli chips use dairy, so they’re not Whole30 compatible, but damn were they delicious! I’m not the biggest broccoli fan, but I could easily eat a whole bag of these. The Zucchini Chips are Whole30 compatible, and they’d make a great addition to your next program!
Ingredients: Zucchini, Sea Salt.
I’m hoping they come out with more flavors, but I’ll happily trade off between broccoli and zucchini until they do. They’re available in my local Sprouts, but you can use their store locator to find them near you. Follow Veggie Vice on Instagram.
Expo West 2026 #1 Pick: Wilde Protein Crackers
Y’all, this was my hands-down favorite snack of the whole show, and it was even more delightful that it’s made by one of my favorite companies and founders (Jason Wright, pictured above). Wilde is famous for their high-protein chicken chips, which were so far ahead of their time when they launched in 2015. (My son is obsessed with the Buffalo, but I love the Chicken & Waffle.) They’re chips made from real chicken, averaging between 10-12 grams of protein per serving. Wilde also makes mini-bags, perfect to send in your kid’s lunchbox (or your own).
This year, they debuted their newest product… Protein Crackers. At least, that’s what the package says. Y’all, these are high-protein fancy-ass Cheez-Its, and let me tell you, I could not get enough. They’re delicious; crunchy, crispy, cheesy, and yes, packed with protein! But unlike so many other Expo products, protein has been baked into their brand ethos since the very beginning. This isn’t a chip adding protein—this is protein in the form of a chip.
They’re not out yet, and I’m desperately trying to find out when and where they will launch, so standby! Follow Wilde Chips on Instagram.
Expo West 2026 breakout star: Sourmilk
Sourmilk Yogurt made a big splash at Expo. It’s Greek yogurt, low in lactose, high in protein (of course), and insanely creamy. It boasts more probiotics than typical Greek yogurts, contains no added sugar, is made from organic grass-fed dairy, and has been called “the whipped cream of yogurt.” Also, their socials are a WILD RIDE.
The company is women-founded, from two best friends in New York who used to work in VC. I’ve already reached out to say, “If y’all ever do a raise, I’ll be first in line.” I think you’ll see Sourmilk in many retailers this time next year, fingers crossed.
Expo West: Honorable mentions
These were fabulous finds that are worth calling out—and worth you seeking out at your local grocer or online.
Little Lads Spicy Dill Pickle Popcorn
First, to my delight, the pickle-flavored-everything trend is still alive. Next, I’m a huge popcorn fan, but not the bagged stuff. I find it super-dry, lacking depth of flavor, or both. I tried plenty of popcorn at Expo, but walked away disappointed each time. Until Little Lads! This is good popcorn! It wasn’t dry, and the dill pickle flavor was delicious. I didn’t try all of their flavors, but I’m intrigued by Vermont Maple Buttah.
Siete Sourdough Tortillas
Siete never misses, and this Expo was no different. They debuted a new “Sourdough” Tortilla, and it was nothing short of magical. It’s made from cassava, but giving major sourdough vibes. The texture is soft and smooth like flour, the flavor has that mild sourdough tang, but they’re 100% gluten- and grain-free. They’re launching in Texas HEBs this month, with more nationwide retailers to follow in early spring. Follow Siete on Instagram.
Zingha Aromatherapy
Remember a few years ago, I introduced you to Boom Sticks? This year, Zingha also caught my attention. They’re essential oil nasal inhalers (aromatherapy) designed to improve your mood, relax you before bed, clear your sinuses, or relieve stress. (And you can get both nostrils at once, which I love!) I grabbed a sample of the Boost, which is Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Rosemary, Sweet Orange, Lemon, and Peppermint. I’ve been using it daily; you can get 4 for $20 (and a variety of flavors/scents) on Amazon.
Gutzy Prebiotic Pouches
Thanks to (again) GLP-1 use, pouches, smoothies, and other easy-to-digest, nutrient-dense snacks or mini-meals are on the rise. I’ve been eating baby food pouches for years during travel or hikes, but Gutzy pouches are all grown up.
They launched two new protein-added varieties at Expo, featuring 7 grams of pea protein and a touch of monkfruit. All of their pouches (which they call “smoothies”) feature 7-8 grams of fiber per serving, and are packed with prebiotics. Plus, the five non-protein versions are all Whole30 compatible! These are such a fantastic addition to your mini-meal, snack, or on-the-go travel stash, as you can keep it out of the fridge for a whole day (as long as it’s not exposed to extreme heat). Use their store locator to find Gutzy near you, and follow them on Instagram.
Want to know more about anything I’ve shared here? Excited about any (or all) of these products? Leave a comment; they’re open to all today!