A mecca is essentially a place that attracts people to it, and the natural products mecca is the holy grail known as Expo West. The massive convention takes place every March at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Right across the street from the happiest place in the world, Disneyland, healthy food lovers and organic seekers of all sorts have their own version of eternal happiness as they stroll aisle upon aisle of Expo West.

Doug Greene—a trade magazine publisher and stalwart believer in good nutrition and clean, healthy living—recognized the importance of bringing these value-aligned people and businesses together over four decades ago. He believed that, for this industry to take root and truly blossom, it would take communication, collaboration and collective wisdom – all in a time before the internet and quick communication. Natural Products Expo West held their first convention 45 years ago, and it’s proven true that bringing natural retailers and brands together has since transformed the entire industry.

As in everything in life, there are trends at Expo West, and it’s always fun to see what those will be. The three that stood out to me this – protein (in and on literally everything), electrolytes (we are dehydrated society it seems) and a move to more balanced eating (think less sugar alternatives and more lower sugar items). Our skin is our biggest organ and anything we put on it gets absorbed into our body, so just like the food we eat, Expo West highlights great natural products and supplements too.

While much of the expo is of course about introducing media, retail outlets and buyers to natural products, let’s talk about the non-food fun of the festivities. The bags are the IT thing and there are always some that everyone in attendance seeks out. The past two years, Belgian Boys has had lines down the aisle with guests hoping to snag the IT bag. This year, Just Ingredients had an adorable tote that any beachgoer would covet, and I personally think it was the cutest bag of the expo. But beware, many vendors have windows of time they give out their popular bags, to ensure they have enough to share over the entire course of the expo. Afterall, if we could all have it, would we all want it?

The booths themselves are also a big part of the lure – quite literally. A fun booth is bound to draw in expo adventurers. Games, bright colors, interactive displays, are just a few of the ways the vendors make their booth standout in a crowded room. The outfits the brand teams wear add a fun layer to the cake. This year there were teams with jean jackets loaded with patches, the Goodles team had matching teal ensembles from head to toe, which included their Nike shoes. There are thousands of vendors at Expo West, and these brands know that they need to stand out, and they find such creative ways to do so. In a sea of similar products, they have to draw you into the booth to help you realize their product is a standout just as much as their creativity is.

The Goodles team might take the cake for creative marketing at this years Expo West. Their booth, a nod to the ‘90s was covered in faux fur, where brand reps dressed in bucket hats and helped guests take a plunge into the plushy noodle pool. Across the aisle, you could sample mac and cheese from the conveyor belt and try your luck at winning a toy in the claw machine. On top of that, they handed out charm bracelets to guests, along with a booklet featuring other brands with adorable charms you could add to your bracelet. As you found the other vendors around the expo, they would ask for an Instagram follow and in return you would get a cute charm. By partnering with such brands as Back to Nature (cracker charm), Ayoh! Foods (grilled cheese charm), The Only Bean (peapod charm) and Laoban (dumpling charm), at the end of the day you had a foodie-lovers dream accessory and a list of new products you were excited to try. They likely are repped up by the same PR firm who came up with this crowd-pleasing activity, which I would consider a job well done!

The heart of the expo though is the products, and how the brands get you to notice them is one thing, but how the good product tastes or performs is really what it’s all about. As someone who has had to change their diet to accommodate my autoimmune disease, I can attest that the biggest thing that makes a difference is finding products with clean, simple ingredients. If you look at the ingredients list and don’t know what anything is, it’s a bad sign. The more you know, the better the product is for you.

With that said, I am sharing my 10 BEST FINDS at EXPO WEST 2026 below. I chose them not only because I loved the product but also for what the companies stand for. I hope you like them just as much as I do!

Uglies Kettle Potato Chips: Don’t let the name fool you, this brand is on a mission to make the world a more beautiful place, one vegetable at a time. Uglies are crafted from potatoes with imperfections, the farmers couldn’t otherwise sell, therefore helping reduce food waste. Uglies also give a portion of their proceeds to charity. When you can shop healthily, support farmers, reduce waste and give back, you can’t go wrong.

Coyotas: Having had to cut gluten, I have tried my fair share of tortilla options. Most without gluten or grains crumble the moment you pick them up. Not Coyotas. They are the perfect texture, made with only four ingredients and available in multiple sizes, so you can have the perfect taco or the perfect burrito. They will soon be launching chips which they sampled at Expo West, and let’s just say, I will be in line to buy the day they launch. Only three ingredients, but flavor for days.

Smash Superfood Fruit Spread: Most of us grew on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and our parents probably thought it was an easy, healthy meal. Sadly the typical jams and jellies put on those sandwiches were loaded with sugar. Heck, the peanut butter was too. These days, we can have that beloved meal without the insulin spike. That’s where Smash comes in, jam made with less than 10 ingredients and no added sugar. It tastes so fresh and delicious, you’ll never know it’s a healthier alternative to a childhood favorite.

Sunshine Buns: Where does a name like Sunshine Buns come from? If you could meet the founders, Chrisi Hammer and Kass Martin (and their husbands) you’d know instantly. These gals are full of energy, radiating light and dancing their way across the internet (Kass is a well-known Zumba instructor) and the expo floor. If you’re in Utah, you can stop into the brick-and-mortar store, but you can have these delicious buns in the comfort of your own home too. Packaged for ease, all you have to do is pull one out of the bag and warm it for 45 seconds. The perfect morning indulgence or afternoon sweet treat.

Q Mixers: The Q team will tell you that their premium mixers are known for their bubbles, and they aren’t wrong. Their mixers are crisp and refreshing and hold that effervescence the whole time you’re sipping your beverage. While they are made to craft a cocktail with your liquor of choice, they are yummy all on their own.

Bonduelle Lunch Bowls: Lunch in a pouch may not sound delectable, but wow, these pouches pack a punch. So much flavor, whole food ingredients, and the perfect size for a single meal. You can eat them cold, but I prefer them warmed, with some chicken sausage for added protein (remember the trend!) and seaweed topping (see below). These will for sure be a weekly staple in my meal rotation moving forward.

Gimme Seaweed: Seaweed is one of nature’s most powerful superfoods. It’s high in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, calcium and iron. Their K-Crisp seaweed toppings and a little flavor and a lot of nutritional punch to any meal. They prove seaweed is not just for sushi.

Make time: The brand name is a reminder to any who come across it, to make time in life for the things that make you happy and bring you health and peace. Make time was founded by Emma Hemming Willis and Helen Christoni, advocates for women’s health, and women who have had firsthand experience with dementia. These ladies understand that health is not just about the way you look and feel but how you support your brain too. The Make time line includes supplements for sleep, brain and beauty, and general women’s health.

Badger: Family owned and operated since 1995, Badger creates healing products made with minimally processed ingredients that are environmentally friendly. They’re best known for their sunscreens that us mineral zinc oxide, the safest active ingredient available for effective broad-spectrum protection, which absorb quickly with no white cast, and are also reef safe. Badger products help protect our skin but also ensure we protect our overall health as well.

Glimmer Wish: Oftentimes natural products are targeted to adults – but it’s just as important, if not more, that kids have access to health products. As they grow, products with endocrine disruptors should be avoided, and so often the items targeted at kids are loaded with them. Glimmer Wish was created by a mother-daughter duo. Mom was adamant about clean living as she battled Lyme disease and tried to find products for her daughter too, and with a gap in the market, her daughter Syndney decided to create her own. Glimmer Wish products are now developed in a lab with strict clean-formulation protocols and are dermatologist tested You can trust these products to be safe, free of harsh chemicals and as cute as can be!

Happy, healthy living to you all!

Signed with Style,