New Grocery Haul

Most of the groceries in this haul are usually things I by as staples in my pantry, like the stevia, pumpkin puree, apple cider vinegar, organic golden flaxseed meal, and organic old fashioned rolled oats. The hemp protein powder and powdered peanut butter are new products that I've been curious about. I'll explain the benefits of each and every one right below:

• Stevia- A natural sweetener (derivative of the sweetleaf plant). It's much sweeter than sugar, yet much much better for you than the artificially manufactured sweeteners like Equal or Splenda. Also, it's carb-free and calorie-free!
• Golden flaxseed meal- Flaxseed meal in general is of course made by the grinding of flax seed. It's very heart-healthy because it contains a type of omega-3 and provides a great amount of daily fiber. You can add flax to smoothies or pancakes and several other recipes. 
• Old-fashioned rolled oats- I LOVE this brand of rolled oats and this particular type of oats for my overnight oats. And these oats are perfect to grind up to make oat flour. 
• Hemp protein powder- The first time I've actually seen this ingredient being used was in one of my favorite juice bars in Boston. After visiting Whole Foods today and coming across it in the aisle, I thought I'd give it a try. It's a whole food source of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. Hemp seeds themselves are a natural source of protein. 
• Pumpkin puree- A great substitute for oil or butter in recipes if you want to cut the fat and calories. Pumpkins contain a great amount of vitamin A and lots of fiber.
• Apple cider vinegar- The apple cider vinegar helps to detoxify the body, promote weight loss, helps with skin problems like acne, and many more other benefits. I like to use this to pickle beets most of the time. It can also be used as a natural toner to balance the pH of your skin!
• Powdered peanut butter- Low calorie alternative to regular peanut butter! I had to try this because several of the fitness IGers on Instagram have mentioned this product in their recipes. However, I did have to settle for this particular brand instead of PB2 (PB2 wasn't available at Whole Foods). You might think powdered PB is weird, but you can't knock it if you don't try. The peanut butter is actually made into powder by having the oil squeezed out of the roasted peanuts. To use it, you simply add a bit of water to it to form a spread.