It’s weird to put 2020 and “favorites” in the same sentence, but… I am the type of person to always look at situations with a glass half full perspective. Also, I have to admit, aside from the murder hornets, suggestions that aliens exist thanks to UFO videos being leaked by the Pentagon and that song WAP… This year… Did still have a few positives… Including discovering some TASTY FAVORITES* that you can find listed below.
*Some of the things listed below are old favorites as well!
FOOD FAVORITES:
FISHY FAVORITES:
I have a borderline, looney-bin worthy obsession with salmon. I eat the pinkish-red fish, EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. And I have calculated that on average I eat about 9 to 10 pounds A WEEK. Pretty much every time the doorbell rings at my house, it’s to make me aware that I have a package of salmon on my doorstep however, sometimes I think that when I open the door, it’s going to be a group of line staff ready to take me away for observation. Thankfully, that hasn’t happened (yet), and I honestly don’t think it ever will because my “insane” craze for salmon is actually very HEALTHY considering salmon is insanely nutritious, packed with omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, high-quality protein, and B vitamins. With all this being said, it’s no wonder people have turned to me for advice as to where to purchase the highest quality of salmon… And to that, I give them the list below!
Fulton Fish Market
PURCHASE POINTERS: The salmon they sell is Kvaroy Salmon and it’s the best of the best! I highly recommend you get their salmon freezer bundle (although all their fish is sent to your doorstep fresh) and freeze. Also, don’t forget to add some salmon and kampachi collars to your cart. You’re welcome. PS: this fish market offers up way more than just salmon, so I recommend you do some website exploring!
Oshen Salmon
PURCHASE POINTERS: Creamy, rich, buttery, smooth. What’s not to love about all of those descriptors for this salmon? My only pointer is to make room in your freezer because this salmon freezes well if you can’t polish off your fresh order right away!
Fish Finery
PURCHASE POINTERS: While a tad on the pricy side, I highly recommend you treat yourself to some Ora King Salmon (fillet and/or gravlax). You won’t be disappointed. Use the code GIGIEATS at checkout for a discount!
SizzleFish
PURCHASE POINTERS: My favorites from SizzleFish are their Atlantic Salmon and Chilean Sea Bass. They are mouthgasmic! Also note, this seafood comes to your door completely frozen and makes for amazing last-minute meals! I usually cook my fish from frozen in my air fryer! Use the code GIGIEATS at checkout for a discount!
Vital Choice Seafood
PURCHASE POINTERS: The Chilean Sea Bass, Sablefish/Black Cod, Canned Sardines and Mackerel, and Salmon and Tuna Tataki are my favorites! Also, just like Sizzlefish, Vital Choice comes to your door completely frozen and makes for perfect last-minute, “whoops I forgot to thaw dinner” meals because you can easily cook their fish from frozen!
Whole Foods Atlantic Salmon
PURCHASE POINTERS: Ignore the wild-caught salmon found at Whole Foods (or on Amazon) as it’s pricy and just not as delicious as their Atlantic Salmon offerings. You might be wary about purchasing farm-raised salmon, but through much research, I have learned that Whole Foods Atlantic Salmon is some of the cleanest farm-raised salmon you will ever eat and Kvaroy salmon (see Fulton Fish Market) actually supplies the major grocery store with their fish!
The Good Fish
PURCHASE POINTERS: Salmon skin chips. This may sound repulsive to you but OMFG, they’re insanely delicious. I am utterly obsessed. Now if you don’t like salmon/fish, you will 100% HATE THESE, but if you don’t, I recommend you give them a try (they come in five different flavors)! If you use the code TEXTGOODFISH at checkout, you will get a discount on your order!
MEATY FAVORITES:
Grass-fed and grass-finished meat. Check out the diagram below to see the benefits of eating this type of red meat!
US Wellness Meats
PURCHASE POINTERS: Do you love brisket but don’t have a smoker, or hate risking ruining that big hunk of meat that takes hours on end to cook? US Wellness Meats has a pre-cooked brisket that all you have to do is warm up and you’re good to go. It’s seriously one of favorite offerings from them, aside from their ground meats.
Teton Waters Ranch
PURCHASE POINTERS: Grass-fed and Grass-finished beef hot dogs and burgers with ZERO added sugar. What’s not to absolutely LOVE?! Legit the best hot dogs I have ever had, they taste like the nostalgic goodies that you probably wolfed down at a baseball game back in the day. Except these hot dogs are 10000% guilt-free because grass-fed/finished beef is, what I like to call, LAND-SALMON as it’s higher in omega-3 fatty acids than grain-finished beef!
Grass Run Farms
PURCHASE POINTERS: The 100% grass-fed beef (grass-fed and grass-finished) can be found in the freezer section at Sprouts Markets or you can purchase it online. If you happen to live in Los Angeles, this meat is served up at a restaurant chain called Burger Lounge and it is hands down, the BEST burger I have ever had in my ENTIRE LIFE. ENTIRE. LIFE. You will never look at any other beef the same again. I know, I don’t.
CONDIMENTS/SWEETENERS:
Redmond Real Salt
PURCHASE POINTERS: Salt is NOT just salt. Lots of salts contain added ingredients to bulk them up and some even add dextrose (SUGAR) to the mix. Redmond REAL salt is just that, it’s REAL SALT and that’s it! This salt brings out the flavor of EVERYTHING it’s sprinkled on times 50 and you don’t need to use as much because it’s just… REAL SALT.
Swerve
PURCHASE POINTERS: You probably don’t even know what this is. It’s a zero-calorie, sugar replacement that measures JUST like sugar! It has zero effect on blood glucose or insulin levels and if you’re worried about a bitter aftertaste, don’t be, because it doesn’t have one! What I personally like to do with Swerve is sprinkle it on roasted sweet potatoes!
Guy Gone Keto Ketchup
PURCHASE POINTERS: The Guy Gone Keto brand has so many different sauces, dressings, and condiments to choose from, but personally, my ketchup is their favorite, which is why I am singling it out. This brand also offers up a spicy version if you’re into a little extra kick. What I personally like to do with this ketchup is eat it with spinach. DO NOT knock it, till you’ve tried it!
Barlean’s Butter Flavored Coconut Oil
PURCHASE POINTERS: Whether or not you can eat dairy, this coconut oil is phenomenal. I dare you to do a blindfolded taste test when you get it of both real butter and this flavored coconut oil, and I am almost positive you won’t be able to tell the difference in taste! It’s sorcery!
SUGAR-FREE SWEET TREATS:
The Good Chocolate
PURCHASE POINTERS: Double Crunch Vegan Milk. Nuff said. Okay, I will elaborate. The Double Crunch Vegan Milk… Did it pop up on the right side of your screen? Yeah, I created this chocolate with The Good Chocolate and it’s 100% sugar-free, dairy-free, soy-free, gmo-free, and 100% DELICIOUS! I may be biased but… Let me tell you, I have lots of people to back me up on how tasty this flavor is! That being said, The Good Chocolate DOES offer up other flavors and regularly has discount/coupon codes… So sign up for their newsletter to stay in the loop!
Simply Delish
PURCHASE POINTERS: I am not a jello fan, so when I plug Simply Delish, I am specifically plugging their puddings, which are INSANE! They’re so easy to prepare and make for one of the greatest treats post-meal that will 1000% satisfy your sweets cravings! And you can easily pair these puddings, that come in vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and now banana, with my below favorite!
The Sprinkles Company
PURCHASE POINTERS: Buy ALL of these sugar-free sprinkles. ALL OF THEM. And be on the lookout because Nicole (the brains behind this brand) makes seasonal colors on the regular! She’s an utter genius!
ZoCal
PURCHASE POINTERS: This sugar-free ice cream is THE BEST I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. I don’t eat dairy and they offer up lots of deliciously dairy-free options, as well as dairy-filled options. All of these ice creams are sweetened with allulose, which lend to the creamiest consistency of guilt-free ice cream I have EVER had. EVER. EVERRRRR!!!! But seriously, I am utterly obsessed with this ice cream and I think this may be my BEST FOOD FIND of 2020! When you order, be sure to make sure you ordered the specified amount of pints if you’re looking to score some free shipping (and for some places, this may be 16 pints. This sounds like A LOT but I promise, you will WANT TO ORDER this many BECAUSE it’s THAT GOOD!)… Oh and did I mention that at MAXIMUM there are 100 calories per pint, although some of the varieties (the vegan ones) have only 40 calories per pint! Use the code GGZC at check out to get a discount!
Mint Chocolate Chip Sugar-Free Gum
PURCHASE POINTERS: This sugar-free gum, that truly tastes like mint chocolate chip ice cream, is available for in-store purchase at Target and Walmart. You can purchase it on Amazon, however, it’s not readily available in some areas! It is 100% worth searching for though if you’re a mint chocolate chip fan though!
SCRUMPTIOUS SIPS
Sugar-Free Monster Ultra Zero Energy Drink
PURCHASE POINTERS: If you’re an energy drink drinker (hopefully sugar-free), like yours truly here, then purchasing cases on Amazon is definitely the way to go as buying in bulk is cheaper than buying one can at a time and it’s delivered right to your door so you don’t have to do any of the lugging! I actually subscribe and save so I never have to worry that I will be out of my pizazz juice! Oh, and if you’re totally on the fence about energy drinks and whether they’re unhealthy or not, do watch my video where I go through every single ingredient of my beloved beverage (Monster Ultra Zero) to determine whether or not they’re right for you.
Sparkling Ice + Caffeine, Triple Citrus
PURCHASE POINTERS: I taste test A LOT of drinks. New drinks and/ or weird drinks I see at the store, I buy them and try them. Let’s just say, I have wasted A LOT of money on disgusting drinks… However, Sparkling Ice + Caffeine is NOT one of them. In fact, I wound up buying a case on Amazon, along with my Monster, because they’re THAT good. If you’re sensitive to caffeine but do want to put a little pep in your step, this may be the route to take because it has half the caffeine of Monster Ultra (and a 1/3 of the caffeine compared to some other drinks out there) and it’s absolutely DELICIOUS (if you like the lemon/lime flavor combo). 10/10 WOULD RECOMMEND! Sparkling Ice does offer other flavors too, so I recommend you check out their line!
Serenity Kids
PURCHASE POINTERS: Sure, these pureed foods may be made for kids, but they’re honestly the best on-the-go snacks, with the cleanest ingredients, that I recommend them to adults ALL THE TIME!
Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel, Vanilla Coconut
PURCHASE POINTERS: Sure, there is a chocolate variety, along with an assortment of other flavors, but their vanilla coconut flavor is by far the best in. my opinion! Team VANILLA all the way!
Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel, Snickerdoodle
PURCHASE POINTERS: Just buy it. Cause holy TASTY MOUTH FESTIVITIES, this dairy-free holiday version of Primal Kitchen’s typical collagen fuel flavors is ON POINT! And since it’s a “seasonal” special, you may want to buy a few canisters before they stop supplying them until next year!
Natural Heaven
PURCHASE POINTERS: Sure, you have to buy Natural Heaven Hearts of Palm Pasta in SERIOUS bulk on Amazon, but it’s so worth it because this stuff is hands down the BEST pasta/spaghetti replacement I have found to date! If you’re looking to reduce your carb intake, or jump on the keto bandwagon… This pasta will help curb your cravings for the real deal, NO problem!
SeaSnax
PURCHASE POINTERS: Sure, you could buy other seaweed snacks, but SeaSnax is the ONLY brand that I have found that uses OLIVE OIL as it’s lubricant (and ONLY OLIVE OIL). I triple dog dare you to try and only eat ONE BAG… Good LUCK with that!
Grub Hub & Postmates
PURCHASE POINTERS: The phrase “purchase pointers” doesn’t really work for GrubHub and Postmates… Although, I did purchase a subscription to BOTH services since my husband and I eat out A LOT… And they haven’t disappointed at all. Even when there Is a FORK UP (which is pretty rare) customer service swoops in for the win! If you’re too lazy to go pick up your take out, then I highly suggest you subscribe to one of these services. FYI: UberEats sucks a HOTDOG.
GADGETS:
Aria Air Fryers
PURCHASE POINTERS: If you have a smaller kitchen, the 7 QT or smaller sizes would be best for you. If you have a family of 7 to feet, the 30 QT air fryer is definitely the way to go. Use the code GIGIEATS at checkout for a discount!
GoWise Air Fryers
PURCHASE POINTERS: Sure, you could go for a different size than what I recommend (click the link and you will see which size I love), but the oven version of GoWise’s air fryer is the BEST design, in my opinion, and my 400 for 28 minutes method for salmon works PERFECTLY.
Knives For Kitchen
PURCHASE POINTERS: If you want to create a series of customized knives (um, hello PERFECT gift idea), then Knives for Kitchen is the place to go! They’re hand-made in Pakistan and all conversations about what you want are done over WhatsApp.
Arkon Mount
PURCHASE POINTERS: There are 2984783482348 different mount options available at Arkon Mount for your phone, tablet, etc… But the one I link to, it’s the best of the best and has been my THIRD ARM this last year. It has helped me film MANY of recipe videos and it’s PERFECTLY to capture over the head video or images!! Use the code GIGIEATS at checkout for a discount!
COOKBOOKS:
She Does Keto
PURCHASE POINTERS: Obviously I am going to plug my book. No pointers here on purchasing this… Just do it!
New Keto Cooking
PURCHASE POINTERS: Have you ever seen Master Chef? Well, the author of this book, yeah, he was on that show and I am also honored to call him my friend! His recipes are super fancy, but also easy to make and all 100% keto-friendly! Just like my pointer for purchasing my own book, JUST DO IT
Low Carb Diet For Two
PURCHASE POINTERS: If you’re looking to kick off the new year eating lower in carbohydrates then Bek’s book is what you need! It’s easy to understand and follow and has some insanely tasty recipes that you’ll crave instead of… Carbohydrate filled meals! PS: Page 85… Yep. Bek may have dedicated that recipe to me and I couldn’t be more honored!
Made Whole, Made Simple
PURCHASE POINTERS: Prepare to drool as you flip through the pages of Cristina’s book. All of her recipes look utterly scrumptious and… THEY ARE! You will never in a million years know that you’re eating low carb when you make her recipes!
Eat Real Food
PURCHASE POINTERS: Krysten’s book is worth every cent, especially if you’re looking to clean up your diet. If you tend to gravitate towards packaged goods at the grocery store and want to fix this habit of yours, Krysten is here to fill you up with some recipes that will have you never looking at packaged foods the same way again! Also, a bulk, if not all of her recipes are either gluten-free, paleo-friendly, dairy-free, or all of the above! No, but seriously, how do air-fryer chicken and waffles sound to you?! Who would have thought you didn’t have to rely on EGGO to make you waffles!
CLOTHING:
I am 100% a walking fashion DON’T… And I never wear pants. I know these facts about myself totally make you trust my fashion suggestions. But just trust me… You’re DEFINITELY going to want to check these pieces out. I officially LIVE IN these comfy situations and I will be donating every other item of clothing I purchased in previous years to GoodWill because I don’t need them anymore!
Vetinee Fuzzy Fleece
PURCHASE POINTERS: This sweater is meant to be big. I am 5’2″ and have an overall small frame, but I still ordered a MEDIUM and it is perfect! I wound up buying THREE of these because I am utterly obsessed and I am considering… Donating all my other clothing from my closet because I don’t need them anymore!
Long Zip Hoodie
PURCHASE POINTERS: This sweater is also meant to be big (and I am actually wearing it as I write this)… It’s like wearing a throw blanket that’s acceptable to be worn out of the house. I ordered a small in this sweater and it hits just below my knees. I will 100% be ordering this sweater in other colors.
Batwing Short Sleeved Shirt
PURCHASE POINTERS: I am 5’2″ as I mentioned… And I got a size medium in this shirt because I love baggy clothing! Also, I love the colors of these shirts, they’re VERY vibrant! (In the below IGTV I am wearing the red version).
Under Armour Infinity Sneakers
PURCHASE POINTERS: Figure out what size shoe you are in KIDS sizes because that’s the only sizes they come in. I figured out that I am a size 6/6.5 in KIDS (and I am a size 7 in Adult Females). PS: These sneakers feel like you’re wearing SOCKS!
Shinesty
PURCHASE POINTERS: While I can only speak for the ONESIES… Know that if you’re 5’2″… Know that SMALL will be a tad big on you… BUT OH SO COMFORTABLE. As for my husband… He’s a SLIM 6’6″ and a LARGE fit him perfectly! I will 100% be getting the baby/toddler gingerbread jammies for my son next holiday season! PS: Shinesty sells more than just onesies! They have pants, tops, dresses, boxers, panties, bathing suits, and ski outfits… And their clothing changes as the seasons change!!
So as you can see… 2020… Not all that bad for me! And honestly, I could continue to list even more of my favorites, but I figured I have probably exhausted and overwhelmed you with all of these as it is!
SO TELL ME…
- Any item above particularly sticks out to you as something you may want to look further into?
- Tell me some of your 2020 favorites?! Whether it be items, foods, excursions, events, etc.
- Are you feeling optimistic or pessimistic about 2021?
- Have you ever tried any of the food products I listed above?