Weekly Pickups: Brain bars, healthy air freshener, and date peanut butter
Ft. Nicole Krasnow Smith, Brand Partnerships @ Pop Up Grocer
Welcome back to Weekly Pickups!
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To our lovely Austin, TX readers 🤠:
Free next Thursday? Not anymore :) I’ll be heading to The Consumer VC LIVE Summit in Austin, and I would love to see you there!!!
This is one heck of a jam-packed, full-day event, featuring a stellar lineup of founders + investors breaking down the future of CPG and retail. I’m SO excited to attend—if you’re also in Austin and attending this event, I’d love to say hi!! Feel free to email me at jenna@expresscheckout.co - Jenna ◡̈
Now, let’s get into what we’ve been loving this week →
Jenna’s Pickup:
MOSH - Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Protein Bar
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: there is no shame in being a pumpkin spice girlie (I am partially saying this to convince myself of it, but I digress). I love trying pumpkin spice in different formats, but a protein bar is a first for me—and this one, admittedly, hits.
Quick Facts: Plant-based protein bar crafted (by your favorite White Lotus icon, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and his even more famous mother, Maria Shriver) for brain + body. This is a limited-edition flavor, but I’m a fan of all of their plant-based flavors!
Reasons to love:
YUM for multiple occasions. This bar is so delicious, it functions as both a post-workout treat and a cure for a mid-day sweet craving. It doesn’t taste quite like pumpkin pie—I’d argue it’s closer to a chocolate chip pumpkin bread or cookie—but I actually love that. It’s not too sweet, hits the autumnal notes perfectly, and has a good sprinkling of rich dark chocolate chips. I also LOVE the texture of these bars—they’re soft and chewy, but dotted with crunchy pieces (like a Crunch bar) that give them a robust mouthfeel (do I sound chef-y yet?).
Plant-based ingredients for brain + body. MOSH bars were crafted specifically for brain and body health, packed with plant-based protein (from almonds + pea protein) and the brand’s signature Brain Blend, a mix of Cognizin® (a clinically-studied form of citicoline, which is a naturally occurring nutrient found to improve brain function), Lion’s Mane, Ashwagandha, and Vitamins D3 and B12. It’s sweetened with a touch of maple syrup (only 2g sugar), stevia, and monk fruit. I can’t say I notice an immediate ~ brain boost ~, but I know I’m feeding my brain the good stuff with these bars, and I feel extra good about protecting my noggin every time I eat them.
Where to buy: On their site or Amazon
Nate’s Pickup:
Realm Air & Fabric refreshers
I’m always looking for ways to make my apartment smell amazing. Last week I shared my new favorite candle, from Ranger Station, and I think I found the perfect pair to that. My friend Ashley Sweeney started this brand and I have been waiting for it to finally launch. I remember when she first told me about the idea!
Quick Facts: Plant-based, non-toxic room sprays that come in four sophisticated fragrances: Fresh Poplin, Wild Lavender, Citrus Saffron, and Verbena Santal. No phthalates, no harsh chemicals.
Reasons to love:
Perfect OG scents. These aren’t your typical air freshener fragrances—they’re complex and layered. The Verbena Santal and Citrus Saffron are my go-tos. They’re punchy without being overwhelming, kind of like you lit your favorite high-end candle and let it burn just long enough to fill the room. The Citrus Saffron and Verbena Santal are my two favorites. The Citrus one feels really really luxe.
The mist is perfect. This is one of those details you don’t think about until you experience it done right. The spray creates these wide and incredibly fine mist particles that disperse evenly throughout the space without leaving any wet spots on fabric or surfaces. I’ve literally sprayed it directly over my couch and it just disappears into the air.
Safe for Ginger. Some products use harsher chemicals that I’ve read aren’t great for dogs, so I’ve used the ones I’ve purchased very sparingly. But this one is free from a lot of known carcinogens and other toxic stuff to dogs that some other brands may use.
Where to buy: Online
✨ Special Guest ✨ Nicole Krasnow Smith
Nicole is the Senior Manager of Brand Partnerships at Pop Up Grocer, AKA the go-to destination for CPG discovery. We’ve been fans + friends of Pop Up Grocer for years now, and our obsession with this retailer has a whole lot to do with Nicole’s work behind-the-scenes! Nicole is constantly trying the most innovative brands, so we trust her recs immensely—she obviously didn’t disappoint :)
Let's dive into her picks! →
What are they?
The first product I am currently obsessed with is Hero Bread. It’s a low carb, moderate-protein bread that is actually delicious. I toast up two slices of their classic white bread every morning. I have founded that watching my carb and sugar intake is better for my digestion/overall well-being, and so the ability to have really yummy bread makes life easy. I recommend all of the products, (also buy their burger buns, tortillas), but recommend all should be toasted.
Secondly, I always have a jar of French Squirrel Crunchy Date Peanut Butter (Beurre) in my pantry. I am a creature of habit, so if I’m not having my eggs and Hero bread, I’m having my greek yogurt + French Squirrel. It is so delicious, with great ingredients. It feels indulgent with the date pieces, and I just love the entire brand. I also adore the founder Sydney (editor’s note: we do too!), but I buy the product because it is very good.
Where'd you purchase it, and why that channel? I buy Hero Bread locally, typically either at Whole Foods, or Heinen’s (my local grocer). And then I buy French Squirrel typically on Amazon.
Now that I don’t live in NYC, I have to be a touch more creative with how I get the brands I love, but most of them are accessible via Whole Foods or Amazon. I’ll usually pick up a jar of PB when I visit NYC. For me, Whole Foods is my first stop grocery store, so that is why Hero Bread is purchased there. Rooting for French Squirrel to be there soon! Amazon is the easiest way to get FS, so that’s why I use that!
What about this product intrigued you? With Hero Bread, the nutrition aspect sounded incredible, so naturally I was skeptical but I love to try new things. I worked with the Hero Bread team at Pop Up Grocer, and they were so nice and excited, that I bought a loaf. It truly was love at first bite. I have never been gifted Hero Bread and shout my love of it from the roof tops. I am such a creature of habit, and like to find foods I’ll eat daily that make me feel good. I have never found a better for you bread that checked all the boxes I care about (taste, low carb, good ingredients!). I’ve tried other low carb bread brands, and I’ve never fallen in love like I have with Hero.
With French Squirrel, I originally tried the Bisous (a play on puppy chow), and was obsessed. I also got to know Sydney through working together at Pop Up Grocer. I am a peanut butter lover naturally, so while I do adore Sydney, trying it was because it looked great. Both in packaging and ingredients. I love Sydney’s mission, the way she speaks about food and body image and accessibility. I am inspired by the way she sees food, eats, and shares her thoughts online. Her delicious peanut butter is the cherry on top!
Why do you love it? For me, taste is everything. I don’t care about macros, I love delicious food and if it also is better for me, then wonderful. So, both Hero Bread and French Squirrel Beurre are truly delicious. I can’t recommend them enough (and I do, constantly). For Hero Bread, I would note that the taste is perfect, and it’s a great way to enjoy lower-carb bread, with some added fiber and protein. French Squirrel is the best sort of crunchy peanut butter out there!
Thanks for reading! Anything you think we should try for an upcoming edition of Express Checkout? Email us at nate@expresscheckout.co and jenna@expresscheckout.co
ICYMI: We just shared our fourth episode of The Curious Consumer! It’s a continuation on all things PROTEIN, including some of the hottest takes from our audience and the Peter Rahal, Founder + CEO of David Bar.
