The Modern Girl’s Guide To Buying Fermented Foods in Stores

Kombucha at the gas station? Sauerkraut at your convenience store? The times have certainly changed. While eating fermented foods has been around for thousands of years, their instant accessibility has been a new -- and thrilling -- thing to witness.

Healthy foodie and wellness blogger, Celeste Thomas of The True Spoon, is sharing her top picks for packaged fermented food. Each one is cute, clean and deeply delicious. Whether you're new to fermented foods or simply looking for more ways to integrate them into your daily diet, try loading your cart with some of these...

If your life is more Sex and the City than Little House on the Prairie, you might be interested in buying fermented foods rather than making them at home. This trendy food category can be quite confusing but fear not loves, I’m sharing my cheat sheet of the best fermented products on the market and what makes them great.

Health food store shelves are teeming with fermented products, from kombucha to vibrant pink kraut. Buyer beware: Not all packaged fermented foods and beverages are created equal. Sugar, salt and pesticides are the biggest sneaky culprits of less-than-favorable convenient fermented foods. I’ve discovered, tasted and scrutinized tons of brands to make your next grocery trip a breeze.

How To Choose The Ideal Fermented FoodsSelect low-sugar Kombucha. All kombucha must contain sugar in order for the fermentation process to take place. The symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (or SCOBY) feeds on a combination of sugar and tea to make the most popular fermented drink on the market.

+ Low-sugar booch: Kombucha 2000 in E3 live brew is a delicious tart brew. It only contains 3g of sugar per 12oz bottle, and their original flavor is a great alternative for non-algae fans.

+ Low-sugar booch: Brew Dr. Kombucha in lemon ginger cayenne. This flavor punch booch only contains 5g of sugar per 7oz serving. And bonus points for the swanky brown apothecary bottle.

Select organic fermented vegetables. Just because it’s fermented doesn’t mean it’s good for you! Don’t get green-washed by misleading branding — look for organic fermented veggies free of pesticides. Firefly Kitchens and Farmhouse Culture are both trusty organic brands with delicious and unique offerings.

I love the classic kraut and spicy Firefly kimchi from Firefly Kitchens. And I love the Taquiera mix of carrots, onions and jalapenos, as well as the garlic dill pickle kraut from Farmhouse Culture.

Select low-sodium for fermented sauces and condiments. By the way, watching out for sodium is so 2019. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) suggests that Americans consume less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day as part of a healthy eating pattern. Based on these guidelines (considered beyond generous by many practitioner) the vast majority of adults eat more sodium than they should — Americans average more than 3,400 mg of sodium per day. Many miso, sauces and other fermented condiments are quite sodium heavy so here are a few low-sodium alternatives:

+ Low-sodium miso: Cold Mountain Kyoto White Miso contains only 140mg per teaspoon, about 60% less sodium than traditional fermented miso paste. Add this beneficial bacteria rich paste to bone broth, a simple soup or just plain hot water.

+ Low-sodium fermented condiment: Wildbrine probiotic Spicy Kimchi Sriracha contains only 35mg of sodium per teaspoon. The flavor complexity of this low sodium condiment will liven your entire plate with just one serving.

Screenshot this article to make your next shopping trip a breeze. If you find yourself in a store that doesn’t carry any of the fermented food brands listed, use this new knowledge on fermented foods to make the healthiest decision possible.

And for those of you extra discerning babes who love a local, sustainable moment, try making your own fermented foods at home. Home fermentation is much easier than you think, and once you get the hang of it, you’ll have a low cost way to promote holistic wellness for life. My step-by-step Fermentation Ebook is a beginner’s guide to home fermentation, with troubleshooting FAQs. Move over ceramics class, you’ve just found your new hipster hobby for 2019.

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