Nearly four years ago when I started this little blog of mine if you had told me I would get to do some of the things I do today, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. I started this to help promote my book SkinnyTinis, but mostly to have a place to record my running and skinny travel successes as a full time corporate road warrior. I had people ask me a lot of questions and it seemed easier to point them to one online journal than to tell the same story a half a dozen times. I did not think the world needed another “blog” nor did I think people I didn’t know would find my stories interesting. I’m SO GLAD YOU DO!
Why I LOVE what I do today
One of the coolest “blogger-perks” we call them is the opportunity to review cool products that I think you might like and ignore the ones I know you won’t 😉 I’ll admit, the NOW Foods Blogger Immersion event was my first invitation to check out an entire corporation.
Myself and 16 other Fitfulential Bloggers were invited to Chicago (Bloomington, IL to be exact) to spend some time with the team behind the massive brand: NOW Foods. With over 1400 employee and 1400 products, this once small, family owned health food company is crushing it on many levels. And FYI, it’s still family owned despite their massive growth, we got to speak with the founders son.
From the CEO to the pick-pack-and-ship team, we met them and saw it all. Our agenda was full and my jaw was dropped nearly half the time as I processed all the information they shared with us. Allow me to pass the highlights onto you.
We all arrived Thursday, had a brief meet and greet and then headed out to a lovely, colorful dinner at a local restaurant. There were a few presentations at dinner and some time to chat with the other bloggers. Then Friday was a jam packed day…
NOW Foods Blogger Event Agenda
Morning Workout: Greeted with Energy Bites on the way there and followed with yummy smoothies featuring their plant based protein powder. The workout itself was awesome. A 40 min interval-strength based set followed by 20 min yoga stretch. I was so happy!
Plant Tour: holy moly! It was nothing short of overwhelming. This facility is insane and the quality standards are out of this world. They have QA testing capabilities that are beyond industry standard. Plus it was such a trip to the behind the scenes of it all!
Corporate Office: Our afternoon at the corporate office was jam packed. We had a presentation on Food Tribes, which of course I found fascinating. I’ll share more on that later. Then had a chance to play with some of NOW’s Personal Care product and made yoga mat spray and bath salts. Then we had an oil tasting (that was a FIRST for me!) and they sent us away with mason jar salads with dressing we made ourselves with our favorite flavors from their Ellyndale line.
My Impression of NOW Foods
When the CEO, Jim Emme, spoke to us on Thursday night and said “we’re in the business of making healthier and happier living easier for more people.” Now that’s paraphrased, but it really resonated with me. I was like “hey, ya, me too!” While on a much smaller scale, but I knew I was in the right place.
I was struck by the amount of joy every employee we came into contact with had. Like every-single-one of them. Beaming with pride of their jobs, products and the company. And smiling from ear to ear as they explained to us what it was they did everyday. I come from a 14 year career in the corporate world and I have to say, in my experience, that’s not entirely normal.

The Products from NOW Foods
I can’t even start…like over 1400 skews in all categories like supplements, personal care, essential oils, sports nutrition, foods like oils, to-die-for snacks, amazing gluten free and grain products and now…even pet supplies! When we checked in, we walked into this swag bag, which was packed with what I’ve heard is about $800 worth of NOW products. I don’t excited that often, but this was SO FUN to go through.
The NOW Foods Giveaway!
See that picture above? I have another swag bag just like it to give away (less the t-shirt + more that is out of this frame). I didn’t add it up, but I heard it’s about $800 and it’s so much fun stuff I can hardly handle it! Just use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter all you want! This giveaway runs for two weeks: 6/13-6/26. I hope you win!
Connect with NOW Foods Now
I really did enjoy getting to know this company, they were an amazing group of people with high quality, affordable products. If you’d like to learn more or hang out with them virtually, visit their web site or find them on social media on FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter or YouTube.
*This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of NOW Foods.

39 Comments
Haley Bovard
Sounds like an amazing experience! Would love to win!
Lynette Biehler
What an awesome company! I would love to try their products!
jujubee777
avocado oil is amazing
DAWN BRADLEY
I would love to try Now probiotics and coconut oil
Jen
I would really like to try their coconut oil.
foodieforeveryone (Becky Denny)
Looks like a great company love that they cover everything from supplements to skin care products!
Amy Lauren
I’d love to try the multivitamins! Thank you for hosting this giveaway, and it’s so neat you got to take a tour of their headquarters.
Cheryl
I’d like to try the Real Food Roasted, Salted Pistachios.
Deidra
I have always loved NOW products. I use the Special Two vitamin daily and I have recently discovered one of their oil diffusers. Thanks for doing a giveaway!
DJ
I really want to try their pumpkin seed oil and the avocado oil.
Carolsue Anderson
RAFFLECOPTER: CAROLSUE
I’d like to try the Ultra Omega-3
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
Maria C.
I would love to try the pea protein
Casey the College Celiac
That quinoa pasta looks amazing!
motherofpearl81
Never tried them but am sooooo eager to! Looking forward to the Twitter party RSVP @motherofpearl81
heather
Wow. Quite the whirlwind event. NOW products are new to me, and I’d love to try the pumpkin seed oil. Thanks, and cheers!
Shelly
NOW looks like a great company. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Elle
I want to try all their vitamins!
erica scheutzow
There are so many different oils I’d like to try 🙂
sarianecondon
Love NOW and so many items I would love to try!
sandz4321
I would love to try their coconut oil
Katie B (@carrotrunr)
I’d love to try the quinoa pasta!
craftyone
i have hazelnut and almond oils
Trinh Quinonez
I would love to try the coconut infusions.
Melissa J
I would love to try the Stevia Extract Powder & the Coconut Infusions & the Quinoa Macaroni or Spaghetti!!
Christie N
We ❤️ the probiotics!!
Kelley H
I love Now Virgin Coconut Oil and would love to try Now Fit & Tone Protein.
Steve Weber
The coconut and avocado oil are my favorite products.
Charles
As a tea lover I would like to try the Green Kick. I’ve heard a lot about matcha green tea but have yet to try it.
Lauren
I would like to try the Protein Powder.
carol clark
multivitamins is what id like to try
Priscilla S.
I would love to try the Green Tea & Pomegranate Day Cream.
GB
I want to try their beauty products.
Angela Saver
I would love to try the Rolled Oats, Certified Organic – 24 oz.!
natasha
I would love to try their skin care oils.
Melissa Teears
I would like to try the Eve’s Women multi supplement
Sadie B.
I love the NOW essential oils and would love to try the diffuser.
tammy shelton
I would like to try the shea nut oil.
Cheryl
Will you be announcing a winner on the Rafflecopter entry form?
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