The Oatmeal Packet Scam

When I decided to try some plain organic oats in place of processed oatmeal, I had no idea that it would be so easy to make and that it would significantly contribute to weight loss.  Though the original reason for getting plain oatmeal was for its health benefits, I subsequently discovered that it actually tasted much better than the processed and packaged equivalent.  In fact, it tastes so good that I no longer have to add sugar or honey to my oatmeal.  I discovered this when I accidentally forgot to add sugar to the oatmeal and my kids ate it all without complaint.

So, in addition to being healthier, eating plain unprocessed oatmeal has wonderful weight loss properties since its filling, sugarless and does not have preservatives or artificial sweeteners which tend to contribute to weight gain.  The only draw back to to plain oats is that you must scoop instead of open a packet and you will also have to cook it 30 seconds longer in the microwave than the packet version.  Hardly seems worth paying more for a packet.

Quick Guide to buying and cooking plain oats:
1. First, go to the scoop section of your grocery store.  Wal-Mart stores may not have such a section.  Read the ingredients on the varieties of oats and get the one which says organic and which does not list any preservatives. None of the oats in this section should have chemicals added, but it doesn't hurt to check. Scoop the oats into the bag and tie.  (a little more effort than picking up a box)  Also, there is no need to get quick cooking.
2. When you get home, pour the oats in a container and add a 1/3 cup dry measuring cup to the oats.  This is the amount which cooks best in a regular size cereal bowl and is the closest to the amount you have in the packet variety.
3. When preparing oatmeal, get a microwave safe bowl, add a 1/3 cup scoop of oats and 2/3 cup of water.  Push the quick minute button on your microwave and cook.  After one minute, stir and cook for 20 seconds longer.  Stir again and cook for an additional 10 seconds.
4. Remove the bowl, stir and serve.  There is no need to add sugar, honey or any type of flavoring.  You will be pleasantly surprised how good it tastes.
5. If you are like me and tend to read the cooking instructions every time you make something, tape a sticky to the outside of the oatmeal container with the instructions. 1/3 cup scoop, 2/3 cup water, 1 minute-stir, 10 sec-stir, 5 sec-stir.

Sound easy enough?  That's what I thought.  I didn't even know you could cook regular oats in the microwave.  I realize now that the 30 seconds of my life which is saved by processed oats hardly warrants spending more money on oatmeal in a packet which only tastes good if you add a lot of sugar.  So by making regular oats, you are not only eating healthier by eliminating chemicals, dies and preservatives, you are also eating a quick filling breakfast which tastes great without adding to your waistline.

Five Processed Foods You Can Easily Make at Home

If you feel like you have no time to make homemade foods, you may be surprised how easily you can make some of the foods that you are used to buying at the store.  In fact, there are five types of processed foods that you can easily make at home.  These foods are breads, yogurt, ice-cream, syrups, and sauces.  One reason that certain processed foods can be made with minimal effort is due to cooking machines.  Cooking machines can be valuable additions to your kitchen since you can make certain foods with minimal time and effort.  Here is a breakdown of each of the categories:

1. Bread: Using a bread machine can allow you to make quickly and easily make homemade bread.  This can be especially useful since there are many different types of bread that we may consume throughout the year and you can make them easily at home and without preservatives and additives.  In addition to sandwich bread, you can make stuffing for turkey, or bake your own croutons for salads.  These are all things you may not have imagined you could easily make at home.
2. Yogurt: Yogurt cookers make the process of making homemade yogurt extremely simple.  You need only to measure and heat milk, add plain yogurt and pour the mixture into jars.  The cooker does the rest of the work while you sleep and in the morning you have your own homemade yogurt.  You can use a yogurt cooker to make a variety of different yogurt flavors as well as Greek yogurt.
3. Ice-Cream: Though ice-cream is not the most health of foods, with an ice-cream maker you can make ice-cream and know exactly what is in it and can even make your own low-fat or low sugar varieties.  How many types of ice-cream can you find at the store that are made with a specific type of honey or the sweetener of your choice?  Furthermore, you can make desserts such as sherbets and frozen yogurt for a faction of the price of store bought frozen desserts.
4. Syrups: You may be surprised how simple it is to make a fruit syrup.  All you will need is sugar or honey and frozen or fresh fruits.  Here is a simple recipe I found for raspberry syrup that can be used successfully with any type of fruit that you can think of.  When your syrup is ready, refrigerate it and use it for ice-cream toppings, to flavor yogurt or to flavor homemade milk shakes.  Additionally, if you buy canning jars, you can easily can the syrup and stock your pantry.  Just be sure to follow the instructions for canning on the jar label.  Plus, if you get into making syrup, you should know that you are only one step away from making jelly since the only difference is that you add fruit pectin when making jelly and jam.  Again, for best results, follow the jelly recipe on the fruit pectin label.
5. Sauces: There are many different types of sauces, stocks and gravies that you can easily make at home.  So instead of buying spaghetti sauce, consider making your own.  If you don't have a cook book, Google it and you'll find plenty of recipes.  The same is true for broths, stocks, dips and salsa.  All of these types of sauces will taste much better if you make them on your own and will be without preservatives and other harmful additive found in processed foods. 

So, even if you live a busy lifestyle, there are plenty of healthy alternatives to processed foods which you can make at home with minimal time and effort.  Though these are only five food types, you will find that there are plenty of other types of processed foods that you can replace.  Just pay attention to what goes into your shopping cart.  If you find that you have grabbed a processed food, think about whether or not you can make it instead of buying it.  The chances are you can Google the recipes for many different types of foods that you would have never imagined to be so simple to make on your own.

Bread Machines: Homemade Bread without the Work

With the mention of homemade bread, most people may visualize hours of work; mixing, kneading, waiting and baking.  However, in this day in age, making homemade bread can be quite easy.  The trick is simple; use a bread machine.  There are many different types of bread machines and I cannot speak for all of them.  However, a bread machine will allow you to spend no more than ten minutes in preparation and the machine does the rest.  Preparation includes measuring the ingredients, putting the ingredients in a pot, entering settings, and pushing start.

Benefits of Homemade Bread:

1. Economical: Make a loaf of whole wheat sandwich bread for 44 cents in materials as apposed to $3-4 a loaf at the grocery store.
2. Health Benefits: You decide what to put in your bread and you know exactly what is in it.  Plus there are no preservatives.
3. Quality of Life: There's nothing like waking up to the aroma of freshly baked bread.  Enjoy the superior taste of homemade bread while investing minimal time and energy.

Bread Machine Uses:

1. White or Whole Wheat Bread
2. Sandwich Bread
3. Pizza Dough
4. Roles or Croissants
5. French Bread
6. the list goes on...

So if you would like to get a bread machine, be sure to shop around to find the bread maker with the features that work best for you.  My favorite feature on my machine is the timer, which allows me to specify when I want the bread to be ready.  Also, since not every machine is created equal, be sure also to read the reviews.  Though I have only used one type of bread machine, I am sold on the invention and sure that you will be too.

The Low-Carb Diet Brain Drain

Most of us probably don’t realize that our dieting activities can negatively effect how our brain works and can in turn get one into trouble with friends, family and colleagues.  A low carb diet may have this effect since low carb diets tend to reduce one's glucose levels well below the level of glucose that is needed for the brain to function normally.  This lack of glucose going to the brain often results in a feeling of lethargy.

If you have never experienced lethargy, imagine being in a state in which you feel no desire, care about nothing, and have difficulty focusing on any one thing.  When in a lethargic state, people will talk to you but you will be uninterested in everything being said and will have trouble thinking of a response.  In fact, you may not even care to respond since you probably won’t be following what they are talking about.  In addition to lethargy, you may experience extreme irritability. 

Most low carb diets include a period of time up front, in which you are expected to spend up to two weeks eating less than one serving of carbohydrates each day.  Since nutritionists recommend an average of eight servings of carbohydrates each day as a minimum for normal body and brain function, you can imagine how badly this first two weeks can affect your state of mind.  Once the sense of lethargy sets in, you may be on slow mode in everything you do.

In addition to lethargy and irritability, some of the other common side effects of a low carb diet are diarrhea, bad breath, and muscle weakness, which will make you prone to sprains and injury.  So, though a low carb diet may seem like a good idea, you may want to reconsider.  However, if you end up picking up a copy of one of these diets, I advise talking to a nutritionist before you start so you will know how to diet in a healthy manner and without injuring your body, mind, or relationships.

You may also be interested in:

Diet and Weight-loss: How to eliminate Cravings  
 

Frozen Fruit Dessert

The Best type of desert to eat when dieting is frozen fruit.  This may sound simple, but once you try it, you will agree that it is like eating ice cream or sherbet.  Plus most diets will allow for a certain amount of sugar, and what best to eat than the natural type of sugar found in fruit.

The best fruits to use are bananas and strawberries.  For bananas, get a piece of foil, slice the banana and then place the banana rounds on the foil.  The foil can be placed in a container or put directly into the freezer.  The bananas will stick once they start to freeze.  If you are not dieting, it is nice to drop chocolate syrup on each banana for an extra sweet treat. Freezing bananas in this manner is also an excellent way of preserving bananas that are about to be too ripe.

For strawberries, rinse and slice just as you did with the bananas.  If they are store bought and not straight from the field or your garden, they may be a little tart.  Wait until they are completely frozen before eating.  The strawberries are also good when frozen with chocolate syrup on top.  Whether you choose bananas or strawberries, I am sure that you will be pleasantly surprised at how good it is.

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