We are all busy but don't buy into expensive "convenient food"

We are all super busy but don't fall for these "convenient foods" 
They're loaded with added processed ingredients "junk" remember when you can't pronounce ingredient your body sees it as an invader.



Many opt for "Quaker maple and brown sugar instant oatmeal" the ingredient list is as follows:


WHOLE GRAIN ROLLED OATS, SUGAR, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, SALT, CALCIUM CARBONATE, GUAR GUM, CARAMEL COLOR, NIACINAMIDE*, REDUCED IRON, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE*, RIBOFLAVIN*, THIAMIN MONONITRATE*, FOLIC ACID*.

*ONE OF THE B VITAMINS

The ingredients are listed in order by MOST to least. 
TIP: Anything that ends in "OSE" is a SUGAR. 

I'm sure you're like me. After this little bowl I'M STARVING and not satisfied.

What should I eat? 
Healthy Oats for LESS money=)


I would PRE- measure baggies and fill them with:

Quaker Quick 1 minute or Old fashion: 1/4-1/2 cup 
NOT PACKETS.
TIP: Since I eat lots of oatmeal I buy organic oats, in bulk at the health store.

Add in suggestions but not limited: Apples, blue berries, dates, dried fruit, cinnamon, fresh/frozen fruit,sweetener  ex..honey/agave/maple syrup/vanilla) to taste as it will be more bland. Nuts,nut butter, protein powder, hemp seed, chia, flax...I'm not suggesting all of these..they are examples to mix and match. Your taste buds will adapt after a few days. 

Comparison of above brown sugar packet vs homemade. If you use 1/4-1/2 cup dry oatmeal, 1 Tablespoon of brown sugar, and a dash of real maple syrup. It only contains 5mg of sodium which comes from syrup. VS this pre-packaged with a whopping 260mg of sodium..YIKES = Hello water weight.

Egg sandwich;

The Jimmy dean sandwich

Put down and RUN!!!
Here is an alternative and takes minutes:
1.slice whole wheat English muffin and put it in the toaster. 
2.Start cooking an egg in the pan (alt.you could beat and heat in microwave for 40 seconds) also heat up Canadian bacon. (lean protein)
3.Toast pops and eggs are ready. Layer with bacon, sprinkle with shredded cheese and add some salsa;) other ideas: avocado, tomato, sprouts, vegetables.
Yum,  out the door only 5 ingredients 

Here is the ingredient list for a Jimmy Dean Sandwich:

• BISCUIT: ENRICHED BLEACHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WATER, PALM OIL, BUTTERMILK, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS:  ISOLATED SOY PRODUCT, SUGAR, BAKING SODA,  DEXTROSE, SALT,  ACIDIC SODIUM ALUMINUM PHOSPHATE, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE, LACTIC ACID,  DATEM,  POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVE), MALTODEXTRIN, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, COLORED WITH (ANNATTO AND TURMERIC), XANTHAN GUM, SOY LECITHIN, SOY FLOUR.
  COOKED SAUSAGE PATTY: PORK, WATER, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS: POTASSIUM LACTATE, SALT, SUGAR, SPICES, SODIUM PHOSPHATES, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, SODIUM DIACETATE, CARAMEL COLOR. GRILLED EGG PATTY: WHOLE EGGS, WATER, SOYBEAN OIL, NONFAT DRY MILK, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, SALT, XANTHAN GUM, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL BUTTER FLAVOR (BUTTER [CREAM, MILK], PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN AND COTTONSEED OIL, SOYBEAN OIL, LIPOLYZED BUTTER OIL, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS), CITRIC ACID.  PASTEURIZED PROCESS AMERICAN CHEESE: MILK, WATER, CHEESE CULTURE, CREAM, SALT, SODIUM CITRATE, POTASSIUM CITRATE, SODIUM PYROPHOSPHATE, SORBIC ACID (PRESERVATIVE), SODIUM PHOSPHATE, CITRIC ACID, ANNATTO (COLOR ADDED), SOY LECITHIN, ENZYMES.  CONTAINS EGG, MILK, SOY AND WHEAT
• 
  

Can you believe it took ALL those ingredients to make an egg sandwich!!!

Remember the lesson here~fewer ingredients= happiness for your body.

A few QUICK Breakfast idea's:

Steel cut oats: add 1 cup of steel cut oats to a crock pot. Fill with 4 cups of water. Let it cook over nigh it'll be ready to eat when you wake up. Or you can cook it during the day. (Always read your crock pot book, they all differ). Store left overs in pre portioned bowls to enjoy during the week.

Pre make crust less egg quiches in a muffin tin. Make sure you add veggies in there;)Again enjoy all week.

Yogurt parfait: PLAIN Greek yogurt (fage/chobani) granola, natural sweetener to flavor, fresh/frozen fruit. layer and enjoy;)

Veggie or Fruit smoothie. When I'm in a hurry I take my same oatmeal as stated above (no water-I sub almond milk) add to magic bullet blender (uncooked) and out the door. I drink it!

Another yummy treat. Take 1/2 chopped apple sprinkle with cinnamon heat for 1 minute. your supposed to use a sweetener (I don't). Remove~ mix with cottage cheese. It's delish;)

Any HIGH FIBER cereal: such as Ezekiel, Kashi, Nature's path~ these are just a few off the top of my head. You can eat with plain yogurt or milk. I use almond or coconut milk

I know we all love our bagels however they are dense and processed. If you must eat them limit to 1-2 max x's a week....hollow (scoop guts)them out then toast and top with peanut butter, egg or hummus for added protein;) Read ingredients, look for the shortest list. Typically frozen have a shorter list. They are fresh and won't last therefore they need to be frozen.

My kids love to take a wheat tortilla, spread with peanut butter, slice a banana and drizzle with honey, then roll it up!

I also make pancakes and waffles from scratch on the weekend. Google recipes or pull out a COOK BOOK. It's fast and worth the extra time. Make extra and freeze or pre-portion in baggies for quick morning meal;) BOB Red Mill's flour has a recipe on the bag.

Wheat pancakes/waffles smeared with nut butter and fresh fruit. Or partially mashed fruit, heated for natural syrup.

I hope this gives you some ideas and you see how QUALITY will be cheaper, faster and more nutritious=)

Don't fall for "quick meal scams" 

 We're all in a hurry but we need to SLOW DOWN


We eat for pleasure and make poor impulse choices as food is always readily available on the shelf. 
We no longer eat for survival. 
Of course you want tasty food. However, we over eat, in hale and consume mass calories, we barely chew anymore.

-Next time your eating. Stop and look around. Most people have their heads down inhaling/shoveling the food in. They barely chew, acting as if they aren't going to eat ever again. 

-Slow down, put the fork down between bites, CHEW 10 extra times before you swallow your food, really taste and enjoy it. It takes approximately 20 minutes for the stomach to tell the brain "STOP I'M FULL."

-If you are stuffed after your done eating YOU ATE TO FAST. 
I used to eat so quick. People would comment~ WOW,(gosh embarrassing and rude...lol) you're done? I always said, "OH, I have to eat quick, I have little ones." After a few people made comments over time I started to think maybe I am eating to quick? It was hard to slow down. It was now a habit, it took time. Conscious thoughts while eating but I slowed down, started to enjoy and chew my food. REAL (garden) food makes you chew and will fill the belly. Leaving you full and satisfied for hours.

As far back as I can remember, when my son eats, he looks like a chipmunk. I'm not sure how he packs that much food in his mouth at once! I have to often say little bites....breeeeeaaaaath (while taking a deep breath), enjoy the food! He is in such a rush to get back to playing. Thankfully, he has a super fast metabolism;)

You may think..My child doesn't have a weight problem so you buy them these "convenient" fast foods. However you are arming and molding there foundation/habits for life. Make sure your building them a strong, healthy, natural, nutritious, energetic foundation with a balance of "treats"  NEVER DEPRIVE A CHILD OF FOOD. My kids can eat whatever but they can only have ONE portion. ONE sugary drink a day. If they are still hungry they are always welcome to fresh fruit;)