Posts Tagged ‘Breakfast’
Shredded Wheat by Barbara’s
What’s for breakfast?
I don’t have cold cereal for breakfast too often, but when I do, I prefer to have a healthy – and tasty! – option.
Why Barbara’s Shredded Wheat Cereal?
I think we’ve all had shredded wheat cereal at one point or another. Most brands will tout their “Whole Grain” status, yet they fail to mention how many additional ingredients (like sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and preservatives like BHT) they have added to convince you to buy and eat their product.
Barbara’s doesn’t need to add anything extra to their cereal to convince you to buy their product. The product sells itself from the quality ingredients used and the way they make their shredded wheat.
They steam whole wheat berries, shredding them and lightly baking them for a naturally sweet and hearty high-fiber breakfast. No added sugar or sodium — or anything else!
Amount per serving: 2 biscuits
Calories: 140
Ingredients: 100% whole wheat (nothing else!)
Adding to Your Shredded Wheat Cereal
I think that this cereal tastes great on its own, but I love to mix things up a bit too. Next time you enjoy some shredded wheat cereal, try adding some raw honey or fresh berries for added sweetness!
Image Source: Barbara’s Shredded Wheat Cereal
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Box of Candy or Box of Cereal?
We have been taught that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So why are millions and millions of people buying and then consuming sugary cereal for ourselves and feeding it to our kids?
Do We REALLY Believe Marketing Campaigns?
We have been told by the big cereal companies such as Kellog’s, Post, and General Mills that their cold cereals are “part of a complete breakfast” and a great way to start the day. But are they really healthy for us? Just in case you weren’t sure, let me help you with the answer to that question. No, these sugary cereals are not healthy for you! I am starting to get these cereal’s nutrition labels confused with a box of candy! So why are these cereals advertised as a healthy breakfast choice?
You might not like what I have to say, but I am telling you the truth. The truth hurts sometimes, but knowing the truth can lead to a much healthier you. That is, if you don’t ignore the facts!
As I have said before, marketers will tell you what you want to hear. You want to hear that buying this cheap cereal that takes five seconds to make for your family is guiltless because it has nutrients in it. The cold cereals do have some nutrients, but more sugar that vitamins and minerals. Most of the cold cereals out there today like “Fruity Pebbles” and “Lucky Charms” are just fortified with vitamins and minerals. Do these added vitamins and minerals make it OK to eat? No. Unfortunately, millions of people are either too ignorant to realize that these sugary cold cereals are unhealthy for them and will believe everything the marketing campaigns tell them, or they are just ignoring what they don’t want to hear, or what I call “selective hearing”.
Sugary Cereal is OK – According to Some Nutritionists
According to the nutritionists from an article posted on the abc NEWS website, sugary cereal is OK since you are consuming milk with it. Really? Apparently, the big cereal companies aren’t the only ones to blame. These nutritionists and “health experts” are trying to please too many people by telling them what they want to hear – or perhaps work for the cereal companies – if they are seriously going to justify eating sugary cereal every day for breakfast and call it good. Are these cereals OK every once in awhile. Maybe. I’ll let you be the judge of that (and let you define what “every once in a while means” to you!). Just don’t start considering the sugary cereals as healthy all of a sudden.
Concerned Parent Fighting Back
In the same article from abc NEWS that I mentioned earlier, a parent by the name of Ron English- who so happens to be a very talented artist – has decided to fight back in his own way.
Check out some of his art work below:
Ron, like many other parents, is fed up with the heavy ad campaigns from the top cereal companies that are geared towards young kids. The loveable frog character from Smacks (used to be called “Sugar Smacks” back in the day) doesn’t look so cute and friendly in the artist’s unwelcoming picture. Let’s face it, the reality of eating an unhealthy breakfast full of sugar isn’t that appealing in real life either.
What can you do?
Did you know that every day you vote. You don’t vote by filling out a ballot, you vote with your dollar. Every time you go to the grocery store you are putting money in someone’s wallet. Who are you giving your money to? If you buy those sugary cereals I have been mentioning in this article, those big cereal companies are using your money to market unhealthy foods to you and your kids. Is that what you want? Of course not. Make sure your vote counts, again and again. Let the big cereal companies know that you aren’t OK with their advertising campaigns that push sugary foods towards the young and innocent (or ignorant!).
What are you voting for at the grocery stores?
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Image Credit: Popaganda.com
Banana Pancakes
I love buying extra bananas just to let them “go bad” – it’s the perfect excuse to make delicious recipes like banana nut bread or banana pancakes!
I made these pancakes recently, and thought I would share this easy recipe with all of you.
Ingredients:
1 cup Whole Wheat Flour or Gluten-Free Flour Blend
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
2 tsp Baking Powder
1 cup Raw Milk or Rice Milk
1 large Egg
2 tbsp melted Coconut Oil
2 ripe Bananas, mashed
Instructions:
Step 1) Mix the milk, egg, melted oil, and bananas and beat well.
Step 2) Mix in the flour, salt, and baking powder. Batter will be slightly lumpy because of the bananas.
Step 3) Heat skillet to a medium-low heat. Put coconut oil on the pan to prevent the pancakes from sticking to the pan. Scoop about 1/4 cup of batter onto the warmed skillet. Cook both sides until lightly browned.
Notes:
Make sure that you slowly cook the pancakes to ensure that they fully cook in the middle.
I suggest that you top these pancakes with pure Organic Maple Syrup. I just warm up the maple syrup first and pour a small amount on top of the pancakes.
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Tags: banana, Breakfast, coconut oil, raw milk, Recipe, Rice Milk, sea salt
Creative Christmas Meals
Instead of using those Christmas Cookie Cutters for sugar cookies, why not put those cookie cutters to some good use on… healthier foods? Here’s some ideas that will help you get started – be creative and have fun!
Breakfast
Why not create a fun Christmas breakfast by enjoying some Christmas Tree pancakes or star shaped waffles?
I found some Christmas molds at my local grocery store, so I decided to make blueberry muffins and put my molds to good use! I just added some Organic raspberry jam to make a face and details.
Lunch
Whether it’s PB & J or your favorite Deli Sandwich, create a sandwich and choose which Christmas shape you want to use and go for it!
Tip: Don’t have too big of a sandwich! You will want a relatively thin sandwich to be able to make the shapes.
Dinner
Whether you choose a ham or turkey, why not have some fun with your choice of Christmas dinner meat ? After you have sliced your meat, take out the cookie cutters and have fun with creating different shapes!
I made a turkey for my Christmas dinner, and sliced the meat about 1/4 inch thick. I placed the meat on a plate and used a Bell, Snowman, and Holly Leaf Cookie Cutter and made shapes out of my Christmas Turkey. It was a pretty fun way to enjoy my Dinner.
Christmas Molds and Cookie Cutters are a simple trick to add some Holiday cheer to your meals – have fun!
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Tags: Breakfast, christmas, Cookie Cutters, dinner, holiday, lunch
10 Reasons why you’re STILL overweight…
1) You think “Fat Free” or “Sugar Free” means that it is “Healthy”
Marketing campaigns know that we are all trying to be healthier, and they are doing everything they can to sell you their product in an angle that makes you think their product makes the cut. They aren’t trying to make their products healthier. What does this all boil down to? The companies just want to make money, and the only way to make money is if you buy their product –whether it’s good for you or not.
Read the labels and ingredients and start learning how to understand what they really mean. It’s almost guaranteed that if something it marketed as “Fat Free” or “Sugar Free”, they are using dangerous replacements which usually end up being worse for you than the actual fat or sugar.
Most people still buy into this marketing scam – don’t let it be you.
2) You don’t get enough sleep
Sleep is underrated – by far. You should get the recommended 8 hours each night, and you will notice some very positive effects from this. Your body will feel rested and better through out the day. You will be more likely to exercise (you have the energy to make it happen), and you have a better chance of overcoming any junk food cravings you may have during the day. When you are more tired, you are more likely to “give in” to temptations. A lack of sleep negatively effects your immune system, which can make you sick. When you are sick, the chances of you keeping up (or wanting to) your work out routine is unlikely. You should consider sleep as being mandatory.
3) You like to try new “Diets”
I have already said in previous posts why I don’t like to “Diet”, but I will briefly say it again here. “Diets” tend to be short term! Make your healthy eating habits a Life style change, and you will see lasting results, which is what you want anyways? No one wants to just gain it all back again and again…so don’t! Lose it and keep it off for good.
4) You think having the occasional treat doesn’t really add up
This one almost makes me laugh, but it’s a reality check for most of us. Just one Oreo cookie is about 60 calories. 
And let’s be honest…who only has one Oreo cookie? In my not-so-healthy days, I remember easily eating 10 Oreo cookies (or more), which is half of my daily calorie count. What’s worst is that I find myself still craving more cookies, and I am still hungry!
Check the calories. If your little treat is high in calories and you won’t be able to stop at just one, move on. Find something that will satisfy your hunger. A great alternative is finding a Fruit or veggie that you love and won’t resent when it becomes snack time.
5) You think you are “Naturally this Big” or “Big Boned”
That’s what happened to me too. I thought I was naturally a size 10 or 12. According to all the “medical” and “scientific” charts out there that tell you what your healthy weight range is for your age and height, I was supposed to be around 170 pounds. I don’t know who made up that bull, but if I were 170 pounds, I would not be close to healthy unless I was some body builder. As we all know, most of us aren’t body builders, so I consider those little “healthy weight charts” a piece of trash.
Once I started to get my act together and start taking my health more seriously, and listening to my body’s needs, I got down to 130 pounds and fit nicely into my size 2 jeans. Find your true healthy weight.
6) You think Skinny people don’t need to exercise
This one gets me every time. I hate how I will mention that I went to the gym and someone has to make the statement “You’re skinny, you don’t need to go to the gym”. Yes, someone really did say that to me, and No, I did not listen to them!
Just because you are Skinny, doesn’t mean you are privileged and somehow don’t need to exercise. I don’t care what size you are – Skinny or Overweight, you can benefit from exercising on a regular basis, and quite frankly, your body needs it.
For those who think Skinny people don’t need to exercise: How do you think thin people got to be thin in the first place? The answer is that the thin people exercise and eat healthy regularly. I didn’t become a size 2 by accident and neither did they.
7) You are (still!) skipping Breakfast
Ok, so this one I still don’t get. We have all been told how Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, and people are still skipping it! It may be for many reasons. You are “too busy”. Not a good enough excuse people! I wake up at 4:00 AM to go work out, make a healthy breakfast and lunch, work for 8 hours or more, make dinner, clean up, work some more, etc.
We all live a crazy and busy schedule. That’s life, and I get that. But there just isn’t an excuse anymore for skipping breakfast.
Be sure to eat something healthy – anything with processed sugar should be completely avoided.
8) You think you will reach your Goal Weight in 30 days or less
Guess what? You didn’t gain your weight overnight, and you won’t lose it all overnight either! Just because you aren’t seeing huge results your first month, doesn’t mean you should give up and say exercising and eating healthy doesn’t work. Just like you were consistently unhealthy and gained weight, you now need to work on consistently being healthy and exercising.
You will eventually lose the weight, and before you know it, you will be able to fit back into those skinny jeans!
9) You drink Energy Drinks and Sodas that are “0 Calorie” 
and think it’s a Healthy choice
Zero calories do not mean that the drink is Healthy. Energy Drinks and Sodas with Zero calories are another marketing tool to make these drinks seem “healthier” or “not as bad” for you. Reality is this: Energy Drinks and Sodas have zero nutrition, and there is absolutely nothing good in there for you. Nothing! Doesn’t matter if it has 300 or no calories, it’s just not good for you, regardless of the number of calories it says on the back. Your best bet is to just drink water.
10) You keep saying you are “Fat”
The way you feel about yourself plays a huge role in whether or not you will succeed with your weight loss and overall health goals. Ever heard of the popular Movie “The Secret”? Well, the Law of Attraction is real. Your mind is very advanced and sophisticated, and if you keep telling yourself that you are “fat” and “overweight”, then your brain keeps telling you to do things that will keep you in that state of being.
Start thinking “healthy” and “thin”, and your brain will start programming your thoughts and actions to lead you to a lifestyle that will help you become healthier.
It’s not all about wishful thinking, because action is involved. You need to do your part. Bottom line: Believe you will succeed and continue to exercise and eat healthy. Know that you will get there!
Good luck with your Health goals!
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Tags: Artificial, Artificial Sweeteners, big, big boned, Breakfast, cravings, diet, energy drinks, exercise, fat, fat free, goal weight, health goals, Healthy, healthy breakfast, healthy choice, high calories, junk food, Law of Attraction, Lose Weight, marketing scams, muscle, Nutrition, oreo, oreo cookies, over weight, rest, size 2, Skinny, sleep, soda, sugar free, The Secret, thin, treat, Twinkie, work out, zero calories
