McDonalds Plans to Lower Use of Pesticides
McDonald’s is making a vow to reduce the use of pesticides in the potato farming industry in America. Since they are America’s largest consumer of potatoes, investing shareholder groups pushed for action to be taken to help determine the social and environmental impacts the pesticide use is having. This resolution is not forcing McDonald’s to actually reduce it’s pesticide, but do a study on the current pesticide use in the potato industry as well as a set of actions top potato supplies can take. To see the entire document please visit the SEC’s website.
Seeing that McDonald’s is such a huge consumer of potato’s in America, it’s great to see that they are at least taking steps to reduce their environmental and health impacts. This doesn’t really change the fact that their food is unhealthy nor that they probably the most environmentally friendly company.
What are you thought on this move by McDonald’s? Do you think it’s a facade and they are just trying to improve their image or in fact are trying to make a change?
Oatmeal: Tasty and Cheap
Oatmeal is one of the best ways to start your morning being highly nutritious, very inexpensive and is filling. I eat oatmeal on a regular basis and can’t say more about how much I enjoy eating it while still feeling like I am doing my body good.
All About Oatmeal
Oats are the basis of making oatmeal which is a type of cereal grain grow specifically for its seed. Oats can grow in conditions that other crops just cannot survive. In order to get a product that can be consumed by humans, the outer hull must be removed. The result is the inner part of the oat that is called an oat groat. These oat groats are processed further to get all of the oat products that we have available on the market today.
Steel Cut Oats
Steel cut oats are simply oat groats that have been cut up into several smaller pieces which look similar to rice. They require a longer period of time to cook, normally around 30 – 45 minutes because they are more dense. Steel cut oats are less processed and thus contain some of the oat bran still intact.
Rolled Oats
Just as the names suggests, rolled oats are flattened oats by steaming and rolling oat groats. Rolled oats are the typical Quaker Oats “Old Fashion” variety of oats, but usually don’t contain much if any of the oat bran. This allows for a much quicker cooking time, usually 5-10 minutes.
Quick Oats
These are simply rolled oats that have been cut up and steamed to allow for a quicker cooking time. Quick oats often are used in “Instant” varieties and should be avoided. These instant products usually have added sugar and other ingredients that don’t add anything to your oatmeal.
Which variety to buy is up to you, but just know that rolled and steel oats are the most nutritious.
Health Benefits
Oats contain high levels of many nutrients including magnesium, selenium, protein and high levels of fiber. One of the major benefits to eating oatmeal on regular basis is to prevent heart disease, diabetes as well as lower cholesterol levels. Oats in particular contain high levels of a particular type of fiber that has been shown to lower cholesterol levels and help prevent heart disease. They also contribute to stabilizing blood sugar levels which can really help people with type 2 diabetes.
Buying Bulk Oats
Most people usually buy the small packets of instant oats because they cook within minutes and are sweeter. These types of oats are not only more expensive, but they are contain large amounts of unnecessary sugar. On top of that, those packets are so tiny that I just don’t know how anybody would be filled by eating such a small amount ( but that’s just me ).
The best way to buy oats is in bulk quantities and avoiding instant varieties to maximize nutritional benefit and minimizing cost. Whether you buy in bulk bins at many natural food stores or buying bulk at wholesale stores like Costco or BJs, you will be saving. I want to do a quick cost comparison to find out how much you could possibly save when purchasing bulk over instant packets.
A typical box of instant oatmeal costs approximately $3 for 10 packets weighing about 13 ounces, making each packet cost about $.30. When you buy oatmeal from bulk bins or wholesale stores, you usually get get it for under $1 a pound. That makes the savings for a pound of oatmeal in bulk bins verses the small packets at $2 per pound. Imagine the savings if you go through the small packets of oatmeal and especially if you have kids. Say you buy a package of 10 oatmeal packets every week. You could save over $100 just off of this simple change. Even if you add in other ingredients to flavor up the oatmeal, you will still be saving huge. In addition, you can control how much of the ingredients you put in your oatmeal.
Those instant packets can be convenient especially if you are constantly on the run or like taking them to work. Why not make your own? It’s really simple. Just take the rolled oats you bought and put them in a reusable container or zip-lock back and put in any dry ingredients you want to flavor the oatmeal with.
Storing
Be sure to store oatmeal in a tight sealed container to make sure that it does not go rancid, especially when buying large quantities. They can keep fresh for about 2 months.
Recipes
There are many ways you can cook up your own oatmeal and I wanted to share what I put in mine every morning.
Banana Nut Oatmeal
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- Few drops of vanilla
- 1/2 banana
- Handful of walnuts or your favorite type of nut.
Over medium-high heat, bring the milk, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon to a boil. Add the oats once boiling and cook for approximately 5 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed. Either cut up or mash the banana and put into oatmeal after complete. Top with nuts.
You can also make this in the microwave that will have a slightly shorter cooking time.
Share your recipes
Please share all of your oatmeal recipes.
