Decoding the box....

Happy Thursday to all! Well today actually is my Friday. I am taking tomorrow off to go check out restaurants to have my sisters baby shower at. Yes we are welcoming our first grandchild to the family and it is soo exciting. It is a girl but my sister and her husband wont spill the beans on the name yet. oh well. Something I guess needs to be a surprise.
Yesterday I posted some information about food packaging and decoding what is on the labels.
Today a reputable website came out with and article that supports just what I was talking about. It isn't too long and I think it is a great read.
http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Market/Cereal-giants-are-duping-shoppers-with-all-natural-claims-says-lobby-group/?c=nq5Y1O13j8XQ67thS9vkqeSBbd86J6IK&utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%2BDaily

If you have time check it out!
Off of the regulatory soap box, I wanted to share a "recipe" I came up with to satisfy a snack craving
I took:
1 whole banana
about 1 tbsp of natural peanut butter
about 1/2 a tsp of chocolate chips

In a bowl I cut the banana up in to pieces added the peanut butter and chocolate chips. I microwaved for about 30-45 seconds. Mixed/Mashed a little bit and poof. I had a rich, tasty snack/dessert that was full of healthy potassium, good fats and antioxidants. The warm banana was really comforting too!

Have a great day!!

What are some of your favorite snacks?

The Weather Outside is....

Is it really only Wednesday! I tell ya these dark cold and wet days are really stretching out the week. It is that time of year where motivation to exercise sinks and cravings for comfort good increase. When my alarm goes off in the morning I can't believe it is so dark out. I have also decided the day I retire I am smashing every alarm clock around me.
In all honesty fall is my favorite season. The crisp breeze, strong sun (at times) and beautiful colors.
Not to mentioned apple cider, chilli and a plethera of other tasty warm goodies. Another little friend that comes around during these cooler days is the common cold. Don't know how I have missed this guy the past few months but he came to visit a couple weeks ago and of course it was perfect timing.
I was about to head to visit my newly pregnant sister. Somehow doctors don't recommend a sick person to be around a pregnant lady yet i figured she works in a hospital so she is used to it. :)
In my quest to heal up as quick as possible i purchased a tablet that you put in the shower and it creates a vapor from the water. Not only did it not really work but when reading the packaging that in bold letters had a disclaimer stating "Not for comsumption, do not eat" I noticed something very familiar. INGEDIENTS. Ingredients such as silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide and others that I see in ingredient statements every day in snack foods, confectionary and others. I couldn't believe it.  Five out of the Eight ingredients in the vapor tablet were in foods that some Americans eat on a daily basis. So what is one to do? Only buy natural and organic foods? If this is what yo udecide to do great, but first I should share something with you (from my cheap side).
1. "Natural" is not a FDA regulated term. For example cheetos and 7up tag themselves as natural. They can do this because the term "Natural" is not defined yet so no one can say they are wrong.
2. Read labels. I don't just mean the nutrition facts panel. Many companies will put statements and claims on their label that are marketing ploys and charge you more. It may say "Made with Olive Oil" and charge you more for it. Look at ingredient statements and base your purchases on that.
3. Buy things whole. Buy bricks of cheese or Oats for example and shred it at home or make your own oat meal.
This will provide you with savings because you are doing the labor not paying for it and YOU will be in charge of the ingredients. This way you ensure that you are eating FOOD, not something that has stablizers and preservatives that have been decided can't harm you in large amounts in food items that can get lost in your cabinets and found months later still looking pretty good.

Frugal Feasting!