I am so glad that I decided to sleep in this morning. The weather outside is frightful, so I was especially happy to just stay in my warm, cozy bed. However, I am not looking forward to my commute to work at all! 
On the bright side, my oats were simply fantastic this morning! 
In the mix:
- 1/2 cup dry oats
- 1 small banana
- 5 chopped dates
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed meal
- Shredded coconut
- Zoe’s granola
This bowl of oats was magnificent with its exciting flavors and textures of banana, coconut, granola, and dates! Holy yum! I’ll have to remember this ingredient combo for the future!
What Does Organic Really Mean?
I’ve always wondered what the term organic really means. I’ve heard so many different variations over the years about its meaning, but I never knew exactly what to believe. Real Simple decoded some common label terms on their website (and in the March 2008 issue), which is very helpful for clearing-up some of the confusion surrounding food labels. The web article also decodes 100% Natural, Fat Free, Heart Healthy, Sugar Free, Light, No Antibiotics, and more. Definitely check it out!
What “Organic” Really Means
What It Means: Items that are “100 percent organic” are certified to have been produced using only methods thought to be good for the earth.
“Organic” means the item contains at least 95 percent organic ingredients.
The Health Implications: Research has yet to show that organic foods are nutritionally superior, but they are made without potentially harmful pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics, synthetic hormones, or genetic engineering.
Keep in Mind: Organic foods can cost up to 50 percent more than nonorganic products. If that cost is prohibitive to you, it’s better to eat healthful choices, like fruits and vegetables, that are conventionally grown, rather than skipping them.
Bottom Line: Going organic never hurts, especially when it comes to avoiding pesticides, which are linked to several health issues. Produce most affected by pesticides includes peaches, apples, peppers, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, and pears.
Book Giveaway
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Question of the Day
Do you think food labels are confusing? How have you educated yourself about reading them correctly?
Happy Tuesday, bloggies! I’m off to brave the yucky weather! Wish me luck!
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Luckily the only problem with the weather in Florida is that its to warm at the moment! I think today’s high is in the mid 80s!
Food labels used to be confusing, but I am slowly understanding them, with all things in life it takes time and research to understand them.
Hi Tina, NJ is having some rain and ice so I hear you! I do not want to venture out today either. yucko!
I do not think that food labels are confusing. I think more and more companies are getting better at posting the info clearly.
http://andreaseats.blogspot.com
i hope you made it ok to work. no school here for us today. i do find stuff to be confusing, and i wonder if organic is all that much better for you. i have read a few articles where they say it’s not. certain, meat and dairy products are but crackers are just crackers i think?
Hang in there with the weather!!
Love the bowl!!
The labeling is insane – as someone who is gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and vegan, I have to read EVERYTHING about 50 times over, haha.
Good luck in this awful weather!! I’m a teacher in NJ and we did not have the day off!!! Commuting was not fun so I feel your pain!
I think food labels are pretty simple, it’s just the ingredients added sometimes that are confusing!! That’s the stuff I try to stay away from! The fewer ingredients, the better!
Ugh, there was snow here too…I’m so OVER winter!
I’ve been reading food labels as long as I can remember, so I don’t find them confusing at all.
Yummy oatmeal!!!
I used to think food labels were confusing when I was younger, but I took a nutrition class in college and it taught me so much….. from how to read food labels to which ingredients you should look for in the food labels. I think this class should be a mandatory class in college!!
I switched to buying mostly organic about a year or so ago and I would never go back now.
For penny pinching reasons, I typically only buy organic produce that is part of the ‘dirty dozen’ See here for details: http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/nutrition/a/pesticides.htm
It is storming out here too!!! Sorry your commute was bad. I am lucky I already had the day booked off work.
Have a great day!
Angela
http://www.ohsheglows.com
The weather here has been horrible for the past three days. Rain always makes everything sooo gloomy.
I try to buy organic but not as much as I say I will, I do buy 80% of my produce organic though. I definitely didn’t even know what food labels were, let alone know how to decipher them when I was younger. Now I’ve educated myself and am pretty proficient at reading them.
Apparently the weather made you forget the day!! It’s Wednesday (not tuesday) thank goodness!!
It did suck cleaning off my car this morning.
I definitely stop and read labels at the grocery store, and compare brands. I like buying organic but I don’t seek organic products out because it is more expensive. If I can buy Local AND organic then I usually spend the extra $$, but mostly I try not to spend too much
@Bridget: Haha! I am totally off a day!!!
Organic is more expensive, but to me, it’s worth it. The impact to our environment of commercial products is so extreme (check out Michael Pollan’s books “The Omnivores Dilemma” and “In Defense of Food”). I would rather cut back on other things than cut back on buying organic food. Plus, I like knowing that I’m not ingesting pesticides and other toxins!
@Amanda: “In Defense of Food” was a life-changing book for me! Loved it!
No BB for the Oats!?? :-O haha thanks for the label tips
oh that cup is adorable! at first i thought there were HASHBROWNS in there.. and then i thought, “but.. hashbrowns with oats?” hehe and then i read that it was shredded coconut!
Hi Tina–where’d your big old scoop of Barney Butter go? Did you run out ?!!
Yes the weather is so awful! Pouring here in NYC! For me labels are not too confusing. I spend a lot of time reading health magazines and educating myself on nutrition.
http://www.missymaintains.blogspot.com
@Lee (seelivelee): My jar is getting low! But, I opted for extra granola today!
Hey Tina! I bet that date/coconut combo was amazing. Thanks for the organic tips. I ALWAYS read food labels. Rarely do I buy anything without reading a label.
Tina thanks for posting my chili post! That is super sweet! I found this and thought you might like it as I know you are in the process of getting organized! Have a great day! http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-home/cleaning-organizing/articlemc.aspx?cp-documentid=12137596>1=32026
Tina, Love your blog. It is awe inspiring and a great motivator for me!
I eat oatmeal for breakfast 5-6 times a week and LOVE it. I haven’t tried just dates, but crumbled one of those Samoa cookies on the top once and it was so good!
Good luck with your new job and that nasty weather. It’s just cold here one day and in the 50′s/60′s the next. Weird.
Hey Teen. Are those Medjools? I bet they added a nice chewy component.
I have been fortunate to have a few nutrition classes over the years – otherwise I’d be clueless!
I read food lavels but mostly for the ingredients. Love the mug so cute!
Good morning! I’m pretty good with food labels, but they are so tricky with the “whole grain” vs. “whole wheat” vs. “wheat” vs. “multigrain” stuff. I have to so carefully read the actual ingredients to find out.
Have a great day!
Stay safe in the weather. I do pay close attention to labels, especially these days with the new food allergy issues.
That is a cute mug!! Good luck with the weather!
My goodness, I had the exact same breakfast this morning, right down to the number of dates! Bizzare
Great to see you enjoyed yours as well, it is such a tasty combination!
I read your blog religiously but I think this is the first time I have commented.. Sorry about that!
I hope you are having a happy and beautiful day x
Can’t go wrong with coconut in your oats!
And I don’t find food labels that confusing – I think that you just have to take the time to read the whole thing, instead of just glancing at the flashy stuff on the front of the package.