Three Minutes Of Your Life….

When I started blogging 18 months ago it was a way for me to remind myself to slow down, appreciate the world around me, and try to show others what effect our choices in life were making on the world around us. I realize that life is crazy…I have 2 kids, work, family obligations, and pets…there are days that my husband and I are like ships passing each other in the night.

 

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I am not perfect when it comes to keeping up with my ‘slow things down and go green’ mentality. I will admit to using premade pie crusts (I HATE rolling pins!) and occasionally throwing out something recyclable if I find green things growing in it in the fridge.
 
I detest tofu and still treat myself to my one Diet Coke a week. However, if I ever get to the point in my life that I feel the need to buy FROZEN OATMEAL, someone please slap me! Yes, I really did see a box of frozen oatmeal at the grocery store the other day! I mean, really people…I can make oatmeal from scratch in 3 minutes in the microwave. 
 
 
Think About This: Do we really not have 3 minutes to spare in our hectic lives anymore? I did a little bit of reading about how busy Americans really are…one study by Expedia indicated that over 40% of Americans work more than 50 hours per week.
 
Add in time to commute back and forth and maybe they really DON’T have three minutes to make oatmeal in the morning. I find this slightly sad. Unfortunately, most Americans seem okay with their hectic lives and would rather work more hours to pay more money for premade, frozen oatmeal.
 
It’s a catch 22…work more hours, make more money, have less time, pay more for goods and services that you don’t have time to do or make for yourself…then go back to work to make MORE money. What could we accomplish with more time? We could iron our own clothes instead of sending them to the dry cleaner, we could mow our own lawns instead of paying a landscaping crew, we could make oatmeal from scratch…the possibilities are endless.
 
Here are a few other quicky foods that I just don’t understand. None of these are difficult or time consuming to make so what compels us to buy them? Because honestly, if no one bought them, they wouldn’t still be on the shelves!
 
 
Frozen Peanut butter and Jelly Sandwiches:  Now, I admit I am certainly sick of making these things…I have made about 8 billion in the last 10 years but frozen ones?

 

Frozen Grilled Cheese Sandwiches:  I cannot even imagine how soggy and gross such a thing would taste!
 
Frozen Hamburger Patties:  Did you know that the frozen hamburger pattie does not contain only HAMBURGER? Even burgers that say 100% Beef have an ingredient list with more than just beef (which I really don’t see how they get away with!) Often they have Texturized Vegetable Protein and sugar, salt, preservatives, etc. Squish your own patties…it might be messy but you at least know what is in it!
 
 
 
 
Frozen Scrambled Eggs: I really don’t understand why people buy these? All it takes is a bowl, a fork and some water to scramble up an egg. Throw it in a pan for a couple of minutes and you’re done. All that is in there is EGG. Want to know what is in FROZEN scrambled eggs? I got this ingredient list right from the Aunt Jemima nutrition information website. Here is what is in these frozen EGG PRODUCTS (as they are called)
 
EGGS, NON FAT MILK, SOYBEAN OIL, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, SALT, XANTHAN GUM, LIQUID PEPPER EXTRACT, CITRIC ACID, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL BUTTER FLAVOR [CLARIFIED BUTTER OIL, LIPOLYZED BUTTER OIL, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, ANNATTO (COLOR)
 
That is WAY more than just EGG! Was it worth the 5 minutes you saved? I really don’t think so!
 
 Powdered Iced Tea: Okay, I grew up on this stuff…really! This is THE only way my mom ever made iced tea and I just don’t get it! All that is required for homemade iced tea is 5 minutes to boil water! Throw in a few tea bags to steep for another 10 minutes, dump in sugar or honey and stick it in the fridge. 15 minutes, tops and the only actual work was unwrapping the tea bags and stirring. The primary ingredient in the powdered stuff is sugar…along with artificial colors and flavors and some chemicals to prevent caking. Oh, and ‘instant tea powder’ whatever that is!
 
 
So, I’m just curious to know whether people use these products because they  like the taste of them or are they really just too busy to take 3 minutes to make oatmeal?
 
What are some convenience foods that you just can’t live without? 
 
 
 
 

5 thoughts on “Three Minutes Of Your Life….”

  1. I have bought many of the foods on this list because I had coupons that made them free. I love cooking from scratch, but sometimes it’s actually cheaper with coupons to purchase pre-made items than make it yourself! 🙂

    However, I know what you’re saying about how hectic everyone’s lives are. It’s definitely hard to keep from getting overwhelmed – I have to constantly work to keep a lid on things so that I don’t end up running around like a chicken with its head cut off!

    Reply
  2. I love the frozen PB&J. They are great to throw in the diaper bag or when we make last minute plans to leave the house.

    It makes more than 3 minutes to get out all the stuff, make the sandwich, and then put it all away again, plus bag or wrap the sandwich to go.

    Reply
  3. What she (inthekitchenwithkp)said.

    And you never know how many sandwiches they are going to eat. It’s usually one more than you made, whether you made 2 or 12.

    Or one LESS than you made, and you end up eating it yourself, because we are programmed to not waste food.

    Just wish there were more coupons for those, because they really are pricey on a per-sandwich babsis.

    (What a fun post! I tweeted it.)

    Reply
  4. The school gives out the frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and my son loves them. LOL..but I do see your point about some products adding in extra ingredients.

    Reply

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