My Other Blog

Instant Grits, Instant Coffee, Instant Oatmeal

Clark Bunch — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:53:23 +0000

So just what is the difference between rolled oats, quick oats and instant oatmeal? The difference between traditional rolled oats, which one could cook to make oatmeal or add to recipes, and quick cook oats is size. Quick oats, such as 5 minute cooking oatmeal, has been chopped into smaller pieces. You can actually see the whole texture of rolled oats, but quick oats are essentially the same thing only cut finer. Instant oatmeal has been further processed to cook even faster (in the microwave) but all three have the same nutrition profile. If you’re looking to add whole grain to your diet or trying to lower cholesterol, instant oatmeal is a whole grain and contains the same fiber, protein and other nutrients as the slower cooking varieties.

Having said that, being processed to cook in basically an instant means that it is processed by the body much quicker as well. Instant oatmeal has a more immediate effect on blood sugar levels, giving it a higher glycemic index. If you buy a flavored variety that has been pre-sweetened, you could be loading up on sugar as well. Here’s the good news: you can lower the glycemic index of instant oatmeal by adding things that are good and good for you. Microwave a bowl of regular flavor instant oatmeal. Skip the butter and sugar and replace with honey. A tablespoon in one cup of oatmeal should be plenty. Adding nuts and or fruit will provide additional nutrients and fiber and lower the glycemic index of the meal. Sprinkle generously with cinnamon, which also enhances the health benefit. Flavor is added, calories are not.

I was raised on instant grits, which I still eat from time to time. I was also raised on instant coffee, which I prefer to do without. I do keep it in the house just in case. The nutritional benefits of adding whole grain to one’s diet have been proven, and instant doesn’t necessarily mean bad for you. Regular instant oatmeal can be made delicious, and still be better for you than bacon and eggs or biscuits with sausage gravy.

Wait for it…

Clark Bunch — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:02:20 +0000

Back in My Day…

Clark Bunch — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:06:30 +0000

It’s Just Iowa

Clark Bunch — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 11:14:17 +0000

I’m not saying the Iowa caucus results do not matter. Michelle Bachman is ending her campaign after taking only 5% of the vote. I’m saying some things have to be taken with a grain of salt. While the results tell us some things, they must be kept in perspective. Here’s some perspective:

In 2008, Mike Huckabee won in the Iowa caucus and John McCain finished in 4th place.

The Origins of our Calendar

Clark Bunch — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 01:00:28 +0000

Who says it’s New Year’s? Or January? Or 2012 for that matter? What’s the diff between Gregorian and Julian? Here’s a 4 min rundown of where our calendar came from.

Uncle Jay’s 2011 Review

Clark Bunch — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:54:04 +0000

There’s a lot of top 10 lists and year end reviews floating around out there, but I highly recommend Uncle Jay’s (of Uncle Jay Explains the News) Singing Year In Review!

Happy 2012

Clark Bunch — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:58:55 +0000

Burger King to Pass the Crown?

Clark Bunch — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 23:07:20 +0000

For the first time in 40 years, Burger King may not finish the year in the #2 burger spot. Wendy’s is set to outsell Burger King, finishing in a distant second to the undisputed corporate leader McDonald’s.

HLN points out that Burger King has more locations, and I would like to add they also serve breakfast. Nevertheless, Wendy’s has made some changes this year and it seems to have paid off. Wendy’s revamped their fries a few months ago, introducing a more natural appearance and flavoring them with sea salt. BK recently changed their fries as well; Consumer Reports rated the new fries, saying that while they are better than the old ones they are still not as good as Wendy’s. Ouch.

So the Burger King may be passing the crown to a little girl with pigtails. I guess all my ranting about the horrible, terrible, very bad Caesar Side Salad wasn’t enough to hurt their bottom line.

New Year’s Resolution Time

Clark Bunch — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 13:27:17 +0000

New Year’s Day gives us all hope that we can turn over a new leaf and make a new start. I don’t know if it’s hanging a new calendar or the guilt of Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts that drives us, but we all keep trying… again… don’t we?

I’d like to begin by saying I’ve done pretty well in 2011. I never reached my goal of 200 pounds, but I did loose about 40 of the 66 pounds I was aiming for and have managed to stay in that range. I look a lot better than July 2010 for sure. My other resolution back in January was to read the complete ESV Bible this year. I’ve previously read the King James and the NRSV in their entirety, but never read the whole ESV despite preaching and teaching from it a few years now. I do not read straight through from Genesis to Revelation each year but did do so this year. (Actually I have a few more chapters to go, but will do so later today or in the morning. I do have until Saturday you know.)

2012

If the world does not end early (it’s not supposed to until next December) I have a few goals for 2012. Assuming I will start the year around 225 lbs. I aim to loose a pound a week for 25 weeks. That is a sustainable, healthy amount of weight loss and would put me in at 200 lbs. by July 4th. That is exactly one year late on my 66 pounds in 12 months mission, but the end result will be the same. Now that I’ve said it I will feel a certain obligation to fulfill it.

I also have a couple of writing goals. I started a project a couple of years ago to blog through a survey of the Bible. The Book of Genesis covers the first thousand years or so of human history. There’s a lot of really important stuff coming at you fast as you read those first several chapters. The going was slow, until I quit going completely. I’ve thought more than once about deleting what I’ve done so far and bailing out. But if it was a good idea 2 years ago (perhaps 3 by now) then it’s a good idea to finish. Here’s hoping.

Year’s ago, before we moved to Kentucky, I had an idea for a book. I must have written the first chapter 2 or 3 times. When Michael Spencer starting seriously putting his book together I got inspired again and cranked out a total of 3 chapters. Blogging is part of the problem. I can pop out 2 or 3 blog posts a day, on a myriad of subjects. My ADHD makes it hard to focus on something the size of a book long enough to get through it. I would like to finish, but my enthusiasm comes and goes as I get excited about other things. I’ve had the same problem since kindergarten, but blog posts, Facebook, 10 minute or less YouTube videos and the Internet in general proliferate the issue. If I don’t get a complete manuscript written I’m going to go through life mumbling about how I never finished one book. I already regret not doing so years ago; I don’t want to be a grumpy old man, sitting around in a nursing home talking to myself about how it never happened. It would be nice to publish at least one title before the death of print media.

So there it is, in 500 more words than necessary. I resolve in 2012 to:

Loose 25 more pounds, hopefully in 25 weeks.
Continue Bible Survey in a timely fashion.
Finish my book.

We’ll see in 12 months how many of these make my list for 2013. Assuming the Mayans are wrong and all.

Merry Christmas

Clark Bunch — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 01:31:04 +0000

Merry Christmas to the Blogosphere,

From our family to yours.