Getting Your Oats Under Threat
News just out that will alarm Scottish mothers everywhere; Porridge Oats may be classified as junk food. By jings that seems to be at the best a bit mad, at the worst totally cracked. Now we all know that eating the wrong food in the wrong amounts is one of the biggest problems facing the nation, but we are also in a cost of living crisis and porridge is just cracking value for money.
Because my mum told me to do it I have eaten porridge for breakfast all my life. Admittedly I’m not a purist who just adds a pinch of salt. I add walnuts, honey and soft fruit like strawberries and blueberries, frozen mind you because I’m not made of money. Although after some research by my wife I now eat the more expensive organic porridge oats. The cereal grows in wet climes and is therefore more likely to absorb pesticides etc, so the missus will only buy organic. My frugal bones ache at even the thought of the extra cost.
Porridge oats are being targeted under plans to crack down on junk food promotions. Proposals here are to limit the discount of foods high in fat, sugar or salt. This will also apply to restricting multi-buys and bogoffs, buy one get one free, and other such promotions. Now I can understand that we drink too much Irn Bru, coke and sugary drinks and eat too many chocolates as a nation, it’s no secret that Scotland has a sweet tooth. But newly revealed documents have shown that porridge oats would fall foul of the future regulations. The document named: “Breakfast cereals, including ready to cereals, granola, muesli, porridge oats and other oat-based cereals.” By jings! This would get Braveheart out of bed to fight such iniquity. Although closer reading shows it’s just to stop promotions at the moment.
So I’ve browsed the NHS and other sources to inform myself on the stuff I’m supposed not to eat which is processed food and it’s a pretty extensive list. Examples of common processed foods include:
- breakfast cereals
- cheese
- tinned vegetables
- bread
- savoury snacks, such as crisps, sausage rolls, pies and pasties
- meat products, such as bacon, sausage, ham, salami and paté
- microwave meals or ready meals, pizzas
- cakes and biscuits
- drinks, such as milk or soft drinks
This list looks like the national diet of the nation though there’s no mention of haggis and I’m surprised paté is mentioned, it’s not a big seller north of the border. And milk! That’s a turn up, but it turns out in the small print that milk is good for you. I eat little bread and make my own oat bread.
As it turns out the porridge my mother got me to eat is the only thing she could cook without the fire brigade attending, she was an awful cook. So I am determined to honour her by eating cooked oats every day. Cheers Ma! And if you want to honour your mum there is still just time to send her a special something from James Pirie’s thoughtful offerings before the 10th March. Take a look at the Bee & Honeysuckle Fruit/Salad Bowl from Royal Scot Crystal. It’s in a lovely gift box, it is half price, it is free delivery and you can ask for gift wrapping at checkout. Go on spoil her!
