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Welcome to the Quaker Blog
We're going to be blogging about all the latest
happenings at Quaker Oats,
and giving you lots of seasonal tips on everything from the weather to recipe ideas so watch this space!
The Big Hiber-Nation
Posted Tue 25th October 2011 by Quaker Oats Team
• 15 Million Brits set to take unplanned ‘Duvet Days’ this October
• Brits snoozing for 10 hours more every month
• 4 in 10 people skip breakfast to make up time in the mornings
October 2011: New research released today highlights the extent to which the onset of autumn is already beginning to have a lethargic effect on people living in the UK, with over three quarters (78%) claiming they are now finding it extremely difficult to get out of bed in the mornings and over a third (39%) skip breakfast to avoid being even more late for work.
The key factors that influence each person’s Snooze Factor, a combination of darker mornings (32%), wetter weather (44%) and colder temperatures (24%), have been shown to have a greater effect on females, with 86.8% of women struggling to cope with the daily ritual of getting out of bed, in comparison to men (64.7%).
The survey commissioned by Quaker also reveals that over one quarter of Britons (27%) admit that they will take an unplanned duvet day, for extra time under the covers this month and one fifth (19%) will increase their daily snooze time up to an hour, even if they know it will make them late for work.
The statistics show that of the people who leave their homes without eating, just 14% will have breakfast when they get to work, 23% opt for snacking instead and an alarming 42% remain hungry until lunchtime. This trend is at its worst in London with nearly half (47%) of its commuters going without a meal until the afternoon.
It seems that as a nation we start to have a more sensible approach to meal times as we get older. Those over 55 years of age are twice as likely (46%) to eat a hot and healthy breakfast in comparison to those under 34 (22%).
Instead of eating breakfast, we are a nation reliant on coffee with 53% stating it is the most important product consumed to help get us through winter mornings. In comparison less the 3% of us would drink a healthy fruit juice.
Despite these worrying figures, Porridge as a breakfast trend is on the rise in the UK with over 1.8billion bowls consumed each year, the equivalent of one Olympic swimming pool each day. This is nearly 20% more than it was five years ago.
The research has also identified that our snooze button is fast becoming one of the most used controls in the home, with 1 in 5 people pressing it up to 25 times each week. This is nearly twice as often as in the summer affording the nation an extra 10 hours a month in bed.
Packaging Scare
Posted Wed 23rd March 2011 by Tim
Hi,
Could you please clarify in your blog and on your packaging your position regarding the recent packaging scare reported in the media? The fact that mineral oils found in recycled cardboard is being absorbed by the food inside the box and subsequently consumed by your customers must be a concern for everyone? Your porridge oats don't even have an inner bag!
Quaker Says:
Hello,
Our Quaker products do not use recycled board. It is only our Oat So Simple, Quaker Granola and Quaker Oat Crisp that use recycled cardboard in the outer packaging. Oat So Simple products contain portions of oats packaged within protective single-serve laminated sachets. Granola and Oat crisp are packaged in protective inner bags.
Kind regards,
Quaker
Oat so simple bowls
Posted Sun 20th March 2011 by Jean
My friend has an Oats So Simple bowl for her cereal. Are these still available and if so, how do I go about getting one?
Quaker says: Hello! Unfortunately we no longer sell the Oat So Simple bowls, however we are currently running competitions on our Facebook page where you can enter to win a bowl. Click on the link below where you can join our page and find out more! www.facebook.com/quakerthankyou
Scotland
Posted Fri 18th March 2011 by duncan hastie
why have you only visited 1 destination in scotland ? there are more than the 1 gym in scotland why only edinburgh ?? it would be very helpful to the young people in my area
Quaker says:
We would have loved to be able to visit more cities around the UK, especially in Scotland where our factory is based. Unfortunately there just wasn’t enough time as part of our city tour to go everywhere this year.
But that doesn’t mean that our Quaker Team definitely won’t be coming to another part of Scotland. We are still looking for people from all around the UK who deserve a surprise thankyou. So if you nominate someone who you think has earned a Quaker Thank You then who knows, we may still end up visiting another part of Scotland before the end of April!
And the even better news is that we’ll be doing it all over again next year, so if there is a particular city which you think we should visit we would love to hear about it.
US Flavours
Posted Fri 25th February 2011 by Bish
Dear Mr Quaker,
Please please please launch these two scrummy US flavours in the UK
maple & brown sugar
Apple & cinnamon
I have been a huge fan out oat so simple for years and always bring these back from the US when I visit. I soon get withdrawal symptoms when my supplies run out
Please launch them here NOW, us British would buy them by the boatload
Bish
Quaker says:
Thank you for your comments, they do sound delicious. Have you tried our Sweet Cinnamon or Apple & Blueberry UK flavours?
Mrs
Posted Thu 17th February 2011 by Helen Rowles
I start the day the healthy way with a plate of porridge. Tick in the box. My problem is, as the day goes on my good intentions slip a little and by evening I am struggling not to eat crisps and chocolate relaxing. What, I wonder would be healthy and satisfying snacks to eat at night.
Comment
Posted Thu 10th February 2011 by Hungry Customer
Hello Mr Quaker,
I really love your cereal, I eat it every day. It is delicious. Please can you send me free boxes of Granola and make the boxes bigger without raisins because i hate raisins, i have to have a spit cup next to me for them.
Thank you,
Yours sincerely,
Hungry customer
Quaker says:
Thank you for letting us know how much you enjoy our Quaker Granola. Most of our consumers tell us they love the juicy raisins in Quaker Granola however we will keep your comments in mind when we look at new flavours for the product.
Comment
Posted Sun 6th February 2011 by Geoff Mann
Qats so Simple, such a good tasty breakfast cereal.
I liked the Winter Pudding flavour but that seems to be a special edition. Why not market a bowl ( suitable for microwave ovens) for Oats so Simple that has a line inside for the amount of milk to add
Regards
Geoff
Charity Rickshaw & Bike ride
Posted Fri 4th February 2011 by kam singh
On April 29th 2011 a large team of riders on bicycles & 2 rickshaws will be riding from Wolverhampton to Wembley ( 140 miles over 2 days ) in aid of charity fund raising. The main benefactors are Cancer Research & The West Park Respite & Rehabilitation Centre. If any one wishes to join the ride or wishes to donate any money / sponsorship then please log onto www.punjabiwolves.co.uk. thanks
Getting February off to a great start with Quaker
Posted Mon 31st January 2011 by Quaker Oats Team
The end of January has come and gone, so how are your New Year resolutions coming along? We’ve all settled back into our work routines, but the healthy eating and exercising that we said we’d do to shed those festive pounds has often fallen by the wayside by now!
The combination of financial burdens from overdoing it in December, and the prospect of Spring still being several months away can make it difficult to get motivated. We do have a few tips for you however to make the cold, dark mornings more bearable...
Book a holiday or a day trip
With payday having just taken place for most people, there’s no better time to book a trip away and have something to look forward to. Long weekends away and city breaks are a great way to break up the year. Write down all the places you want to visit, even if it’s just a city a couple of hours away that you’ve never visited before, and start organising with friends and family to make it happen. Look online for parks to take the kids to or for deals on low cost days out.
Exercise!
It’s not too late to start a new years resolution! February is a perfect time to sign up to that exercise class you keep meaning to join. An hour long high energy workout is perfect if you haven’t got the willpower to spend that long on a treadmill or working out on your own. Pick a class or activity that you’re likely to enjoy, such as dance, and it won’t feel so much of a chore. Gym numbers will also be tailing off as more people fall off the exercising wagon, so now could be an ideal time to join.
Get some fresh air
Whether it’s taking a long walk in the country, crossing the park instead of taking your usual route, or walking the dogs on the beach; walking is one of life’s simplest pleasures. Wrap up warm and blow the cobwebs away!
Read to your heart’s content
If you still haven’t started that book you were given over Christmas, there’s no better time to do it. Spending an evening on the sofa wrapped up in a good book whilst the weather is miserable outside really is blissful.
De-clutter your life
Any Christmas presents that haven’t been used by now are likely to be resigned to your cupboards and bottom drawers to languish forever more, forgotten about. Start February with a clear out – take a trip to your local charity shop, spend an hour listing your unwanted stuff on auction or recycling community sites and file away any documents – you’ll feel so much better for it!
Catch up with friends
It’s easy to let it slip when everyone is so busy, but gossiping over a cup of coffee or chatting with friends over lunch really does brighten up your day. It’s good to talk, so make the effort with those friends you resolved to see more often in your last Christmas card to them.
Spice up winter with seasonal recipes
Pay your local greengrocer a visit to pick up some really fresh and seasonal veg, then dig out your cookbooks and try out some recipes. Homemade soup is easy and cheap to make, tastes delicious and is perfect for taking into work with you. Likewise homemade flapjacks and brownies make ideal lunchbox fillers. For more inspiration check out the recipes on our site - http://quaker.co.uk/oats_and_you/recipes
And if you’re still struggling with your healthy eating resolution..
Often the first reaction to festive weight gain involves meal skipping throughout the first part of the new year. However, it doesn't do your body any favours in the long run, as low blood sugar can affect energy and mood, making any winter blues even worse.
Grabbing a snack on the go is an easy option, however regular, balanced meals over the day are the best way of keeping blood sugar levels on an even keel. Porridge is a great start to the day – it’s warming and satisfying, helps set you up for the day and tastes great! So why not try some of our delicious flavours of Quaker Oat So Simple to help beat those winter blues away?
Now that’s something to spur you on throughout February...
