The day just isn't long enough! When you add up how many hours we need just to live our routine workday lives, it usually comes out to about 28. And, judging by the pace of people around us, many are in the same predicament; trying to make up those elusive 4 or more hours.

Convenience fast foods are one such solution that we all know very well. In this day and age when inflation dictates our life-styles and working for our daily bread often leaves no time to bake it - or cook much else - convenience foods would seem to be a lifesaver. However, nutritional experts are now raising questions in this regard. I'm sure you are all aware of how the many fast food restaurants are now offering "Healthy" fast foods. The simple fact is that less than half of the nation is receiving adequate nutrition.

Regardless of your income, on the average our diets are 45 percent fat, and 24 percent sugar. The remaining 31 percent of the average diet contains chemical additives. Three killer diseases (cancer, arteriosclerosis and diabetes), have now conclusively been linked to diet.

We are now faced with a serious dilemma. The demands on most of our lives require constant driving activity. We simply don't have the time to cook wholesome, health-giving meals three times a day. Yet the fast foods we have come to depend on are not providing our bodies with adequate nutrition.

I hope to show you here how in only 1 afternoon you can prepare, bottle and label natural mixes that will create 2 months worth of instant breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks. Totally free of sugar, preservatives, and refined grains and flours, they can be made and stored in large quantities.

To start mix-making you may need to make some simple additions to your kitchen crockery, minor readjustments to your cabinet space and your grocery shopping.

You need wide-mouth bottles or jars for storing mixes. All of the mix recipes here suggest the appropriate bottles for that mix. They vary from 8-ounce jars to half-gallon jars. If you haven't saved a collection of mayonnaise, mustard, and pickle jars, the quickest way to accumulate inexpensive airtight containers is to buy a supply of canning jars in appropriate sizes.

Labels for identifying one mix from the other, any sticky-back label large enough for you to write the name of the mix on, and notes giving the right proportion of liquid required, variations, and serving suggestions will do.

Depending on the number of mixes you intend to use you may need to clear some space in your cabinet before beginning. All the mixes here are made from dry ingredients and do not require refrigeration.

Shopping for mix ingredients may involve buying larger quantities of basic supplies less often that is your usual habit. It may also require greater use of a well-stocked natural food store and fewer visits to the supermarket. Create your shopping list with the names of the mixes you intend to make in hand. Write down each ingredient needed and the amount required to make the mix recipes you have chosen. By doing this, you avoid overbuying as well as over spending. If you follow your list carefully, you will not fill your cabinets with "basic" supplies that will never be used, thus saving space and money.

Mixes can be made in one of two ways. Either set aside a morning, afternoon, or evening to make a large number of mixes, or make them as you need them. No matter which way suits you, the technique for making mixes is simple and uniform. Dry ingredients are combined, placed in jars, labeled and stored. Ingredients in mixes should be throughly combined to ensure even distribution of flavors. Jars need to be sealed tightly before storing to ensure freshness.

BREAKFAST MIXES

The convenient breakfast foods here include pancake mixes and hot and cold cereal mixes. All are made from whole grains to give maximum fiber and nutrition to the first meal of the day.

A large variety of pancakes are given. Each mix can be made with eggs and milk, buttermilk, apple juice or soy milk. Fresh fruit can be added. With mixes all prepared pancakes can be served in a hurry even on mornings when the whole family needs to leave early for school or work.

BASIC BUCKWHEAT PANCAKE MIX

Apple Buckwheat Pancakes
Applesauce and Sour Cream Buckwheat Cakes
Buckwheat Blueberry Pancakes
Buckwheat Pancakes
Buttermilk Buckwheat Pancakes


BASIC CORN WHEAT GRIDDLE CAKE MIX

Breakfast Corn Raisin Muffins
Buttermilk Corn Griddle Cakes
Corn Cottage Cheese Griddle Cakes
Corn Peanut Butter Griddle Cakes
Corn Wheat Griddle Cakes


BASIC RICE GRIDDLE CAKE MIX

Rice Apple Griddle Cakes
Rice Flour Morning Cake
Rice Flour Pancakes
Rice Molasses Pancakes
Rice Nut Butter Pancakes


BASIC RAISIN COCONUT OATMEAL MIX