Do any of you eat oatmeal? Every thing I read these days seems to say that it is great for you and great for keeping you full all morning. Also, my friend Stefanie recommended it when she visited me in November.
Anyway, I'm asking because I would like to be an oatmeal eater, but the instant kind I've bought is just gross. Probably it's not the healthiest option either, although I tried to buy the healthiest of the instant kind. Am I buying the wrong thing or should I just stay away from the instant altogether? I'm thinking most people add tasty stuff to their oatmeal like fruit or nuts, and this must make it taste better.
I really want to be an oatmeal lover, and would like your help. If you have any tips or thoughts to share on oatmeal or oatmeal toppings, please comment below. If the comment box intimidates you, please email or facebook me!
I LOVE oatmeal! But the consistency has to be _just right_. If it's too thin I hate it and if it's too thick I hate it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I only eat cinnamon apple or maple & brown sugar. I never knew there was anything other than instant.
Ohohohoh something I know all about!!
ReplyDeleteI hate oatmeal too, and yet found a way to eat it every morning.
First, switch to whole oats. They can be cooked up in the micro... 5-ish minutes, but watch the microwave until you get the power/time right so you don't over boil all over. For me, 6 minutes at 30% is perfect. But it'll be the perfect amount of time to pull together your day's lunch/snacks in the morning!
Second, try cooking with fat free milk instead of water. Creamier and tastier!
Third, what flavors do you like? I sprinkle a 1/4tsp of chai spice blend (the real stuff, not the fake tea powder stuff, tho that might work too) and a half Tbsp honey. Some berries from the freezer will mix in well, too. Maybe some chunky applesauce? Sliced bananas with a little peanut butter? Unless it's a spice that needs to simmer in while it's cooking, I'd just mix it while it's piping hot.
Last, don't add sugar/honey or salt until after cooking the oats!!! It hinders the cooking process.
IMHO, oatmeal will always be a little gross, but I like chugging a bunch of ice cold water with it to help it down, which helps with the soluble fiber and gets me a jump start on my water for the day!
I hope you find a combo that works for you :)
Instant maple and brown sugar with whole milk is a staple England family breakfast. I used to think I had a preference for Quaker oats, but now know that I don't. Nutritionally, it's a good compromise between mixing apples and cinnamon with cinnamon and spice. We like a kind of medium consistency, but aren't really too picky.
ReplyDeletep.s. I used to hate oatmeal, but after 5 years of fixing it for Bryan, it grew on me.
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I like instant strawberries and cream from Quaker. I also like doing instant plain and adding some splenda and diced fresh strawberries or diced canned peaches (in light syrup). I like the fruity stuff instead of the maple and brown sugar.
ReplyDeleteI used to eat Quaker oats Weight Control. I liked it better than normal oatmeal, and it is _really_ filling.
ReplyDeleteI heart oatmeal now. I was a cereal girl until I figured out even the good Kashi kind has mad sugar in it. And I wanted something warm when it's freezing.
ReplyDeleteI do the plain old kind, in the big cardboard container. Make it in the microwave and then top it with other stuff.
I generally give it a little sprinkle of salt, some cinnamon, and then some sort of fruit. Blueberries are pretty awesome, but so are bananas. Then I top it all with a splash of milk, usually almond milk but sometimes whole milk. So, so yummy.
I've recently discovered a savory version, thanks to Real Simple magazine. Make the oatmeal, add salt and pepper to the top, then drizzle with a little olive oil (maybe a teaspoon or so) and top with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese. DE-Licious!
Also: why is oatmeal bad for you? Just curious, because I thought the opposite was true.
Thanks everyone for the thoughts on this! I still have this box of instant original oatmeal that I want to finish before buying anything else. But thanks to your suggestions, I've been experimenting with adding stuff to it and it's gotten a lot better. Yesterday I did just a touch of splenda and some cinnamon. Today I did cinnamon and strawberries. Plus, I've started making it with a mix of water and milk, which I think has helped tremendously.
ReplyDeleteBritt- I just saw that savory version in Real Simple too! I wasn't sure about trying it, but if you've tried it, that makes me feel better about giving it a go.
I didn't mean to imply that oatmeal is not good for you. I was just thinking the instant oatmeal is not as good as the old-fashioned or steel cut oats.
Oatmeat is the best!!!! I love all the faloverd stuff but I hate that all the flavoring and sugar make it UNHEALTHY by the time you get around to eating it. I buy the plainest quick cooking oatmeal out there, make it in the microwave and add cinnamon or pumpkin pie seasoning to it. And Splenda of course.
ReplyDeleteIf you are grossed out by the texture, there is nothing you can do other than getting used to it. If you're ok witht the texture, start putting cake falvoing, spices, fruit etc in it and eat away. It is super yummy!