Oatmeal Ideas That’ll Bowl You Over
We know Oatmeal is good for us — but it’s not the most exciting SuperFood on the menu. Or is it?
People wonder how to make oatmeal taste better, but because it has a fairly neutral flavor there are a lot of easy tricks to pump it up.
Breakfast
Cook it with 1/2 part water and 1/2 part vanilla-flavored soy or almond milk to add a luscious richness. If you like to add regular milk after it’s cooked, then prepare it with only water. Then add in:
- Dried fruit like cranberries, blueberries, or raisons
- Apples, cinnamon and honey for an apple pie flavor
- A couple scoops of canned pumpkin, cinnamon and honey for pumpkin pie flavor
- Chopped walnuts or slivered almonds for crunch
- Cinnamon and nutmeg for some earthy spice
Snacks
Add to your regular bowl of cooked, unflavored oatmeal:
- Orange pieces, chopped walnuts, a splash of orange juice and a spoonful of sour cream for a tangy treat.
- Two tablespoons of peanut butter (and maybe a little cinnamon and honey) makes for a protein-rich, super flavorful snack or meal.
In Savory Dishes
Oatmeal cookies, crisps and bars are great for dessert — and you should check out our recipes section for some great ideas. But how about these savory ideas:
- Add it to a turkey loaf. Use it instead of bread crumbs as a binder; you won’t taste it, and the whole grains are better for you than stale white bread.
- Add salsa, chiles and Cotija cheese for a spicy bowl.
- Tzatsiki, feta cheese, kalamata olives and chopped cucumber offer an exotic twist.
Oatmeal Fast Facts
Oatmeal is low in calories, high in fiber and protein, and a rich source of magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, thiamine and pantothenic acid. It has been proven to lower bad cholesterol, which leads to a decrease in the risk of heart disease, and like many SuperFoods, whole oats are loaded with the phytonutrients that are vital to a healthy diet. People who regularly include oats in their diets also have lower spikes in their blood sugar levels because the soluble fiber in whole oats helps moderate the absorption of glucose.
