Brighten up your breakfast
If you think oatmeal makes for a boring breakfast, it’s time to think again. This morning staple gets a major upgrade when you mix in fruit, spices, and other flavor-boosting ingredients. This healthy whole grain lowers cholesterol, burns fat, and fills you up with fiber, folate, and potassium. Added bonus? It’s gluten free. (However, check the label. It can be contaminated with gluten-containing wheat or rye during processing.)
Dress up your dish with one of these seven fresh takes on oatmeal.
Banana-Nut Oatmeal
Unlike sugary oatmeal packets, this homemade version uses a hearty dose of cinnamon for robust flavor without added calories. The banana adds natural sweetness and fiber, while the omega-3s from the walnuts help your body burn more fat.
Ingredients: Rolled oats, water, banana, chopped walnuts, cinnamon
Oatmeal with Prune and Banana Compote
Fuel up with this fruit-topped oatmeal recipe. It packs a whopping 15 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber per serving, and it can be made in the microwave for quick convenience.
Ingredients: Milk, old-fashioned rolled oats, prunes, banana, crystallized ginger
Chai Oatmeal
For an extra thick and creamy bowl, add oat bran. It’ll make for a hearty helping and also add more fiber to your meal. If you love the taste of chai, you’ll enjoy this spiced version with coriander, cinnamon, and turmeric.
Ingredients: Milk, salt, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric, honey, vanilla extract, regular oats, oat bran
Maple Date-Nut Oatmeal Breakfast Squares
For oatmeal on the go, try making breakfast bars ahead of time. You can even make them in big batches and freeze a portion for future use.
Ingredients: Maple syrup, chopped walnuts, dates, brown sugar, sugar, egg, butter, applesauce, vanilla yogurt, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, quick-cooking oats, baking soda, salt, cinnamon
Calories: 152
De-lish Oatmeal
This recipe is made with pears, dried cranberries, and apple cider for a touch of natural fruit sweetness.
Ingredients: Water, apple cider, organic rolled oats, salt, pear, sweetened dried cranberries, cinnamon, vanilla extract, chopped pecans, milk
Calories: 256
Baked Oatmeal
If you’re not a fan of oatmeal because of its texture, try baking it instead! It’ll taste like a mix between a chewy snack bar and a creamy bowl of oats.
Ingredients: Uncooked quick-cooking oats, brown sugar, raisins, chopped walnuts, baking powder, milk, applesauce, butter, egg, cooking spray
Calories: 281
Steel-Cut Oatmeal with Salted Caramel Topping
If you’re craving a sweet treat without the guilt, a salted caramel coating does the trick. This recipe calls for steel-cut oats, which sit slightly lower on the glycemic index than rolled oats, which means they’re less prone to make your blood sugar spike.
Ingredients: Uncooked instant steel-cut oats, milk, light brown sugar, salt, whipped cream, fresh berries
Calories: 242
Source: health