Morning oatmeal is healthy for you and it’s become one of the hottest food trends of the year. However, forget eating it in the same old way. Here is how you can take it to the next level of deliciousness.
Throw On Some Ancient Grains
Ancient grains such as quinoa give your oatmeal extra nutritional value. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and the combination of low-GI oats with protein-rich quinoa will keep your energy levels high so you can tick everything off your ‘to do’ list.
Forget Brown Sugar in Favour of Healthy Sweetness
If you love sprinkling brown sugar onto your oatmeal, bear in mind it’s got approximately the same amount of calories as white sugar. For a dash of healthier sweetness, add some blueberries or strawberries to your oatmeal instead. It will give you a boost of Vitamin C while satisfying your sweet tooth.
Haute Food
Feeling fed up with eating oatmeal every day? Give your oatmeal a fancy touch with some roasted fruits, such as figs. The trick is to bake the oatmeal.
You’ll need:
3 tablespoons of chopped pecan nuts
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon corn starch
3 tablespoons butter (and an extra 2 teaspoons to grease the bowl)
1 and 1/2 cups oats
1 cup milk
2 sliced figs
1 egg
6 dates that have been pitted and chopped
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven at 180 C.
2. Take the nuts, sugar and corn starch and place them in a bowl.
3. Put the two teaspoons of butter into a pie dish and pop it into the oven for a few minutes so that it can be used to grease the dish.
4. In a different bowl, mix together the oats, cinnamon, dates and baking powder. Then, add in the milk, egg and butter, stirring it well.
5. Place the mixture into the buttered dish and add the figs on top.
6. Bake for 30 minutes or until it turns golden-brown. You can then cut it into slices and serve it with fresh fruit and yogurt. Mmm, so comforting on winter mornings.
Replace Milk with Coconut Milk
If you like eating oatmeal with milk, consider making it thicker and tastier with coconut milk. Not only does coconut milk add a nice flavour, but it’s got lots of nutrients, such as Vitamin B and D, calcium, and magnesium. It’s also a great way to make oatmeal more satisfying if you’re vegan.
Savoury and Scrumptious
Your morning oatmeal doesn’t have to be sweet – a savoury idea is to eat it with cheese and spring onions.
Ingredients:
1 serving of oats
1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 spring onion (chopped)
How to make it: Cook the oats as you normally would, then toss in the cheese and paprika. Stir it well. When it’s ready, serve it in a bowl and place the spring onion on top. Voila! Dig in and enjoy.
