Oatmeal has been eaten for centuries. Its popularity comes and goes, and I am not sure why. Eating oatmeal as your go to breakfast has so many up sides. It is readily available, not expensive, and very good for you.
Oatmeal has fiber, we all know that. But did you know that the fiber in oatmeal is a special kind of fiber that has been shown to decrease bad (LDL) cholesterol and decrease your risk for heart disease. The research is so clear that the FDA has allowed this claim on the label of oatmeal.
The fiber in oatmeal slows digestion and decreases blood sugar spikes. This help keep you feeling fuller longer without that mid-morning crash that you may get from some other breakfast cereals.
Choosing the right oatmeal is important. You want to pick the least processed oatmeal you can. That means staying away from quick cooking oats and flavored oats. The flavored oats are quick cooking oats that have a lot of sugar added. Steel cut oats are the least processed oats that are readily available in most grocery stores. The downside of steel cut oats is that they take a long time to cook. You can cook them the night before and make enough for the whole week then just heat and eat. If this does not fit into your lifestyle, old fashioned oats will do just fine. They cook in 4-5 minutes. For more information on the different types of oatmeal check out an earlier blog on this topic.
Oats are naturally high in protein for a grain with 6 grams of protein per cup of cooked oats. Add a ½ cup of milk (4 grams of protein), ¼ cup plain yogurt (3 grams of protein), or 1 T of slivered almonds (3 grams of protein), to add a bit more. You can also find protein oats that are either grown to have more protein or have added whey or pea protein. For me, the higher protein oats make the most sense. They are simple to prepare and, even without added toppings, have 10 grams of protein.
Oats can be used in place of breadcrumbs in most recipes, so you don’t have to limit oats to your morning meal. Here are some recipes that use oats that you can incorporate into your diet.
Don’t miss another great blog: Subscribe Now