Eeeewww! Not Oatmeal!

Okay, the one word I always hated to hear as a kid when I asked what we were having for breakfast was, "Oatmeal." Blech. Yuck. Ew. Who cares how good it is for our bodies. It tastes like wet paper towels with salt! Fortunately, there are several ways to make this nutritious and filling meal taste a little bit less disgusting. I will tell the truth and admit that I actually like it when one of these methods is used to make it better.

First, it is necessary to discuss the nutritional value of plain oatmeal. There are various brands, but for these purposes I will use the well-known Quaker Brand Instant Oatmeal (following information from the nutritional label at http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-arrowhead-mills-original-plain-instant-i82857). With the serving size of one packet, there are only 110 calories, and only 18 of those calories are from fat. The total fat content is 2 grams, with 1 gram of polyunsaturated fat and 1 gram of mono-unsaturated fat. The total carbohydrates are 19 grams, but since there are 2 grams of dietary fiber and 4 grams of protein, the net carbs would be reduced to 13 carbs. There is even four percent of our daily value of iron, which is based a 2000 calorie diet. There are multiple ways to get a serving of oatmeal, from buying it in a box and scooping measured amounts to buying it in instant packets with different flavorings added to it.

Many of us poor folks prefer to purchase the less expensive plain brands, and add things to it in order to make it taste better. The nutritional values will vary from brand to brand. Some people will simply add sugar and milk. For the weight conscious, there are the options of skim or fat-free milk, and there are the options of artificial sweeteners such as Splenda, which has both regular sugar substitute, as well as brown sugar substitute. There are also versions of Splenda that are blends of real sugar and the artificial (information about Splenda from Splenda.com).

Cinnamon is an excellent flavoring for oatmeal, and it has the added benefit of minimizing the feeling of hunger and lowering blood glucose levels (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/588859). There are many other possible uses for cinnamon, but it definitely has a pleasant flavor and scent. It depends on the preferences of the person who wants to eat the oatmeal, but cinnamon packs a double punch of being healthy and delicious.

There are other options for sweeteners, too. Other than sugar or sugar substitutes, one can use maple syrup, honey or agave nectar. There are copious amounts of information that will say how using real maple syrup, raw honey or agave nectar is a much healthier way to sweeten foods and drinks. I have personally used agave nectar to sweeten iced tea, and I enjoyed it. It would sweeten oatmeal very well, for those who do not like the strong flavor of maple syrup or the distinctive taste of honey.

One of the best and most healthy ways to add some sweetness to your oatmeal is to add fresh fruit, craisins or raisins. Chunks of apple and raisins will add a natural sweetness if you add them before the oatmeal is heated. If you still hate the oatmeal, think of the fruit chunks as prizes for getting through the rest. That could work for the kids, too. Although, chocolate chips may work better for them.

In conclusion, there are some truly icky foods out there, but fortunately oatmeal is one of those foods that can be semi-redeemed. Just keep trying, and you will hopefully find a combination that works for you. As always, I would recommend speaking with your doctor before making any drastic changes to your diet. I have included links to the nutritional information on the products mentioned above for your convenience.

http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-arrowhead-mills-original-plain-instant-i82857
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-lifestyle-guide/supplement-guide-cinnamon
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/588859
http://www.peertrainer.com/DFcaloriecounterB.aspx?id=6880
http://www.splenda.com/page.jhtml?id=splenda/childweight/foodlabels.inc
http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/generic/fat-free-skim-milk
http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/madhava/agave-nectar-amber
http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/honey-nutrition.html