Healthy Ways to Add Flavor to Oatmeal

Eating oatmeal can help lower your cholesterol. The complex carbohydrates in oatmeal cause you to feel full for hours and thus oatmeal can contribute to weight loss. I love oatmeal, but on its own, oatmeal is bland mush. Tricked out with butter, syrup, and sugar it goes from healthy to lethal. Luckily, you can have your healthy oatmeal and your flavor too.

Try these ideas to add flavor to oatmeal without sacrificing health.

Add spices to your oatmeal like nutmeg, cinnamon, or pumpkin pie spice.

Add fresh fruit to your oatmeal or raisins or other dried fruit.

Cook your oatmeal in milk or fruit juice instead of water.

Add low sugar fruit preserves to your oatmeal.

Top your oatmeal with yogurt.

Add no-sugar-added applesauce to your oatmeal.

Add honey to your oatmeal.

Add sugar free maple syrup to your oatmeal.

Add a few hazelnuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds or peanut butter for flavor, protein, and texture.

Add baked apples and a hint of cinnamon to your oatmeal.

Add bananas or peaches and a bit of non-fat vanilla yogurt.

If you must have sugar use Splenda or Splenda brown sugar.

Here is how you can combine some of these ideas for a yummy and healthy oatmeal breakfast.

Prepare oatmeal in the microwave with skim milk and 2 tablespoons of Splenda brown sugar. Top with 2 tablespoons of fat free sour cream and a handful of fresh strawberries.

My favorite - cook oatmeal in the microwave with skim milk. Add 2 tablespoons Splenda brown sugar, 1 tablespoon raisins, 1/2 tablespoon pine nuts, and 1 tablespoon sugar free maple syrup and enjoy.