Power Up With Hearty Oatmeal

BlogHealth and Nutrition
Written By Shannon Baker

January is National Oatmeal Month and what better way to warm up than with a hearty bowl of oatmeal! Boost the staying power of your next bowl of oats, savor the flavors of the season, and save time on your next busy morning with these oatmeal tips!

Power Up with Protein

Whether they are quick, steel-cut, or old-fashioned, oats are mainly a source of carbohydrates. Be sure to add a source of protein to your carbohydrate-heavy meal so that you finish feeling satisfied and full. Harness the protein power, delicious flavor, and 13 essential nutrients of milk by cooking your oats with milk instead of water. Add a dollop of dairy like regular or Greek yogurt on top of your finished oats for an extra boost!

Savor the Season

Think of a bowl of oatmeal as a blank canvas, ready to take on your favorite flavors and be dressed in toppings galore. Make a stovetop batch of oatmeal with fresh apples, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, brown sugar, and milk for a bowl of comfort perfect for a chilly day. Capture the fleeting fresh cranberry season by creating warm oatmeal using cranberries, orange zest, cinnamon, vanilla, maple syrup, and milk. Ever heard of “savory oatmeal”? Just like any other grain, oatmeal can be used as a base for savory applications like rice or grits. Make a Southern-inspired savory oatmeal made with milk and cheddar cheese and top with ingredients like country ham, collards, and boiled eggs for a hearty breakfast sure to win over the naysayers.

Fix It and Forget It

Busy mornings call for easy breakfasts. Prep overnight oats the night or two before in anticipation of those hectic days or even batch-cook baked oatmeal and top it with yogurt and fruit each morning. Embrace warm flavors with Apple Pie Overnight Oats or surprise the kids with Captain America Overnight Oats to help them power through their long day!

Sarah Hester, MS, RD

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