If I had to pick one starch to live on, it would most definitely be oatmeal.
I mentioned in a recent post how much my family loves oatmeal. We go through 25 pounds of old-fashioned oats a month. We eat it for breakfast, many times my kids want it for dinner. I eat it anytime.
Why I love oatmeal (and you should too!):
1. You can find it anywhere. Any store, any place. Get the old-fashioned, rolled oats. Much better than the packets of sugar with a little quick oats sprinkled in (you know the bagged stuff). Although I will say, I’ve found a few brands that do a decent job with the bagged oatmeal. Costco carries one now that is organic and is minimally sweetened. Although I don’t serve the bagged kind for breakfast, I do use it as a treat food, which my kids think is dessert.
2. It’s sooo easy to make. Of course you can eat it raw, but it only takes a few minutes to cook it. My husband’s favorite way is to boil some water in the tea pot. Cover oatmeal with water and let sit for 5-10 minutes until the water has been mostly or all absorbed. Put a plate over the bowl and drain out any excess water by tipping bowl into sink. This leaves the oatmeal more dense and chewy, but cooked. I, on the other hand, prefer my oatmeal pretty darn near soupy. Kinda like oatmilk (which incidentally is what my son calls oatmeal), when it’s done cooking, because it the water has turned milky and the oats are very well saturated. I do about 3 parts water to one part oatmeal. My husband’s ratio is more like 1 to 1.
3. If eaten cooked, it’s has the lowest calorie density of any grain (about 325 calories per pound of cooked oatmeal), which can help you lose weight if that’s your goal.
4. I will even snack on raw oatmeal. A small handful often hits the spot.
5. My favorite toppings:
Almost anything really. Frozen berries of any kind are good. Frozen fruit, especially frozen peaches are delicious. Fresh fruit also works. Grated carrots. Grated apples. Even grated zucchini or finely chopped celery (I know what you’re thinking, ewww! but really when I mix it in with bananas and berries, or carrots, it just adds a nice crunch). Sometimes I’ll mix in unsweetened cocoa powder and a mashed banana/maple syrup/agave/or stevia for sweetness. Dried cherries or raisins are also delicious. Okay, okay, if I had to pick a favorite combination, I’d pick frozen blueberries and grated apple, and maybe if I’m feeling like it, I’d throw in one grated carrot for crunch and color. Oh yah, and LOTS of cinnamon (we go through one fairly sized container once a month, we all love it so much). And sometimes I’ll top with a bit of almond or soy milk.
6. My kid’s favorite toppings:
They’re kinda boring and predictable. They pretty much like their oatmeal one way and they don’t deviate: some brown sugar (yes, I let my kids have some brown sugar!), soy milk, and a TON of cinnamon. They love to eat it on top of toast. Occasionally they’ll allow me to berries in. And I usually serve with walnuts or a tsp. of ground flax seed, although I can’t actually put the walnuts in the oatmeal or they won’t eat it. I like to serve it with some sliced oranges or orange juice to add some extra nutrition.
7. Oatmeal is cheap. It blows cold cereal out of the water any day. Cost per serving is easily 5 cents or less. I buy 25 lbs. from Winco for $13. Yipee!
8. I love the convenience of it. Often I don’t have time to make a meal, but I have 5 minutes to make some oatmeal (or less, if I use the microwave).
9. Soluble fiber. Oats are one of the few starches that contain this essential fiber that has been proven to actually lower your blood cholesterol (and improve your regularity).
10. It’s a “whole food.” It has been minimally processed (I do like oat groats, and steel cut oats, but they aren’t quite the “fast foods” I’d like them to be), but the grain is still intact. And, no Cheerios don’t count as oatmeal. Sorry.
11. Yes, I knew you were going to go there. Oatmeal does have plenty of protein, so you’re covered, don’t you worry.
12. It’s wheat free. Not always gluten free (because it’s often processed in a non-gluten free facility), but it’s a great option for people with intolerances.
So before you go make yourself a bowl of oatmeal (I know you want to…) check out Dr. McDougall’s lecture entitled “The Starch Solution.” He gives a thorough and detailed explanation why oats (or any other starch of choice) are such important parts of our diets.
Then go eat your oatmeal!
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