9 Ways to make oatmeal better.

By: Stella Juarez

One of the best quick breakfasts you can prepare is a bowl of oatmeal, especially if you are active and health conscious. Oatmeal is rich in complex, energy-sustaining carbohydrates, low in fat and high in fiber. What's more it is economically priced and easy to make!

Oatmeal is becoming so mainstream that it's available in disposable heat and serve containers and many flavors, including one with little sugar dinosaurs intended for picky kids. Did you ever notice while you were paying four times the price of a container of plain oats for a 10 packet box of flavored oatmeal that you were also buying 13 grams of sugar and less than an adult female serving in every packet?

Try some of these delicious and frugal oatmeal variations that pack the same energy and flavor without the high price point and added sugar of flavored oatmeal packets.

Ideas For Oatmeal

Apple Cinnamon: Add chopped apple or a few teaspoons of natural, unsweetened applesauce to oatmeal and cook. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Maple & Brown Sugar Use sugar-free pancake syrup and a dash of cinnamon or artificial brown sugar replacement by Sugar Twin that is now available.

Fruit & Cream: Add a little milk or vanilla protein powder and a few strawberries, blueberries, peaches, or a teaspoon of sugar free preserves.

Maple Walnut: Add 1 tbsp sugar-free pancake syrup and a few chopped walnuts.

French Vanilla: Add 1 tsp vanilla, a splash of low-fat milk, and a packet of artificial sweetener.

Cinnamon Raisin: Try using a few dashes of cinnamon, a splash of sugar-free maple syrup and a teaspoon of raisins.

Protein Boost: Stir in 1 scoop of your favorite protein powder.

Butter Pecan: Add a splash of imitation butter flavor, teaspoon of Promise fat-free butter replacement or a few dashes of Butter Buds and a teaspoon of chopped pecans.

Other Grains: Try a multi-grain hot cereal, 5 or 7-grain hot cereal, oat bran, or get even fancier and splurge on some imported McCann Steel Cut Oatmeal for a little change of pace when you are bored with regular oatmeal. Any of the flavor varieties listed above work well with these complex carbohydrate hot cereals.

Stella's Kitchen Tips

On the Go? If you buy oatmeal in packets under the guise of convenience, remember they only contain 1/3 cup of oatmeal. A snack sized sandwich bag has just enough room for a true ½ cup sized serving of oatmeal. You can quickly pack a few without even having to measure and reserve them in the pantry for days when you need to grab and go.

Do you just cook in the protein powder?

I get mine from Quaker Oats, the one that has them in flavors:)

josh i wouldnt cook in the protein because the high heat would denature it

i think just the oatmeal sit at room temp then stir it in

I love to just stir in a tablespoon of strawberry jam or stir in some chocolate protien. Either recipe isn't that bad.
s2b

splenda.. the fake sugar stuff and a dab of brown sugar for me.

I've also found that I can eat the oatmeal with very little water so that its a thick paste.

heavy cream and strawberries