By Veronica De Lira, Nutritionist
Oatmeal is such a tried and true convenient staple of our breakfast routines, pour some oats add some milk or water and you’re set. Whether microwaving it or heating it up in a saucepan, either way in less than 5 minutes you’re done. During cooler months, oatmeal just hits the spot and is a quick and easy option.
(Picture provided by flickr.com)
However, after a few days, it can grow kind of monotonous. Here are some easy tips to add an instant burst of flavor and yet still maintain the integrity and most importantly, the nutritional value, of the bowl of oatmeal everyone loves.
- Blueberries
After preparing your oatmeal
Add ¼ cup of blueberries
Mix
- Raspberries and Blackberries
Prepare oatmeal
Add ¼ cup of raspberries
Add ¼ cup of blackberries
Mix together
- Banana, Nutmeg and Cinnamon
Prepare oatmeal
1 banana sliced
Add 1-teaspoon nutmeg
Add 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
Stir
- Apples, Light Brown Sugar
Prepare Oatmeal
Take 1 apple slice it
Add 2 teaspoons light brown sugar (taste before you add second teaspoon)
Add sliced apple
- Light Brown Sugar and Cranberries
Prepare the oatmeal
Add 2 teaspoons of light brown sugar (again taste before you add second)
Add ¼ cup of cranberries
- Lower Sugar Maple and Brown Sugar with Regular and Golden Raisins
Prepare Oatmeal
Add ¼ cup of regular raisins
Add ¼ cup of golden raisins
Stir
- Almond milk, and Bananas.
Prepare Oatmeal Substitute Milk for Almond Milk
(Remember Almond Milk is sweeter than regular milk, and is a better substitute for those with more of a sweet tooth.)
Take 1 banana and slice it; add into oatmeal
- Dark Chocolate Chips
Prepare oatmeal
Sprinkle ¼ cup of dark chocolate chips
(I prefer Ghirardelli chocolate chips, as they taste a little less bitter in my opinion.)
Prepare Oatmeal
Drizzle 2 teaspoons of honey (add more or less depending on personal taste.)
- Strawberry or Grape Jam.
Prepare Oatmeal
Add one tablespoon of preservative of your choice(Strawberry and Grape seem to compliment the oatmeal best.)
Other toppings you can add to oatmeal:
- Chia seeds
- Coconut shavings
- Almonds
- Almond shavings
- Walnuts
- Peaches
- Sliced Pear
- Strawberries
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Boysenberries
- Dark Chocolate Syrup
- Dried Fruit
- Bananas Foster
- Granola