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Do you remember those mornings when you rolled out of bed and shuffled down to the breakfast table only to be faced with a bowl of oatmeal and your mom saying, “Eat your oatmeal, it’s good for you?” It turns out that Mom was right all along; oatmeal is good to eat and good for you too!  

Studies show that eating oatmeal can improve your dietary health because it provides both soluble and insoluble fiber. The soluble fiber in oatmeal helps improve the level of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and improves the overall cholesterol health of the individual who’s consuming oats. Nutritionists have likened oats to tiny sponges that pick up cholesterol and carry it out of the body.

We’ve all heard the news and know about the significant health benefits that oatmeal has to offer. Regardless of whether you enjoy your oatmeal for breakfast, or even in an oatmeal cookie; oatmeal is great any time of the day.

Because of its flavor and consistency, oatmeal is great topped with sugar, walnuts, milk, fruits, jam, chocolate chips or a light sprinkling of cinnamon. If you love peanut butter, why not have a bowl of oatmeal with peanut butter swirled into it for lunch? It’s a great, delicious alternative to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. To use oatmeal at dinner time, you can grind oatmeal in a food processor, mix with your favorite spices and coat poultry or pork and bake it up. Because of its moisture-enhancing qualities, oatmeal helps keep the moisture sealed in the dishes you cook.

If you simply can’t bring yourself to indulge in the velvety warmth of a bowl of oatmeal, you can still reap its benefits by making oatmeal cookies and creating granola snacks. And remember, oatmeal is also good for your skin – taking an oatmeal bath pampers your skin and offers a moisturizing, soothing affect that can relieve the symptoms of most skin disorders and relieves dry winter skin.

Oatmeal fun facts:

• In January, sales of oatmeal soar. In a recent survey, Americans stocked our cupboards with more than 34.6 million pounds of oatmeal- enough to make 475 million bowls of oatmeal
• Milk remains the most popular oatmeal topping followed by sugar, salt, fruit, and butter or margarine. Those toppings deemed unusual but that many enjoy are: peanut butter, eggnog and cottage cheese.
• More than 80% of all US households have at least one container of oatmeal in their pantries.
• Oatmeal cookies are the number one non-cereal usage for oatmeal, followed by meatloaf.
• Oats were discovered in China in 7,000 BC but the ancient Greeks were the first known civilization to use oats as porridge (cereal).
• An 18-ounce container of old fashioned oats contains about 26,000 rolled oats.
• Oatmeal is eaten as a breakfast cereal 89% of the time.
• Quaker Oats are used in more than 24 countries
• There are myriad types of oatmeal on the market – from old fashioned to instant. Rolled oats that have not been cut into small pieces are considered old fashioned and take about five minutes to cook. Old fashioned oats produce a chewier consistency. Instant oatmeal typically has sweeteners, other ingredients or flavors added.

During National Oatmeal Month revel in your love for this delicious, good-for-you-food.

Check out Fill Your Plate for oatmeal recipe ideas like the simple yet hearty cookie.