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Healthy Ways to Liven Up Your Oatmeal

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:00:19 -0700

Now that cooler temps are moving in, there's nothing like warming yourself up with a bowl of hot oatmeal. Full of whole grain fiber, this breakfast will keep you satisfied all morning. Buying plain oats is healthier than buying packets that are already sweetened, and less expensive too, but that doesn't mean you have to go without flavor.

Add these delicious morsels to your half-cup serving of oatmeal.

One small banana (diced), two tablespoons vanilla yogurt, and one tablespoon walnuts.
Half a diced pear, one tablespoon pumpkin seeds, and one tablespoon of GoLean Crunch cereal or granola.
Half a diced apple, two chopped dates, 10 chopped almonds, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

For other tasty ideas, keep reading

What's With All the Different Kinds of Oats?

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:00:31 -0700

Need a little extra fiber and protein? Then reach for some oats. You can make oatmeal, use them to make cookies, add them to smoothies to thicken them up, or grind them to make flour. There are a few different kinds of oats, so how do you know which to choose? Check out the chart below.

	Steel cut oats	Old-fashioned oats	Quick oats
Description	Also called Irish or Scotch oats, these are cut, not rolled. They look like chopped up rice, take the longest to cook, and have a slightly chewy consistency.	Sometimes called rolled oats, these look like flat little ovals. When processing these oats, the kernels are steamed first, and then rolled to flatten them. They take longer to cook than quick oats, but are quicker than steel cut oats.	Also called instant oats, these oats are pre-cooked, dried, and then rolled. They cook in a few minutes when added to hot water, and have a mushy texture.

Want to know how they compare nutritionally? Then keep reading

Add Almond Butter to Your Oatmeal

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:00:00 -0800

When you're preparing for a day that will bring a strenuous workout or a busy morning with no time for a mid-morning snack, it's especially important to eat a filling breakfast. Oatmeal is great for these occasions, and stirring almond butter into your bowl is a delicious way to add a lot more filling protein, fiber, and flavor.

Almond butter is a healthy and tasty alternative to the old favorite, but currently controversial, peanut butter. Both nut-based condiments are calorie-dense, and they're so yummy that it's easy to get carried away. Measure one serving (2 tablespoons) of almond butter before stirring it into your warm oatmeal, and start your day knowing that your stomach grumbles won't get in the way.

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5 Things About Oatmeal

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:00:00 -0800

When it comes to breakfast foods, oatmeal (especially steel cut oats) is up there on my list of go-to choices. Its comforting, filling, and nutritious characteristics make it a desirable way to start my day. More than a simple and inexpensive meal, there are several other uses for oatmeal and Health magazine brings out the best in oatmeal with five attributes of the pantry staple.

Outstanding Oats: Health is especially fond of oatmeal because it's "heart healthy."
Pore Refiner: Dermatologist Amy Wechsler recommends this pore-cleansing mask: "Mix 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1/2 cup hot water, and 1/4 cup honey in a food processor. Let cool, and apply. Wait 10 minutes, and rinse."
Diet Helper: Replacing all-purpose flour with homemade oat flour when baking will give you "twice the fiber so you feel fuller, but fewer calories."
Exercise booster: "Oats trigger the body to burn fat more quickly to fuel muscles," explains Health.
Cancer fighter: A study in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that "women on diets rich in fiber from whole grains, like oats, reduce their risk by up to 41 percent."

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Fit Edible Gift: Dressed-Up Oatmeal

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:00:41 -0800

I'm trying to save a little money this holiday season while striving to give gifts that everyone will love. Edible gifts are always a treat, but the people on my list would be shocked if I brought them a tin of homemade fudge - not to mention they're probably on sugar overload from all of the seasonal treats.

I'm putting a little of my FitSugar self into my homemade gifts this year by assembling containers of dressed-up oatmeal for my neighbors and friends. Find out how to put together these inexpensive, edible gifts when you read more.

Find a jar or container to hold the oatmeal and add-ins. If you don't have any lying around, consider heading to a local thrift store to pick up a bunch of unique mason jars that won't cost much.
Use steel cut or five-minute oats as your first layer.
Include any add-ins that you please! Mine is made with dried cranberries and walnuts, but the combinations are endless. This is a great way to use extra ingredients you may have leftover from holiday baking, like pecans or raisins.
Be sure to attach a card that explains how to make the oatmeal, even if you think it's obvious.
Add a ribbon, and you're finished!

The recipients of your dressed-up oatmeal will surely appreciate the gift of a healthy, warm breakfast treat during these cold months. For more gift ideas, don't miss all our great holiday gift guides.

Healthy Breakfast Idea: Oatmeal at Your Desk

FitSugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 08:00:00 -0700

While the debate is still on about whether or not the Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal is worth the $3, user AnnW66 offered this great tip for making it right at your desk.

"If you were just going to work, here's my tip: I keep a box of five-minute oats (or even better, Silver Palate oats) in my drawer. Add 1/3 cup to a bowl or mug and add about 2/3 cup hot water. Let sit five to 10 minutes while checking emails. Add a little more water or milk and microwave two to three minutes at 60 percent. Done. Add raisins, cinnamon, and nuts if desired (I keep them at work as well)."

Great idea - I love that it's just as easy as the instant stuff but with way less sugar. I think I may be buying some oats this weekend to keep in my desk next week. Thanks for the tip!

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Nature's Path Veri-Berry Oatmeal

FitSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0700

I am a fan of holistic Dr. Andrew Weil and when I saw that he had teamed up with Nature'sPath I was more than a little excited.

While I am normally a steel-cut oats gal, sometimes I don't have the time to invest in cooking that oatmeal. For those rushed mornings the Veri-Berry Hot Oatmeal is a perfect quick breakfast on the go. It is made entirely with organic ingredients (even the thickening agent inulin is organic) and flavored with dried cherries, cranberries, and raspberries.

To see nutritional information and what a bowl truly looks like read more.
read more.

I really liked this oatmeal, although the photo on the box leads one to believe there will be a lot of berries per bowl. It is whole grain, low fat, low sodium, and not too sweet. It kept me full for four hours! A box of eight packets is $4.79.

Fit's Tip: I try using the microwave to prepare the oatmeal once and the texture was a bit like glue. It is so much better to add boiling water, stir, and let it sit for minute.

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Back on Track: Start Cooking Your Steel Cut Oatmeal Tonight

FitSugar — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 05:00:00 -0800

Breakfast is truly the most important meal of the day. It fires up your metabolism and sets the tone for your day. A nice warm bowl of steel cut oats is a great way to fuel up in the morning, but the 30 minute plus cooking time is a little daunting for any morning, especially Monday. However, I have a great work around to this time consuming problem. It does require a little bit of pre-planning, but I am sure you have it in you to think ahead to tomorrow's breakfast.

Before you head to bed:

Boil water in a heavy saucepan – four cups for four servings of oatmeal and two cups for two.
Remove water from heat when the water is a full boil. Add oats – 1 cup oats for four servings and 1/2 cup for two.
Cover and forget about your pot of oats until morning. Sweet dreams.
Upon waking, with the lid on bring oatmeal to a boil (at this point I usually add a fair bit of cinnamon).
Once your oatmeal is boiling, remove the lid and stir occasionally for five to eight minutes, or until oatmeal is the desired thickness.

Try it tonight to start your week off right!

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Cures for an Empty Stomach

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:30:00 -0700

Now you know why it is important not to let yourself get super hungry, you need some hints how to avoid running on empty. Well, Women's Health has compiled of list of ways to effectively quiet the rumble of your empty belly without adding to the all around girth of your belly.

Here are the top ten suggestions:

Pack a packet: Instant oatmeal beats out All Bran and Muesli for fullness factor. We love Quaker's Weight Control Maple and Brown Sugar -- it tastes heavenly and has more fiber, protein, and whole grains than the regular variety. (Me? I am more of an Irish Steel Cut Oats gal.)
Find berry treasure: Raspberries are one of the most fiber-filled fruits, packing 8 grams into a cupful -- a whopping 32 percent of your RDA. Add some to your cereal or yogurt.
Can the juice: Whole fruit has a higher fiber content and makes you feel fuller than fruit juices, even those with pulp.
Make a dinner date: A study found that women eat less than usual on dates (men tend to eat a lot more).
But don't eat by candlelight: Dim light can trigger binge eating.
Better yet, make it a blind date: It's worth a try -- dine blindfolded and you'll eat 22 percent less food without missing it. Just watch out for the salad fork.
Bulk up: Soluble fiber expands in your GI tract to make you feel full, so get your 25-gram RDA. That's a packet of oatmeal, two slices of whole-wheat bread, and 1 cup each of broccoli, edamame, and raw carrots.
Ignore diet labels: One study found that after eating full-fat muffins, subjects were less hungry and ate less over the next 24 hours than after eating a fat-free version.
Hold your breath: Just smelling a fresh-baked cupcake in the break room can induce the insulin secretion that makes you think you're hungry. Sight activates the appetite snowball too, so avert your eyes.
Down a multivitamin: Research suggests that your body may compensate for a lack of nutrients by increasing your appetite so you'll eat more.

Women's Health has a suggestion for almost every situation! Plus there are forty more tips! Read them all in Get Your Fill. It's a belly full of information.

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Weekend Well-Being: Bake Some Cookies

FitSugar — Sat, 19 May 2007 03:30:00 -0700

In the summertime, my mom would never bake anything. She said it was hot enough outside, and she didn't need a hot oven adding to it.

Now that I'm a mom, I see her point, so before it becomes full-on summer weather out there, why not bake some cookies? You can always freeze some to eat on those super hot days.

I learned this recipe for Cranberry and Walnut Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies from my mom, and it's always a hit with my girls, and when we go to parties and BBQs. Plus, since I recently told you how good walnuts and cranberries are for women, this is a delicious way to get your share. Give them a try and let me know what you think!

Want to see the recipe? Then read more

You'll need:

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp sea salt

1 cup canola oil
1 cup Sucanat
1/4 cup honey
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups quick oats

1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup Sunspire organic semi-sweet chocolate chips

Here's what to do:

Preheat oven to 375°F.
Lightly grease 2 cookie sheets.
Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl and set aside.
In another bowl, beat the oil, eggs, Sucanant, honey & vanilla with an electric mixer until fluffy.
In that same bowl, stir in the flour mixture and then the oats.
Mix in the nuts, dried cranberries, and chocolate chips.
Using a tablespoon, scoop out the dough onto the cookie sheets. You can put 12 regular sized cookies on each sheet, or I like to make 8 bigger cookies. Whatever you do, leave space between the mounds of cookie dough (when you bake them, they spread out).
Bake for 8-12 minutes, watching them closely. You want to take them out when the tops are mostly dry and only very slightly brown, but still soft to the touch. If they cook any longer, you'll have hard hockey puck cookies. Some people like crunchy cookies, but I prefer mine to be soft and chewy.
Take them out of the oven, let then sit for 1 minute, and then gently move them to a cooling rack using a spatula.
That's it. Eat what you want and place the cooled off cookies in a storage container for later.

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