Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Quick, Healthy Breakfast Tip



I was so excited a few weeks ago when I brought home my super-healthy container of organic steel cut oats. Then my heart sank when I read the instructions. It would take over 35 minutes to make, which it did. When I make breakfast, I usually have to do it fast because as soon as I start to feel hungry in the morning, the hunger rages.

I learned something, though. I made too much oatmeal but realized I could refrigerate it and heat it up again the next morning. What may seem obvious to all of you seemed to me a streak of pure genius, until a friend told me, "I've been doing this for years." The next day, I scooped out a cup of the cold, hard, but cooked oatmeal and added it to a pan of an inch of boiling water. I stirred the cold oatmeal until it softened and then added frozen blueberries (from my long-lost blueberry trees back home!) and then pecans. In just a minute or two I had a piping hot, fresh bowl of oatmeal. The following several mornings were just as easy. Now, if I can suffer through making a large pot of oatmeal from scratch once every five days or so, I know I'll have left-overs to last all week.

As far as toppings, anything goes: nuts (especially if you toast them first or caramelize them in honey), seeds, dried fruit, coconut, berries, mango, apricot, bananas, vanilla, cinnamon, etc.

For a bright purple oatmeal that your kids will love, put blueberries in right away and stir until they bleed into the oatmeal.

9 comments:

kitchensink said...

That is a great tip! I never thought about reheating it in boiling water.

I like mine with a spoonful of peanut butter stirred in and sliced bananas : )

Anonymous said...

I soak my oats overnight and use this recipe: http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2008/09/soaked-oatmeal-breakfast.html

They cook up very quickly after a long soak.

YUM! I just keep it in my fridge all week and heat up in the morning.

Carrie said...

I do my steel cut oats in the rice cooker. I can set it to auto start the night before and wake up to breakfast already made!

Anonymous said...

You are amazing! I love the blog. I haven't gone sugar-free yet. I'm an overall healthy eater and wanna-be-a nutritionist; you give great tips! Can't wait to try the pre-made oatmeal trick, and your recommended healthy snacks. I love hummus!! :)

Alisa said...

I actually just read about that too, it had never occurred to me before and is so easy!

Emma J said...

Or try cooking them in the crockpot with extra water - I love whole grains this way (rice, groats, wheat berries, barley). Oatmeal goes too creamy but the steel-cut is fine.

Dried mangoes and coconut milk.
Ginger and pears.

will said...

Carrie-- in the rice cooker? how much water to a cup of oats?

How do you carmelize nuts with honey?

Lisa said...

You can also do steel cut oats overnight in a crockpot for 8 -9 hours on low. I heat my leftovers in my microwave.

Stephanie said...

Just discovered your blog and I am thrilled. I work with women who want to develop a positive relationship with food (I'm a holistic nutritionist and psychotherapist) and I started doing this work because of my own sugar addiction!
Keep spreading the word, and keep up the good work.
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