Oatmeal Re-Introduced

When I read Grain Brain is when I decided we would get off all grain – flour, grits, pasta and, sadly . . oatmeal. At the same time, we got off all gluten . . which I guess if you’re off grain, you’re pretty much off gluten anyway. Not all grains contain gluten though . . but we gave up almost all refined sugar and started the Paleo diet. Within days we felt so much better but of the things I gave up, I missed oatmeal the most. I set a goal and said if I could lose 20 pounds, I would re-introduce oatmeal to my diet. The more research I do, the more value I see to eating oatmeal. I’m no dietitian or doctor, so I do my research and base my opinion on information provided by others who know way more than I know. If you’re on the fence about the health benefits of oatmeal, these are some sights that might give you some helpful guidance.

• 10 Awesome Health Benefits of Oatmeal
• Health Benefits of Oats
• Health Benefits of Oatmeal

I’m almost down 20 pounds so we’re now having oatmeal for breakfast again. I’ve been told there are folks who don’t like oatmeal but every time I hear that, I just think . . you haven’t tried really good oatmeal.

In my younger years, we opened the pack of instant oatmeal, stirred it into hot milk or hot water. I remember the peach flavor with little bits of freeze dried peaches. It tasted like ground cardboard with little peach chips . . I guess . . I can’t say that I’ve ever had ground cardboard.

Through the years we’ve eaten storebought quick oats, rolled oats and steel cut oats. We thought we’d gone to oatmeal heaven when we found McCann’s Steel Cut Irish Oats. For several years, that was all we ate. Then we discovered that we could buy oat groats and roll our own oats.  I can cut the oats similar to steel cut oats using the grain mill or I can roll them using the FlicFloc flaker (from Amazon). There happens to be one listed on clearance now at Pleasant Hill Grain. Speaking of PHG, when folks return things, they put them on clearance. I’ve purchased several things from them on clearance and they always look brand new but you need to call them to order the clearance items . . to be sure they’re still in stock and to get the clearance price.

So, Vince decided we should get the electric model and I already knew how much they cost so I let him do the research and I believe we’ll keep using the hand crank model. It takes no effort and is quick so I don’t mind. The best way to roll oats (or any grain) or to mill grain is to mill it and use it as soon as possible because it begins to lose it’s nutritional value almost immediately. There’s a world of difference in having steel cut oats that were just ground at home versus even the best quality of steel cut (or rolled) oats that you buy already processed.

We start with about a cup of oat groats, which I also buy in bulk from Pleasant Hill Grain.

And, we end up with rolled oats. It takes less than 3 minutes to roll/flake the oats for our breakfast.

There are so many additional ingredients we can add to oatmeal that makes it even more delicious. We always add chia seeds and bananas. The chia seeds and banana really change the texture . . and it’s a texture we like a lot!  Here is an article about the benefits of adding banana to oatmeal. Other fruits like strawberries, blueberries, peaches, apples, raspberries, apricots, figs . . you name it, can be added! Nuts can also be added. We like it with toasted almonds but toasted walnuts, pecans, and pistachios are good too. You’re truly only limited by your imagination. 

As far as the chia seeds, my research has led me to believe that there are health benefits but there are other studies indicating that it is inconclusive as to the health benefits. I haven’t found anything to suggest chia seeds can have unhealthy results so for now, we eat them . . mainly because I like the little bit of crunch they provide.

The way we enjoy it most is cooked to a creamy porridge consistency.  I am not sure where I originally got the recipe I use but the one Kath Eats has on her website is very similar and she also has a million (almost) ways to eat oatmeal.

Rolled Oats (serves 4)

1 cup rolled oats
1 cup Almond milk
1-1/4 cups water
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1 banana, sliced into thin slices
pinch of salt (optional)
1 – 2 tsp. coconut or brown sugar (optional)
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)

Directions:

1.  Add almond milk, water and salt to a pot and bring water to a simmer.
2.  Add oats, chia seeds and sliced banana.
3.  Simmer, while whisking, until the desired consistency is reached.
4.  Stir in the vanilla and sugar, if desired.  A splash of maple syrup could also be added for sweetness. Whether or not we add sweetener depends on the sweetness of the fruits we’re adding in.
5.  Spoon the oatmeal into bowls and top with whatever topping is desired (or available!).

Oatmeal never tasted so good!