Oatmeal Indecision

It's almost sad how much I love oatmeal, but it is def one of my favorite foods. There are endless ways to eat your oatmeal! It's so diverse, you can add just about anything to it, and it's good for you.

Last night we went to the grocery store to restock our oatmeal items and get junk food! We picked up old fashion oats, coconut flakes, dark chocolate, apples, raisins, nuts, vanilla almond milk, frozen blue berries...just to name a few items in our cart. So this morning I had a really hard time picking my add in items. I always use 1/2 cup of the oats and a coffee cup full of water (sometimes 1/2 water 1/2 almond milk) then I pick my add ins. I really wanted to do something with the chocolate & coconut, but it had been so long since I had put raisins in my oatmeal...so I went with a bowl of apple cinnamon raisin oatmeal. Hmmm, It was so good. I just added 1/8 cup of raisins & some cinnamon about half way through the cooking time then added the chopped apple for a nice texture. Delish! And the best part is it was all under 300 calories.

Oh and just as a little side note, when I talk of my love for oatmeal...it is the good old kind that you cook on the stove. I don't do the instant oatmeal's. There is too much sugar and junk in there. If you make it your self and ad the add ins you will have a much larger serving with just about the same amount of calories.

Few of the health benefits of eating oats

Helps with weight loss: It acts as a filler and also provides more energy as compared to other carbohydrate diets.
Absorbs Cholesterol: Oatmeal helps in keeping the level of cholesterol in check. It acts as absorbents of cholesterol.
Prevents Heart Diseases:  The presence of nutrients like calcium, Vitamins A and B and iron keeps the heart in a sound state & reduces the risk of heart diseases.
Controls Glucose and Insulin Levels: The consumption of oats helps in controlling the level of insulin and glucose in the blood.
Reduces Cancer Risk: The phytochemicals present in the oats help in reducing the risk of cancer. The insoluble fibers contained in this high fiber diet are helpful in reducing the carcinogens present in the gastrointestinal tract.
Effects the Nervous System Positively: The presence of magnesium, potassium and calcium along with B-complex vitamins are useful for the health of the nervous system.
Acts as Anti-depressant: Oats work as an anti-depressant and help in keeping the mind calm. Consumption of unrefined oatmeal is said to reduce stress, while cooked oats helps to get rid of fats.
High-fiber Content: The high fiber content in oats helps in reducing problems like constipation.
Enhances Athletic Performance: The oats are known for altering the metabolism and enhancing the performance if ate before physical activity.
Induces Longevity: Oatmeal is useful for maintaining the general health and increasing longevity.
Helpful in Healing: The beta glucan present in the oats helps in fast healing by speeding up the response to infection.