Introduction
Oatmeal is a popular breakfast food that is known for its health benefits. It is a great source of fiber, protein, and other essential vitamins and minerals. However, it is important to know how to cook oatmeal correctly in order to get the most out of its health benefits. In this article, we will discuss how to cook oatmeal in a healthy way and how to avoid some of the common mistakes that can make oatmeal unhealthy. We will also discuss some of the health benefits of oatmeal and how to make it more nutritious. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of how to make oatmeal a healthy part of your diet.
Oatmeal Can Be Healthy—but Not if You Cook It Like This
Oatmeal is a great way to start your day. It’s packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and it’s a great source of energy. But if you’re not careful, you can end up with a bowl of mushy, tasteless oatmeal. Here’s how to make sure your oatmeal is healthy and delicious.
Choose the Right Type of Oatmeal
Not all oatmeal is created equal. Steel-cut oats are the healthiest option, as they are the least processed and contain the most fiber. Rolled oats are the next healthiest option, followed by quick-cooking oats. Instant oatmeal is the least healthy option, as it is highly processed and contains added sugar and other ingredients.
Add Healthy Toppings
Toppings can make or break your oatmeal. Instead of adding sugar, try adding fresh or frozen fruit, nuts, seeds, or nut butter. These toppings will add flavor and nutrition to your oatmeal.
Cook It Right
Oatmeal should be cooked slowly and gently. If you cook it too quickly or at too high of a temperature, it will become mushy and tasteless. To avoid this, use low heat and stir often. You can also add a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor.
Enjoy!
Once you’ve chosen the right type of oatmeal and added healthy toppings, it’s time to enjoy your delicious and nutritious breakfast. Oatmeal is a great way to start your day, and with a few simple tips, you can make sure it’s healthy and delicious.
Oatmeal is hands down one of the best, healthiest breakfast foods you can choose. For one, oats are full of soluble fiber and high in a specific type of soluble fiber known as beta-glucan, which is known to help slow digestion, fill you up quickly, and even help you manage cholesterol and blood sugar.
But while oatmeal on its own is a nutritious breakfast, it also depends on how you prepare your oatmeal and what you include in it. “Oatmeal is an excellent, nutrient-dense, fiber-rich option for a meal or snack,” says Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD at Balance One Supplements. “Unfortunately, we make decisions when preparing our oatmeal that can take away from its health value, often unknowingly.”
Continue reading to learn about some of the common ways people unknowingly make their oatmeal less healthy, then for more healthy breakfast tips check out Breakfast Habits Aging Your Brain Faster.
Adding too much sugar
Oats on their own don’t have a ton of flavor, so it’s perfectly natural to want to add some sweetness to them. Adding fruit or other natural sugar sources is a great way to do this, but Best warns that adding too many processed or refined sugars can quickly make your oatmeal more unhealthy.
“Adding some sweeteners, such as refined sugar, brown sugar, heavy creams, and syrups to oatmeal can make it more inflammatory than anti-inflammatory, but natural sweeteners can be used in place of these including fresh or frozen fruit and honey,” says Best.
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Not choosing the best milk
Another thing to consider when preparing your oatmeal is whether or not you’re going to use milk, and what type you choose.
“It can be tempting to add high-fat milk or sweetened plant-based milks when preparing your oatmeal as well. Again, these ingredients can add to the calories, fat, and added sugar content of an otherwise healthy food,” says Best.
For example, many people will opt for oat or almond milk to liven up their oats, but reading the nutrition label is important to ensure that your favorite brands aren’t sneakily packing in the added sugars.
Oatly is a popular choice for oat milk but just one serving already comes with 10 grams of added sugar and 10 grams of fat. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use it, but it can be helpful to be aware of all the ingredients you’re adding to your oats.
How to make your oatmeal as healthy as possible
If you want to make a delicious, healthy bowl of oats, Best says, “a helpful rule of thumb is to stick with whole foods and natural sweeteners as ingredients, so using toppings like berries, walnuts, a drizzle of honey, and flaxseed can up the nutrient density of oatmeal rather than deplete it.”