Dec 12, 2010 Lorelei Sieja
Oatmeal Doesn't Have to be Boring - photo by Alpha
Getting bored yet? The biggest problem with a prolonged diet is boredom. We're giving up our favorite fattening foods, but we don't have a repertoire of healthy recipes yet to keep our meals interesting. Here's twenty variations on an Oatmeal Theme to get you started!
For you to reap the cholesterol-lowering benefit of oatmeal, it is important to do two things. Eat a large enough serving, and eliminate high-cholesterol foods from your diet. Oatmeal is a soluble fiber. It cleans out your veins the way whole wheat (non-soluble fiber) cleans out your intestines. A cup and a half of cooked oatmeal provides 6 grams of soluble fiber. Add some fruit, and you can raise that to 10 grams. Make oatmeal a regular part of your meal plan!
Cooked Oatmeal Recipes
1. Almond Joy Oatmeal: Top warm, cooked oatmeal with shredded coconut, sliced almonds, and a drizzle of chocolate syrup.
2. Apple Pie Oatmeal: Chop a cored apple in the blender with 2 cups of apple juice or cider. Pour into a saucepan with 1 cup of rolled oats, raisins and cinnamon. Cook, stirring occasionally. Enjoy!
3. Apple Walnut Oatmeal: Top a bowl of cooked oatmeal with chopped apple, chopped walnuts, a shake of cinnamon, and some maple syrup.
4. Apricot Honey Oatmeal: Put 2 cups water, 1/2 cup chopped apricots, 1 T. honey, shake of cinnamon in saucepan. Bring to a boil. Add 1 cup oatmeal, stir occasionally until done.
5. Banana Cream: Puree one banana in 2 cups water in blender. Pour into saucepan with one cup oats. May add honey to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally. Add blueberries or fresh sliced bananas on top before serving.
6. Banana Date Oatmeal: Add chopped bananas, dates, and nuts to cooked oatmeal before it is finished cooking.
7. Banana Orange Oatmeal: Put 2 cups orange juice, 1 cup oatmeal, and 1 chopped banana to saucepan. Cook, add a pinch of nutmeg to taste.
8. Maple Cinnamon Oatmeal: Top cooked oatmeal with real maple syrup, a pat of butter and cinnamon.
9. Blueberry Almond Oatmeal: Top cooked oatmeal with blueberries, slivered almonds, and ground flaxseed.
10. Cherry Vanilla Oatmeal: Add 1/4 cup chopped dried cherries to oatmeal and water. Cook according to directions. Stir in a spoonful of vanilla, and serve topped with cherry jam.
11. Fruit Porridge Oatmeal: Puree a banana, a cored apple, and several strawberries in 2 cups of water in a blender. Pour into saucepan. Add 1 cup of oatmeal and cook, stirring occasionally. Serve plain or topped with yogurt and nuts.
12. Peaches 'N Cream Oatmeal: Chop 1 fresh or frozen peach into 2 cups water. Add 1 cup oatmeal and cook. Serve, topped with whipped cream if desired.
13. Pineapple Oatmeal: Pour 8oz. can of pineapple tidbits with juice into saucepan. Add 1 1/2 cups water, 1 cup oats, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cook, stirring occasionally. Serve and enjoy.
14. Savory Oatmeal: Cook oatmeal according to package directions, adding garlic powder, salt, and oregano.
15. Strawberry Oatmeal: Cook oatmeal according to package directions. Top with a dollop of yogurt, brown sugar and sliced, fresh strawberries. (Good with Blueberries, too)
Uncooked Oatmeal Recipes: (do not use quick-oats)
16. Fruit Juice Muesli: Pour one cup of fruit juice - any variety - over one cup of raw oatmeal. Refrigerate overnight, and eat in the morning.
17. Vanilla Almond Muesli: Chop 1 banana. Add 1/2 cup almond milk, 1/2 raw oats, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and honey. Refrigerate 3 hours or more, so milk is absorbed. If you don't like it cold, you may slightly warm it before eating, but it is not necessary to "cook" the oats.
18. Triple-Berry Toasted Oatmeal: Mix 2 cups raw oatmeal, 1 cup sliced almonds, 1/4 cup ground flaxseed. Spread on cookie sheet and toast twenty minutes at 350 degrees until light golden brown. Cool. Add 1 1/2 cups of sliced fresh berries - try blueberries, raspberries and blackberries, or what ever is available.
19. Swiss Oatmeal Muesli: Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 cup rolled oats. Top with chopped apples, lemon juice and brown sugar. Eat and enjoy.
20. Oatmeal Muesli: Soak raw oatmeal overnight in refrigerator in enough water to cover. In the morning, remove any excess water. Top it with sliced strawberries, bananas, or chopped apples. Add honey or cinnamon to taste.
Today's Menu:
- Oatmeal (of course!), fruit, decaf coffee
- apple slices, peanut butter
- whole wheat spaghetti
- cheese slices, crackers
- meatloaf (I make it with oatmeal), mashed potatoes, green beans
Today's Exercise Plan:
Walking the dog isn't much exercise right now, as it is too slippery outside to walk fast. After the dog's walked, I need to go to the gym and spend 30 min on the treadmill.
Good luck Everyone! And let me know how you are doing!
Sources:
"Cholesterol, the Top Five Foods to Lower Your Numbers", Mayo Clinic Staff, accessed December 11, 2010.
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