Ah, oatmeal. True it can feel like a rather dull breakfast idea but I’ve got the remedy to help you spice up your relationship with oatmeal.
The new year has rolled around and that means I am joining my church in our annual 3 week fast. This means instead of toast, I will be swapping my breakfast for more hearty and bread-free alternatives. This very well could mean eating oatmeal every day.
Benefits of eating oatmeal every day
Oatmeal has been shown to help lower high cholesterol because it contains a soluble fiber (Quadram Institute Bioscience). This means there are antioxidants that help protect your blood from the “bad” cholesterol. People who eat oatmeal tend to have a lower body mass index.
Experiment with texture in your oatmeal
You can add nuts, chia seeds, and toasted coconut for crunch. Alternatively, you can add dried fruit like dates and goji berries for a chewy texture.
Spicing up your oatmeal
Though oatmeal is traditionally sweet, there are no rules saying you cannot make it savory! Consider experimenting with different spices to transform your favorite oatmeal recipe. Jam is another great addition to oatmeal, and my Starfuit Jam recipe would be perfect for this.
Other ways to use oatmeal
- Flour substitute: Grind up oats in a food processor and use them as a flour replacement in some recipes to make them gluten-free.
- Soothe skin: Our family uses oats by grinding them down to a powder to use as a soothing bath treatment for our son’s Eczema flare-ups. You can make this into a facemask to calm irritated skin, too.
- Crafts: You can also use oatmeal to make non-toxic clay. Just combine a cup of oats with flour and a little water.
- Eliminate odors: You can place a small open container of oats in your refrigerator to help neutralize odors naturally!
Sources:
Quadram Institute Bioscience “Processing of oat: the impact on oat’s cholesterol lowering effect”
Follow my new Oatmeal recipe board on Pinterest to stay inspired with more recipes!
