Don’t lie oatmeal sucks and we all know it. You're on a healthy kick and need some tips to make a better bowl of oats? Well, I'm here to help. From being a kid who used to shove oatmeal down the drain, in the garbage, or under the couch (yes, under the couch) to having oatmeal a couple times a week, here are my tips for you.
You Gotta Chop Up Your Oats:
For me, the number one thing I absolutely hated was the texture of oatmeal. It's so chunky, thick and glob-like. Good lord, nobody wants that. But, if you chop up or grind your oatmeal the texture is so much better. Throw 2 - 3 cups of rolled oats in a food processor and blitz it for 15 - 20 seconds and that will do the job. You’re looking for a mix of 25% powder, 50% chopped oats, and 25% whole oats. Store them in a jar so you have them ready to go
Cook Oats in Milk/Oatly:
I always cook my oats in oatly. It makes everything so much creamier than if I were to cook it with water. For about ½ cup of oats I do ⅔ cup of full fat oatly and cook it on medium heat. If you are using regular milk, full fat or skim fat are good choices.
Pinch of Salt:
Having oatmeal with salt is like having pasta without salt or rice without salt. It's no good and this coming from someone who loves both pasta and rice. So, for every ½ cup of oats add in just a pinch of salt. If you really need a measured amount. I would go with a less than 1/16 of a teaspoon. But honestly, just take your thumb and index finger and get a pinch of salt to add in and you're good to go.
Toppings are Key:
Please, please, please for the love of all things holy don’t eat plain oatmeal. If for whatever reason you have to eat plain oatmeal, then fine. But adding in a couple of healthy toppings are really where your oatmeal will come to life. Below is a list of my favorite toppings separated into categories.
I generally pick 1-2 fruits, 1 - 2 melty toppings, and 1 - 2 textural toppings. For 1 bowl (½ cup) of oats I do about a total of ⅓ cup of toppings. This could be ½ banana, 1 tablespoon of dark chocolate chip, 1 tablespoon of coconut butter, 1 tablespoon of chopped walnuts, and 1 tablespoon of chia seeds.
Fruit Toppings:
Strawberries, blueberries, banana, mango, pineapple, raspberries, peaches, apricots, grapes, honeydew.
Melty Toppings:
Dark chocolate, coconut butter, peanut butter, almond butter, sunflower butter, pumpkin/apple butter.
Textural Toppings:
Chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, almonds, pine nuts, rose petals, flax seeds, sunflower seeds.
Try It Out Savory:
I know, I was shocked to hear about savory oatmeal too. But i'm here to tell you that it's really good. Oatmeal is generally a plain bland base to a meal so you can eat it any way you like it. I make the oats the same way I do the sweet. ½ cup of chopped oats and ⅔ cup of oatly in a pot on medium heat. But while that’s going I also fry up a crispy egg, sear some shiitake mushroom, wilt some spinach, and grab my jar of homemade garlic chili oil. Maybe sweet oatmeal isn't your thing but savory oatmeal could be.
My Go To Oatmeal:
Ingredients:
½ cup rolled oats
⅔ cup of oatly
1 tablespoon of dark chocolate chips
1 tablespoon of coconut butter
1 tablespoon of crushed walnuts
1 teaspoon chia seeds
½ banana, thinly sliced
Sprinkle of rose petals, optional
Instructions:
In a small pot combine ½ cup of rolled oats and ⅔ cup of oatly. Cook on medium to low heat and stir as needed. As it starts to bubble continue stirring until the oats soften and become creamy.
Transfer your oatmeal to a bowl add 1 tablespoon chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon coconut butter, 1 tablespoon of crushed cashews, 1 teaspoon of chia seeds, ½ banana that was thinly sliced and a handful of blueberries. Enjoy while warm!
Artisanan Organics Non GMO Raw Coconut Butter
Price: $12.99 for 1- 14 oz jar
This coconut butter is by far my favorite. It melts perfectly and it so creamy. It really brings your oatmeal to the next level.
Enjoy Life Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
Price: $5.99 for 1 - 10 oz bag
I love the all the enjoy life products endlessly and their chocolate chips are the first product I ever tried. These are the ingredients: Evaporated cane juice, chocolate liquor (non-alcoholic), and non-diary cocoa butter. I mean c'mon. So clean and simple