Healthy Habits: Not Your Mother's Oatmeal!

Cold winter months are a perfect time to have a healthy bowl of oatmeal for breakfast. Are you thinking, "yeah, I can do that for about a week, then I get bored with the same old oatmeal"?


Today's "Healthy Habits" offers a way to step up the flavor of your oatmeal. Once you try these and get the hang of it, you can make all kinds of flavor creations. Heck, I even know someone who adds a big spoonful of Peanut Butter to her oatmeal. Personally, I don't want to add that many calories to it, but I might try it one day just because it does kind of sound good.


Try these two versions and let me know what you think. Then be sure to share other ways of preparing oatmeal that you like so I can try them.


BANANA NUT OATMEAL   (270 Calories)
1/2 Cup Almond Milk (could use Skim Milk)
1/4 Cup Water

1/2 Cup Oats
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 Banana (the riper the better)
3 Walnut Halves


Put the milk, water and oats in a small pot on the stove on low-medium heat. Cook slowly, stirring frequently. Takes about 10-15 min to cook fully.


Meanwhile, smash the half banana in the bottom of your cereal bowl. Break the walnut halves into pieces with your fingers on top of the banana.


When oatmeal is fully cooked, add vanilla and mix completely. Then pour the oatmeal into the bowl over the banana and walnuts. Stir to mix banana in and enjoy!


Note: The riper the banana is, the sweeter the finished oatmeal will be. There is no need to add any sweetener unless you are using a really firm banana,


APPLE CINNAMON OATMEAL  (230 Calories)
1/2 Cup Almond Milk (could use Skim Milk)
1/4 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Oats
1/2 Cup Unsweetened Applesauce
Cinnamon, to sprinkle


Put the milk, water and oats in a small pot on the stove on low-medium heat. Cook slowly, stirring frequently. Takes about 10-15 min to cook fully.


Meanwhile put applesauce in cereal bowl.


When oatmeal is fully cooked, pour the oatmeal into the bowl over the applesauce. Stir to mix, sprinkle with cinnamon, mix again, and enjoy!


If you don't have time to make oatmeal in the morning you may want to check out this post on Gourmet Overnight Oatmeal.


Do you have a favorite oatmeal recipe? Please share...I'd love to try it out.