Beyond Cereal: Are You Eating Enough Oatmeal?

Since this is Good Health month here at BlogHer, I've been spotlighting food options and recipes that can help you cook things that are both delicious and highly nutritious. My last post introduced BlogHer readers to SuperFoods, fourteen foods that are so nutrient dense they should be eaten regularly. One such SuperFood is oatmeal, also called rolled oats, steel cut oats or porridge oats, depending on where you live. There are also 18 other types of whole grains that fit into this SuperFoods category, but since oatmeal is the highest ranked nutritionally, I thought it would be fun to explore the huge variety of things that can be made from this nutritious food. Besides, it's National Oatmeal Month!

Why eat oatmeal? Not only does it have high fiber, low calories, protein, magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, and thaimine, but in 1997 the FDA made it the first food product allowed to carry a promotional label, one telling consumers that a diet high in oatmeal, oat bran, or oat flour will reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Research had concluded that oatmeal consumption could reduce cholesterol levels, especially LDLs. Oatmeal is so easy to include in everything things from cookies and bread to granola or muffins, so there's no reason not to be eating it. Here are some oatmeal recipes I've spotted recently that should be on your menu soon.

Oatmeal Cookies
Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, and Pecan Cookies from Smitten Kitchen
Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from Karina's Kitchen - Recipes from a Gluten-Free Goddess
Gluten-Free Oatmeal Cookies from Gluten-Free Girl
Almond Toffee Oatmeal Cookies from Seven Spoons
Best Oatmeal Cookies Ever from Nook and Pantry
Banana Oatmeal Cookies from Baking Bites
Oatmeal Cookies with Crystallized Ginger and Dried Cherries from Christine Cooks

Oatmeal Bread
Great Grandma Gibson's Oatmeal Bread from Homesick Texan
Oatmeal Breakfast Bread from Superspark
Oatmeal Banana Bread from Retro Food
Oatmeal Potato Bread from My Kitchen in Half Cups
Banana Oatmeal Bread from Urban Drivel
Oatmeal Buttermilk Bread from Culinary Concoctions by Peabody

Oatmeal Muffins
Oatmeal Cinnamon Chip Muffins from Cookie Madness
Cranberry Oatmeal Muffins from Daily Unadventures in Cooking
Apple Nut Oatmeal Muffins from And a Cookie for Dessert
Buttermilk Oatmeal Muffins from Sweet Savory Southern
Caramel Oatmeal Muffins from Anne's Food
Oatmeal and Cinnamon Muffins from The Cook's Cottage
Whole Wheat, Oatmeal, and Raisin Muffins from Rose's Recipes

Oatmeal Pancakes
Heart Healthy Oatmeal Green Tea Pancakes from Je Mange la Ville
Oatmeal Banana Bread Pancakes from Culinary in the Country
Dee's Oatmeal Pancakes from Simply Recipes
Oatmeal and Apple Pancakes from Supper in Stereo

Granola
Grnaola with Yogurt from 80 Breakfasts
The Omega Diet Homemade Granola from A Fridge Full of Food
The Best Granola from 64 Sq. Ft. Kitchen
Spiced Granola from A Wee Bit of Cooking
Bri's Addictive Granola from Jumbo Empanadas
Foster's Homemade Granola from Pittsburgh Needs Eated
Crunchy Granola from One Hot Stove

Oatmeal as a Hot Cereal
Oatmeal Love from Amuse Bouche
Roasted Oatmeal with Walnuts and Apricots from What Did You Eat
Porridge with Greek Yogurt and Honey from Kuchenlatein
Chai Spiced Oat Bran from Everybody Loves Sandwiches
Baked Oatmeal from Cast Sugar
Monday - Friday Steel Cut Oats from Playing with My Food
Slow Cooker Oatmeal with Baked Pears from With Relish

BlogHer Food Editor Kalyn Denny also blogs at Kalyn's Kitchen, where she never makes oatmeal cookies, but often makes Alanna's Peanut Butter Oatmeal.

Submitted by Kalyn Denny (view blog

) on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 7:33pm

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What an Oat-ey Resource!

I love cooking with oatmeal.. and this list gives me some great ones to try.

Nobody mentioned cooking steel-cut oats the way I do: at night, I bring 3 C. of water to a boil, add a little salt and 1 C. of oats. Stir, gently, turn the heat off, put a lid on and go to bed.

In the morning, the oats are fully cooked. I scoop 1 C. into my bowl and warm it up in the microwave. The rest is stored in individual serviings in the fridge.

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Deb's Daily Distractions

Submitted by debra roby on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 21:09

Love this idea

Deb, I love this idea, and the steel cut oats are definitely my favorite! I'll be trying this for sure!

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Fri, 01/25/2008 - 05:40

I love oatmeal

Oatmeal is one of the best foods. Unlike Debra (although I will try out your recipe), I use the instant kind, even for an evening snack. It's good, warm, and just slides down smooth. Add a little sweetness with brown sugar or fruit, and it's a breakfast, lunch, or a quick snack.

Thanks for the links to the other good ideas. Oatmeal pancakes and cookies are good, too.

Lisa
Iowa Avenue

Submitted by IAAdmin on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 21:22

Try the other kind!

Hi Lisa,
Instant oatmeal is definitely good for something quick. However, if you're trying to get maximum nutrition, the more cooking the oatmeal requires, the more nutritious it is. That makes Debra's steel cut oats best, regular or "quick" oatmeal is next, and instant is the least nutritious.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Fri, 01/25/2008 - 05:45

Four Levels

Steel Cut
"Old Fashioned" Rolled Oats
Quick Oats
Instant Oats

I switched from Quick to Old Fashioned for my morning oatmeal constitutional (yes, with peanut butter, every single day) and it took a few days to get used to the extra fiber but now, I completely love it.

Alanna Kellogg, A Veggie Venture

Submitted by Alanna Kellogg on Fri, 01/25/2008 - 15:16

My naturopath made me do it

1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1/4 cup wheat bran
Cook together. Remove from heat.
Add 1 scoop protein powder.
Sweeten, add some of that Benecol stuff or real butter if you are a rockstar like me.

Cinnamon, dried fruit, it's all good. Low cholesterol, and it is full of lovely fiber.

Submitted by suebob on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 22:07

Sounds fabulous!

Thanks for the idea. This is something I would like. What brand of protein powder do you like? Also, ever make ahead and reheat? What would that do to the mixture?

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Fri, 01/25/2008 - 05:47

Oh yeah...

When I remember, I stir a tablespoon of ground flaxseed into my oatmeal in the morning (getting those omega-3s and lignins..). If I know I'm going to need the extra protein, I stir a raw egg into the hot oatmeal and let it cook, though usually the soymilk is enough for a morning. Maple syrup, honey, brown sugar or mashed fruit adds a nice sweetness.

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Deb's Daily Distractions

Submitted by debra roby on Fri, 01/25/2008 - 07:50

I love porridge!

1/3 Cup quick oats
2/3 Cup milk
pinch of cinnamon
handful of sultanas

2 minutes in microwave on high.

For real excitment, add chopped apple. or otherwise, make bircher muesli.

Thanks for the recipe list! I'm still searching for a favourite oatmeal bread recipe

Submitted by kazari on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 22:28

Another way to microwave it!

This sounds great too. For those who don't know, the "quick" oats mentioned here are not what is called "instant" oatmeal. This sounds like a very healthy breakfast. I cook my oatmeal in the microwave most of the time, but never tried cooking it with milk and I bet it's great. When I was a kid, oatmeal was the only kind of cereal I ever really liked.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Fri, 01/25/2008 - 05:49

Oatmeal bread....

...is so on my list! Because it is the one oaty thing that is not sweetened :) Can't wait to try the recipes you have listed here, Kalyn.

Nupur @ One Hot Stove

Submitted by Nupur on Fri, 01/25/2008 - 09:00

I bet it's fantastic

Maybe someday I'll get over my baking phobia and make oatmeal bread too!

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Fri, 01/25/2008 - 18:01

Oatmeal makes food blogs taste better ...

... at least that's what I've come to think since my morning oatmeal is nearly always enjoyed over a few recipe posts. It helps me suffer through all the cake and candy posts!

There are so many ways to do oatmeal in the morning --

-- Swiss Muesli is traditional in Europe,
-- my sister's kids call Swiss Muesli "slump" so I called this vegan version carrot slump

Alanna Kellogg, A Veggie Venture

Submitted by Alanna Kellogg on Fri, 01/25/2008 - 15:22

Swiss Muesli sounds interesting

This is completely a new idea to me, but I think it sounds very interesting, especially the version with apple cider and grated apple.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Fri, 01/25/2008 - 18:04

comfort food

All these fabulous oatmeal ideas! Am I glad I can get certified gluten-free oats now (rolled and steel cut) from Bob's Red Mill.

Thanks for the mention of my cookies, Kalyn. If you lived closer I'd invite you over for an oatmeal cookie. ;)

k a r i n a

Karina's Kitchen: Recipes from a [Gluten-Free] Goddess

A Painter's Kitchen [art. words. life.]

Submitted by Karina Allrich on Sun, 01/27/2008 - 09:08

Thanks for the Link

The oatmeal banana bread definitely is a hit around here and almost too easy to make.
~TW
Retro-Food

Submitted by TW on Mon, 01/28/2008 - 08:10

Sounds good to me

Thank you so much for pulling all these delicious oatmeal links together in one place. We have tons of oatmeal (switched from the instant to the regular or steel cut) but are not very creative so this really helps!

Submitted by bzylstra on Fri, 02/15/2008 - 20:17