Oatmeal is a highly recommended breakfast choice, which can help you start your day in a powerful way; however, oatmeal itself is not enough. You should always combine it with other ingredients to make it more nutritious. Hence, the question arises – how to make healthy oatmeal?
General Guidelines for Making Healthy Oatmeal
Use steel cut or rolled oats. This is because quick-cook oats are heavily processed and low in fiber that can result in blood sugar spikes, making you feel tired and fatigued.
To the oats, add only 1 serving of your favorite fruit: the key here is to add only 1 serving of fruit.
- 1 medium/small banana
- ¼ cup dried fruit
- ½ cup berries
Now add 1-2 servings of healthy fat. Healthy fats (along with protein) are your best choice to prevent the post-oatmeal spike in blood sugar. Moreover, healthy fats are also a good source of vitamins and minerals.
- ¼ cup seeds or nuts
- 1-2 tbsp. ground chia seeds or flaxseeds
- 1 tbsp. nut butter
- 1-2 tbsp. raw cacao nibs
- 2-3 tbsp. unsweetened pieces or shreds of coconut
Avoid the sugar, particularly artificial sugar. The fruit provides enough sugar to your oatmeal; however, if you really require some added sugar, opt for ½ tsp. brown sugar or honey.
Healthy Oatmeal Recipes
How to make healthy oatmeal? Try the following oatmeal recipes.
1. Apple Pie Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1 cup steel cut oatmeal
- 2 cups milk of almond
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 apple cut into thin bite size pieces
- 2 tsp. maple syrup
- 1 cup apple sauce, unsweetened
Directions
- Take a medium-sized sauce pan and add oat meal, almond milk, maple syrup and cinnamon.
- Heat on a low flame, stirring in between, till most of the almond milk is absorbed. Now stir in the apple sauce.
- You can add the apples now if you like them soft, or you can add while serving if you want them crunchy.
- Once all the milk and apple sauce are absorbed, around 15-20 minutes, you can remove the pan from heat. Serve hot.
2. Brown Sugar and Maple Oatmeal
Ingredients
- ½ tsp. cinnamon
- ½ cup steel cut oats
- ½ tsp. brown sugar
- 1 tsp. maple syrup
Directions
- Boil 1 cup of water in a saucepan, add cinnamon and oatmeal and make the heat low.
- Keep stirring until all water is absorbed. Stir in the maple syrup.
- Remove the contents to a bowl, and sprinkle some brown sugar. Serve.
3. Raisin Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 egg
- 2 cups quick oats
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- ½ cup apple sauce, unsweetened
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp. sea salt
- ½ tsp. baking soda
- 2 tbsp. butter (unsalted)
- 1 cup light brown sugar
Directions
This recipe can be a perfect answer to the question, how to make healthy oatmeal.
- Spray baking spray on 2-3 cookie sheets. In a bowl, combine baking soda, flour, salt and cinnamon.
- In a standing mixer or large bowl, whip sugar and butter, and stir in vanilla and egg.
- Add in water and apple sauce. Now add the flour mixture and mix. Add the raisins and oats, and mix.
- Put the mixture in fridge for a minimum of 15 minutes or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, use an ice cream scoop to dollop out cookie dough of tennis ball size, and give enough space for little spreading.
- Bake the cookies for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown in color.
4. Cream and Strawberries Oatmeal
Ingredients
- ½ cup steel cut oats
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp. cinnamon, ground
- ½ cup strawberries, chopped
- 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. honey
- 2 tbsp. Greek yogurt
Directions
- Try this recipe and find answers to your question, how to make healthy oatmeal.
- In a small pan, add oatmeal, water and cinnamon and bring to a boil.
- In a bowl, add balsamic vinegar and strawberries; use the back of a fork mix and smash to get a strawberry mush.
- Now add vanilla, yogurt, honey and mix.
- Once the oatmeal absorbs all the water, add the strawberry mixture and the mix. Cook for a minute, and then remove from heat. Serve.
5. Banana Strawberry Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1 banana, thinly sliced
- Water
- 4 strawberries, thinly sliced
- 2 tsp. honey
- 1 cup quick oats
- ½ tsp. cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. nutmeg, ground
Directions
- In a saucepan, boil the water, and then add cinnamon, oats and nutmeg.
- Reduce the flame to low, and continue stirring until oats absorbs all the water.
- Remove from heat and stir in honey. Put sliced bananas and strawberries on top and serve.
6. Double Chocolate Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1 cup steel cut oats
- 2 cups almond milk
- 2 tbsp. cocoa powder
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- Dried cherries or cranberries (optional)
- 2 tbsp. chocolate syrup (homemade)
- 1 tbsp. nuts such as almonds
Directions
- Take a saucepan and add oatmeal, almond milk, cocoa powder, vanilla and dried cherries and cranberries.
- Place on low heat and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Place into two bowls and put nuts and chocolate syrup on top. Serve.