Oatmeal soothes my stomach, nerves and keeps my blood sugar stable for hours. However, I have a soft spot for oatmeal, too (No pun intended). Growing up I watched my grandfather cut up a banana into a bowl, or shall I say trough, of fresh cooked oats each morning I spent with him and my grandma over the summer as a kid. Before my grandmother passed, both of them enjoyed a very active and healthy lifestyle. I like to joke that they shopped at Trader Joe's before it was the trendy and cool place to shop. My grandfather is still quite healthy and active at the age of 82 and yes, he still has his giant bowl of oatmeal every morning complete with sliced banana.
What makes oats so special is the high soluble fiber content. This type of fiber slows down digestion, leading to an extended feeling of fullness and also helps stabilize blood sugar. Soluble fiber also helps remove LDL or "bad" cholesterol, which, is why the American Heart Association recommend 3/4 cup of oatmeal everyday. An interesting website to check out is http://www.eatmoreoats.com/. Everything you need to know about oats is on this site. Here is an excerpt: "Medicinally oats have been used to prevent heart disease and cancers, to enhance immune response to infection and to stabilize blood sugars. They have also been used to treat rheumatism, chronic neurological pain and atonia (weakness) of the bladder. They have been used to treat insomnia, stress, anxiety, depression and nervous exhaustion."
Oats truly are a well-rounded grain. Besides my morning oatmeal, I also use them in meatloaf and that recipe can be found at http://www.quakeroats.com/. For now, try this recipe for a very quick, easy, super healthy start to your day.
3/4 cup 100% whole grain oats
1/4 cup golden raisins
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp agave nectar
1 1/2 cups water
Step 1: Find a deep glass or ceramic cereal bowl. If your bowl is too shallow, the oats will spill over during the cooking process.
Step 2: Add all ingredients together into the bowl and mix to combine.
Step 3: Place a paper or glass plate in the center of your microwave. Put the oatmeal on top of the plate. Then place another paper plate on top of the oatmeal bowl. The top plate is to create convection for the oatmeal to cook and the bottom is in case the oats overflow. No need to create a big mess. Our goal with using the microwave is to free up your time, not slow you down.
Step 4: Set your microwave at 50% power for 5 minutes. Now you can walk away and do what you need to do instead of watching the stove.
Step 5: When the microwave beeps letting you know the oats are done, give them a minute or two before you take them out. This gives the oats time to soak up all the water and absorb the flavors of the raisins, cinnamon and agave nectar.
Step 6: Uncover your oats and stir them up. Add some milk or milk alternative to make the oats creamy if you like.
To add variety to your oats, try adding fresh fruit like blueberries. You can also add flax seed or wheat germ for added fiber and nutrition.
Enjoy!!
