30 Recipes using oats-a cheap pantry staple (2024)

FAQs

What not to mix with oatmeal? ›

"Try making the oatmeal with milk instead of only water, mix in some nut butter, and top with fresh or frozen berries and nuts," says Nikolakopoulos. "These add protein, calcium, vitamins, antioxidants, and healthy fats, turning a simple bowl of oatmeal into a complete meal."

Add-ins make any oatmeal better-tasting—and they can also make it more nutritious. Topping oatmeal with your favorite fruit boosts the fiber. Adding unsalted nuts offers healthy fats and makes your breakfast more filling.

The best time to add peanut butter to oatmeal is right before serving, when the oatmeal is done cooking but before it's cooled off. As you stir it in, the heat helps melt it so it thoroughly combines with the oats, creating a silky-smooth texture.

Oatmeal is likely safe for most people, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, when consumed as food. However, it may cause gas and bloating in some.

This amounts to about one cup of cooked oatmeal. Eating a serving of oatmeal regularly is one way to help increase your fiber intake. Fiber has been linked to better digestion, heart health, and weight management. While it's OK to eat a serving of oatmeal every day, it is best to stick to rolled or steel-cut oats.

There is no particular time to eat oats. You can consume the oats at lunch and dinner too. This cereal, however, is consumed in breakfast mostly. It contains fiber, magnesium, complex carbohydrates, etc, which help in keeping your tummy full for a longer time, thus, reducing overeating.

Nadeau recommends milk instead of water because it adds protein and makes the oatmeal creamier. Next, look to protein. Try Greek yogurt, which has about 13 grams of protein per cup or peanut butter, which also packs in fiber and healthy fats.

Compare 100 calories of baked potato to 100 calories of oatmeal, and you find a bit less protein (3 grams vs. 4), a bit more starch (18 grams vs. 16) and a similar mineral profile (potatoes have more potassium, but oats have more selenium). But potatoes beat out oats in just about every vitamin, as well as fiber.

Crazy Richard's Creamy Peanut Butter

"Crazy Richard's peanut butter has no added oil, salt or sugar for those looking for the purest product. You can always add a touch of salt if you wish, but for people limiting sodium and sugar due to medical conditions or dietary preferences, Crazy Richard's is a fabulous choice. "

What healthy nuts can you add to oatmeal? ›

Nuts, seeds, and nut or seed butters: almonds, cashews, walnuts, peanuts, sunflower seeds, or chia seeds. Milk of your choice: cow's milk or unsweetened almond milk (to use as the cooking liquid) Toppings to mimic carrot cake: shredded carrots, cinnamon, vanilla extract, coconut flakes, and walnuts or pecans.

Adding salt to your sweet oatmeal may sound like an oxymoron, but it does help the finished dish. "Salt really brings the flavor of oats to life so don't skip this step when cooking and don't wait [until] the oatmeal is done to just sprinkle it on top," says Michalcyzk.

Insulin interacts with OATS

Taking oats along with insulin might cause your blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of insulin might need to be changed.

Oats, despite being a complex carbohydrate, can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar levels, especially when consumed in large quantities. This can be a concern for individuals with diabetes or those aiming to regulate their blood sugar levels.

High-sugar toppings like chocolate, syrup, and dried fruit

As Best points out, "some of the worst ingredients that are mistakenly added to healthy overnight oat recipes include chocolate sauce, sugar, syrup, and dried fruit."

When in doubt, add nut butters for creaminess, sweetness, and plenty of good protein. We like crunchy peanut butter for added texture, almond butter, cashew butter, and even tahini. Throw a chopped banana and a smudge of vanilla paste into stovetop oats for creamy, delicious, banana bread oatmeal.