A Better Bowl of Oatmeal
Two recipes to take your morning bowl of oatmeal from blah to balanced—and delicious.
There’s just something about a warm bowl of oatmeal on a cold, dreary morning. Despite the Internet’s attempts to liken a bowl of oatmeal to “a bowl of sugar” for breakfast, they’re a staple in our home, especially as the cooler weather sets in.
The key to creating a hearty, satiating and nourishing bowl of oatmeal lies in two things: whether or not your oats are sprouted and what you decide to add-in.
We use organic, sprouted oats, or oats that have begun to germinate, because the body is better able to digest and absorb the many nutrients present in them like folate, iron, zinc and magnesium. The sprouting process eliminates much of the phytic acid found in oats, which hinders the body’s absorption of essential vitamins and minerals. If you’re going to eat oatmeal, you might as well try to get as much out of it as you can, and sprouted oats are a definite must. The taste difference is nearly indistinguishable, with sprouted oats tasting a tad nuttier than their un-sprouted counterparts.
While oats are already high in complex carbohydrates—that is, carbohydrates which contain of soluble fiber, taking them longer to digest—which means you’ll stay fuller, longer, toppings and add-ons play a huge role in creating a truly nourishing and balanced bowl of oatmeal. First of all, don’t be afraid to add-in some fruit and/or a drop of raw, unfiltered honey for natural added sweetness and nourishment, as long as you’re adding-in healthy fats and proteins to help keep your blood sugar balanced, and your belly feeling satiated. For example, we especially love bananas in our oatmeal—yes, they’re sweet, but it’s a nonnegotiable for us—and we add-in healthy fats and proteins like walnuts, hemp hearts, chia seeds, and ghee—yes, ghee—and blood-sugar regulating cinnamon (and sometimes, a drop of raw, unfiltered honey). This makes for an absolutely divine bowl of oatmeal that’s hearty, satiating, and nourishing. Check out two recipes below!
The Balanced Banana | Serves 4
3 3/4 cup of water
2 cups of sprouted oats
1.5 tbsp. ghee
1 medium ripe banana, chopped or sliced
1/4 cup hemp hearts
1/4 cup chia seeds
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. raw, unfiltered honey
Add the oats to the boiling water and reduce to medium heat, stirring occasionally, until most of the water is absorbed and the oats are tender. Add in the ghee, and stir well, followed by the banana, hemp hearts, chia seeds, walnuts, cinnamon and honey. Enjoy!
The Balanced Blueberry | Serves 4
3 3/4 cup of water
2 cups of sprouted oats
1.5 tbsp. ghee
1 cup blueberries
1/4 cup hemp hearts
1/4 cup chia seeds
1 cup sliced almonds
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. pure maple syrup
Add the oats to the boiling water and reduce to medium heat, stirring occasionally, until most of the water is absorbed and the oats are tender. Add in the ghee, and stir well, followed by the blueberries, hemp hearts, chia seeds, almonds, cinnamon and maple syrup. Enjoy!
