Better Instant Oatmeal?

bethsumnerfairweather

I bought some organic whole wheat maple and brown sugar oatmeal (instant) yesterday and didn't read the label as closel as I should have. It is low fat but has a LOT of carbs and the sugar and sodium content is real high. What is the best whole wheat oatmeal (instant preferrable) that would not have so much of the bad stuff? Thanks!

GottaluvFood

Do you mean "whole grain"? Not "whole wheat"? I've never heard of what in oatmeal.

I'd by plain & add sweetner to your taste--honey, brown sugar, maple syrup, whatever. I can be satisfied with much less sweetner than they put in.

Don't know about sodium. I have a texture thing that instant grosses me out, unless I'm camping. Then suddenly it's okay. Strange, but me. I cook regular oats, which as zero sodium 'cuz I don't add any.

Joanna2012B

I make a big batch of steel cut oats and just heat up as I need it. You can then add whatever you want and control how much it is sweetened and with what you want to sweeten it with. My favourite oatmeal is strawberries, blueberries, honey, cinnamon and a dollop of plain greek yogurt!!

Alatariel75

Carbs aren't bad stuff, and oats pretty much are carbs. Oatmeal is a reasonably carby breakfast? No matter what type you get.

CMNVA

If you must buy instant oatmeal and you want one already flavored, I believe that Quaker makes one with the word "weight control" on the box. If memory serves me correctly, that one had the lowest sugar count. But any flavored one is probably going to be high on sodium.

jgnatca

Oats are chiefly carbs. You improve the profile by adding PB2, whey protein isolate, debittered brewers yeast, egg, or Greek yogurt.

Get yourself a big bag of minute oats. It's just oats.

jgnatca

Minute oats cook up in the microwave in three minutes. Do you need it faster than that?

Tacklewasher

I just have Quakers Maple and Brown Sugar. 1 minute and done. Not a big breakfast but enough to keep me going for a few hours. It's the only flavour I like. The fat isn't too much at 2g. Sugar at bit high at 12g.

I looked at Quakers high protein version in the store the other day. It has 6 g protein vs. 4. So if I bought it I'd have 10g more for the week (I eat something else on weekends). Was not worth the risk to me of how it would taste so I put it back. One of my co-workers did try it and she made a pretty funny face over it so it soundss like I made the right choice.

susanp57

Every week I put together 5 days worth of oats to take to the office. In a mason jar I put 1/3 cup of old fashion oats, 2 tsp nuts, 1 T of dried fruit (usually raisins or craisins) and sweetener. I add water and nuke for 1 minute.

NewMeSM75

Like the others said, oatmeal is mostly carbs. I like the Quaker High Fiber cinnamon swirl.

lexiehtown

Aldi has brown sugar instant steel oats that's awesome. I add flax seed and Brewers yeast to it... It's delicious

whitpauly

Why punish yourself with instant oats? Those things are crushed to a pulp,regular old Quaker nukes in about 2 minutes and I think you get more for less calories, add your own toppings I like 1/2 a banana and a few nuts,maybe almond butter mixed in

DX2JX2

I prefer dressing up plain rolled oats myself. They cook just as quickly, you can control what goes into them, and the texture is so much better. I'll take 10 minutes on Sunday night and prep all of my portions for the week. When you're ready to eat, add 1 cup of water, microwave for around one minute and 45 seconds, and let stand for 3 minutes before eating.

The recipe I've been grooving on lately is a basic variant on cinnamon raisin. 0.5 cups of oats (dry measure - 150 cals), 10 raisins (negligible calories but call it 20 for this purpose), 1 banana (100-125 cals), sweetener of choice (50 cals), scant pinch of salt, a couple of drops of vanilla extract, and about a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon.

In total, you're looking at about 300 calories of whole grain breakfast goodness depending on what sweetener you use, ready to eat in less than 5 minutes (including advance prep time). Make sure to mash the banana into the final mix as it makes things extra creamy (I freeze bananas when they're getting overripe to use in oatmeal or other cooking applications). The oatmeal is admittedly lacking protein, but you can make that up with subsequent meals.

hesn92

I think any instant oatmeal is going to be really sweet.

I used to eat the little packets and I always got the Quaker maple and brown sugar flavor, but they make one that's called "weight management" or something like that and that one was my favorite. I swear there's more oatmeal in those than the regular packets, for the same calories.

I don't personally like the packets anymore, I think they are too sweet. If I ever want oatneal now I just make it and use a little brown sugar

TeaBea

CMNVA wrote: »

If you must buy instant oatmeal and you want one already flavored, I believe that Quaker makes one with the word "weight control" on the box. If memory serves me correctly, that one had the lowest sugar count. But any flavored one is probably going to be high on sodium.

Weight Control oatmeal has added protein (some soy) and fake sugar. I'm okay with fake sugar, but the soy has a weird taste to me.

Quaker also makes lower sugar varieties, if you make it with milk you would get more protein.

Personally I LOVE the texture of steel cut. I make a big batch in the crockpot & then "sweeten" with mashed banana & cinnamon.

tjones0411

I make my own - 2 T almond flour, 2 T flax seed and 1 T protein powder. Just add hot water - it's low in carbs, high in protein and fiber and filling. It's more like cream of wheat than oatmeal though.

Muana1005

Instant oatmeal isn't any more instant than regular oats. I microwave my steelcut oats (from a Scottish farm, so as unprocessed as they come) in 1-2 minutes with milk.

bethsumnerfairweather

Wow awesome ideas, can't wait to try using regular oats! Thanks everyone!

2wise4u

I like old fashioned Quaker Oats. They cook up in about 1 1/2 minutes in the microwave and I add milk and sugar. Mmmmm delicious!

Momepro

bethsumnerfairweather wrote: »

Wow awesome ideas, can't wait to try using regular oats! Thanks everyone!

Yeah definitely steer away from the packages. You can still get instant in the big canisters to save time, and they still taste good, but without all the extra sugar. Steer away from generic brands though, and stay with name brand stuff. The generic tends to be more like oat dust than the name brands are and is weak and flavorless.
But the more expensive, non instant, but only slighty longer cooking ones are going to be more flavorful and hearty.

msshelagh

I prefer to toast my rolled oats. Can be done as a big batch in the oven or by the serving on the stove top. Noticed that they cook up faster and they don't turn into mush as easily. I like my oats with an al dente mouthfeel because the texture makes it a more satisfying chew. Add your mix-ins to your taste.

During the summer I like cold porridges. I mix up my ingredients in a container the night before and it's ready to eat in the morning. No cooking involved! It's a little on the calorie heavy side but it can be made lighter by adjusting down the oats, yogurt, and/or milk.

cwolfman13

Just use regular oats...they nuke pretty quick. I prefer Coach's Oats because they have more of the consistency of steel cut. I usually don't add anything to mine other than some salt and pepper.

Pretty much all of the instant oats I've seen are flavored and are going to have added sugars and whatnot. Even with plain, your carbs are going to be up because oats are pretty much carbs.

kshama2001

Another vote for cannister oats and adding your own seasonings. Do you know about 'overnight oats'? You add yogurt or whatever and let it sit overnight, which will 'cook' the oats. I add 100 g Greek yogurt, blueberries, and raspberries.

No matter what I add to it, an oat-based meal is too high carb for me so I have this for a bedtime snack instead.

kshama2001

grmrsan wrote: »

bethsumnerfairweather wrote: »

Wow awesome ideas, can't wait to try using regular oats! Thanks everyone!

Yeah definitely steer away from the packages. You can still get instant in the big canisters to save time, and they still taste good, but without all the extra sugar. Steer away from generic brands though, and stay with name brand stuff. The generic tends to be more like oat dust than the name brands are and is weak and flavorless.
But the more expensive, non instant, but only slighty longer cooking ones are going to be more flavorful and hearty.

Your problem with generic brands might be a regional thing. I've had no issue with store brand cannister oats from Market Basket or Stop & Shop. This is for regular rolled oats, though, not instant.

lemurcat12

I prefer regular steel cut oats, which I do in a rice cooker -- I like the consistency. I make them savory or just add berries and maybe some homemade cashew milk. (I don't care for the consistency of rolled oats, but that's just me.)

That said, I know I've had some McCann's and some Bob's Red Mill quick steel cuts (so, instant) at one time or another, and I recall the macros being pretty similar to the regular. The only difference is they are cut up more. I prefer the texture of the regular, like I said, but they are all just oats. (You can get flavored, but that's a different issue.)

Anyway, short answer: all oats will be high carb -- oats are basically carbs, although there's a little protein. But you can get any oats, including instant, without anything added, and that's what I would personally do.

Jmatievich

I can't understand why anyone would use quick oats. They're so over processed. I just put regular oats in a bowl with soy milk, water, whatever, microwave for 2 minutes and let it sit for a few more minutes to thicken while I do other things. That's it. The bowl has to be largish so it doesn't boil over. Just keep an eye on it the first couple times. Then add fruit, brown sugar, walnuts, cinnamon, whatever you like. Just be sure to count, weigh everything!

lasvegasconcertgirl

I do the Quaker instant regular and add sweetener too. Every. Single. Day. It's only 100 calories. Quite a calorie deal if you ask me. Which you didn't. But still....

lemurcat12

Jmatievich wrote: »

I can't understand why anyone would use quick oats. They're so over processed. I just put regular oats in a bowl with soy milk, water, whatever, microwave for 2 minutes and let it sit for a few more minutes to thicken while I do other things. That's it. The bowl has to be largish so it doesn't boil over. Just keep an eye on it the first couple times. Then add fruit, brown sugar, walnuts, cinnamon, whatever you like. Just be sure to count, weigh everything!

So over-processed = cut smaller? Interesting. Since they are cut up anyway (for example, "steel cut oats").

This is one explanation: "Our Quick Cooking Steel Cut Oats are cut a little smaller than our Regular Steel Cut Oats, making them ready in a scant 5 to 7 minutes."

(I prefer regular, which I cook on the stove or in a rice cooker, but think it's silly to pretend like there's some big difference beyond, perhaps, a textural preference (just like I am not into rolled oats).)

waffle944

I just buy normal old fashioned oats (supermarket brand), and add some cinnamon or fruit.

jgnatca

As an aside my co-worker mentioned that all old people eat is oats and I roared with laughter. So true. I have four kinds at home. She was genuinely bewildered. There are that many kinds?

butterflylady86

I use Bob's Red Mill gluten free Rolled oatmeal. Love it