Make me like oatmeal!!!

Babs0077

I have read so much about how good oatmeal is for your heart, your weight, etc. I WANT to like it!! Does anyone have any tips or tricks to make it better? I don't mind the smell, but I think it's more of a texture thing....... How do you take yours???? :indifferent:

maremare312

Ha, I totally feel ya, I hate the texture of oatmeal (and anything else mushy). One thing that helps me is adding some dried cranberries and chopped nuts to it, but then you have to watch the calorie count. Another thing I've been doing lately is eating oatmeal "cookies" instead of breakfast oatmeal. I can share the recipe if you want, but there's no eggs/butter/flour in them and I use peanut butter flour instead of regular peanut butter. Crunchy is much more palatable to mushy for me.

emfilomena

You can put virtually anything in oatmeal! Lately, I've been putting pumpkin puree into my maple and brown sugar oatmeal, with a little cinnamon- tastes delicious and very filling. People add nuts, fresh fruit, dried fruit, spices, sweetener, chocolate chips, granola, etc- anything! Be creative, or even use the search toolbar for recipes- I'm sure you'll find plenty. : )

Goal_Seeker_1988

Way back when I just started eating oatmeal I hated it plain (now I eat it plain) I would slice up a banana in it and it tasted amazing! If you like blueberries Quaker makes a delicous kind called blueberry muffin I think... It's awsome! I eat just plain old weight control maple and brown sugar now.

wildkatt7

if you don't like it don't eat it... find other things good for your heart. I know almonds are good for me, but I cannot stand them unless in stuff... I tried eating them for a while, but realized eating something I don't like just because it is good for me isn't good for me either... of course I do like oatmeal, plain with butter and a bit of salt.

chezmama

Blueberries freeze very easily. I like to keep a bag of frozen blueberries in the freezer. Then when I make oatmeal, I throw a handful of frozen berries in before I cook it. The berries cook with the oatmeal and it makes it mighty tasty (I am normally not an oatmeal fan, either).

Jenatello

I hated oatmeal for a very long time. A long story about how my father forced me to sit at the table and eat it. Even kept me home from school. Outrageous.

Anyhoo. I LOVE oatmeal now. Sometimes it becomes more than one meal a day.

I don't like the little packets of oatmeal. I buy the plain stuff and add whatever I feel like to it. Usually it's 1/2 tsp butter, 1 tsp brown sugar, and 1/4 cup skim milk to 1 serving of oatmeal.

But I have a toddler and he comes up with the craziest stuff to put in oatmeal. I've had pb&j oatmeal (so much better than I thought it would be) which was 1 serving of oatmeal with 1 tsp sugar free jam (I think I had blackberry) and 1 tsp peanut butter with a small splash of milk.

Honey and walnuts with a little bit of vanilla soy milk is yummy as well. We did 'ice cream sunday oatmeal' once. It was okay. 1 serving oatmeal with 1 tsp caramel sauce 2 tbs whipped cream, chopped nuts and a cherry on top. I wasn't a fan of the caramel in my oatmeal, but it was still good.

Honestly, just look around your kitchen, get creative. The worst that can happen is you won't like it.

kealambert

I have read so much about how good oatmeal is for your heart, your weight, etc. I WANT to like it!! Does anyone have any tips or tricks to make it better? I don't mind the smell, but I think it's more of a texture thing....... How do you take yours???? :indifferent:

I am biased, as i LOVE oatmeal, but this is how I take mine: I use instant plain oatmeal (1 cup, dry), toss in fruit of choice (usually raisins, but it's your choice), 1 tbsp peanut butter, about 2 tsp of honey.

I eyeball the amount of water, so I don't know the measurement for you there, I'm sure you know the amount you like.

Jenatello

Also mess around with the amount of water you add to it. I make it the way it says on the tube, but I add milk to it to make it runny/soupy.

nickyfm

I hear ya! I hated oatmeal up until maybe a year ago when I tried vanilla flavoured when I was in the states.
Now I eat it around 3 times a week. I add lotsa different things. Vanilla protein powder, Almonds, Peanut butter, Sometimes yoghurt, Berries, Manukah honey, Soy milk. Heaps of stuff you can do to make it yummy

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islandjumper

I used to hate oatmeal, something about the texture of it (I was always a cream of wheat kid) but I grew to like and, and being honest i don't love it...but It is my favorite morning meal and it's one of the few breakfast foods that keeps me satisfied until lunch. My trick is adding anything to it to mask what I don't like. I don't use packages...I use plain rolled oats, then i add cinnamon, berries, bananas, sometimes some peanut butter, honey (not all at once but combinations of the aforementioned) or really anything else that sounds good

MaryEffingPoppins

COOK 1/2 CUP QUICK OATS IN 1 CUP FAT FREE MILK
WHEN DONE ADD 2 TBSP PEANUT BUTTER AND 1 TBSP STRAWBERRY OR GRAPE JAM

YOU'LL BE HOOKED!

Calipalm

http://runsforcookiesrecipes.blogspot.com/2011/11/oatmeal-love.html

This site has many yummy ideas for oatmeal with pictures!!!

I personally make mine from the Quaker Oats tubs old fashion oatmeal on the stove top and add brown sugar! Sometimes I will add blueberries or strawberries too!

jenilla1

Don't eat those nasty mushy rolled oats! Eat the steel-cut kind. Pure heaven! :drinker:

MaryEffingPoppins

Don't eat those nasty mushy rolled oats! Eat the steel-cut kind. Pure heaven! :drinker:

Yea, Steel Cut

addies_mom

I discovered that I really like Steel Cut Oats. The texture is more chewy than mushy! I usually mix in some cinnamon and a little maple syrup. So Yummy!

ericalynn104

*bump*

bcc112986

I like Quaker Apple and Cinnamon. I use water and milk to make it creamy. Sometimes I add honey (allergy benefits)...banana...raisins. You can add eggs whites for protein.

yourpalval

Dang, both my hubby and I are addicted to it (finally addicted to a good food)...every morning - 1/2 cup old fashioned oatmeal, cook 5 min - top w/ 1 teas br. sugar and a few raisens - occasionally substitute the raisend for fresh fruit (blueberries, blackberries or bananas) .....it stays w/you for at least 4-5 hrs - nummmmers!

jenj1313

Try "Coach's Oats" if you can find them. They're thicker and have a much better texture than other instant brands. I get them at CostCo and add a dash of milk and brown sugar + fruit and / or nuts. If you can't find those, try steel cut oats. They also have a thicker, heartier texture.

teris_in_wa

I have tried oatmeal so many times over the years with little success -- however... lately I found two things that I love and have really boosted my weight loss journey...
1. Trader Joe's Frozen steel-cut oatmeal... It's $1.69 for two servings, individually wrapped, and 150 calories. I add a serving of brown sugar and it such a low cal, healthy-packed breakfast! I also find it actually keeps me satisfied longer (unlike the instant oatmeal packets) They are so easy to throw in a bag and fix at work (and with me it's alllll about the easy!) I like the flavor and feel of the steel-cut oats rather than the soupy-mush of instant.
2. Starbucks perfect oatmeal - again- I add just the brown sugar... I know it's not the best add... but that and my coffee help curb my sweet tooth while keeping me under a 300 calorie breakfast and I'm satisfied for several hours... big news for me!!

I hope these help -- I, too, kept hearing about how GREAT oatmeal is and just Didn't Get It until I tried these two solutions (I am curious about the McD's version but hasn't been in my morning routine thus far - I do highly recommend the Trader Joe's oats...if that's an option)

Good Luck!!

Mmmporkrinds

How about Bircher muesli? A bit different in texture to cooked oats. Some people love it and some hate it, but here's one recipe:

•1 cup rolled oats
•1/4 cup fresh apple juice
•1/2 cup yoghurt
•a sprinkling of ground nutmeg (optional)
•a sprinkling of ground cinnamon (optional but goes very nicely with the apple)
•1/2 Granny Smith apple, grated (skin on) to serve

Method:
Put the rolled oats, juice, yoghurt, nutmeg and cinnamon in a large bowl and stir together. Chill overnight, covered.

The following day, stir in the grated apple.

blueham5

You can try frying oatmeal in a little oil for a savory dish and add egg, bacon, rosemary, peas etc. The oatmeal gets nice and crispy like the rice in a paella.

frogprincess_tx

I have to agree with the person who said "If you don't like it don't eat it. Find other heart healthy alternatives." I would rather have something I like then have to doctor it up to make me eat it, no matter how good it is for me.

2hobbit1

Do you like smoothies? Then you can put in you breakfast smoothie and never know.
I am currently having a green smoothie made with

1 cup Kale
1 cup vanilla Soy milk
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup dry rolled oats
pumpkin pie spice

Cal 380 carb 44g fat 9g prot 38g chol 0mg sodium 470mg sugar 16g fib 10g

You get your fiber, whole grain and two serving of veggies with out even knowing it! The color is strange from the kale but you can not taste it. You can change it up if you want and use spinach or carrots etc or substitute the fruit of your choice(fresh or frozen). You can change up the protein powder flavor or the dairy type and spices too. The oatmeal makes it thick like a milkshake so you don't to add ice especially if you use refrigerated dairy and frozen fruit. You can always mix fruit and veggie in this as well if you don't want to hide two veggies!

LovesAdventure

Starbuck perfect oatmeal is well, perfect! I add all the toppings, the dried fruit, the nuts, and brown sugar. YUM! Just don't over do it on the amount of water. Runny oatmeal=YUCK.

lucasnjewels

This is what I just tried this AM. It was FANTASTIC!!

1/2 cup rolled oats (or regular oatmeal)
1/2 cup Almond Milk
1/2 cup Pumpkin Puree
1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

Left it in the fridge overnight, and it was FANTASTIC!!

em9371

theres some great suggestions on here, im going to have to try the PB one tomorrow!! I make mine with slightly less milk so its not runny, I cant stand runny oatmeal!

My favourite at the minute is banoffee - add 1 banana and a splash of caramel coffee syrup
I also like:
Apple pie - 1 grated apple and sprinkle of cinammon
Pear & Berries - 1 grated pear and dried strawberries
Brown sugar & nuts
Plain with golden syrup

Babs0077

Thanks everyone!! So many great ideas!!!

You all rock!!
:flowerforyou:

alise_lmx

I'm not a huge oatmeal lover either, but sometimes I put uncooked quick oats into my smoothies. It adds texture and I don't mind the taste of it. I learned that from a recipe here on the forums, I had never thought of doing that before! It's something different at least if you don't like the gooey-ness of oatmeal, which is why I don't eat it much.