How do you sweeten your oatmeal?

I've heard a lot of people on here talk about organic steel cut oatmeal and how great it is for you. Since I love oatmeal and didn't have any of the processed instant stuff at home to tempt me, I went to a local shop and picked up a bowl. I asked for strawberries and blueberries to be mixed in, which helped with the flavor, but overall it was extremely bland. I knew it would be made with water and not milk and probably wouldn't be sweetened, but I was still surprised. When I brought it home, I added one spoonful of honey, and that made it just sweet enough to be edible. I figured doing that was healthier than adding processed sugar. What do you guys do to sweeten your oatmeal, but still keep the meal low cal and healthy?
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Replies

  • ibleedunionblue
    ibleedunionblue Posts: 324 Member
    I add 1 scoop cellucor or optimum nutrition protein and 1 packet sugar substitute to 1 cup oatmeal.
  • LishieFruit89
    LishieFruit89 Posts: 1,956 Member
    You don't have to eat organic.


    You can add stevia/splenda/insert artificial sweetner of choice.
    Bananas.
    Dates.
    Agave
    Honey
    Maple Syrup
  • kikicooks
    kikicooks Posts: 1,079 Member
    You can use a sugar substitute if you want to keep calories low, like Splenda or Stevia. I'm not a fan of them, whether processed or natural, I just don't like the taste so I just make room for the calories and use raw honey, real maple syrup or agave. I also like raisins in mine and that adds sweetness.
  • Phoenix_Warrior
    Phoenix_Warrior Posts: 1,633 Member
    Well, I don't classify things as healthy or unhealthy as that's determined by overall diet, not individual foods. As in, your health is determined by how you balance your macronutrients. So, I don't cut things out or label things. I use peanut butter or granola (best if put in after cooking, otherwise it's kind of floppy and gross). Peanut butter helps me better hit my fat macro. I love oatmeal, it's a great source of fiber. Using sugar isn't going to kill you or hurt your efforts, either, if you choose to do so.
  • smiley245
    smiley245 Posts: 420 Member
    Ripe Bananas. A splash of maple syrup.
    Also like mine unsweetened apple sauce and cinnamon.
    My fave lately has been berries and a bit of vanilla. Just something about the scent of vanilla that makes things seem sweet.
  • FitFabFlirty92
    FitFabFlirty92 Posts: 384 Member
    Thanks for the suggestions, guys, keep them coming! Trust me, I don't eat organic at all, nor will I ever, lol. This one meal just happened to be organic because it was from a health food bagel shop (I know, sounds like an oxymoron). I didn't want to add too many calories or negate the health value of the meal by adding too much junk. But in hindsight, I suppose a spoonful of sugar wouldn't have hurt.
  • piersonj
    piersonj Posts: 62 Member
    Do you know if the business uses salt in preparing the steel cut oatmeal? This is one of the things I will add salt to, it needs it. For me, salt in the water as I cook the oatmeal and some cinnamon really helps the flavor. I don't like very sweet things, so a banana or roasted apples gives enough sweet for a bowl. One of the main reasons I don't like sugar substitutes is I find it hard to use a little enough quantity not to over sweeten my food and beverages. One packet of Stevia will sweeten 6 mugs of tea for me.
  • toddis
    toddis Posts: 941 Member
    Steel cut oats are great in a crockpot

    http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/overnight-oatmeal-recipe/index.html

    switch out the dried fruit for fruits of your choice, I think I used apricots and blueberries.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    I microwave quick-cook steelcut oats packets made w/ vanilla sugar (bury vanilla beans in turbinado sugar), nonfat dry milk & dried or freeze-dried fruit. My favorite is dried apricots & a little candied ginger. Sometimes I add fresh fruit, like pomegranate seeds or banana. http://www.theyummylife.com/Instant_Oatmeal_Packets
  • votkuhr
    votkuhr Posts: 276 Member
    1. Manuka honey! :)
    2. Ripe bananas (mashed)
    3. Low-fat/sugar high-protein chocolate milk (nom nom nom)
  • weightliftingdiva
    weightliftingdiva Posts: 522 Member
    Dried cranberries and flaked coconut add some sugar and flavor to oatmeal (just take care to measure them properly). Honestly oatmeal is a blank canvas to me, I'll put anything in it. I like using fruits to add some sweetness and nutrition, but I've also used brown sugar/maple syrup/honey. I like bananas, diced apples, cinnamon, walnuts/almonds too.
  • MissBabyJane
    MissBabyJane Posts: 538 Member
    Banana, apple, coconut,
  • Mbuhler
    Mbuhler Posts: 115 Member
    Well, I don't classify things as healthy or unhealthy as that's determined by overall diet, not individual foods. As in, your health is determined by how you balance your macronutrients. So, I don't cut things out or label things. I use peanut butter or granola (best if put in after cooking, otherwise it's kind of floppy and gross). Peanut butter helps me better hit my fat macro. I love oatmeal, it's a great source of fiber. Using sugar isn't going to kill you or hurt your efforts, either, if you choose to do so.

    I totally agree... I can't give up my tablespoon of brown sugar on my oatmeal. I also throw in some dried cranberries for an extra kick. It's all about balance. I've tried some of the other alternatives but they just don't feel as real and as comforting as a bit of brown sugar!
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Sugar-free syrup is an entirely decent way to make oatmeal and cream of wheat sweeter without adding many calories.
  • icimani
    icimani Posts: 1,454 Member
    Any kind of oatmeal is bland to me! But the steel cut oats (I use Bob's Red Mill) seem to have a little nuttier flavor. I usually add 1/2 cup of berries, 2 tsp of splenda brown sugar blend, and 1/2 c. skim milk.
  • Honey and berries. Yummy!
  • sillyvalentine
    sillyvalentine Posts: 460 Member
    Brown sugar!
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    I make mine by subbing some of the water for unsweetened vanilla almond milk, add raisins, craisins, apples and/or bananas and generous sprinklings of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Nice mix of a little sweetness from the fruit, creaminess from the milk and flavoring from the spices. Yum!
  • Ripe bananas + coconut cream!
    Also, a teaspoon of raisins is great too!
    I don't like honey because it melts and you can hardly taste it :(
  • DianeEvans69
    DianeEvans69 Posts: 16 Member
    chopped dried apricots
  • Domane1963
    Domane1963 Posts: 85 Member
    For flavour, I add a teaspoon of cinnamon to mine - I love the stuff. I've cut right down on sweetening so I just have two small teaspoons of Stevia. I also add 20g of pumpkin/sunflower/linseed and sesame seed mix for some Omega 3 and to give it a bit of "bite". Yummmmm...
  • _EndGame_
    _EndGame_ Posts: 770 Member
    Fruit!
  • CardiacKev28
    CardiacKev28 Posts: 172 Member
    I take a cup of steel cut oatmeal add 2 tablespoons fresh ground peanut butter and 1-2 tsp of raw honey. Great right before a workout!
  • ricki011
    ricki011 Posts: 89 Member
    i add (1) stevia packet, or 1/2 banana. But i prefer regular organic rolled oats.
  • CynthiaT60
    CynthiaT60 Posts: 1,280 Member
    Stevia drops, or maple syrup if I want to use the calories.
  • nehushtan
    nehushtan Posts: 566 Member
    One tbsp crunchy peanut butter and two tbsp sugar-free blueberry or blackberry preserves, with about 1/3 cup of matching berries.
  • GoMizzou99
    GoMizzou99 Posts: 512 Member
    I dip my pinkie finger into it for just a second :smile:
  • kcragg
    kcragg Posts: 239 Member
    Stevia!
  • crazyvermont
    crazyvermont Posts: 171 Member
    Eat Oatmeal most mornings and the sky is the limit to what you can do to liven it up, while remaining healthy. Easy start is honey, peanut butter, cinnamon and bananas; however, i've used almost every kind of fresh fruit(lot of blueberries) and also a variety of nuts
  • EmiBun
    EmiBun Posts: 84 Member
    I heat up a banana on stove or microwave and mix it in with cinnamon and nutmeg. Then top it off with some almonds :D yum
    adding a smidge of salt will help! It can bring out natural sweetness!