Oatmeal tastes like cardboard

I cook my oatmeal with fat-free milk instead of water so it is a little creamy (and the milk adds some protein), and I like to add cinnamon, ginger and a sliced banana. I put the spices on the oats, toss them around, add the milk and nuke it. The banana goes in after it comes out. I LOVE this breakfast--can't make myself eat anything else--and it sticks to my ribs. Note, if you decide to nuke your oatmeal, make sure you use an extra large bowl so it won't boil over in your microwave.

Cinnimon, nut meg, add some truvia sugar....add your own raisins and any kind of fruit you want to it.

You can always try mashing half a banana in it. Also, chopped walnuts/pecans, cinnamon, nutmeg, are other ideas. I always put a blob of peanut butter on top.

I eat this for lunch every day and it stays the course a solid 3-4 hours. I make it the night before or in the morning and bring along some fresh fruit as well. I love it eating it at room temp.

I've learned to love it.

I think we're so used to eating processed and overly-sweetened foods, that we've lost the ability to appreciate food as it was meant to be eaten.. fresh, raw, and whole.

I like to add honey and a splash of milk to mine.

sometimes I throw a chopped apple in while the oats cook. That way the sweetness from the apple flavors the oats. It works REALLY well with blueberries too. I also add milk or maple syrup or honey.

Just remember a healthy food + a healthy food = a healthy food.

I love the texture of steel cut oats, I add either raisins or apples with cinnamon and truvia(I used to do brown sugar but switched) and a bit of skim milk....yummmy!

I eat mine with yogurt. I don't really like yogurt but I don't get enough calcium and I want the probiotics, so the oatmeal is the good stuff for me. I do the instant stuff, as you can make it as thick or as runny as you like. A girl I went to class with usually ate instant oatmeal uncooked, straight from the packet (and I think she probably weighs 105 lbs soaking wet). You could try just putting the oatmeal (instant kind) into yogurt - you would get the benefits of oatmeal and it tastes/is textured more like granola.

~Megan

I used to HATE oatmeal - so I was off it for years - but I tried it again recently and didn't find it that bad - tastes change.

That changing aspect is pretty important to keep in mind. - you can train your tastes too. I now quite enjoy rolled oats cooked in water with absolutely nothing at all on them. My tastes have changed - I was so used to wanting it sweet before I actually didn't taste the flavour of the grain. My advice would be to try any and all of the great suggestions so many people have made here - but also try slowly cutting down the additives to the oatmeal - eventually you may find you don't need the 'sweet' addition to enjoy the cereal.

Also different oatmeals have different textures. If you have a slow cooker, get some Irish oatmeal. It's soooo much better than anything else out there.

I hear ya! I'm not a fan of oatmeal either... but I *want* to like it. Here's how I actually do like it:

- Cook 1 cup rolled oats according to directions (I like them a little firm, so I use a bit less water than recommended)
- Dice 2 granny smith apples into 1/2" bits (I don't even bother peeling them - just cored)
- Sautee apple bits with a little water. Put a lid on the pan and let the apple bits get as soft as you like.
- Add cinnamon and splenda to the apples according to your taste. Try allspice if you're feeling adventurous.
- Mix apples and oats and enjoy

This way the apple to oats ratio is pretty high - which works for me. I often make a large batch and keep it in the fridge, reheating portions for a quick breakfast on weekdays.

For a little more protein and fat, and maybe a creamier texture, add some soy milk.