Why is instant oatmeal considered bad?

sarah3333
sarah3333 Posts: 222 Member
edited December 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I keep hearing that quick oats are better. Is this the stuff in the can? I was just confused as to how they are so different.

Replies

  • DannyMussels
    DannyMussels Posts: 1,842 Member
    Any plain oatmeal is your best bet.

    Just be aware most instant singles packs have added flavor and sugar, that's usually where people run into a problem.

    If you like the texture, try steel cut.

    Otherwise most oats are really, really, really, really close.
  • deadbeatsummer
    deadbeatsummer Posts: 537 Member
    eurgh..in a can? that doesn't sound fresh! x
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    I keep hearing that quick oats are better. Is this the stuff in the can? I was just confused as to how they are so different.
    Instant oats are not bad. When people think instant, they think of the kinds loaded with sugar and "fruits". Regardless, if you eat the oats with protein/fat the glycemic index will be lowered anyway.
  • sarah3333
    sarah3333 Posts: 222 Member
    lol I guess I should have said canister? I've been eating the instant original so it doesn't have any sugar in it, I was wondering if it was still not as good as the old fashioned oats?
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    lol I guess I should have said canister? I've been eating the instant original so it doesn't have any sugar in it, I was wondering if it was still not as good as the old fashioned oats?
    You're good.
  • sarah3333
    sarah3333 Posts: 222 Member
    Cool. Thank you!
  • caraiselite
    caraiselite Posts: 2,631 Member
    instant has so much sugar.

    there is some instant that have lower sugar.. but its still really high. you're better off sweetening with fruit.
  • eeebee
    eeebee Posts: 471 Member
    I eat instant porridge (which does contain sugar and freeze dries strawberries) & I add tonnes of fresh blueberries, strawberries and raspberries to it once it's cooked.

    The calories come to about 300 in total (including the milk) and I like to think it is fairly balanced, it isn't hindering my progress, so I don't regard it is too "bad" - as long as I dont eat sugary stuff during the rest of the day, I see no problem with a serving in the morning in my oatmeal.

    PS. A McDonalds cheese, egg and bacon muffin with deep fried hash browns, or a greasy sausage sandwich every morning is what I'd consider bad (imho)
  • Smuterella
    Smuterella Posts: 1,623 Member
    Is the sugar really that bad if it fits in your calories? I mean, REALLY?
  • janemem
    janemem Posts: 575 Member
    I soak 'old fashioned' porridge oats in water overnight if I want it for breakfast the next day or during the day if I want to eat it as a dessert. If I'm using dried fruits (sultanas, apricots etc) then I'll add these in with the water so they get nice and plump and their sweetness spreads to thw water and oats.
    I nuke it for 2 or 3 minutes when I'm going to eat it and then add fresh fruit (mashed banana, chopped apple/pear, berries).
    To me that's instant oats and much better than anything out of a can or packet as I know exactly what I'm eating.
  • feast4thebeast
    feast4thebeast Posts: 210 Member
    Is the sugar really that bad if it fits in your calories? I mean, REALLY?

    People who take extreme positions avoid it a bit like those who refuse to eat fat and those who advocate atkins. Your best to have a balance of all nutrients to hit your macros so that you get a range of micro nutrients too - just my opinion
  • feast4thebeast
    feast4thebeast Posts: 210 Member
    I just measure oats out on my scale and have them with some water and whey protein just finished mine this morning - awesome :)
  • redrover
    redrover Posts: 71 Member
    Is the sugar really that bad if it fits in your calories? I mean, REALLY?

    People who take extreme positions avoid it a bit like those who refuse to eat fat and those who advocate atkins. Your best to have a balance of all nutrients to hit your macros so that you get a range of micro nutrients too - just my opinion

    Bump
  • sandown12
    sandown12 Posts: 648 Member
    Tbh isn't it a lot healthier than a fried breakfast or Toast smoothered in butter?
    I've lost quiet a lot of weight and inches eating Oats So Simple and I'm not hungry for 4-5 hours after

    If we get too strict 9/10 we fail I'm one of those that did being to strict
  • Smuterella
    Smuterella Posts: 1,623 Member
    Is the sugar really that bad if it fits in your calories? I mean, REALLY?

    People who take extreme positions avoid it a bit like those who refuse to eat fat and those who advocate atkins. Your best to have a balance of all nutrients to hit your macros so that you get a range of micro nutrients too - just my opinion

    I'm not one for exteme positions, well, not outside the boudoir. ;-P
  • Rilke
    Rilke Posts: 1,201 Member
    eurgh..in a can? that doesn't sound fresh! x

    VYup6.jpg

    The only oatmeal I will eat. No others compare.
  • alexsmith01
    alexsmith01 Posts: 350 Member
    Plain instant oats are the same thing as plain rolled oats - just chopped up smaller so they cook faster
  • litatura
    litatura Posts: 569 Member
    I eat a packet of the instant oatmeal every morning for breakfast. They really aren't that bad - the apple cinnamon one is 130 calories and the banana nut one is 140 calories. Combine that with a piece of fruit and you're looking at a filling breakfast for under 250 calories.
  • RuthSweetTooth
    RuthSweetTooth Posts: 461 Member
    Steel cut oatmeal in the can . . . gourmet . . . my parents love it. I'm afraid to try it, because I can get easily spoiled.

    I only buy old fashioned, because of texture. Instant oatmeal has no texture. I like the big boy oatmeal.

    I like oats raw because they are chewy. They are great in milk, left overnight in milk or yogurt you have muesli, a swiss treat, google it and try it. You can't do that with instant oatmeal. You can't even make a decent oatmeal cookie with instant oatmeal.

    Oatmeal is a little low on protein by itself so as someone mentioned, you can spike it with a little bodybuilder protein, or have a piece of cheese or a hardboiled egg afterwards. Then go chop some wood!

    By the way, you can eat alot more of old fashioined oatmeal when you make it yourself, and then top it with calorie free syrup, instead of eating that pathetic little pack of unsatisfying, mushy instant oatmeal.

    Who needs instant? I cook up several servings at a time, and refrigerate the extra in little containers that are easy to reheat on the go !
  • Hezzietiger1
    Hezzietiger1 Posts: 1,256 Member
    Instant is the most processed..

    Steel cut, whole oats, one minute oats, then instant. The further down the line you go, the least amount of nutrients and whole grains you receive.
  • sdowler1231
    sdowler1231 Posts: 15
    The downside to instant oatmeal is that it has a lot of the hull (also known as fiber) removed, which allows it to cook more quickly, hence it is more proceesed and does not offer the same health benefits as old fashioned or steel cut oats. Whenever possible, opt for the old fashoined oats so you get the cancer-fighting benefit of the fiber. It is easy to make a pot up on the weekend (I like to add raisins and walnuts while it is cooking, but apples or bananas are nice too) and then portion it out into smaller bowls to reheat during the week (add a little milk and the texture is the same as when you first make it).
    But if you are unable to do this for whatever reason, instant oatmeal (plain and add your own fruit to flavor) is always a better option than, say, fast food!
  • wendyapple
    wendyapple Posts: 323 Member
    instant oats are precooked then dehydrated and much of the fiber and protein is gone by the time you reconstitute it. rolled are steamed then flattened but maintain most of the nutrients, and steel cut are the entire groat with the hull removed but the bran in tact. i likes them all but rolled is my favorite.
  • imcatbear
    imcatbear Posts: 38
    ETA: I didn't see the last post until I made mine. She explained it so much better.
  • LPCoder
    LPCoder Posts: 404 Member
    The only oatmeal I eat are the steel cut like in the picture above. They are the best for texture and flavor. They also tend to have a higher fiber count than the instant.
  • tsh0ck
    tsh0ck Posts: 1,970 Member
    I keep hearing that quick oats are better. Is this the stuff in the can? I was just confused as to how they are so different.

    because some people are afraid of sugar.
  • trixirn
    trixirn Posts: 130 Member
    eurgh..in a can? that doesn't sound fresh! x
    I think she means that round cardboard container with the pop off lid.
  • amsohs85
    amsohs85 Posts: 166
    I agree with some of the previous comments...instant oatmeal is processed more and doesnt have the nutrients that the other forms do. You can't beat oatmeal when it comes to filling you up and giving energy. Add some protein and fresh fruit...you are good to go!!
  • FatgutBgone
    FatgutBgone Posts: 73 Member
    I eat the sugarless oatmeal from Food City, I like strawberry and raisin and spice. I know that they say that the best oatmeal to eat is the old fashioned oats because it is more whole grain and the other types are processed.
  • delaney056
    delaney056 Posts: 475
    I eat the Active Lifestyle Instant Oatmeal in Almond & Cranberry.
    Serving Size: 1 pouch (makes 1 cup)
    Calories: 170
    Fat: 3.5g
    Saturated Fat: .5g
    Trans Fat: 0g
    Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat: 1g
    Cholesterol: 0mg
    Sodium: 110mg
    Total Carbohydrate: 27g
    Dietary Fiber: 7g
    Soluble Fiber: 4g
    Sugar: 3g
    Protein: 8g

    Ingredients: Rolled Oats, Whey Protein Isolate, Chicory Root Extract, Almonds, Dried Cranberries (Cranberries, Sugar, Sunflower Oil), Refinery Syrup, Honey, Cinnamon, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Caramel Color, Citric Acid, Calcium Carbonate, Ferric Orthophosphate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Niacinamide, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Acesulfame Potassium
  • mcarter99
    mcarter99 Posts: 1,666 Member
    http://www.coachsoats.com/

    That's my most logged food. They cook in 4 minutes (though you have to boil water first) but I still make a pot and split it into 5 bowls to just grab in the morning, and nuke.
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