Beating the Boring Breakfast Blues
This time of year, I need a breakfast to stick to my ribs
(but not my waistline.) My office is usually freezing, so it’s nice to have
something warm to eat when I get in. Also, I need my sleep. I do not have the
time or energy in the morning to get up and make a real breakfast. Sometimes,
even making a smoothie is too much work for me.
I used to bring those
instant oatmeal packets to work with me…saccharine sweet flavors like banana, strawberry,
and peach, but now they’re too sweet for me to handle. Plus rolled oats,
especially the instant variety, can easily become a pile a beige mush—not too
appetizing!
That’s when I discovered steel cut oats. I really don’t know
why I never had them before, but they’re awesome. They do take a few minutes to
cook in the morning (usually 10…but if you like them mushy, I guess it could
take 20,) but they’re low maintenance. Put some water on low heat and dump the
oats in. I brush my teeth. Run to the kitchen to stir. Put my clothes on. Stir.
Make my bed. Stir. ETC. Basically, when the water almost completely evaporates,
they’re done! Yay! Then you can flavor them anyway you want!
Little time saving hint: if you’re a commuter like me, and
like to bring breakfast to work so you can eat it when you get in, prep all
your add-ins the night before (fruit, nuts, honey, sugar, coconut flakes,
peanut butter, etc.) and put them in a Tupperware in the fridge. That way in
the morning, you just have to worry about cooking the oats, dumping them in the
Tupperware, and running out the door. I have an hour and a half commute, so I still
need to reheat it in the microwave when I get to work, but they stay hot for
the first 20 minutes of the drive if you don’t have such a far trip!
Also—I know there are “overnight oats” methods when you can
soak them overnight and just microwave them in the morning, so feel free to
experiment with that if you really hate the idea of using your stove in the
morning.
Below is my favorite
recipe. It really tastes good, it’s got texture—so you can chew it!—and it’s
under 300 calories, and completely holds me over ‘til lunch!
¼ cup of steel cut oats (The ¼ cup measurement is the amount of dry
oats; then you cook them according to your package, and voila!)
1 tbsp of chia seeds
½ tsp of cinnamon
1tsp of Sugar in the Raw
½ tbsp of sliced almonds
½ tbsp of dried cranberries
1 tbsp of vanilla almond milk
If you use this exact recipe, the nutritional info is as
follows:
285 calories. 41 g of
carbs. 9.5 g of fat. 6 g of sugar. 11 g of protein. 11 g of fiber.
Not too shabby!
I like Bob’s Red Mill brand for the oats and chia seeds, and
you can get them at ShopRite, but it’s totally your preference. Same goes with the
Sugar in the Raw; you could use brown sugar, agave, honey, whatever you like.
And again with the dried nuts and berries—mix it up to your preference! You
could also use regular or rice milk instead of almond milk, or leave it out
entirely. I like it, because I have to heat it up again once I get to work, and
it keeps the oats from getting dry.
Enjoy!
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