Oatmeal: Tasty and Cheap
Oatmeal is one of the best ways to start your morning being highly nutritious, very inexpensive and is filling. I eat oatmeal on a regular basis and can’t say more about how much I enjoy eating it while still feeling like I am doing my body good.
All About Oatmeal
Oats are the basis of making oatmeal which is a type of cereal grain grow specifically for its seed. Oats can grow in conditions that other crops just cannot survive. In order to get a product that can be consumed by humans, the outer hull must be removed. The result is the inner part of the oat that is called an oat groat. These oat groats are processed further to get all of the oat products that we have available on the market today.
Steel Cut Oats
Steel cut oats are simply oat groats that have been cut up into several smaller pieces which look similar to rice. They require a longer period of time to cook, normally around 30 – 45 minutes because they are more dense. Steel cut oats are less processed and thus contain some of the oat bran still intact.
Rolled Oats
Just as the names suggests, rolled oats are flattened oats by steaming and rolling oat groats. Rolled oats are the typical Quaker Oats “Old Fashion” variety of oats, but usually don’t contain much if any of the oat bran. This allows for a much quicker cooking time, usually 5-10 minutes.
Quick Oats
These are simply rolled oats that have been cut up and steamed to allow for a quicker cooking time. Quick oats often are used in “Instant” varieties and should be avoided. These instant products usually have added sugar and other ingredients that don’t add anything to your oatmeal.
Which variety to buy is up to you, but just know that rolled and steel oats are the most nutritious.
Health Benefits
Oats contain high levels of many nutrients including magnesium, selenium, protein and high levels of fiber. One of the major benefits to eating oatmeal on regular basis is to prevent heart disease, diabetes as well as lower cholesterol levels. Oats in particular contain high levels of a particular type of fiber that has been shown to lower cholesterol levels and help prevent heart disease. They also contribute to stabilizing blood sugar levels which can really help people with type 2 diabetes.
Buying Bulk Oats
Most people usually buy the small packets of instant oats because they cook within minutes and are sweeter. These types of oats are not only more expensive, but they are contain large amounts of unnecessary sugar. On top of that, those packets are so tiny that I just don’t know how anybody would be filled by eating such a small amount ( but that’s just me ).
The best way to buy oats is in bulk quantities and avoiding instant varieties to maximize nutritional benefit and minimizing cost. Whether you buy in bulk bins at many natural food stores or buying bulk at wholesale stores like Costco or BJs, you will be saving. I want to do a quick cost comparison to find out how much you could possibly save when purchasing bulk over instant packets.
A typical box of instant oatmeal costs approximately $3 for 10 packets weighing about 13 ounces, making each packet cost about $.30. When you buy oatmeal from bulk bins or wholesale stores, you usually get get it for under $1 a pound. That makes the savings for a pound of oatmeal in bulk bins verses the small packets at $2 per pound. Imagine the savings if you go through the small packets of oatmeal and especially if you have kids. Say you buy a package of 10 oatmeal packets every week. You could save over $100 just off of this simple change. Even if you add in other ingredients to flavor up the oatmeal, you will still be saving huge. In addition, you can control how much of the ingredients you put in your oatmeal.
Those instant packets can be convenient especially if you are constantly on the run or like taking them to work. Why not make your own? It’s really simple. Just take the rolled oats you bought and put them in a reusable container or zip-lock back and put in any dry ingredients you want to flavor the oatmeal with.
Storing
Be sure to store oatmeal in a tight sealed container to make sure that it does not go rancid, especially when buying large quantities. They can keep fresh for about 2 months.
Recipes
There are many ways you can cook up your own oatmeal and I wanted to share what I put in mine every morning.
Banana Nut Oatmeal
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- Few drops of vanilla
- 1/2 banana
- Handful of walnuts or your favorite type of nut.
Over medium-high heat, bring the milk, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon to a boil. Add the oats once boiling and cook for approximately 5 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed. Either cut up or mash the banana and put into oatmeal after complete. Top with nuts.
You can also make this in the microwave that will have a slightly shorter cooking time.
Share your recipes
Please share all of your oatmeal recipes.
Comments
You know, I didn’t used to be a fan of oatmeal, but i have come to like it. Gotta have lots of fruit and stuff mixed in though.
I have always liked eating oatmeal, as it is pretty good for you and doesn’t taste too bad either, that is with a little flavoring. I think the ones I usually have a re rolled, I don’t know if I have ever tried steel. I do agree with you those instant packages are usually in very small quantities. But mmm that banana nut oatmeal recipe sure does look good .. in fact I am craving some oatmeal right now after that!
I like oatmeal, because it’s tasty and nutrinous. Beside that oatmeal give very high fibre for my digest.
Hello,
I am eating oatmeal in large quantities about 1 cup blended with milk everyday. I am concern that I am eating it uncooked, straight from Quaker Oats “Old Fashion” variety to the blender. Does any body know if I am reducing the benefits of the oats by doing it this way? or am I adding benefits by eating raw? I liked this way because is easy and fast and easy to commit for everyday use.
Have a great oatmeal experience,
Thanks
Carlos: I cannot really see many drawbacks to eating oatmeal slightly uncooked. On the flip side, there don’t seem to be many more positives from eating it raw either except that it may digest slightly slower. Regardless of whether it is cooked or not, eating oatmeal really helps contribute to a healthy lifestyle.
Hi,
I want to thank “Pays to live green” for the fast comment. Thanks for your reply.
Regards,
J. Carlos A. from Laredo Texas
Have always been a big fan of oatmeal, it is the king of breakfast cereals in my opinion.
I went to the doctor last year and was told that my cholesterol was bordering on high. His suggestion was that I add oatmeal to my diet. I did this along with making some other changes such as cutting down my intake of alcohol and trying to be more active. In my recent visit to my doctor my cholesterol was down by 1/3 of what it had previously been. I’m not saying that this was all the result of the oatmeal, but I do think that it was a large contributing factor to the change in my cholesterol. I will continue to eat this daily.