How to Make Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a porridge made from ground oats and was considered to be a staple diet of the peasants. However, as people started knowing about the health benefits of oatmeal, many of them started inculcating it in their daily diet. It is said to be best for breakfast as it contains all the essential nutrients that the body requires for the day. It is said that eating oats for breakfast diminishes the urge to eat between meals too. However, due to time constraints most people opt for the ready to eat oatmeal which is not actually very healthy. This is because packaged instant oatmeal contains lot of additives to make the texture, flavor and appearance of the oatmeal better. Hence, it is always good to learn to make oatmeal at home itself. Also, most people stay away from this because they consider making oatmeal at home as time-consuming. It would be interesting to know that the porridge preparation method is easy, and you can actually make oatmeal very quickly. Let us first take a look at the health benefits of oatmeal.

Health Benefits of Oatmeal

The most important thing about oatmeal is that it's a very good source of soluble as well as insoluble fiber. While insoluble fiber prevents constipation by adding bulk to the stools, soluble fiber helps in eliminating the bad cholesterol from the body and retaining the good one. It is also good for diabetic patients because the soluble fiber in oatmeal slows down the digestion process of starch which is said to be responsible for the increase in blood sugar level. Eating oatmeal regularly is also said to prevent heart related diseases, while the phytochemicals in them has the ability to prevent as well as fight cancer.

Oatmeal Recipes

There are different ways of making oatmeal and you can choose according to your taste preferences. Let us look at a few methods of making oatmeal at home.

Plain Oatmeal
If you want to make the most quickest and the simplest oatmeal, here is the way to prepare it.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces quick cooking rolled oats
• ¼ cup packed brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 cups cold water

Directions

In a sauce pan, take water and allow it to boil on a high to medium flame. When it begins to boil, stir in oats and allow it cook for 1-2 minutes. Continue stirring the oats till it reaches the consistency that you want. Transfer it into a serving bowl and allow it to stand for a few minutes by covering it with a lid. Add the brown sugar as well as salt and serve.

Oatmeal with Milk
Adding milk to the oatmeal will not only make it tastier, but will also increase its nutritional value. Here is the way of making oatmeal with milk.

Ingredients

• 4 ounces oatmeal
• 1.5 spoon milk (any type)
• 4 ounces cold water
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 4 ounces warm water

Preparation

In a medium-sized bowl, take warm water and combine it with milk. Add brown sugar and mix till it is fully dissolved and set aside. In a medium-sized sauce pan, take cold water along with oats and cook on a medium to high heat. Allow the oatmeal to boil, however make sure that you stir it continuously. When the oatmeal is completely cooked, add milk and sugar into it and cook on a low heat for five minutes. Remove from heat and transfer into a bowl before serving.

Though oatmeal is good for health, the thought of eating plain oatmeal or that made with milk will not be a very tasty prospect for some people. However, there are various ways in which you can make the oatmeal interesting, even while retaining its nutritional value. To make your oatmeal tastier, you can add fresh fruits including bananas, strawberries, peaches, apples, blueberries, etc. Other things that can make the oatmeal an interesting meal for you include applesauce, peanut butter, honey, a teaspoon of vanilla, jelly, jam, etc. You can also use toppings like raisins, cereals, caramel syrup, fresh berries, nuts, flaxseed, chocolate chips, cinnamon, shredded coconut, etc. to make your oatmeal more delicious.

Oatmeal Bars
Apart from the regular oatmeal, it is also a good idea to make oatmeal bars. You can make loads of them and carry them to work as it makes a good and healthy snack.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces oat bran
• 4 tablespoons soya milk
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 8 ounces whole bran
• 1 ounce raisins
• 3 tablespoons sunflower oil
• 3 teaspoons honey
• 1 ounce dark brown sugar
• 3 ounces dried apricots
• 3 tablespoons soya milk
• 1 ounce dark brown sugar

Preparation

Combine oat bran, whole oats and dried fruits in a mixing bowl and set aside. In another bowl, take 1 ounce of brown sugar, 4 ounces of honey and 3 tablespoons of oil. Add 4 tablespoons of soya milk and mix till all the ingredients are fully combined. Put in the oat mixture into this bowl and finally add one tablespoon of honey, 1 ounce brown sugar and 3 tablespoons of soya milk. Stir till it is thoroughly mixed. Take a brownie tin and slightly grease it with oil. Spread the oatmeal mixture into the tin evenly and bake in the oven at the temperature of 190 degrees F for 15-20 minutes. Allow the oatmeal bar to cool for at least 10 minutes and then cut it in the shape of bars and have them during snack time.

Since by now, you already know about the numerous health benefits that oatmeal provides, I hope that you make it a part of your daily diet. Try some of these methods of making oatmeal and enjoy the delicious taste, while maintaining good health at the same time.