What we choose to eat first thing in the morning can possess’own’nurse a massive impact on the rest of our day. If we go in/with regard to’concerning’regarding protein rich eggs or slow release carbs like porridge oats we ll feel ready to take on the day and be fuelled right up until lunch time. If instead we opt in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a sugar laden cereal, it s highly likely that come mid morning we ll find ourselves crashing down from that sugar high and ready to raid the biscuit tin in a bid in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a quick fix of energy.
Some individual can t stomach the despite’in spite of’albeit t of food that early in the morning, others claim they don t possess’own’nurse abundant’ample’plentiful time to make anything other than a bowl of cereal in/with regard to’concerning’regarding breakfast, and then there are some individual (myself included) who are an absolutely hirritated’furious’wrathful nightmare if they don t acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure something inside them pronto. Whichever category you fall into, there s no mistaking the fact that breakfast is the most significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative meal of the day, after all it is the meal that breaks the fast and so what you choose to break that fast with is actually really significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative .
In this article I m going to focus on the role of porridge oats as a healthy morning staple, by initially’originally looking at some of the reasons oats make such a great breakfast option, and secondly to give you a few ideas of how to use them.
What s So Good About Porridge Oats Anyway?
Traditionally, porridge would possess’own’nurse been made the night bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e by soaking oatmeal in water and salt and then heated up in the morning with full fat milk. These days porridge is more commmerely’barely made in a saucepan with milk and sweetened with syrup or honey and served straight away. It all grossly much depends on the type of oats you use, and you can see from the range at Mornflake just how much of a difference there is, as to how you should cook them to make the perfect bowl of porridge. From gluten free oats and organic oats, to jumbo oats, oatmeal and oatbran, it is worth doing a little bit of research bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e purchasing your porridge oats.
One of the great things with regards to’concerning’with respect to oats is that they are a slow release carbohydrate. What this means is that it takes more time in/with regard to’concerning’regarding your body to digest them and so energy is released more slowly and more evenly and they don t cause any blood sugar spikes. This makes them a great breakfast choice if you need to fuel up bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e any morning exercise or if you know you possess’own’nurse a peculiar ly busy morning coming up.
Unlike most other breakfast cereals, you are in charge of how healthy your bowl of porridge is, as it is fundamental ally just an ingredient. Simply choose your liquid (water, cows milk, almond milk, coconut milk, any other plant based milk), choose your flavouring (cinnamon, cacao powder, mashed banana, vanilla essence, mixed spice etc.) and if you really want to pimp your porridge up choose a topping (berry compote, stewed apple, sliced banana, dried fruit, honey etc.).
Nutritionally speaking, oats are a fantastic source of fibre and protein and they also contain high levels of thiamine (vitamin B1) which helps to turn food into energy and is rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the body s nervous system, as well as many other significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative vitamins and minerals.
So OK we all know oats can be used to make porridge, but if you possess’own’nurse n t got time to be stood at the hob eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully morning then I ve got 5 other ideas of how to incorporate porridge oats into breakfast time.
Flapjacks
If you ve been following me in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a while you ll know just how much I love flapjacks (remember #FlapjackFriday anyone?). They re tasty, versatile, can be eaten on the go, easy to make, honestly the list of merit’virtue’upside s of these power packed oaty bars just goes on and on.
On my last count I m pretty sure I ve got well over 70 different flapjack recipes and I d love to share a few of my favourites with you now:
No Bake Vegan Apricot and Date Flapjacks
Fig and Walnut Flapjacks
Weetabix Flapjacks
Raspberry and White Chocolate Flapjacks
Nutter Butter Flapjacks
The beauty of flapjacks is that they can be made in advance and unless you ve got a couple of hungry snack stealing kids living with you, just one batch will sort you out in/with regard to’concerning’regarding breakfasts in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the week. Perfect if you love the snooze button, ideal if you re always in a hurry in the morning, grab a flapjack and a flask of coffee and that s breakfast sorted.
Overnight Oats
Overnight oats are literally the easiest thing you can make with porridge oats, because you fundamental ally just mix a load of ingredients toacquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure her and then bung it in the fridge overnight.
The fundamental mixture is made using 1 part oats, 1 part milk, and 1 part yogurt. Pour these three ingredients into a container (recycled jam jars work well and look super pretty too) and then decide the flavours you want to go with it. Here are some suggestions in/with regard to’concerning’regarding you:
PBJ Mix in a spoonful of peanut butter (or your other favourite nut butter) and then layer up with slices of fresh strawberries or some homemade strawberry chia jam.
Banoffee Drizzle some maple syrup in with the oats, milk and yogurt and then layer up with mashed banana and top with extra slices of banana.
Mocha Add a teaspoon of cacao powder and 1/2 a teaspoon of espresso powder to the oat mixture, then top with grated dark chocolate.
Eat on the go or enjoy at home, either way this is a luxury breakfast that requires absolutely minimal exertion .
Breakfast Muffins
Who said you couldn t possess’own’nurse cake in/with regard to’concerning’regarding breakfast? Not me that s in/with regard to’concerning’regarding sure, I personally can t claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate of anything better! Well, OK so maybe a whopping great slice of chocolate fudge cake isn t exactly going to set you on the right track in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the day, but how with regards to’concerning’with respect to some oaty breakfast muffins.
Again these can be made in advance and as most recipes usually make 12 muffins that s a rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent amount of breakfasts sorted in/with regard to’concerning’regarding you and the family. Try to keep the sugar content down by convert’transform ing out refined white sugar and replacing it with honey, coconut sugar, dried fruit or mashed banana. The oats can be added as part of the muffin mix, or they can be sprinkled on top to give the muffin a bit more crunch.
Pancakes
Oh how we love pancakes, but they re not necessarily the healthiest option especially when drizzled with golden syrup or lathered in chocolate spread. I m not saying don t possess’own’nurse them, but they re definitely more of a weekend treat than a quick and easy week day breakfast that s in/with regard to’concerning’regarding sure.
You can make pancakes healthier by replacing the flour with oats and the sugar with mashed over ripe bananas the browner the better really as this means they re lovely and sweet. Cook up a enormous’vast’massive’tremendous batch on a weekend and then freeze any leftovers you can either defrost them the night bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e you want them, or pop them in the toaster or the microwave in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a little bit.
Serve with a enormous’vast’massive’tremendous dollop of natural yogurt and berries in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a sweet option, or if you fancy something a little bit more savoury leave out the mashed banana in the pancake mix and try topping with smashed avocado and a poached egg, smoked salmon and cream cheese, or bacon and maple syrup.
Smoothies
You can pretty much put anything in a smoothie just ask my husband, who despite’in spite of’albeit t it was perfectly acceptable to chuck in a chocolate bar, rice pudding and some broccoli, it was never going to work! But if you want it to be healthy and to keep you going through the morning, you might want to claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate with regards to’concerning’with respect to throwing in a handful of oats to bulk it up.
As long as you possess’own’nurse a decent blender the oats will grind down so that you barely know they re there. However, if you prefer you can use oatmeal which has a smoother consistency. A rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent smoothie base comprises banana, natural yogurt, porridge oats and milk of your choice. After that the decision is entirely up to you. Here are some ideas to help inspire you:
Tropical Fresh or frozen mango, pineapple and papaya.
Choco Nut Coconut milk, cacao powder and a rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent -sized spoonful of your favourite nut butter.
Cherry Bakewell Almond milk and frozen cherries.
Eat Your Greens Frozen Spinach, kiwi, and vanilla protein powder.
If you feel like it needs sweetening up a little you can add a squirt of honey or maple syrup. Smoothies are a great way to acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure in some of your 5 a day early doors and again they are great to possess’own’nurse on the go or in/with regard to’concerning’regarding that post gym fuel up.
As you can see, there is more to oats than a simple bowl of porridge. And when breakfast looks this tasty, well there s really no reason to skip it, is there!
*collaborative post
