I HATED oatmeal and I LOVE both of these varieties--- I usually had to add a TON of sugar, but the natural fruits in the oatmeal means less added processed sugar. ENJOY!

Banana Bread Oatmeal (tastes just like it, just HEALTHIER!)
5pts per serving / 288 cal / 3 g fat / 8 g fiber
(it makes two big servings)
1 cup skim milk
1 pinch salt
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup oatmeal
1 medium banana, whole, mashed
1 tablespoon cinnamon (or more, to taste)

1. Bring milk, salt, vanilla, and brown sugar to boil

2. Add mashed banana and cinnamon- cook through

3. Add oats, reduce heat to medium- boil for 5 minutes or until thickened (add more cinnamon if you like once thickened)

4. Turn off heat- let stand 2 minutes


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Applesauce Oatmeal - 4pts per serving- 236 Cal / 3g Fat / 7g Fiber
(2 big servings)

1 cup oatmeal
2 cups water
1 pinch salt
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 pinch ginger
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 cup applesauce

1. Mix water, oats, salt, cinnamon, and ginger in medium sauce pan.

2. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to just above medium. Continue boiling for 3 minutes

3. Add sugar and vanilla and stir.

Have you tried steel cut oats? They are completely different from the rolled oats that Quaker sells. This is the recipe I use (it's from Food Network, but I don't have enough posts to put up a link.) I make a week's worth ahead of time, then divide it up into tupperware, add a little bit of brown sugar a shake of cinnamon and a sprinkle of vanilla, and nuke it at work. You'd think microwaved oatmeal would be nasty, but it's really just as good as if you were to make it every day!

Steel Cut Oatmeal
Recipe courtesy Alton Brown
Show: Good Eats
Episode: Oat Cuisine
4 servings

1 tablespoon butter
1 cup steel cut oats
3 cups boiling water
1/2 cup whole milk (pfft...I use 1%)
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon low-fat buttermilk
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

In a large saucepot, melt the butter and add the oats. Stir for 2 minutes to toast. Add the boiling water and reduce heat to a simmer. Keep at a low simmer for 25 minutes, without stirring.

Combine the milk and half of the buttermilk with the oatmeal. Stir gently to combine and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Spoon into a serving bowl and top with remaining buttermilk, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

They sound yummy!

Run, do not walk, and get yourself some frozen blueberries and ground flaxseed. I mix 2 T of ground flaxseed and a whole cup of blueberries (unsweetened) in with my half cup of rolled oats. To die for.

Try 1 tbsp of peanut butter stirred into your cooked oatmeal. Unbelievably yummy.

I do almonds and dried cranberries or blueberries in my oatmeal. Yummy. Oh and I also added some unsweetened shredded coconut for another fun twist.

I do the peanut butter in my oatmeal too! Usually with a sliced up banana or a handfull of blueberries.


What's the difference between rolled oats and steel cut oats? Is the consitancy different? taste? nutritional value?

All sound so yummy!!! I made these oatmeal raisin cookies, but i used fat free butter and made them really small so I could have one. I'm proud of myself that thats all i wanted... Ive been eating so much healthier that ive only been craving more veggies and friuts!! Its awesome!!

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal Custard:

When steel cut oats are at a point where they are still bubbling, but almost done, add 1 egg and start stirring until cooked. This gives it a custardy texture. Add 1/2 c. canned pumpkin (unsweetened), 1 T. brown sugar or some agave or maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir in and cook a few seconds longer until warmed through. If you get a higher calorie breakfast, add 1 T. chopped nuts on top.

You can make this with egg whites as well. When I make it for the whole family, I only need to use 2 eggs for the whole pot to get it custardy.

Warning: if you get addicted to this, as I am, stock up on canned pumpkin during the holidays.

Another favorite:

Mix 2 T. raisins into steel cut oats while hot and drizzle with flax seed oil and a touch of brown sugar.

Rolled oats have been steamed and rolled and steamed and toasted. They are quick cooking, compared to steel cut oats. Steel cut oats can be cooked over-night in a crock pot, though. I cook them up for the week and microwave a serving each day.

The taste is very different. Steel cut oats have a different texture as well. They're nutty, and a little chewy.

Steel cut oats are less processed. But they seem to have the same fiber and vitamins as rolled. I buy mine in bulk at my food co-op.

Go to mccanns dot ie, click products, click steel-cut Irish oatmeal (menu at left), and click on "More about steel-cut oatmeal" (on right) for more info. There's also a lot of other info about oats on their page, including the process of making rolled oats.

Yeah, our local grocery store only had ONE choice for steel cut oats--- the container was HALF the size of the quaker quick oats I buy... and THREE TIMES as expensive. That's definately NOT going to be part of my diet routine. I'd rather buy some excellent low-cal expensive ice cream for that much! lol

I avoided oatmeal for years because the way my mom made it, by the time it was cool enough to eat, it was lumpy BLEAH! I think she just didn't put enough water in it, I add more water or milk (I usually get instant oatmeal ::ducks and runs:: Quaker Weight Control, ok???) and then it's ok and stays smooth and creamy longer. For a while I added granola or nuts for crunch, still could but more often lately I add Coffee-mate (if you use that, use water for cooking the oatmeal to save on calories), I stocked up on the pumpkin-spice flavor during the holiday season. And yes, I also tried peanut butter in my oatmeal for the first time the other day, mmmm

Coffee Mate??? Very very interesting... I don't think I EVER would have thought of that!!! Does it taste very artificial? I don't drink coffee, so I've never tasted coffee mate...

I'd love some interesting flavors in my oatmeal without adding TOO much extra cals

The size difference is because the uncooked serving sizes are different. Remember, those rolled oats are par-cooked when you buy them.

1 serving:

Rolled oats = 1/2 cup dry

Steel cut oats = 1/4 cup dry

They cook up to the same 1 cup serving.

I buy mine at the food co-op for 75 cents a pound.