I share your love. Oatmeal has been my number one go to food throughout my weight loss and remains to be so in maintenance. I'm also a poor college kid living by myself (that's about to change, fiance is coming back from Iraq). I get the same huge canisters of the Quick 1-Minute oats.
I generally use 3/4 cups (225 cal), but I have definitely done 1 cup before also. I use a LOT of water and nuke it for a long time (5-6min) and generally my bowl of oatmeal nearly fills a small mixing bowl. Here are a few of my oatmeal additions:
- The old standby: Splenda packets (2 or 3) and a ton of cinnamon
- Maple syrup: Maybe one Splenda, cinnamon, and a squirt of sugar free maple syrup (20 cal for 1/4 cup, I don't use that much though)
- Sugar free chocolate syrup (20 cal for 2tbsp): Definitely does a number for a chocolate craving.
- Peanut butter: If I have some calories to play with, I'll add a tbsp or two of PB. A shot of the SF choco syrup is good with this too. Or honey
- Smushing in a banana, maybe add some nuts and cinnamon
- Any fresh fruit, like you do
- My new current favorite is 1/2 cup of strawberry or blueberry Light n' Fit yogurt (55 cal) with some Splenda packets and a shake of cinnamon. Oh my god this is amazing. It makes it creamy and thick and rich. It's like a giant bowl of warm fruity dessert.
- I've also baked it into bread. I used my own modification of this recipe. I added different mix-ins, used 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce instead of canola oil, Splenda brown sugar, and egg whites -->
http://nutrition.preschoolrock.com/i...d-oatmeal-cake It was very yummy, but I think I prefer a bowl of oatmeal, haha.
Your pumpkin idea sounds absolutely fabulous also, I'll definitely have to try it!
LOVE oatmeal, haha.