Breakfast is by far my favorite meal. While I find that there is nothing better than a poached egg, sometimes I need to switch things up and eat oatmeal. The best part is that oats come in all different shapes and sizes and can be topped with all different sorts of ingredients, thus you never get the opportunity to get bored.
As a child, I grew up eating McCann’s Irish Steel Cut Oats. Steel cut oats are whole grain groats (the inner portion of the oat kernel) which have been cut into two or three pieces using steel discs. These oats are full of nutritional value; high in fiber while containing no sodium or cholesterol. Soluble fiber from oatmeal, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. Because I have a fond memory of making steel cut oats in the morning with my mom, this is my preferred kind of oatmeal to make. Although steel cut oats take a while to cook, I decided to put a twist on my favorite classic. By incorporating steel cut oats with rolled oats, this recipe ended up having a more substantial texture than your average rolled oats. The recipe is as follows!
Matcha Oats
1 cup of McCann’s Irish Steel Cut Oats
1/2 cup of standard rolled oats
2 scoops of Trader Joe’s Matcha Green Tea Mix
Blueberries
Granny Smith Apple, sliced
Chia Seeds
Cook the Irish Steel Cut Oats to the instructions in the back. Because they have to be cooked for 30 min, add the rolled oats at the last 5 min as well as the Matcha Green Tea. Keep in mind that the steel cut oats will be more al dente than the rolled oats. Once the oats are cooked, top with blueberries, apples and chia seeds. Enjoy!
The blueberries are right out of my dad’s garden and were relatively tart along with the apples. Because the Matcha is sweet, the fruit is a nice contrast to the delightful oatmeal.
One of my other favorite “oatmeals” is made with cinnamon scented quinoa. I say “cinnamon scented” because I added cinnamon sticks to the boiling water that the quinoa is being cooked with. Even though it’s actually a seed, quinoa is cooked like a grain. One of quinoa’s main nutritional advantages is its high protein content, containing more protein per serving than oatmeal. Below is one of my all-time favorite breakfast quinoa recipes that is a nice twist on a normal oatmeal!
Cinnamon Scented Quinoa
1 cup of Trader Joe’s Tricolor Quinoa
1 cinnamon stick
1 packet of Trader Joe’s Omega Trek Mix Handful
1/2 of a banana, sliced
blueberries
chia seeds
maple syrup
Cook the quinoa according to directions on the back. Make sure to rinse the quinoa before cooking. While cooking, add the cinnamon stick. Once cooked, discard cinnamon stick and top with the listed ingredients or whatever type of ingredients you may like. Enjoy!
The best part about these recipes is that you really have the freedom to top the oats and quinoa with whatever topping you may prefer! I like to add almond milk occasionally as well as honey. Use these recipes as a base for toppings of your choice and enjoy! Remember, starting your day off with oats will keep you full and help reduce your risk of heart disease. Keep your heart healthy and happy and enjoy!
xoxo Sarah
MyFood MyWay 