Your opinion on instant oatmeal

[Carmen829]

Good morning - I've read several posts here on eating clean and many of you include steel cut oats in your meal plans. What do you think about the plain instant oatmeal as a breakfast choice.

I'm trying to be more conciencious about making better choices and eating smaller meals during the day. Breakfast is the hardest for me. I've been eating instant plain oatmeal and mix blueberries in it for flavoring. Its so convenient for me. I'd be interested in your feedback.

PS: It would be great to have a forum on only clean eating. It would be a great resource for meal tips, recipes, information exchange, etc. Thanks

Carmen.

 

[cakebaker]

Old Fashioned style oatmeal would be better, and it doesn't take that long to cook - just 3-4 minutes in the microwave. That's darned near as fast as the instant kind.

 

[onedayatatime]

I read something on this recently and the progression for oats in terms of most whole grain to least is:

oat groats then
steel cut oats then
old fashioned oats, then
quick oats then
instant oats

I believe it has to do with how much of the outer grain remains (oat groats has the most, requiring soaking before cooking, etc.)

HTH,
Barb

 

[kathryn]

Instant oats are probably better than most boxed cereals, but not as good as other types of oats, as they are the most processed.

If you don't like the time it takes to make steel-cut oats, there are ways of making it faster.

1) make a large batch 1-2 times a week, save the extra in individual microwaveable bowls in the fridge, and when you are ready to eat it chop it up (it will have become a solid mass in the fridge), add a milk of your choice, microwave it for about 2 minutes. The liquid and heat will help soften the oats again, and I think the texture is often even more appealing that with freshly made.

2) soak the oats overnight, so that it takes less time (and water) to cook them the next morning. (You can combine this with #1, soaking the oats you need to make your multiple-serving batch of oats).

3) get whole sproutable oats (www.sunorganicfarm.com has sproutable oats) and use them to make oat cereal. Once sprouted, they will take much less time to cook. And sprouting grains increases their nutrient content.

 

[pink_fortitude]

>Instant oats are probably better than most boxed cereals, but
>not as good as other types of oats, as they are the most
>processed.

ITA. It has been processed so much that not much of the original goodness is left.

Missy

 

[Miss Lee]

Have you considered barley as an alternative to oatmeal? The quick cooking barley contains all the fiber and nutrition of pearled barley and cooks in less than half the time (of pearled barley). Hulled barley, the most nutrient dense form, is very hard to find, but pearled and quick are a good substitute and really quite delicious. Prepare it according to the package directions and then treat it the same as you would your oatmeal. It has a low glycemic index and is felt to be even better than oatmeal for lowering cholesterol.

 

[Carmen829]

Thanks for the great ideas.

Carmen

 

[wellness]

Hi...I eat oatmeal, I have found a few good instant oatmeals that are really low in sugar and all natural, no perservatives or additives. I find them normally in the health / Natural food section of the grocery store. I'm in upstate NY, and our grocery store, Wegmans, ROCKS!! IT has almost everything you could possible want. A large variety and huge Natural food section.

Hope this helps.
Alicia
One brand I like is Hodgson Mill (Multi-grain hot cereal, with milled flaxseed & soy

 

[Carmen829]

Hi Alicia, I am from Rochester new york too!!! I miss wegman's.
Carmen

 

[Lynn M.]

Hi:

The one upside to instant oatmeal is that it is fortified w/ some vitamins and minerals, which are not in the steel cut, or other type of more "whole" oat selections. I would say its still a decent choice if you are short on time, and it works for you.

Loved the barley idea... am going to have to try that!!


Take care, Lynn M.

 

[wellness]

HI Carmen!
That is so cool that you are from Rochester too!
Wegmans is a big tip! Anyone who's been there understands.....
Very blessed to have a store that has everything, and don't have to go other health stores to find these products

Alicia

 

[Netta]

Michelle, I knew you would chime in for barley. She's right, it is good, chewier than oatmeal, but better than the steel cut oats. Try it, you'll like it.

Jeanette

 

[Miss Lee]

Jeanette, I'm on a mission to bring barley to the masses--lol! It's delicious AND nutritious

ETA I forgot to mention that in a side by side comparison with oats, barley was superior in it's ability to slow down the glucose and insulin response.

 

[TeTe]

I usually use the natural regular Irish Oatmeal, but I did get some Arrowhead Mills Instant for days when I was in a pinch. It wasn't bad.

Most of the time, I'll cook a batch of regular oatmeal on Sunday, and just re-heat it during the week.

 

[kathryn]

>Have you considered barley as an alternative to oatmeal? The
>quick cooking barley contains all the fiber and nutrition of
>pearled barley and cooks in less than half the time (of
>pearled barley).

If we're talking other grains,, I have to chime in for quinoa, teff and buckwheat, all highly nutritious.