5 Faves Vol. 2: Healthy Oatmeal Recipes

Thanks Grace for hosting the 5 Favorites link-up this week!!

Ok, these aren't so much recipes as the are, how-you-sayy, "combos", but here they are nonetheless. Oatmeal is a major staple in my food regimen - I eat it for breakfast 5-6 times a week plus 2 eggs and about a cup of fruit.

What a huge breakfast.  I know!  People - it's the most important meal of the day.  (And, I'm breastfeeding and count this as some of my extra calories for the day.)

Anyway - 2 problems often arise with people + oatmeal: either A) they don't eat it because they think it is bland, or B) they add tons of brown sugary type toppings and/or eat too much for a major carb overload.

Well, here are my favorite ways to eat oatmeal, and they are (in my humble opinion) A) great tasting, and B) great alternatives to the high-sugar variety.

And since I aim to please - I am adding a 6th bonus!  Last week when I was talking to my husband about this post I was preparing for (by eating each recipe of course) he insisted I include HIS new favorite way to eat oatmeal.  Maybe he should get his own blog!  Er,,, see below for the bonus!

Before we get started, this is my basic oatmeal foundation pre-mix-ins:
-1/4 cup old fashioned oats (or steel cut - also good)
-1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk (and sometimes just straight up h2o)
-1 big pinch of ground flax or 2
-Cinnamon - a great spice that adds the taste of sweetness without using sugar

Microwave for 3 minutes in a tall bowl, and add the flax and other mix-ins and you're all set!  Now for my favorites:

1. Peanut Butter (1 Tbsp or less) + Strawberries

2. Peaches - This is my all-time favorite.  It tastes like peach pie, I swear.  Don't forget the cinnamon, and let the hot oatmeal warm up the peaches and mmm.

3. Raisins + Sliced Almonds (again - stir this up and let it sit for a sec to plump up those raisins)

4. Blueberries (I've done the frozen blueberry thing and it works OK in a pinch - just let the hot oatmeal heat up the berries)

5. 1/3 banana + pecans (I skipped the cinnamon here because the banana was extra ripe and extra sweet)

**Just keep in mind, when you add in nuts or PB, serious extra calories are involved. (people, don't be in denial about this)

And the bonus!
6. An egg and 2 sliced up turkey sausages.  A salty/savory edition for you salty/savory people.

Enjoy!