30 Recipes using oats-a cheap pantry staple (2024)

FAQs

What not to mix with oatmeal? ›

High-sugar toppings like chocolate, syrup, and dried fruit

As Best points out, "some of the worst ingredients that are mistakenly added to healthy overnight oat recipes include chocolate sauce, sugar, syrup, and dried fruit."

A cup of cooked oatmeal (1/2 cup of dried oats) contains approximately 30 grams of carbs, which can fit into a nutritious meal plan for people with diabetes. Oatmeal is high in fiber and nutrients but low in saturated and trans fats and sugar and can help you maintain a healthy blood sugar level.

The bottom line

Adding nutritious toppings to oatmeal can boost its flavor and contribute to its health benefits. Try adding fruit for sweetness, veggies or eggs for a savory twist, or sources of protein and fat to make it a balanced meal.

"Steel-cut oats can absorb more water than instant oats, and they're also superior to instant oatmeal because they are less processed and have a better nutrient profile,” she says. You can also spruce up your oatmeal with healthy toppings like fresh fruit.

Blood sugar spikes

Oats, despite being a complex carbohydrate, can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar levels, especially when consumed in large quantities. This can be a concern for individuals with diabetes or those aiming to regulate their blood sugar levels.

Oats are a good source of carbohydrates and overeating may lead to an increase in your weight. As it is bland in nature, overconsuming oats may lead to an increase in sugar intake. Opting for an oats-only diet may deprive your body of getting nourishment from other healthy food sources.

Oatmeal has also been shown to decrease blood glucose in 14 patients with uncontrolled T2DM [11]. In contrast, eggs are identified as a food that might raise plasma LDL-C [12], or that could potentially alter glucose metabolism and lead to diabetes [13].

A modified diet with β-glucan from oats was reported to be superior to the American Diabetic Association's diet in improving metabolic and anthropometric profiles in well controlled type 2 diabetic patients: larger decreases in glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), weight and body mass index (BMI); greater increase in ...

There is no particular time to eat oats. You can consume the oats at lunch and dinner too. This cereal, however, is consumed in breakfast mostly. It contains fiber, magnesium, complex carbohydrates, etc, which help in keeping your tummy full for a longer time, thus, reducing overeating.

Is oatmeal good for the kidneys? ›

A small 2018 study on 50 people with chronic kidney disease found that eating oatmeal helps kidney function. A 2020 study found that oat beta-glucan, which is a type of soluble fiber found in oats and oatmeal, helped lower the level of toxins that the kidneys usually excrete.

5. A Bowl of Oatmeal May Help Reduce Belly Fat. Another win for oatmeal's soluble fiber: It may help reduce visceral fat, the type of fat in your midsection that hugs your organs and raises your risk of heart disease and stroke — even if your body mass index is deemed normal, notes the AHA.

If you want to lose weight, you can include oats water in your diet as it helps in reducing belly fat rapidly. Oats water is rich in fibre, which keeps the stomach full for a long time. Consuming oats water on an empty stomach in the morning controls appetite, which helps in weight loss in longer run.

When in doubt, add nut butters for creaminess, sweetness, and plenty of good protein. We like crunchy peanut butter for added texture, almond butter, cashew butter, and even tahini. Throw a chopped banana and a smudge of vanilla paste into stovetop oats for creamy, delicious, banana bread oatmeal.

Greek yogurt – try a dollop on top or my Greek yogurt oatmeal. Nuts and seeds – add almonds, pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, chia seeds and/or flaxseed to your oats for some crunch and a touch of protein. Nut or seed butter – top your oats with almond butter, peanut butter, cashew butter.

Raw oats can be eaten with milk or water, but it is generally not recommended as they can be difficult to digest and can cause digestive discomfort.

Is it ok to eat oatmeal and eggs together? Totally!!! You're getting a balance of macronutrients from the two big players: carbohydrates and fiber from the oats and protein and fat from the eggs. Benefits of Eggs: great source of protein (7g per egg) and dietary cholesterol (cholesterol isn't all bad!)