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

FAQs

What not to mix with oatmeal? ›

Whatever you do, steer clear of the worst offenders: dried fruit with added sugars, like Craisins or dried pineapple. "These are almost always made with added sugar, if not also an artificial sweetener, says Pennsylvania-based RD Gina Consalvo. "Always choose a fresh fruit instead." Need hard proof?

Pros of oatmeal for diabetes

The pros of adding oatmeal to your eating plan can include the following: It can help regulate blood sugar, thanks to the moderate to high fiber content and lower glycemic index. It's heart-healthy due to its soluble fiber content and the fact it can lower cholesterol.

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.

Oats For Baking and Substitutes

For baking, regular rolled oats and quick-cooking are usually interchangeable in a recipe. If your recipe calls for quick-cooking oats and you only have old-fashioned rolled oats, pulse the old-fashioned oats in the food processor a few times.

Oats contain phytic acid, an antinutrient that is known to interfere with the absorption of the vitamins and minerals from oats into your body. So, you need to include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet to make up for the possible nutritional loss.

This amounts to about one cup of cooked oatmeal. Eating a serving of oatmeal regularly is one way to help increase your fiber intake. Fiber has been linked to better digestion, heart health, and weight management. While it's OK to eat a serving of oatmeal every day, it is best to stick to rolled or steel-cut oats.

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].

Water is the best all-round drink. If your family likes flavoured waters, make your own by adding a squeeze of lemon or lime, or strawberries.

"They are all actually identical in terms of their nutrition. The difference is how they are rolled and cut." However, Price adds that since flavored instant oats are the most processed option, they generally have salt and added sugars.

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.

What is the best thing to put in oatmeal? ›

Fresh fruit – you can't go wrong with bananas and berries, but almost any fruit will work. I personally love my strawberries and cream and blueberry oatmeal. Dried fruit – add raisins, cranberries, dried cherries or dates to your bowl of oats. You could also try my cinnamon raisin oatmeal.

Reaching for instant oats.

Since they are so small, they'll actually just end up almost dissolving in the liquid.

What happens if I use quick oats in oatmeal cookies? It will make the texture less chewy. They'll still be delicious, but if you want to uphold the texture, use those old-fashioned oats.

Insulin interacts with OATS

Taking oats along with insulin might cause your blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of insulin might need to be changed.

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.

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."

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.