Oats... how to get the most out of them!
By ahgong
@ahgong (10064)
Singapore
February 17, 2009 1:00am CST
I got this in one of my newsletters on diets. And found it to be a really great write up. I was on this diet for a while, replacing all my grains with oats. And I really lost quite a bit of weight over a period of 6 months.
Oatmeal has long been a breakfast favorite, and it's a great choice for people on a Diet. And a great substitute for grains that is the main staple of many Asians.
[i]Dietitians recommends steel-cut oats and rolled or old-fashioned, slow-cooking oats because these varieties have been minimally processed and will help keep blood sugar levels steady.
Steel-cut and rolled oats can require anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes. That said, you can save time and still enjoy the healthiest of oats.
Here's how:
Soak your oats overnight.
Just boil water (at a ratio of 4 cups water to 1 cup oatmeal), add oats, stir, remove from heat, and cover until morning. Reheat your oatmeal for a warm, hearty breakfast.
Use a slow cooker.
Assemble your oatmeal in a slow cooker at night and wake up to a steaming bowl of oats.
Try a pressure cooker.
With this appliance, oatmeal can be ready in just five minutes.
Prepare your oats ahead of time.
They'll stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to four or five days. When it's time for breakfast, simply microwave a portion of oatmeal with your choice of 1 percent or nonfat milk or low-fat plain, vanilla, or sucrose-containing soy milk for about three minutes.
Make them in a microwave.
You can prepare steel-cut oats by microwaving them for 12 to 14 minutes in a tall container with the above-mentioned milk choices. Keep a close eye on them so they don't boil over, and try not to overcook the oats.
To perk up the flavor of oatmeal, try mixing it with fresh, chopped high-fiber fruit or sprinkling in some cinnamon.[/i]
3 people like this
11 responses
@onedaysoon (651)
• United States
17 Feb 09
I love steel cut oats. I started making mine in my pressure cooker. They are too much trouble to make on the stove. Great, now I want some :o)! I think I will make some for breakfast.
I didn't know you could make them in the microwave, it seems like it would overflow. I highly recommend the pressure cooking methods. It is very easy.
I like mine with a little bit of stevia and cinnamon. A tiny bit of coconut milk is good in it too.
Thanks for reminding me about them!
1 person likes this
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
18 Feb 09
Nope. Not canned tuna. Canned fish. Heh heh... tuna DO NOT go well with oats. Tried that already. 
Oh, stevia is a sugar substitute then?
Interesting. I have never heard of it. I will see if they have any in the local store. If it is not too expensive, I will get some to try.
Thanks for sharing with me, ondaysoon.
Oh, stevia is a sugar substitute then?
Interesting. I have never heard of it. I will see if they have any in the local store. If it is not too expensive, I will get some to try.
Thanks for sharing with me, ondaysoon.@onedaysoon (651)
• United States
17 Feb 09
Oats and canned tuna, that is a new one to me :o). I am a vegan, so I wont be trying that. But, it is an interesting combination.
Stevia is a natural sweetener made from the leaf of the Stevia plant. It is the best thing since sliced bread. There is no sugar in it, but it is hundred times sweeter than sugar. You only need a tiny, tiny, tiny bit to make something sweet. Here it comes in a small jar or packets.
1 person likes this
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
18 Feb 09
Well, over the period that I was on the oat mean diet, I lost about 5 KG. Got off the diet after that.
Maintained that weight loss for about 3 years. And then, in the past two, I gain back about 2 KG gradually.
Never exercised. My wife lost more. About 8 KG or more, if I remember right. She exercised while on the diet and lost way much more than I did.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
18 Feb 09
I too love oats! However, I think I have the instant variety coz I just put it in milk, add a little sugar, some crushed almonds and boil it for a few minutes and its done. Whatever, its much better than toast and butter or eggs or the regular cornflakes. Its quick and easy and tasty too
1 person likes this
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
17 Feb 09
Yeah, Oats is indeed healthy and good for our healh.. It's a healthy source of protein as well as fibre and carbohydrates.. ON top of that, it's easy to cook, and fast to eat too..
I like oats because of it's fragrance and taste.. hehe ^_^ I used to eat that every morning when i was in primary school, and my mom will be cooking it over the stove.. haha =D
Though oat is good, but not those instant oats, because they are too sweet and only do more harm than good for our body ^_^
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
17 Feb 09
Well, I was using the instant cook Quaker oats. It doesn't taste sweet at all.
I have yet to try the rolled Oats on its own though. I may just get a bag this weekend when I go shopping.
I have seen them a few times. But never really used them as the main meals. Most of the times, they are use to replace bread crumbs when deep frying chicken or prawns.
1 person likes this
@wickikitty (532)
• United States
17 Feb 09
I love oatmeal but I totally screw up the diet thing by adding brown sugar to mine. Although I love the tender oats, its hard for me to consume something for breakfast that isn't sweet haha! I think its probably because since I was a kid I always had a sugary breakfast... my stomach doesn't fully wake up in the morning so its nice to have just a little oatmeal with brown sugar every now and again =]
1 person likes this
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
18 Feb 09
If you must have sugar with your oats, try substituting the brown sugar with raisins instead. They make for a great sugar substitute, and it taste just as good.
The other way is to add a little condense milk and a beaten egg to the mix.
It is still sweet, but not as sweet as adding sugar. And the egg will give the oatmeal a fragrance that will take your mind off sugar!
@strawberrychocodahi (4818)
• Philippines
17 Feb 09
Hello, i also like to eat oatmeal. And for me i do prefer my oatmeal like i will boil water, put the oatmeal and then simmer it for some time, since it is easy to cook specially Quaker Oats, i also add condensed milk and put some of my favorite nuts which is cashew nut and there you have it, a delicious hot and healthy oatmeal.
I eat oatmeal for my daily supplement of fiber. i don't eat oats just because i wanted to diet. Actually i am not into diet mode but into gaining weight. And adding enough fiber for the day is good for the body as well as your digestive system will also be ok.
I keep my oatmeal inside the ref. Because even if it is cold, i can still eat it and it tastes the same although some people prefer to eat it hot, but it's ok, i can eat it both hot or cold, if i am not lazy , i will make it hot again, but if i am, then i eat it just like that.
@biggerb (2024)
• India
17 Feb 09
That was quite a bit of information.Its pretty useful too.I do take oats porridge every morning.I just boil the oats.I do not add any salt, milk or yoghurt to it.I quite like it that way. Intake of oats reduces your cholostrol levels.I do not know if it has helped in my weight reduction.But since you say it has helped you I hope it does work that way for me too.I have been having this for breakfast for quite sometime now.
1 person likes this
@naka75 (795)
• Singapore
17 Feb 09
Wow, I see that you've a comprehensive recipe of mouth-watering oats here! Yes I always have oats for breakfast, but in the most simplistic way though. Due to the morning rush, I can only have my oats this way, by pouring boiled water into a bowl of oats, stirring it and it's ready in a jiffy. Since the description says Instant Oats, I'm glad it can be eaten this way. You may think it's too bland and tasteless, but I'm used to it. Putting in milk or sugar will spoil the taste I've already used to. To me it's the most healthy breakfast I could ever have, unlike cereals and bread that contains preservatives and additives. I'm so sure about oats helping to lower blood sugar, but I'm very certain it'll alleviate greatly for people with constipation, as it contains loads of soluble and insoluble fibre. The fibre helps to keep our colon healthy and lower the risk of colon cancer, especially with the kind of food we're eating these days. Since oats is predominantly carbohydrates, it's good to have it with some soy milk for getting some protein. So i don't see reason to go for the softest bread but to keep it my healthiest oats.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
17 Feb 09
This is indeed a well explained article. I don't quite like the taste of oats but I do buy oatmeals for quick fix if am too busy to prepare meals. Since you said it has the advantage for losing weight I am going to take your word for it and start eating oatmeals instead of the regular rice.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
18 Feb 09
Well, word of advise Zandi. DO NOT JUMP straight from rice to oats immediately.
You will get so sick of oats, you will not be able to stick to it.
Start changing your rice to oats, maybe a few days of the week. One meal a week till you are used to eating oats as a replacement for rice.
Then slowly work that few days a week for one meal to the whole week for one meal.
Then slowly work the other meals in.
If you jump straight in, I can almost guarantee you, you will get so sick of oats, you will not want to touch them again for a very long time!
@ddfreedie (690)
• India
17 Feb 09
oats is the best food one can get to diet...people who wish to reduce their weight can eat oates.......its the most recommended food...its low on cars and is good for health too
1 person likes this
@sabina19841110 (69)
• China
17 Feb 09
i seldom eat oatmeal although i know eating oatmeal is good for helthy.
i like eating rice even when i want to on a diet.
but from your description, i will try it.
1 person likes this
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
18 Feb 09
Rice is good as a staple. But the glucose content is not friendly to people who are on a diet and not exercising much.
Oats is a good substitute. Cos it is filling and it doesn't taste half bad.
And it goes well with most of the food that Rice can go with too.
