Let's talk about oatmeal!

Oatmeal is one of those foods that I never really got into unless it was loaded with brown sugar!  When I started really focusing in on healthy eating, I found that I could enjoy oatmeal without all the sugar and get all the health benefits from it!  Oatmeal is great for lowering bad cholesterol and giving you healthy, whole grains that have protein and fiber.  It is a great breakfast that helps keep you full all morning!  Much better than the sugary cereals that I used to eat.  Here are a few oatmeal recipes that I have tried and really enjoyed!

Banana-Peanut Butter Overnight Oats

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1/3 cup fat free milk or almond milk
1/3 cup fat free Greek yogurt
1/2 ripe mashed banana
1 teaspoon peanut butter

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, cover, and place in the refrigerator overnight.  Let sit for at least 1 hour.

2. Enjoy cold right out of the fridge!

Blueberry Oatmeal Pancakes

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1/3 cup low fat cottage cheese
2 egg whites
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup blueberries

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Blend the oats, cottage cheese, egg whites and cinnamon in a blender until it has a smooth batter consistency.

2. Pour half the batter into a warm pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray and place half of the blueberries in the pancake.  Cook until browned on one side and then flip to the other side.

3. Recipe makes 2 pancakes!  Enjoy with some pure maple syrup or plain!  If you want some added sweetness but don't want to use syrup, top with some ripe bananas.

Eggless Oatmeal Banana Muffins

INGREDIENTS

1.5 cups old fashioned oats

2 ripe bananas, mashed

1/4 cup almond butter

1/8 cup pure maple syrup

3/4 cup skim milk (or unsweetened almond milk if you want to keep it vegan)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup sliced almonds

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 and position a rack in the center. Grease a muffin tin with baking spray. Be sure to get the spray all the way up the sides of the muffin tins, because we're filling them all the way up!  Or use paper muffin cups in the tins.  This recipe makes 8 muffins.
2. If almond butter is not runny, microwave it for about 30 seconds to loosen it up.
3. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and stir until thoroughly combined. Spoon into muffin cups. Top with a few sliced almonds and a slice of banana.
4. Place on rack in the center of the oven and bake until oatmeal cups are firm to the touch, about 20-25 minutes.
5. Wait several minutes for oatmeal cups to cool before running a knife around the edges and removing them from the tin. Serve hot or let cool and refrigerate individually wrapped for breakfasts on the go. Enjoy!

Brownie Batter Protein Overnight Oats

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1/3 cup fat free milk or almond milk
1/3 cup fat free greek yogurt
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp pure maple syrup
2 tbsp protein powder (I used one scoop of my chocolate Isalean shake powder)

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, cover, and place in the refrigerator overnight.  Let sit for at least 1 hour.

2. Enjoy cold right out of the fridge!