Good morning!
I’ve been feeling a little under the weather lately and so even though the air is thick with heat and humidity I’ve been craving hot things to eat/drink. For breakfast, instead of instant oat meal I’ve been cooking up hot bowls of Hodgson Mill Oat Bran and topping it with what ever fruit I have on hand – strawberries, peaches, cherries, banananas… and a drizzle of honey or agave nectar. Mmmm I love summer produce, don’t you? :)
sitting outside with a bowl of oat bran and strawberries
This is such an easy breakfast to whip up. But beware! My first attempts were borderline disasterous. I’m not sure what it is about the oat bran -maybe too much starch? – but if you don’t keep a close eye on it the tiniest amount tends to boil over! I think I’ve gotten the hang of it though. It just needs some gentle stirring throughout the cooking process (which is a grand total of about 4-5 minutes).
So why ditch the instant stuff? Well, for one, the reason why instant oatmeal gets soft and gooey so fast is because the oats have been finely processed. Instant oats are stripped of the protein and nutrients that you could be enjoying if they were less refined. Its the same idea as White Flour vs. Whole Grain Flour.
The awesome thing about oat bran is that it packs a nutritional punch! With 6 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein per serving (1/4 cup) not to mention the naturally occurring vitamins and minerals that are part of the bran layer.
The type of fiber in oat bran is also important – Soluble Fiber – which has been shown to aid in lowering blood cholesterol levels as well as have a positive effect on blood sugar. Delicious and super healthful! Its a win-win.
Of course you can go even more whole grain and choose something like Steel Cut Oats. These whole grain oats are a wonderful alternative to instant oatmeal as well. The only downer is that they take 25-30 minutes to cook. That shouldn’t stop you from trying them though. Some people choose to cook them the night before and just reheat in the morning!
Bottom-Line: if post-rain molds and allergies are getting you down, try a hot bowl of fresh Oat Bran and a cup of warm tea to soothe the sniffles. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as much as I do 
