This One Ingredient Can Help You Make The Creamiest Oatmeal—and Even Add Some Protein
We're adding this to our usual breakfast rotation.
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
If you're on the hunt for a go-to breakfast of champions, oatmeal is a great place to start. Our dietitians say it's the No. 1 food you should eat for breakfast, hands down. Each bite packs in filling fiber, and you can make a bowl in minutes or easily prep it ahead of time. (Plus, recipes like our Savory Oatmeal with Cheddar, Collards & Eggs and Breakfast Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cakes show just how versatile oatmeal can be.)
Folks looking to perfect their oatmeal-making methods may want to test out this easy trick for creamy, protein-packed breakfast. Yumna Jawad—also known as FeelGoodFoodie on social media—recommends shaking up your oatmeal routine by adding Greek yogurt to your next batch. The formula is simple: 2 parts oats, 2 parts water and 1 part yogurt. Just wait until your oatmeal is cooked and water absorbed before you lower the heat and add in your yogurt. When everything is hot and well-combined, you can top your bowl according to your taste and dig in.
Related: What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Oatmeal Every Day
Jawad opts for classic toppings, like honey, strawberries and shaved coconut, but all kinds of fruits (or even veggies) will work. As summer comes to an end, you could choose autumnal add-ins like apples, cranberries or pears to celebrate the new season. Sweeten it with a drizzle of honey, maple syrup or even some boiled and reduced cider for a bowl that will satisfy a morning sweet tooth.
Related: The #1 Breakfast for Diabetes, According to a Dietitian
The folks in the EatingWell team definitely understand the creamy appeal of yogurt in a delish bowl of oatmeal. In a super-cozy recipe like our Baked Oatmeal with Pears or a cool serving of Vanilla-Cranberry Overnight Oatmeal, yogurt holds the tender oats together and adds that luscious texture that can make a quick morning breakfast feel a little more luxurious.
Plus, oatmeal already packs in some fiber—about 4 grams for every 1/2 cup of dry oats—but yogurt adds in some extra protein on top of that, which gives your breakfast more staying power. A 7-ounce container of plain, low-fat Greek yogurt contains 20 grams of protein, which means that this oatmeal recipe contains 45 grams of protein just from the yogurt. (You can add on an extra 20 grams from the oatmeal.) Each batch contains about 4 servings, so you're getting a hearty 16 grams of protein per serving, which definitely makes this breakfast a high-protein option by our standards.
Related: Is Yogurt Healthy? Here's What a Dietitian Has to Say
If you make the big batch that Jawad suggests, you can keep the leftovers in the fridge as a little meal prep for the rest of your week. Dress each serving with sweet or savory toppings and appreciate the lack of prep time you'll need in the morning. Whether you opt for this breakfast because the protein will power you through the morning or because oatmeal is a great choice for keeping blood sugar levels consistent, you'll surely appreciate the richness that the swirl of yogurt adds to each bite.
Read the original article on Eating Well.
