Great Ways to Make Oatmeal Delicious!

Attention Moms who have a Meijer store in your area: There's a GREAT oatmeal deal this week (1/17-1/23)!
Be sure to check out my friend Sarah's blog to get FREE oatmeal/OJ this week at Meijer at http://sarahsdeals.blogspot.com!!

Why eat oatmeal?
Oatmeal has wonderful health benefits!
- Cancer-fighting properties (due to its insoluble fiber)
- Reduces bad cholesterol (LDL)
- Keeps your blood sugar leveled (so there's no crashing before lunch!)
- Reduces the risk of heart problems
- Is a great source of nutrients, including protein, zinc, selenium, magnesium, iron, vitamin E, copper, and manganese!

So what can you do with all that oatmeal? And how can you make plain oatmeal taste good and still be healthy?

Here's some great breakfast ideas for oatmeal:

- If you buy the flavored kind from Quaker (because who can't resist the Apple & Cinnamon?), shoot for the Lower Sugar varieties! You can't tell the difference, and neither will your kids.
- Blueberries and honey (only a little bit for flavor!)
- Bananas and honey (one of my favorites!)
- Honey and cinnamon
- Baked apples (I had leftover baked apples and sliced them thin to add to my oatmeal - one of the best combinations!)
- Brown sugar and cinnamon (this option is great because YOU have control over how much sugar you put in it.) REMEMBER to only add a bit to the top for a great topping. Preparing your oatmeal in the oven where the brown sugar can crystalize a little more makes for a really sweet treat!
- Raisins and cinnamon (delicious - similar to an oatmeal raisin cookie!)
- Chopped almonds and reduced sugar maple syrup
- A mix of fruits! Some of my favorites include strawberries, peaches, blueberries, and bananas! They can be fresh, frozen, or dried.
- Check out HungryGirl's recipe for Berries & Cream Oatmeal Pudding: http://www.hungry-girl.com/week/weeklydetails.php?isid=1252

Add your own suggestions! You and your kids will benefit from an oatmeal breakfast - so why not start the day off right with so many nutrients? There are millions of combinations out there!