Oatmeal for breakfast

[Irulan]

I'm into it. :-)
Has anyone ever tried cooking up a few day's worth, and just reheating your portion in the morning? I'm trying different versions of the non-quick cooking kind. It seems like it would be way more efficient to cook up 4 days' worth, keep it in the fridge, and reheat it. Anyone?

[GLC1968]

I used to do that with steel cut oats. It worked great except the one time I hit the wrong button and nuked it to death.

[Irulan]

I was just reading about using a rice cooker for oats. I don't have a fancy one with multiple settings (including "porridge") Has anyone used a rice cooker for oats?

[carlotta]

I do it with steel cut oats as well. I pour them into a container when they're hot, then cut a square of whatever size I want for breakfast, and mash them around in a bowl with milk before I nuke 'em. It might work without that step, but they certainly seem to become one solid blob in the fridge. Super quick, easy, and tasty.

[OakLeaf]

I haven't used a rice cooker for oats, but I tried it with barley ... once. It foamed WAY too much and spewed through the vent, awful time cleaning it up. Oats foam even worse than barley. I wouldn't try it.

I just finished a batch of steel cut oats. It definitely took some finagling for it not to explode in the nuculator. The first couple of bowls ... I'll just say I spent more time cleaning than eating. :p

[snapdragen]

I haven't heard of using a rice cooker, but I've been meaning to try cooking steel cut oats overnite in the crockpot.

[GLC1968]

I used my rice cooker for oats...twice. Both times it was a huge disaster! It was really really gross, gummy and slimy. It made a mess of the cooker and the resulting oats were not edible (unless I was willing to scrape them off the counter top!). And I do have a 'porridge' setting!

I have had the best luck with either stovetop or in the slow cooker in a steam bath (the oats sit in a bowl inside the cooker in a couple of inches of water). The best part about this method was that they cooked overnight and I had hot oats when I woke up with no work (and easy clean up).

[Crankin]

Oatmeal makes me hungry. Seriously. I eat it 2-3 times a week, but if I don't have some serious protein with it, my stomach is rumbling in an hour. I even put walnuts or almonds in my oatmeal, but that doesn't seem to help.
Does anyone else have this issue?

[malkin]

For rolled oats, I don't even cook it.

[Irulan]

Do you do the muesli thing soak it in yoghurt over night?

[OakLeaf]

Oatmeal makes me hungry. Seriously. I eat it 2-3 times a week, but if I don't have some serious protein with it, my stomach is rumbling in an hour. I even put walnuts or almonds in my oatmeal, but that doesn't seem to help.
Does anyone else have this issue?

Yep. That. I was laughing because DH bought the oats and I wound up eating so much of it even though I don't digest it well. :p

[Grits]

I vaguely remember a long thread on this a while back. Seems like a lot of people cooked up a batch in a slow cooker and then reheated it during the week.

[Owlie]

Oatmeal makes me hungry. Seriously. I eat it 2-3 times a week, but if I don't have some serious protein with it, my stomach is rumbling in an hour. I even put walnuts or almonds in my oatmeal, but that doesn't seem to help.
Does anyone else have this issue?

I'm the same way. I put peanut butter or nuts in it, and it's okay if I'm not working out, but if I want to ride, I I have to put so much PB into it that I may as well be eating the PB out of the jar. All of that stuff in the oatmeal just binds to all the fat and protein and it's gone.

[Crankin]

Oak, I also have, ah, digestive issues with oatmeal. The only reason I'm eating more of it, is to try to see if it helps lower my little LDL issue.

[surgtech1956]

Dont know if I got this recipe here or another forum but, when I make steel cut oats, once the water boils and you put in the oats, cover the pan and remove from heat and after a few hours they're done. I've done this overnight and they're perfect in the morning. I've tried making a few days worth or oatmeal(not steel cuts) and they get kind of mushy. Maybe I'm cooking them too long or I can't remember if I put some brown sugar in and this caused it. I think I'm going to try it again and not cook them till they're completely done. BTW never used a rice cooker, but tried a crock pot, but this I found this other way easier.

[lovelygamer]

I use the Quaker old fashioned (not instant) and just heat a 1/4 cup of it with water and raisins in the microwave every morning I want some. It takes two minutes.

[Anelia]

I eat musli. I either soak them in milk or yogurt the night before or I heat about 3 oz of musli with 8 oz of milk for 3 minutes in the microwave. I let them cool for 30 min (while I drink coffee). Sometimes I add powder protein and it's really tasty.

[lph]

Oatmeal makes me hungry. Seriously. I eat it 2-3 times a week, but if I don't have some serious protein with it, my stomach is rumbling in an hour. I even put walnuts or almonds in my oatmeal, but that doesn't seem to help.
Does anyone else have this issue?

Yup, me too. No digestive issues, it just doesn't work. I'm starving within an hour or two. Hiking I will eat uncooked muesli with generous helpings of milk powder over, and I have to forcefeed myself like a goose for it to last past packing the tent... Add some chocolate however, and we're talking :)

[GLC1968]

Oatmeal makes me hungry. Seriously. I eat it 2-3 times a week, but if I don't have some serious protein with it, my stomach is rumbling in an hour. I even put walnuts or almonds in my oatmeal, but that doesn't seem to help.
Does anyone else have this issue?

Me too. That's partly why I don't eat it anymore. Honestly, all cereal grains do that to me....Even if I eat until I'm stuffed, an hour later, I want more.

I used to do oatmeal AND eggs in the morning and that seemed to work better for hunger control. Then when I dropped out the oatmeal and realized that the eggs held me just as long without the oats, I was sold.

[malkin]

Do you do the muesli thing soak it in yoghurt over night?

Normally I take it to work for my lunch: rolled oats, yoghurt, frozen blueberries, almonds, raisins, sunflower seeds (as available in our house). The frozenness of the blueberries helps me stay out of it until at least 10:00.

Otherwise I just put milk and stuff on it and eat it. I used to do the same with rolled rye, but it made my teeth sensitive. Now that I'm soaking it, I should get some rye again. I really like the taste of it.

[Megustalaplaya]

It doesn't take very long to cook in the microwave. I use 1/2 cup of old fashioned oats, some water and cook for 2:10 minutes. Then I add .5 tablespoon of honey when I want it sweet or I will add 2 tablespoons of ground up flaxseed when I want a more nutty flavor (more filling too).

[Irulan]

Steel cut takes a lot longer in the microwave.

[Desert Tortoise]

I don't know about preparing oats days in advance. It seems like they would get mushy but the idea of undercooking sounds interesting.

Like so many, I too get hungry after about 1 hour of eating oatmeal. I found if I add 1/2 of a chopped apple to the oatmeal, I'm ok for about 2 hours. Not much better.

For breakfast, this feels useless. By mid-morning I want something hearty like beans with chicken and salsa and tortillas. But for lunch, the oatmeal with apples seems to work just fine. My afternoon snack is more normal like fruit with nuts or seeds and its satisfying.

[Sky King]

Oatmeal makes me hungry. Seriously. I eat it 2-3 times a week, but if I don't have some serious protein with it, my stomach is rumbling in an hour. I even put walnuts or almonds in my oatmeal, but that doesn't seem to help.
Does anyone else have this issue?

Ha, I was complaining about this to my DH and he says "so go eat something" He eats six times a day and is as skinny as a rail :) I am not that lucky but I do eat a banana now mid morning on days I eat oatmeal and that gets me through to lunch time.

[surgtech1956]

I've tried cooking up a batch of oatmeal ahead of time but it's too mushy. Does anyone take eitherbquick or old fashion oats and cook in the microwave?

[Aromig]

I use my rice cooker. I have a ten cup cooker, but usually only make 2 cooked cups of steel cut oats. I've found that spraying nonstick spray (even though the rice cooker is nonstick) and the small amount keeps it from boiling over. I also use about 50 per cent more water than the recipe calls for (I think soaking overnight somehow requires more water) I set the timer to cook it overnight so it's ready when I wake up. I don't have a porridge setting, I use the brown rice setting. When it's done in the morning I mix in ground flaxseed (I don't like to cook the flaxseed) and whatever else I want to mix in (sometimes a mushed banana, sometimes nuts, etc).

[emily_in_nc]

It's too hot in Belize for hot oatmeal in the morning, but boxed cold cereals are really expensive here, so I have taken to eating my oats muesli style. I use regular (non-instant) rolled oats and add some whey protein powder, chopped walnuts, chia seed, cinnamon, and fruit (usually banana, mango, and papaya), then add milk. It's a delicious breakfast and so much more pleasant than eating hot cereal, which makes me sweat like crazy here!

I only regret that it took me so long to think of it. :rolleyes:

[Chile Pepper]

I cook steel-cut oats in a double boiler. I boil water in a tea kettle first while the water in the bottom of the double boiler is heating, then add the oats and hot water to the top bowl. It takes the same amount of time to cook as doing it directly in a saucepan, but I don't have to worry about burning the porridge.

[redrhodie]

I make rolled oats in the microwave. I use milk as the liquid, but if you put too much, it will boil over, so I put in less than I like, then add more at the end. It takes 3 minutes in my microwave.

[Catrin]

Back when I still ate oats, I would cook steel-cut oats in advance which worked great but I never tried it with rolled oats. What kind of oats did you try this with?

[laura*]

I too cook oatmeal in a microwave. Oatmeal and water in a bowl cooked at HIGH for 2:30 or 2:40 (that's minutes:seconds). The ratio of oatmeal to water needs to be measured - it is hard to eyeball it. I use oats that are marked "instant".

(My bowl of oatmeal just finished cooking...)

[marni]

another vote for making up steel cut oats ad or quioa with or without dried fruit ad nuts ahead of time and keeping it in the fridge/ 2 cups of water and 1/2 cup of steel cut oats or quinoa and 1/2 cup mixed dried fruit and or nut makes for days worth.

Cut out a portion, thow in some (coconut) milk nuke for three minutes at 50%, mash aound and eat.

My idea of an instat breakfast!

manri

[Dogmama]

I add a scoop of cottage cheese after the oats are done cooking. Mix it up really well, add some pecans & a little sweetener - voila. Non-fat cottage cheese doesn't do it for me - needs to be low fat. Some dried fruits (raisins, cranberries, cherries, whatever) is a nice touch too.

So, you get fiber, protein and fat. Great combination to keep you going until lunch.

[azfiddle]

I really like the Trader Joe's quick steel cut oats. 5-7 minutes, dried cranberries or raisins, a little brown sugar, sometimes some toasted pecans and a dollop of milk. I also like fresh fruit sometimes, like berries or fresh peaches. When I know I'm going to do a more energetic ride, I'll throw in a spoonful of nutella.

[Dogmama]

I really like the Trader Joe's quick steel cut oats. 5-7 minutes, dried cranberries or raisins, a little brown sugar, sometimes some toasted pecans and a dollop of milk. I also like fresh fruit sometimes, like berries or fresh peaches. When I know I'm going to do a more energetic ride, I'll throw in a spoonful of nutella.

Do you microwave it? Sounds yummy!

[surgtech1956]

Dogmama, about how much cottage cheese do you mix into how much oatmeal? Sounds yummy

[Dogmama]

Dogmama, about how much cottage cheese do you mix into how much oatmeal? Sounds yummy

I usually use about 1/2 cup oatmeal (dry) & about 1/2 cup cottage cheese. If you nuke it for a few seconds after you mix it in, the cottage cheese gets really creamy.

[azfiddle]

Dogmama- no need to microwave the Trader Joe's oatmeal. Just pour 1/4 cup into 3/4 cup boiling water, turn to simmer, make a cup of tea and pack my lunch, and it's ready.

[Dogmama]

Dogmama- no need to microwave the Trader Joe's oatmeal. Just pour 1/4 cup into 3/4 cup boiling water, turn to simmer, make a cup of tea and pack my lunch, and it's ready.

Thanks!

So, I have to pack your lunch while it's cooking ?;)

[surgtech1956]

Thanks Dogmama, so you don't add to already cooked oatmeal. The oatmeal doesn't actually cook or the cottage cheese cooks it? Thanks again for sharing, sounds yummy, going to try it tomorrow.

[Dogmama]

Thanks Dogmama, so you don't add to already cooked oatmeal. The oatmeal doesn't actually cook or the cottage cheese cooks it? Thanks again for sharing, sounds yummy, going to try it tomorrow.

Obviously, I'll never write a recipe book!

Here is what I do. Cook the oatmeal. Add the cottage cheese. Nuke the whole thing again (not necessary if in hurry but nice if you like hot oatmeal.)

Sorry for the misunderstanding!

[surgtech1956]

Thanks:)

[nkfrench]

During the warmer months I'll make oatmeal in advance then eat it cold - it tastes like rice pudding. I just made 5 extra servings for my workday breakfasts.
During the cooler months I'll make individual portion packets (dry ingredients, uncooked) in zip-lock sandwich bags to cook while I'm at work.

* 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
* about 1/3 or 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
* Liberal sprinkling of ground cinnamon (1 TB?)
* sweetener to choice (3 packets splenda)
Dump into DEEP bowl (I use a 28-oz Corelle bowl). Add enough water that the cranberries float up. Put into microwave oven with a paperplate underneath and another on top to control spatters/boilovers.
Nuke 6-1/2 minutes power level 8 (cheap microwave) or 7 (on higher wattage microwave) out of 10.
Right after cooking, stir in:
* 6-oz container nonfat yogurt. (plain is OK, vanilla is better)
Here is where you can choose to eat it or refridgerate it.
Before eating, sprinkle sliced almonds atop.
Other options are to add almond extract (just a few drops) or vanilla extract (a few more drops) after cooking.

Dried cranberries do not have near as much flavor; I prefer to stockpile real cranberries in my freezer in November for the rest of the year.
The yogurt gives it a creamy texture (not gummy) and adds protein. The berries give it additional vitamins and flavor. The almonds also add satiety and texture.

The old fashioned oats have a much better texture and taste than quick oats, in my opinion. I don't care so much for steel-cut oats.
I could probably make a larger batch on the stovetop or crockpot if I tried.

There is a lot of fiber, plan your morning bikerides accordingly. :)

[Owlie]

I've mixed peanut butter into it with a little sugar and milk.
Chai spices, toasted almonds and a bit of sugar and milk.
Dried cherries, toasted almonds or walnuts, a little sugar and milk.

I don't eat it often, because I find that it doesn't "stick"--I'm hungry again in an hour. Perhaps I'll try the yogurt/cottage cheese suggestions.

[Red Rock]

In an effort to be more "whole grain", I picked up a whole lot of steel cut oats. I have had them for two days now. They have filled me up unlike the old fashioned oats that I have usually purchased. Is this normal or is my body adjusting?

On the flip side, I have read the Paleo diet thread. So I am beginning to wonder about the whole consumption of grains in general. Ugh. Like any drug, I'm going to have to slowly wean myself from grains in general. This part of my post is meant for another thread. Not meaning to hijack.

Red Rock

[Owlie]

In an effort to be more "whole grain", I picked up a whole lot of steel cut oats. I have had them for two days now. They have filled me up unlike the old fashioned oats that I have usually purchased. Is this normal or is my body adjusting?

On the flip side, I have read the Paleo diet thread. So I am beginning to wonder about the whole consumption of grains in general. Ugh. Like any drug, I'm going to have to slowly wean myself from grains in general. This part of my post is meant for another thread. Not meaning to hijack.

Red Rock

Nothing too weird--I find steel-cut "sticks" better than rolled oats (but I still keep those around for baking).

[goldfinch]

If the oatmeal doesn't bother you why wean yourself off of it?

[Crankin]

Because I have found that by totally eliminating cereal at breakfast has helped me maintain my weight immensely?!
Not trying to be flip, but an occasional piece of Ezekial bread toast, or a whole wheat bagel added in to a high protein breakfast has made a world of difference. My normal breakfasts consist of eggs or egg whites, a meat, or fish, or beans. Think outside the box.

[Red Rock]

Thanks Owlie. Good to know. I have thyroid issues, so I'm wondering if my grain consumption is part of my problem. Not only that, I have noticed some GI issues that might be cleared up by not eating grains. I will just have to experiment. I do not know that I would go hard core. Like Cranking mentioned having some but not all of the time.

Red Rock

[Catrin]

For me cutting all grains out of my diet has really helped in many different ways - and I never dreamed that I was sensitive to grains. There wasn't anything obvious, but cutting them out has made a world of difference. That is what worked for me. I certainly get plenty of carbs, just not from grains. I've come to really enjoy veggies with my breakfast and indeed it doesn't seem right without them any more.

Experiment and find what works for you!

[goldfinch]

Because I have found that by totally eliminating cereal at breakfast has helped me maintain my weight immensely?!
Not trying to be flip, but an occasional piece of Ezekial bread toast, or a whole wheat bagel added in to a high protein breakfast has made a world of difference. My normal breakfasts consist of eggs or egg whites, a meat, or fish, or beans. Think outside the box.

Sure, I can understand that. I do better without grains for breakfast too. I will have oatmeal for supper though.

[goldfinch]

Experiment and find what works for you!

I have been living my my spouse this summer and he is a vegetarian and eats a lot of grains. So, I have been eating what he eats. I gained weight over the summer, and quite a bit over the last two months when my riding was restricted due to winter weather. I am headed south and will spend most of the winter alone, I will go back to meat eating and more careful calorie counting. (It is hard to count when you aren't the cook). I think I will do better cutting most of the grains.

That said, I have been doing six month cholesterol tests to see where my levels are at since losing weight and mucking around with my diet. I just got a test done. I am up ten pounds and have been eating vegetarian for the last six months. Mostly Indian cooking done by my spouse. Lots of vegetables. Lots of grains. No meat. Almost no eggs. I do drink milk though my spouse does not. I also ate a fair amount of cheese, often with an apple for breakfast. My lipid levels have not been this good in years. My good cholesterol is up 20 points, which is huge.

Humph.

When I was at my lowest weight last spring and was eating hardly any grains and heavier on the meat (though it lower fat meat, eg, I take the skin off of chicken, etc) my levels were much worse.

I guess everyone differs. I still do not want to be at my current weight so I am going back to my prior diet. Probably. I'm still thinking this through.

I may retain having oatmeal for supper. :)

[Irulan]

I have been living my my spouse this summer and he is a vegetarian and eats a lot of grains. So, I have been eating what he eats. I gained weight over the summer, and quite a bit over the last two months when my riding was restricted due to winter weather. I am headed south and will spend most of the winter alone, I will go back to meat eating and more careful calorie counting. (It is hard to count when you aren't the cook). I think I will do better cutting most of the grains.

That said, I have been doing six month cholesterol tests to see where my levels are at since losing weight and mucking around with my diet. I just got a test done. I am up ten pounds and have been eating vegetarian for the last six months. Mostly Indian cooking done by my spouse. Lots of vegetables. Lots of grains. No meat. Almost no eggs. I do drink milk though my spouse does not. I also ate a fair amount of cheese, often with an apple for breakfast. My lipid levels have not been this good in years. My good cholesterol is up 20 points, which is huge.

Humph.

When I was at my lowest weight last spring and was eating hardly any grains and heavier on the meat (though it lower fat meat, eg, I take the skin off of chicken, etc) my levels were much worse.

I guess everyone differs. I still do not want to be at my current weight so I am going back to my prior diet. Probably. I'm still thinking this through.

I may retain having oatmeal for supper. :)

Here's my two cents. I've seen this a lot with vegetarians! Grain, carb heavy maybe heavy in dairy = weight gain and high cholesterol. My sis had this exact kind of health issue. She ate like this for years, and ended up being borderline diabetic and high cholesterol. She add lean protein ( fish, chicken) and cut the bagels, rice and beans and within 6 months shed lost 20 lbs and got her blood sugars under control.

[goldfinch]

Here's my two cents. I've seen this a lot with vegetarians! Grain, carb heavy maybe heavy in dairy = weight gain and high cholesterol. My sis had this exact kind of health issue. She ate like this for years, and ended up being borderline diabetic and high cholesterol. She add lean protein ( fish, chicken) and cut the bagels, rice and beans and within 6 months shed lost 20 lbs and got her blood sugars under control.

Except that isn't what happened with me. I got weight gain but lower bad cholesterol and higher good cholesterol (totals are lower than before) and my blood sugar is great. By all measures except weight gain the vegetarian diet has been good for me. Even my BP is down.

[shootingstar]

If a vegetarian didn't have much grains (breads or white rice), plus not much cheese, then not eating meat or hardly any, is still not a horrible thing. In the past, I was always intrigued in visiting vegetarian's homes and have a dish with enough cheesse, milk, eggs, etc. I actually found it abit much..but at that time, I attributed to my palate accustomed to a diet which was less dairy/eggs/cheese/butter Chinese-based.

I only eat lean meat 3-5 times per month. And usually a fistful per helping. Though I eat cheese several times per month, I certainly have skim milk in my cornflakes daily. At this time it's seafood, lean beef or for special occasionas, bison. I haven't eaten any pork nor chicken/any bird in past few months. And I don't miss it.

[surgtech1956]

I consider myself almost vegetarian. I eat meat probably once a week. I try to limit my cheese intake, to something like a cheese stick - string cheese. I don't like fish and chicken is only so-so. I think I eat more grains because I'm not very creative when it comes to meals and it quick. Would love some dinner suggestions. Thanks