Mr. Silver says "Silver tried to kill me!!!"

[silver]

I have an unusual way of eating oatmeal. I mix dry oatmeal (not instant oatmeal) into cottage cheese (fat free) and then mix in a little sugar free strawberry jam for flavor. I don't like hot oatmeal either.

[mtbdarby]

What is Scottish oatmeal? And am I reading that right - you made hot cereal and added yogurt and berries to the cooked cereal?

Silver, now that might work. I could try that one.

How does heated grapenuts fare on the healthy chart? I can eat that if I slice up some apple and add it after the cereal heats up.

[Bad JuJu]

I have an unusual way of eating oatmeal. I mix dry oatmeal (not instant oatmeal) into cottage cheese (fat free) and then mix in a little sugar free strawberry jam for flavor. I don't like hot oatmeal either.

I've done pretty much the same thing with plain lowfat yogurt instead of the cottage cheese. It's delicious, and not just for breakfast--a nice afternoon pick-me-up, too.

[Thorn]

Glad to hear there are other raw oatmeal affecianados out there. I mix up oatmeal (thick cut, extra chewy is best) with walnuts, cashews, raisens and some ground flax seed to eat with my yogurt in the morning. Solid, satisfying and is good for my cholesterol levels.

But I have been known to take flack from some--e.g., "That *might* be good if you cooked it up with milk and served it with brown sugar and cream"....sigh....just steps to take something that is low fat, healthy and satisfying and up the fat content and reduce the health level.

[Mr. Bloom]

OK, here's the rest of the story:

My commute is 120 miles one way...I live in two cities...

Home cooking? Not an option...I am willing, but have no time.

So, I need quick, easy, nutricious.

Silver and I discussed me simply stopping and buying fresh veggies on the way home each night. But, would that give me protein?

I love Kashi Bars, Oatmeal, dried fruits...but if a lot of time is required for prep...it's just not in the cards for me. I honestly detest veggies, but I'm willing to try adding more to my diet...probably steaming them in the rice cooker that no one wants me to use

So, what to do?? ??

[mtbdarby]

Mr. Silver, we are oddly similar (in a good way). For portable protein I like raw nuts - almonds, filberts, walnuts, cashews, etc. If you have an insulated cooler you could bring yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. Raw carrots are a staple for me. I can eat raw broccoli and cauliflower to. A little ff dip is good with that but hard to do whilst driving. My fav? Raw sugar snap peas!

For a special I-feel-like-a-kid treat: core an apple and fill it with a mixture of peanut butter and raisins. Yummy!

And you're just a hair taller than me but you have a cooler car.....

[Thorn]

[[Warning: I am vegetarian and sometimes a bit rabid]]

Protein, schmo-tein! :-) Seriously, eating a balanced diet that contains nuts, whole grains, legumes, and veggies will provide the average couch potato with sufficent protein--even with no meat in the picture. Hey! I warned you :-)

Now, if you work out significantly, you may need more than just a balanced diet will give you. Since I have high cholesterol (yep, even without eating meat--I got really bad genes), upping our cheese intake wasn't a real option. Instead we've done things like adding TVP to our spaghetti sauce, tossing nuts into stir fries and cereals, and added blocks of tofu to some of our soups.

But, I don't think we felt ourselves low on protein until we were riding upwards of 100 miles/week and then only after rides of 50-60miles. Of course, this is only my opinion and I don't lay claim to be anything more than an amatuer when it comes to nutrition.

[Mr. Bloom]

Keep the ideas coming...I think I'm getting the message, but I grew up in Alabama, so I'm not real quick on the uptake...

So, what I'm hearing is:
- it's not the number of calories, it's the composition

- carb calories are bad

- protein and fiber calories are best

Am I starting to understand or am I still missing something?

I need to go read the label on Pepperidge Farm Milano Cookies...that MUST be good

[five one]

I've done pretty much the same thing with plain lowfat yogurt instead of the cottage cheese. It's delicious, and not just for breakfast--a nice afternoon pick-me-up, too.

I have an unusual way of eating oatmeal. I mix dry oatmeal (not instant oatmeal) into cottage cheese (fat free) and then mix in a little sugar free strawberry jam for flavor. I don't like hot oatmeal either.

I do the same thing with vanilla soy milk (Silk is one only brand I like). Dried fruit, like cranberries or blueberries, 1/2 cup old fashioned oats, 1 packet of Splenda, cover with the soy milk and let soak in the fridge overnight. I take this to work and eat it at my desk with my cup of Morning Thunder tea. Yum . I never get tired of it and it really does get me through the morning.