oats

Oatmeal

Seriously, give me oatmeal anyway and I will eat it. I may even eat your bowl too if it is in sight. It was one of the first foods I started eating when I began my weight loss journey, and I can't think of my day without it! A lot of people, surprisingly, hate oatmeal. I think there is that image about it being soggy, plain and bad-tasting. However, I bet I can change anyone's opinion by giving them a bowl of my oatmeal. Take a look at some of my favourite ways to make this amazing food!

Protein Oats (Hot)

Ingredients:

1/3 cup rolled oats

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 scoop favourite protein powder

1/4 cup vanilla coconut yogurt (any preferred one will do)

1/3 cup almond milk/soy milk/etc

1 mashed banana

In a small pot on the stove, throw all of your dry ingredients in first and mix well. *Do not turn heat on yet! lol* Next, add your wet ingredients except the banana, and stir well. Now you can turn your heat up to med-high and bring to a boil. Your heat can now be turned down to medium low and let cook for about 5-8 minutes. You want your oats to become super soft and you may want to add a tiny bit of water :) Make sure you stir CONSISTENTLY!!! Before removing from heat, add your mashed banana in and stir. Remove from heat and enjoy!! I top mine with sunbutter and raisins.

Protein Oats (Cold)

Ingredients:

1/3 cup rolled oats

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 scoop favourite protein powder

1/4 cup vanilla coconut yogurt (any preferred one will do)

1/3 cup almond milk/soy milk/etc

1 mashed banana

In a bowl, mix all the dry ingredients and then add your wet to them. Stir very well and cover with saran wrap. Place in fridge overnight or for minimum of 1 hour. In the morning, top with desired toppings!!! :)

Double Chocolate Oatmeal

Ingredients:

1/3 cup rolled oats

2 Tablespoons chia seeds

1 Tablespoon cocoa powder/cacao powder

1/4 cup vanilla yogurt

1/3 cup almond/soy/reg milk

1 mashed banana

2 Tablespoons carob/chocolate chips

Add everything to a small pot, stir very well, and put on medium-high heat (you want to bring it to a boil for about 1 minute)... Stir constantly so mixture doesn't stick to bottom of pot! You can reduce heat to medium-low and after 8-10 minutes, remove from stove and top with desired toppings! Enjoy.

Apple Carrot Overnight Oats

Ingredients:

1/3 cup rolled oats

2 Tablespoons chia seeds

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 small apple, grated

1 small carrot, peeled and grated

1/3 cup almond milk

1/4 vanilla yogurt

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla

Mix all ingredients well in a bowl/mason jar. Once everything is incorporated, cover with saran wrap and refrigerate overnight or for a minimum of 1 hour. Top with nut butter, coconut, etc in the morning!!

Coconut Overnight Oats

Ingredients:

1/3 cup rolled oats

2 Tablespoons chia seeds

1/3 cup vanilla *coconut* yogurt (still tastes great with reg yogurt but this will give it a coconut taste!)

1/3 cup almond/soy/reg milk

2 Tablespoons coconut flakes/shreds

Mix everything in a bowl well and place in fridge overnight or minimum 1 hour. In the morning, top with more coconut flakes/shreds and nut butter! Or a sliced banana even! :) Can you say tropical?

Cherry Breakfast Bowl

Ingredients:

1/2 frozen banana

1/2 cup frozen mango

4-5 strawberries

1/2 cup frozen cherries

1/2 cup coconut water

1/2 cup almond milk

**Granola for topping**

Blend all the ingredients above, minus granola, and put into your favourite breakfast bowl! Top with granola :) I also love blending in nut butter with it too... it makes for great protein! You can also throw a scoop of protein powder in as well.

Chocolate Ice Cream Oats

1/3 cup rolled oats

2 Tablespoons chia seeds

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup vanilla yogurt

1/4 cup almond/soy/reg milk

Mix the above ingredients and place in fridge overnight or for at least 1 hour :) Then, you want to blend in a food processor or high-speed blender, 1 frozen banana, 1 Tablespoon cocoa powder, 1 Tablespoon peanut/almond/sunbutter and a splash of milk or water. This will yield a delicious ice cream that you can now pour over your oats and stir! It is freakin delicious!!!!