Perfect Oatmeal

Some people are addicted to coffee in the morning and others, like me, are addicted to oatmeal.  There is nothing I look forward to more when I'm brushing my teeth than going through my daily ritual of preparing my oatmeal.  After ingesting that creamy, sweet, cinnamony bowl of oatey goodness, my mind and body are in a very happy place, ready to take on whatever the day brings.


Even though I eat this bowl of oatmeal almost every morning, it remains my favorite meal of the day hands down.  When I'm traveling out of town and don't have my usual ingredients on hand, I'll desperately look for substitutes only to be sorely disappointed by whatever the local fare has to offer, e.g., muesli, granola, yogurt parfait, or even worse, the "Perfect Oatmeal" at the Starbucks around the corner.  


Yes, I am borderline OCD about my oatmeal - I'm sure you'll understand why once you experience this for yourself!


Ingredients:

• Few cups boiling water - N/A
• 1 cup instant Quaker Oats oatmeal (dry) - $0.10
• 1 cup frozen blueberries - $0.75
• 1 ripe banana (sliced) - $0.25
• 1 tablespoon ground flax seed - $0.10
• 1 tablespoon stevia extract (natural sweetener) - $0.10
• Dash of ground cinnamon - $0.05
• Splash of almond milk (optional) - $0.15

Estimated Cost:  $1.50
 
Directions:

1. Boil hot water using a kettle or pot
2. Put the following ingredients in a bowl: blueberries, dry oatmeal, flax seed, stevia, cinnamon.  Mix around using a spoon.
3. Pour hot water on top until desired consistency/thickness is reached
4. Top with sliced banana and quick splash of almond milk for added creaminess

Few things worth mentioning here.  There is a reason why I choose to use these exact ingredients.  I'm no nutritionist or doctor, but everything I've read so far leads me to believe that most if not all of these ingredients provide essential minerals and vitamins that are good for our body.  i.e., fiber in the oatmeal, potassium in the banana, antioxidants and vitamins in the blueberries, omega 3's in the flax seed, calcium in the almond milk, and metabolism boosting reactors in the cinnamon.  Coincidentally, if you combine them all together in one bowl, it happens to be absolutely delicious!



I choose to use instant Quaker Oats as opposed to something else like steel cut oats because it's way cheaper and faster to make.  Frozen blueberries are also cheaper than fresh ones, and for some reason they end up being sweeter as well.  Using stevia extract vs. honey, brown sugar, or agave means no unnecessary calories, fat, or sugar.  Try and buy most of these ingredients at a wholesaler or bulk foods store to get the most bang for your buck.


Enjoy!


Calories per Serving:  450-500
Triple H Rating:  10 out of 10  
(5 for health and 5 for cheapness factor)