How Oatmeal Can Be Included In Your Healthy Eating Plans

Oatmeal at times is labeled the bad guy. No way should it be part of your healthy eating plans or healthy eating guidelines. It contains carbohydrates or it is all sugar. Too many uninformed people jump to conclusions that just because something has sugar in it means it is bad for you. That is not the case.

There are many varieties of oatmeal and it is true that many are not the healthiest forms of oatmeal and should not be included in your healthy eating plans. Steel-cut oats are chopped oat groats and the least processed type of oatmeal. Another type is rolled oats, which are steamed. Instant oats are the most popular kind, being precooked and containing added sugar. However, they are the least healthy for your healthy eating plan.

Steel cut or rolled oats can be used as long lasting energy because of the type of carbohydrate that they are. Enjoy a healthy shake made with 1/2 cup rolled oats combined with 1 scoop Prograde Protein Powder and 1.5 cups water. Oats of a healthy kind are usually eaten in what we think of as conventional ways, but this doesn't have to be the case. Think outside the box a little to discover other ways to include healthy oatmeal into your healthy eating guidelines and healthy diet plans.

Nutritionally a one half cup serving of cooked steel-cut oats has 150 calories, 5gms of protein, 27gms of carbs and 4gms of fiber. One packet of plain instant oats has 100 calories, 4gms of protein, 19gms of carbs and 3gms of fiber. As you can see they have similar nutritional profiles with the steel cut oats being a little higher in overall carbohydrates and fiber. Now some would say that the instant oats would be better for your healthy eating plans, but if you notice I wrote "plain" instant oats. How many of you actually eat "plain" instant oats. What you see on the store shelves are instant oats that are usually flavored with something and many times filled with added sugar.

If you want to eat instant oats make sure you are selecting the proper type of instant oats for your healthy eating plans. Try adding low calorie toppings to flavor your oatmeal, like chopped fruit and cinnamon.

Some people are under the assumption that steel cut oats can not be made quickly and have to be cooked for long periods of time. Another way is available. Put 1/2 cup steel cut oats, 1/2 cup 1% milk, and 1/2 cup water into a large microwaveable bowl. Microwave for 4 minutes, stir and then cook for 2 more minutes. While I am giving you a microwave recipe, I am not suggesting that you cook all your meals in a microwave. Though if you need a quick healthy oatmeal recipe to use every now and then this is it.

Continuing with thinking outside of the box have you ever tried substituting oats for bread crumbs in just about any recipe? All you have to do is use a food processor and finely chop the oats. Then you can add them to ground beef to be used in meatloaf or use them as breading for fish fillets or chicken fillets. Just because something has carbohydrates or sugar does not mean that it cannot be included in your healthy eating plans or healthy diet plans. If you pay attention to the full nutrient profile and come up with unconventional ways to use that food, you will find that you can incorporate it into your healthy eating plans.