Oatmeal is kind of a controversial food. Some people like myself absolutely love it, while others like WIBIA absolutely despise it. Personally, I can eat it no matter what meal it is. Yep, that’s right, I eat oatmeal for dinner sometimes too (at least once a week)!
What makes oatmeal great, in my opinion, is that it is one of the most versatile foods that you can find. You can mix it with a variety of toppings and end up with a different flavor profile each time. Over the years, I’ve mixed mine with brown sugar, real sugar, sugar substitute (i.e. Splenda), cinnamon, raisins, maple syrup, grape jelly, peanut butter, chocolate syrup, blueberries, strawberries and those are the only ones I can think of right now, so I’m sure there are more.
So, I guess my question is, what is your favorite oatmeal topping (the one that you use the most often)? If you have a particular combination that you enjoy most, let us know what those are in the comments section of this post. I’m just curious to see what everyone else does with their oatmeal, assuming that you eat it, because I’m always looking for new ideas on how to eat mine.
By the way, the oatmeal combination that I use most often is low calorie syrup and raisins (pictured above; I also make mine with water and not milk). Occasionally, I’ll pour a little Walden Farms no calorie chocolate syrup on top too.
-IndianapolisEater
I like oatmeal– but the steel cut variety (like McCann’s) with some diced apples on top.
Like the poll…
I haven’t had oatmeal in a long time and your picture reinforces why I won’t be having it soon. When it comes to breakfast food I am a cereal man first.
What browser are you using? I am using IE and it looks fine to me.
@IndianapolisAmy: Honestly, I don’t know that I’ve ever knowingly had steel cut oats. I’m more of the instant oatmeal kind of guy because I hate having to spend time actually cooking them. I’d much rather just throw some instant oatmeal in the microwave for a couple minutes and be done with it.
Can’t believe I’m the only vote for strawberries thus far.
Steel cut oats are the way to consume oatmeal. Trader Joe’s has frozen steel cut oats that you microwave for a few minutes and they are ready to go. I usually add some maple syrup or blueberries for my morning breakfast.
IE– McCann’s is available in microwave packets.
Grape Jelly as an option? Really? I had no part of this post…so I will just sit back and criticize!
@WIBIA: Yeah, I thought grape jelly was odd too when I first heard about it. Then I tried it and it is actually pretty good. Not my favorite topping, but it is a nice change of pace once in a while.
@IndianapolisAmy & Jon: Had no idea that steel cut oats come in pre-packaged containers. Might have to do some investigating on that next time I go to the store and give them a shot although it would be tough to beat the $1.79 that I pay for my giant jug of quick oats. LOL.
Great post! I eat oatmeal in a lot of ways, some sweet and some savory. For sweet, I usually go with some skim milk, fruit (apples, banana, oranges) and a little splenda to taste. Cinnamon is also a must…In the summer when the fruit is fresh I like all kinds of fruit, mostly berries, pears, and peaches. Also, I’ve found that lowfat cottage cheese or even cream cheese makes a fine addition (or Ricotta if you’ve got the cash haha)!
But I am also VERY much into savory combos, including a “Caprese” oatmeal (tomato, parmasan cheese, spinach, balsamic, red and green pepper as well as black pepper and dried basil) and even a BBQ-style oatmeal (BBQ sauce, black pepper, diced ham, spices). Basically, anything I can get out of the salad bars at our college dining hall is fair game.
But recently I came up with an AMAZING oatmeal combo I am going to post on GrubGrade.com later this week. You’ve gotta tune in to see it (haha, sorry, shameless self-promotion) but I will say one thing; it involves bacon, and it is awsome!
@Adam: WOW, those are some of the most amazing concoctions of oatmeal that I’ve ever seen. I may have to try some of those if I ever have related ingredients on hand.
Where is Salisbury Steak on this list?
I wonder if I’m the only one who eats plain oatmeal. And I’m not talking about the kind that comes in packets and has 13 grams of sugar in each one either. I’ll do steel-cut, rolled, and concoctions of four or five different grains, made with just water.
It’s probably an acquired taste. Almonds or strawberries would be great on top, sure, but I’d just as soon eat the almonds separately.
So add a “plain” entry on the vote! I want to see if there are any more out there like me.
The closest I’ve ever gotten to “plain” is salt, black pepper, and margerine. Not bad, but not good either lol.
Steel cut, can get them in bulk (but McCann’s are good, gotta love ‘em), cook a big batch of ‘em on the weekends using the overnight method and warming up for breakfast through the week with combinations of maple syrup – just a touch! and a handful of frozen blueberries – they melt wonderfully into the oatmeal goodness – and a few walnuts or some wheat germ sprinkled across the top! I like to add a little low fat omega-3 enriched spread (sorry, at my age butter ain’t happening much anymore) and it is heaven. Mercy, that’s good eatin’!
What? Cookies aren’t an option? That’s the only way I take my oatmeal!
oatmeal. to me that means quaker oats, and I like them. but with sugar, milk and butter. when I hear ” steel cut oats” I wonder, what is that? oats are oats, I reackon, like grits are grits. and beans are beans. what is called dry cured country ham around here is called prosutito on half a melon slice and eaten raw. but nobody eats raw ham around here. I like ham, but would never eat it raw. there is a reason for that. like I will not eat rare poultry, but thats another story. polenta, but oats, real oatmeal, boiled down and cooked right? seldom seen. like rye whiskey. just dont grow well around here. but I like the quick oatmeal, with a little milk and dried peaches or raisins. but 3/4 oz of an oz envelopes are not much. so I use two. and splenda is great. but it aint gona give you that sugar rush. deal with it. yesterday, for desert, I had fruit salad. canned pinaple and sliced bannaas. and it was pretty good, too. some of us are more inclilined to be heavy ( ok, fat). but any kind oatmeal is is good, as long as it is not in the form of a rasin oatmeal cookie or refined flour. damn. you know. remember ” roman meal” bread. just dont go wild with the butter, sugar, or milk. see all those cardiac surgeons and funeral directors… mum nice car… well yeah… they have a constant stream of bussiness. but they say cinnamon is good for you and reduces sugar cravings. just dont put oatmeal in meatoaf or meatballs. a gloppy mess., Ive tried it. use bread crumbs
I can’t stand oatmeal. (I can’t even eat cream of wheat.) LOL I’ve tried many times, and one of my BIGGEST pet peeves is when people say they can’t eat something “because it’s a texture thing” but uh, with oatmeal it’s totally because it’s a texture thing. Slimy, weird, icky; ugh. LOL
MAYBE one day. Sometimes in the grocery store I look longingly at the boxes for cinnamon maple and think “mmm, that sounds tasty!” but then I flashback to texture, and run from the aisle.
Freash pears and honey.
Love putting rolled oats in the microwave, and topping them with Local Folks Foods’ Blueberry Jam.
Great local product – works perfectly in oatmeal.
Steel cut oats, almond milk, brown sugar, a bit of cottage cheese, raisins (or any other fruit), cut up nuts, dashes of baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla extract… put in a baking dish, slices of banana on top… baked at 350 for a half hour! Baked oatmeal! Eaten warm, with peanut butter spread on top. Sounds like a lot of work, but I make a batch at the beginning of the week and then microwave my portion every morning before work.
Oatmeal with a packet of diet hot chocolate mixed in (the 25 calorie one) is fantastic!
pumpkin puree, vanilla soymilk, cinnamon, splenda – tastes just like pumpkin pie!
I like it plain, well maybe I don’t like it plain, but thats how I eat it, b/c its healthy.
1/2 cup almond milk or soymilk, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, a pinch of each: nutmeg, allspice, and ground ginger. I add raisins, 1 medium banana, 1 small apple, chopped, and one tablespoon of peanut butter mixed in. Then I add about 2 more tablespoons of peanut butter on top. I know, sound like a lot…but it’s not and it has kept me full for a record of 6 hours.
mixed fruits, bananas, strawberries, blueberries. Or plain, slow-cooked variety with butter, a little sugar sprinkled all over, then a little milk added just as the butter is getting melty. I could eat this every day.