Sheryl Kraft
Sheryl Kraft, a freelance writer and breast cancer survivor, was born in Long Beach, New York. She currently lives in Connecticut with her husband Alan and dog Chloe, where her nest is empty of her two sons Jonathan. Sheryl writes articles and essays on breast cancer and contributes to a variety of publications and websites where she writes on general health and wellness issues. She earned her MFA in writing from Sarah Lawrence College in 2005.
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What did you have for breakfast this morning? Or maybe for lunch or even dinner yesterday?
Was it oatmeal?
Not just a breakfast food anymore, oatmeal is the new meal you can eat any time. And since National Oatmeal Day just recently passed, it’s not too late to tell you why.
While on a very informative press trip last month, I discovered the versatility of oatmeal.
Who thought there were so many creative ways to eat it? I mean, I’ve been eating oatmeal for as far back as I can remember—and it was always the same way: for breakfast, with a little brown sugar and a sliced banana. Oh, and maybe if I got really creative I’d throw in some slivered almonds and berries. That was the extent of it.
First, the facts
Oatmeal is really good for you! Here’s why:
- Oatmeal is 100 percent whole grain, and studies show that eating whole grains can lower the risk of many chronic diseases like diabetes, coronary heart disease and cancer and also contribute to body weight management and gastrointestinal health.
- Oatmeal (because it is made from whole grains) includes all part of the grain, including the bran, endosperm and germ. And that’s a good thing. Nothing is stripped away.
- Oatmeal is sodium-free. Health perk: Too much salt may contribute to high blood pressure, the leading cause of cardiovascular disease.
Now, the fun
I got to sample oatmeal like I’ve never had it before. In fact, there’s a really cool “oatmeal bar” in New York City called OatMeals, and I’d be surprised if we don’t see similar places popping up all over the country. The lovely owner, Samantha Stephens, and her event coordinator, Justine Miller, treated a group of us to the yummiest and most creative oatmeal combinations. Here are a few examples from their menu: Devils Off Horseback, which contains goat cheese, bacon, dates, sliced almonds and maple syrup; Truffle RisOATto, made up of shaved parmesan, truffle oil, sea salt and cracked black pepper; The Canadian, which is cinnamon roasted apples, sharp cheddar cheese, bacon, maple syrup and sea salt.
Now how’s THAT for creative?
As if that weren’t enough, the folks at Quaker Oats, in honor of National Oatmeal Day, have shared recipes for Egg-White Whipped Vanilla Oatmeal and Cuban-Style Black Beans and Plantains Over Oatmeal.
What do you think? Will you be having your oatmeal a different way from now on?
This post originally appeared on mysocalledmidlife.net.
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