Breakfast Ideas Made with Oats

During the winter, there are some things that I crave. Whenever I want something comforting and warm, I turn to oatmeal. These breakfast ideas made with oats offer many wonderful, and healthy breakfast idea. There are so many yummy ways to use oats. I’ve gathered 26 breakfast ideas for oats for you to try. 

The Health Benefits of Oats

Oats are a healthy grain that has many health benefits. The best oats to eat are whole grain plain oats rather than quick oats or packets that are chock-full of sugar.

Soluble fiber absorbs water and helps to slow digestion allowing for more time for nutrients to be absorbed. At the same time, insoluble fiber doesn’t absorb water and moves quickly through the stomach and small intestine, which keeps your body digesting. You need both types of fiber for a healthy, balanced, diet.

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7 Facts about Healthy Oats

1. It has been found that eating whole grains such as oats can reduce the risk of heart disease. Studies have shown that eating a serving of whole grains each day can slow existing heart disease (Michael Greger M.D. FACLM, May 30, 2017).

2. Eating oats can help to slow starch digestion which decreases spikes in blood sugar making it ideal for anyone concerned with lowering sugar. It’s a wonderful option for a low-glycemic diet because it can be filling, satisfying, and also helpful to your lowering sugar goals.

3. Oats are packed with insoluble fiber. Studies such as this one by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition show that insoluble fiber helps to reduce the risk of colorectal cancers.

4. Also, soluble fiber, may play a role in reducing LDL cholesterol, which is the bad cholesterol. The benefit is that it does so without causing a reduction of HDL, which is good cholesterol.

5. Additionally, oats are an excellent source of protein, having about 5 grams of protein per serving.

6. According to the MD Anderson Center phytochemicals found in oats and other grains can strengthen the immune system, reduce inflammation, slow cancer growth, regulate hormones and prevent cell damage.

7. In addition, good fiber, such as oats, is a good source of many nutrients such as thiamin, magnesium, and zinc.

Ways to Make Your Oatmeal Tastier

When it comes to oatmeal, my favorite way to eat them is with a pinch or two of salt and about a tablespoon of heavy cream. That said, sometimes, I want to leave the cream out to reduce both my sugar intake and dairy intake.

• Some people find that the taste of oats are fairly bland. One reason may be because they aren’t adding salt to their oats. Like any other food salt helps to bring out the flavor of the grain. I prefer to use a coarse grain salt, like Himalayan pink salt or Celtic sea salt which has the maximum number of natural minerals, whenever I cook, but Kosher salt has great flavor as well.

• Another ways to make oatmeal even more delicious is adding in some kind of sweetener. I prefer using Pyure stevia blend which is a low-glycemic sweetener option. It’s also one that is approved for Keto and Paleo diets. Any stevia, monkfruit, erythrotol, xilotol sweetener options are good for healthy diets. Other options would be honey, maple syrup, which are natural sweeteners with amazing flavors. And, of course you can add a bit of sugar if that’s your preference.
• Add fruits such as berries to your oatmeal for both added flavor and the natural healthy benefits they bring. Did you know that berries are considered a superfood because they’re packed with so much nutritional value?
• Sprinkle in a bit of cinnamon. Cinnamon has been shown to reduce insulin resistance and inflammation. So adding in a sprinkle of cinnamon to your already healthy oats adds even more nutritional benefits to your bowl (National Center for Biotechnology and Information, 2010).
• Another option is to add more protein to your dish by adding in a spoonful or scoop of collagen, I recommend Vital Proteins Powder. Or, you can use Tera’s Whey Protein. I like these brands because they have simple, natural ingredients. Tera’s is just whey protein, sunflower lecithin and natural flavorings. And, Vital Protiens doesn’t leave a weird aftertaste or change the flavore or your dish. You can choose between vanilla, strawberry or chocolate.

Breakfast Ideas Made with Oats

Whoever said you can only eat oatmeal for breakfast? No one! So if not for breakfast daily, consider the healthy benefits of oats and learn ways to add it to your diet throughout the day. Snacks such as smoothies, oatmeal muffins, and parfaits with oat based granola are a great way to add in naturally, healthy oats to your diet.

With that, I’ve gathered 26 breakfast ideas for you to add oats to your breakfast menu without ever feeling like you’re having the same dish over and over again.

1. My recipe for Peaches and Cream Baked Oatmeal for Family Breakfast is easy to prep ahead with a quick bake in the morning for a yummy family meal before everyone gets started with the day.
2. Another easy prep option is this Blueberry & Peach Overnight Oats With Greek Yogurt from Earth Food and Fire.
3. Did you know that oats are gluten free? This Gluten-Free Blueberry Pecan Oat Bars at Foodal is a healthy snack bar option great for breakfast or anytime of the day. 
4. Another overnight option is this Cherry Chocolate Overnight Oats from The Curious Frugal. With a total prep time of 3 minutes you can’t go wrong.
5. Skip the cereal and instead make this delectable Lemon Poppy Seed Granola from Moon and Spoon and Yum. You can eat it with milk, with yogurt or just scoop it up and eat it!
6. The flavors of blueberry and pecan are scrumptious together. You won’t be disappointed with Blueberry Pecan Overnight Oats from No Plate Like Home.
7. While not exactly a cookie, the flavors will remind you of a cookie with this Monster Cookie Overnight Oats from Zestful Kitchen. With the addition of yogurt to the overnight oats you’ll have a protein packed meal ready for you as soon as you wake up in the morning.
8. They’re called oatmeal cups, but essentially they are a muffin and make for a great grab and go breakfst. Try this Fruity Baked Oatmeal Cups from Healthy Little Foodies.
9. Oats and banana are a classic combination! Enjoy Banana Overnight Oats from Healthy Little Foodies with your cup of coffee for an early morning, or anytime, wake-up!
10. A smoothie is a simple, easy breakfast that you can pack a lot of nutrition into. This recipe Banana Oat Smoothie from Cook It Real Good uses easy to find ingredients and is great for your digestion.
11. The antioxidants in this Healthy Blueberry Oatmeal Recipe at Stress Less. Be Healthy. will help you keep your family healthy as they inhale the yummy goodness.
12. Have you ever made your own granola? It’s so easy and with Awesome Homemade Maple Pecan Granola over at Mission to Save you’ll have a fabulous cereal alternative that you can store in a Mason jar for quick and easy breakfasts.
13. Just 3 simple ingredients in a jar at night and you can enjoy Banana Overnight Oats from Rhian’s Recipes in the morning.
14. Grab and Go Maple Vanilla Overnight Oats from The Organic Kitchen means you can get going quick. Which is great for days when you need to get out of the house early.
15. Muffins make for a incredible breakfast idea. And Tracy from Served From Scratch gives you three options with this recipe for Healthy Toddler Banana Oat Muffins.
16. Pumpkin is not just for autumn! You can have delicious Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal with Golden Cashew Cream from Spabettie all year long. And… you’ll love the added heath
17. Another great option for pumpkin and oats is this recipe for Pumpkin Spice Maple Granola available at Attainable Sustainable.
18. At Natalie’s Health you’ll be happy to learn that you can serve your kids Blueberry Oatmeal Cookies for breakfast! They’ll be thrilled and you’ll be happy knowing just how good they are for your little ones.
19. Another yummy option for granola is this Pecan Brown Butter Granola from Food Meanderings.
20. This Healthy No Added Sugar Homemade Granola Recipe with Almonds at Mission to Save won’t taste sugar-free at all because you add unsweetened applesauce to the mix!
21. Baked Oatmeal with Berries from Veggie Desserts only takes 35 minutes to get breakfast on the table. That’s 5 minutes of prep and 30 minutes of baking. So let the oven do it’s job while you get ready.
22. Granola is so good! But, often it’s combined with some kind of fat to help it bind together. This Low Fat Granola from Vegannie is a great alternative recipe.
23. Healthy Chewy No Bake Granola Bars at Happy Kitchen
24. I don’t know about you but adding maple to oats is so divine! Add to that pumpkin and you’ve got a Yummy Maple Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal from Mission to Save.
25. This Muesli Recipe at Happy Kitchen is packed with grains, seeds, nuts and fruit! While muesli is similar to granola the key difference is that granola is baked and muesli is raw.
26. Is it a breakfast, snack, or dessert? I’ll let you decide how you want to serve this Blackberry Parfait from Shivani Loves Food.

Eating a bowl of oatmeal everyday for breakfast will go a long way toward helping you to be healthy! Even if you don’t want a bowl daily it’s a great idea to have a bowl 3 or 4 times a week. Perhaps try doing every other day for a while and working your way up.

What is your favorite way of eating oats? Share your favorite idea for oats with me in the comment section below.