What’s for breakfast on this cold, winter morning? How about instant oatmeal, crunchy oat cereal, or an oat bran muffin? No matter how you eat them, oats offer benefits beyond their hearty taste.
A good source of soluble fiber, oats are well known for their heart-healthy benefits, which include lowering blood cholesterol. What’s more, the plant substances in oats may help control blood pressure, even body weight (since oatmeal helps you feel full longer). How much helps with cholesterol reduction? Three grams of soluble fiber a day from all your foods. One serving of these oat-based foods puts you one-third there: 1 cup ready-to-eat oat cereal, V2 cup cooked oatmeal, or 1/3 cup cooked oat bran. Add oatmeal to muffins, burgers, meatloaf, or stuffing, too.
Try this breakfast treat during National Oatmeal Month:
Peach Muesli with Berries
- 2 cups oats, uncooked 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups coarsely chopped peeled
- 1 cup fresh or thawed frozen blue-fresh or thawed frozen peaches berries or raspberries
- 1/2 cups apple juice
- 8 ounces vanilla or peach nonfat yogurt
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except berries; mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. Serve muesli cold topped with berries. May be stored, covered, in refrigerator for up to four days. Makes 4 servings (1 cup plus 1/4 cup berries).
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