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I have written many times before about my one simple mantra for healthy eating – and at this time of year, with the dark late afternoons, falling leaves, dampness and general coldness it is really easy to comfort eat and forget about the basics.
My usual breakfast is a vegetable packed green smoothie, which gets me well on my way to my 5-a-day, for extra bulk I often add a heaped spoon of porridge oats, and come the winter I exchange my smoothie for porridge.
An added benefit of oats is that they contain soluble fibre in the form of beta glucan, in their diets which has been linked to lowering cholesterol. Quaker Oats are running a #FeelingFibrant campaign aiming to get people creative in the kitchen by boosting their fibre intake and creating some oat based recipes. Fibre is an important part of your diet, generally intakes are low in the UK, a good way to reach the 30g of fibre recommended by SACN is to eat a portion of oats every day.
Guidelines from the US also recommend that we eat more wholegrains, aiming for 3 x 16g portions. Quaker oats are 100% wholegrain and a good source of fibre, as well as being delicious and adaptable.
Quaker Oat So Simple was a staple in the days that I had an office job, I kept a box in my desk and could quickly make porridge in the work microwave, simply pour the oats into a microwaveable bowl, use the sachet to measure the milk, mix, cook for two minutes and bingo! Breakfast is served.
Nowadays I make my breakfast at home, and porridge can have endless variations. In a carrot cake inspired twist, I’ve added grated carrot and apple to the oats, as well as some comforting warming spices, then cooked in the microwave for two minutes. Oat So Simple indeed!
Recipe: Spiced Carrot & Apple Porridge
Ingredients
- 55 g porridge oats or 2 sachets Oat So Simple
- 1 small carrot - peeled and finely grated
- 1 small apple - cored and finely grated
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp ground mixed spice
- 2 cardamom pods - lightly crushed
- 330 ml milk - I use coconut milk drink - but pick your favourite
To serve
- berries
- maple syrup
- ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Please the oats, apple, carrots, spices and milk in a microwavable bowl and cook well.
- Microwave on full power* for 2 minutes. Stir, cook a little longer if needed.
- Divide between two bowls and garnish with berries, syrup and a pinch of cinnamon to taste.
Notes
Win a three month supply of Quaker Oats porridge sachets plus a three month fruit delivery from Abel & Cole
Quaker Oats have offered a three month supply of Oat So Simple, plus three months of fruit delivery from Able & Cole. For a chance to win simply comment below and let me know your own original ideas for using oats in a recipe. Closes 26th November 2015.
For more oaty inspiration please follow Quaker Oats on Twitter and Instagram.
This blog post was commissioned by Quaker Oats and Foodies100 as part of the Quaker Oats #FeelingFibrant campaign. I was compensated for the cost of ingredients and my time.
Leila Benhamida
I will have it with fresh dates.
JULIET Findlay
try it with honey and banana
pat sokell
Just eating some now…warming me up on this cold morning
Sarah, Maison Cupcake
Sounds very nice. I used to buy Oat So Simple when I was in more of a rush. Will have to try this flavour combination.
Helen
Oat so Simple is great for when you are in a rush.
Julie Tift
I like to make ginger & carrot cookies made with oats for an extra crunch.
Helen
I love oaty biscuits! Ginger and carrot sound amazing.
Maya Russell
A handful sprinkled into a casserole dish will thicken it up if there is too much liquid.
Helen
Another great idea – I’ve never used oats for thickening.
gemma brown
i like to use them to make a very thick soup with tinned tomatoes . i used them instead of lentils once as a teenager and it worked out well :o)
Helen
I usually use cous cous to thicken a soup, oats are an excellent idea!
Lyla
Mix oats with some dessicated coconut, add milk and cook. Decorate with walnut and pineapple pieces. Drizzle with honey to sweeten if required
Helen
How delicious! One to try for breakfast!
Janie
OMG I bet that tastes (and smells) amazing!
With a big batch of oats I would probably make Jonny’s day by knocking up a batch of datey flapjacks :)
Janie x
Helen
Datey flapjacks sound amazing! Send some my way please!
Jackie Wright
Very simple but we add blueberries and natural honey delicious, filling and so good for you.
Helen
I love blueberries at breakfast time!
Susan lloyd
I use it in cakes and fruit crumble toppings
Helen
I love an oaty topped fruit crumble.
Janet Humphrey
oats are great for making low fat greek yogurt even more lovely with fruit and nuts for a filling breakfast
Helen
Great idea Janet!
Roger Stanley
Oats with Sauteed Mushroom,Onion & Thyme
Helen
sounds delicious!
iain maciver
oatcakes
Helen
absolutely! What do you top your oatcakes with?
Karen Hughes
I use oats in healthy pancakes! I mix oats with egg whites, whey protein, milk and mashed banana and fry them in a little coconut oil. They taste great and are totally guilt free, if topped with healthy fruit and not lots of Nutella of course!
Helen
that sounds good, and very easy to make.
Lucy D
Cherry and dark chocolate crumble, with plenty of oats in the crumble topping – a family favourite in our house!
Helen
that sounds delicious Lucy.
T Mulliner
Strange but somehow nice …….