Pimp your Porridge.

Oats. I practically feel I live on the stuff. Which is not a thing considering some people class them as amongst the healthiest foods. Also known as “Avena Sativa” they are wholegrain, packed with Vitamin B1 to give you your morning energy. Oats contain a fibre called beta-glucan which has been shown in studies to reduce total cholesterol levels, thus reducing the risk of heart disease. Being low in glycaemic index and high in fibre they have a beneficial effect on blood sugar levels, helping stabilise them, keeping you fuller for longer, aiding in diabetes control and mood control.  

In the winter it’s porridge every morning for me. I use plain rolled oats for my porridge, add my milk and toppings then it takes 100 seconds (1 minute 40) in my microwave to get the consistency I like.

I know I tend to go through phases with food. So to keep me loving the porridge I have to vary my toppings. Here are some of my favs:

Apple pie: grate an apple on top of the oats and add milk. Next add some grated nutmeg and 1/4 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 tsp mixed spice.

Blueberry whirl: add blueberries in before cooking. Give it a stir after and they pop and explode into the oats. Add a spoon of Greek yoghurt on top.

Seed Sensation: for added crunch add 1 tbsp sunflower seeds and 1/2 handful sultanas before cooking.

Banana and cinnamon: add a chopped banana and 1/2 tsp cinnamon before or after cooking.

Nutty Note: add 1 tbsp nut butter after cooking. Stir it in whilst the porridge is hot. I add dried fruit to mine so I have a portion of fruit in there and it’s also good with sliced banana too.

Plain and Prune: add 3 prunes before cooking. They will swell and soften.

Raspberry Ripple: add the raspberries before cooking and then stir gently to get a swirl effect. Pretty 🙂 my little girl loves this as it’s pink!

What are your favourite toppings?