Fun Ways to Dress Up Your Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a very healthy food and can be a great breakfast option, but it’s also pretty basic at its core. In an effort to keep things interesting and not tire of the meal option, here are some fun ways to make sure that it’s anything but basic.

If you like your oatmeal on the sweeter side, skip the refined sugar and go with natural agave syrup for a sweet kick that won’t wreck your blood sugar levels. Add in some blueberries for added sweetness and sunflower seeds for a crunchy kick or protein.

Take your oatmeal in a tropical direction by adding in chunks of mango some toasted coconut. For a protein boost add in some nuts like cashews to make it even more filling of a meal.

If it’s a more savory oatmeal dish that you are after, don’t think that cheddar cheese doesn’t deserve a place on the oats. Some grated or shredded cheese will melt all over the top of those hot oats, and then add on some paprika and scallions to bring it home. (This is good at any hour of the day.)

A great way to increase the creamy factor of a bowl of oatmeal is to add in some Greek yogurt. You can either dollop it on top or mix it all together for a creamy treat. This is particularly tasty with fruit mixed in as well, and it’s extra filling thanks to the protein from the yogurt.

Another way to make your oatmeal creamy is to mix in some nut butter. Keep your portions in check when you do this, but peanut butter will melt all over hot oats which can taste incredibly decadent while still being healthy and filling.

Oatmeal is also a good base for a breakfast bowl. You can top it off with a fried egg, salsa, and some sliced avocado for a tasty and super filling breakfast option.

Another way to add some sweetness to a bowl of oatmeal is to add in some cacao nibs. They are a much healthier alternative to chocolate chips since they are straight cacao and not processed chocolate, but they still have enough of the flavor that you want. Cacao nibs are even better for you than dark chocolate is because they have more of those awesome antioxidants that you want.

Cacao nibs are one of the best sources of magnesium that you can get from a food, and an ounce of raw nibs have six percent of your recommended daily iron intake. Caco nibs might even be able to wake you up a bit since they have the adrenal-related chemical phenylethylamine which we also make naturally in the body. It tends to increase our pulse and make us feel alert. They also contain a lipid called Anandamide which can enhance the mood.