instant oats

Instant oats is a very simple breakfast to have on the go or as a quick solution for when you are at home. This makes breakfast preparation easy and because you know the ingredients, it is healthy too. It is so easy to put together. If you love oats then this is an excellent mix to have on your shelf or in your pantry. It is also excellent to travel with.

oats

What is there not to love about oats? Oats is such a versatile product and it is very easy to store, easy to buy and so easy on the wallet. It is a healthy carb and has great fiber. Oats are also full of vitamins and minerals. It is excellent to reduce cholesterol levels and stabilize blood sugar levels. And, while there are other health benefits, the thing we love too about oats is that it produces healthy gut bacteria.

You can buy it almost anywhere and should always be on your shelf.

Here are some other fantastic oat-based breakfasts we love, give them a try:

• granola dust
• oats porridge
• overnight oats

milk powder

I think that we can all agree, that fresh milk is best. However, when it comes to travel, then maybe not. Milk needs to be in the fridge and if that is not possible, then powdered milk is next best.

Adding milk powder into this mix makes it possible to travel with. Whether it is a cycle tour, a train journey, or any other commute then this mixture is a winner.

All you need to do is to add water, it can either be hot or cold water, both work just fine. It is a personal preference. We tend to do hot water in winter and cold water in summer.

When you add the water, let it stand for a bit to let the water get absorbed into the oats and for the milk to reconstitute. Once the water has been added and it sits for a little while, you will be able to enjoy it as if it was fresh milk.

nuts and seeds

Nuts and seeds are great sources of healthy fats, protein, minerals, vitamins, and fiber. It is good to have a little in your diet every day. They also contain unsaturated fats and other nutrients.

They are powerhouses of goodness but remember – a little goes a long way, use sparingly.

Nuts and seeds that we love are:

• almonds
• cashews
• walnuts
• pumpkin seeds
• sunflower seeds
• flax seeds

Every time you make this, you can switch around the seeds and nuts and you will get a slightly different flavor and texture. Experiment till you find something you love.

Our other favorite is shredded coconut and when we find it, we add it in too. We can get brazil and hazelnuts, but we do not often use them because of either the cost or taste preferences in the house.

I often grab the seed mix bags that are actually purposed to top a salad. This is a great way to add in a variety of seeds when you are in a hurry.

Mixing it around is fun and when the weekly shop comes around, then I am always grabbing dried fruit, seeds, and nuts. They are so handy for so many things. When the pantry runs out of them, then I know it is time to shop.

I know that some people buy nuts and seeds in bulk and then freeze them, a great idea to do too.

dried fruit

Dried fruit is also a good substitute and easy to transport when real fruit is either not available or difficult to come by. By mixing up the dried fruit from the making of one batch till the next is where you can have a whole lot of fun.

The dried fruit that we love are:

• dates
• apricots
• figs
• sultanas
• raisins
• cranberries

It is around these that I mainly do my mixing and matching, it works for us. This is where the sweetness is added in for us. We do not need to add in any other sweetener. You can add it according to your taste and dietary requirements.

optional extra

The recipe calls for the addition of brown sugar, it is not too much. This you can add in or leave out, it is totally personal. We leave it out because the sweetness from the dried fruit suits our taste buds.

It does not alter the taste or consistency so it can be added in or left out according to your need or preference.

portions

A great portion size is a half of a cup. That is enough for most. Some men may need a little more. Dish up accordingly.

If you want to have this as an afternoon snack then a quarter of a cup is what you need.

I usually add the same amount of water to it. In the beginning, it may look a bit runny, but after a little bit of time the oats absorb the liquid and it is a great consistency for us.

What this means is that if I scoop up 1/2 cup of ready prepared instant oats then I will add in 1/2 cup water.

on the go

This is a solution for your breakfast when you are on-the-go.

These are our three different scenarios:

• Cycle tour and/or road trip – mix it all up, pack the instant oats into a ziplock bag and you are away. We have found that it is not always a given that you will find all that you need for a breakfast, and we love breakfasts. Having to buy milk at every stop is not so easy to do and then to use it all up in one stop can be really difficult. Just add water and you are away. So easy.

• Going to the gym or swimming pool – when you need to get out of the door in a hurry for some training sessions then these instant oats mixes are wonderful. I mix it up in either a plastic or glass container, with a well-fitted lid and I head out of the door. If I am training for something then I do not love to have too much on my stomach. I eat about a quarter on the way to the training session and then when I am done, then I finish it off. A super quick meal on the go.

• At home – well, of course. There are those days when the fridge is empty, and I have forgotten to get some milk! The fruit basket is also empty and then this is our rescue breakfast. It is my faithful friend. When our family says, there is nothing to eat, then hopefully I’ve got this on hand to rescue the situation and redeem myself.

Give it a try, it is well worth it.

What would be your favorite combination? Let me know in the comments.

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