Oatmeal is great when it comes to the nutrition side of things. It’s loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and healthy carbohydrates which are all going to fuel your body in the right way and get your ready for the day ahead. However, despite being packed full of goodness, there is one downfall; oatmeal is still oatmeal. If you don’t know how to shake up your style of oats and experiment with new flavors, then you might be left with something that resembles an unappetizing bowl of sludge.
Traditional oats or instant oats on their own sometimes aren’t interesting enough to give a good kick to your morning or post-workout schedule. No matter how they’re made whether it’s instant, regular, or steel-cut, they can be still pretty bland and it can get to the point where you don’t enjoy eating them as it may feel more like a chore when it should really feel like a treat. This is why it’s important to be versatile in the ways that you make your oats and the added ingredients that you toss in to make it more exciting. If you have a sweet tooth, then there’s a variety of different ways you can add that little bit of natural sugar – from berries to protein powder, and even savory options if that’s more your style. Oats are flexible and they’re a great dish to treat yourself to. The trick is that they need to be done properly, but don’t worry, we’re here to show you the way.
Oatmeal is amazing, but…
As healthy as oatmeal is, there is one thing it tends to lack above all else, and that’s protein. While you can add in some extra natural toppings to get in a bit more protein, that’s usually not enough to reach your goals or daily recommended intake, which obviously isn’t what you want. Protein allows our bodies to function to the best of their abilities and to keep operating in ways that it should be. We need energy for our everyday activities and the building blocks for our muscles, and we get some of that from consuming enough protein, so it’s vitally important you’re meeting the amounts you need. If not, then you’re going to be left feeling weak and, if you’re trying to get in shape, you’ll either stagnate with your muscle gain or even lose some if you’re not reaching your protein goals.
Don’t worry though, this is easily fixed by simply adding high-quality sources of protein like whey protein powder. Oatmeal is one of the best (and easiest) dishes to add protein powder to because of its flexibility, you can literally flavor it in any way you want. With the right combination of ingredients, the taste and texture of your oats will be just how you want, delicious, silky and smooth- and you won’t even notice the added powder.
Whey protein powder recommended for this recipe because it’s high quality, well absorbed, and tends to be well-tolerated by most. Keep in mind that it’s important to use a trustworthy and high-quality whey protein powder – such as one made from U.S. grass-fed cows. For a little extra flavor, without being overly sweet, try Naked Nutrition’s vanilla whey or casein protein, it has just the right amount of flavor without the insense candy taste from nasty additives that other brands use.
To make a bowl of oatmeal that’s really worth experiencing, you’ll need:
Ingredients
- 1 scoop of whey protein powder
- 1/2 cup of dairy or plant-based milk (or water if you prefer)
- 1 cup oatmeal
- Optional toppings
Instructions
- First, combine the milk of your choice with the oats in a stovetop pot. The type of milk is entirely up to you – and you can even use water if you really would prefer to – but keep in mind that milk with more fat will result in thicker oats.
- Then, cook to a boil and lower heat to let it simmer – keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t boil over. Once it’s cooked and you’re happy with the consistency, add in the scoop of protein powder and mix well.
- Then you’re done! Try experimenting with adding a variety of different toppings, such as nuts, seeds, fresh berries or fresh fruit, a dash of cinnamon, or even cacao nibs, and dig in!