Oatmeal makes a great breakfast item as it is fulfilling and rich in fibre that will keep your digestion in top condition and also keep you from munching on unnecessary and healthy foods. Having a bowl of oatmeal can get a bit boring if you eat the same variety every day. Add spice (not literally!) to your everyday boring bowl of oatmeal to make it delicious and even healthier! Below are some healthy oatmeal toppings you could try:
Note: Below are some oatmeal toppings; for sweet toppings you need to make sweet oats and for non-sweet toppings, you need to make basic non-sweet oats.
Sweet oats: To make sweet oats, cook 1 cup oatmeal with 1 ½ cup milk (dairy or plant based like almond milk, coconut milk etc.) or more and add honey or jaggery to it.
Basic non-sweet oats: To make non-sweet oats, cook 1 cup oats in 1 ½ cups water along with a pinch of pepper and salt.
TOPPINGS TO TRY:
POMEGRANATE
Pomegranate is a great topping you can use with oatmeal. Not only does it make your breakfast look attractive, but it tastes delicious too! Pomegranate is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants and increases immunity. Simply put some pomegranate seeds on your lukewarm oatmeal and enjoy a healthy and juicy breakfast.
ORANGES
Oranges make a great oatmeal topping. Simply peel an orange and remove the skin of each petal. Remove the pulp and put it over your oatmeal. You can also add whole petals but the pulp tastes even better. Orange is an excellent source of vitamin c and a god source of dietary fibre.
SCRAMBLED EGGS
Scrambled eggs make your oats rich in protein and essential fatty acids. It also can be eaten for brunch, it is that fulfilling. Simply add some oil in the pan, put in chopped onions and sauté till golden. Add 1 egg and let it form lumps. Stir and add chopped tomato, chilli powder and coriander leaves chopped. Let it cook for few more minutes, mix well and put it on top of your oatmeal.
BANANAS AND PEANUT BUTTER
Peanut butter and bananas make a great combination. They are energy boosting foods that make your regular bowl of oatmeal fulfilling and protein-rich. Take some peanut butter and put it on top of steaming hot oatmeal so that it softens. Add sliced bananas on top and you are done.
STRAWBERRY AND MINT
Strawberry and mint not only adds colour to your oatmeal, but also makes it tasty and healthy. Strawberries contain foliate, manganese, dietary fibre etc. and mint makes your digestion smooth, relieves nausea and headache etc. Apart from its health benefits, these 2 ingredients make a great combination along with your oatmeal.
COOKED APPLES AND CINNAMON
Apples are extremely rich in important antioxidants, flavonoids, and dietary fibre. Cinnamon helps stabilize blood sugar levels and also catalyses weight loss. Simply cook apples with jaggery and when they become soft, put them on your coked oats and sprinkle cinnamon on it.
BLUEBERRIES
Blueberries are rich in fibre, vitamin C, foliate, potassium, vitamin B6 etc. You can add frozen blueberries on your oatmeal or simply cook it in jaggery and pour it on top of your oatmeal.
NUTELLA
Nutella is something everyone loves. Once in a while, you can indulge yourself with nutella flavoured oatmeal. Simply add few tablespoons of nutella on top of your cooked oatmeal and eat! You can also add cherries with it if you like.
CHIA SEEDS
Chia seeds are loaded with protein, fibre, omega-3 fatty acids and various micronutrients. Soak chia seeds in water for 5 minutes and once they swell, add them in your oatmeal and consume warm. You can add chia seeds on top of your sweet or savoury oatmeal, whatever you prefer.
HONEY
Honey is a natural sweetener and goes well with oats. Simply drizzle your oatmeal porridge with raw honey to add a dash of sweetness and flavour to it and also to make it healthy.