Well, it turns out oatmeal doesnt have to be bland at all. In fact, there are dozens of ingredients and recipes that can take your oatmeal to the next level. From flavorful additions to baked recipes, theres no such thing as boring oatmeal anymore.
10 hacks that will make your morning oatmeal less boring
Oatmeal gets a bad reputation. People assume it's tasteless and just a bit too boring to enjoy.
Cinnamon is your friend.
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To be honest, this hack is as easy as sprinkling a bit of cinnamon over your microwaved back of oats, but if you want to get a little fancy with your morning breakfast, try Quaker's cinnamon flavored oatmeal instead.
Cinnamon is known to have several health benefits , including anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants, according to Healthline. Now, thats a breakfast that you can feel good about.
Dont be afraid of maple syrup.
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Who said maple syrup was only for pancakes and waffles? Oatmeal deserves some syrup love too. In fact, a drizzle of maple syrup will make any oatmeal instantly better. Of course, if youre looking for something a bit more intricate, you cant go wrong with this cinnamon maple oatmeal from A pinch of healthy.
If youre hesitant about the amount of sugar being added with this hack, just know that sweetening your oatmeal with maple syrup is " slightly healthier " than sweetening it with a few teaspoons of sugar, according to Healthline.
Nut butter, anyone?
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Although a bit of an unusual addition to oatmeal, stirring peanut butter (or any nut butter) into your bowl of oats is an instant meal upgrade. Personally, I like to mix a diced green apple, cinnamon, and peanut butter in my oats for the ultimate morning treat. This recipe from Taste of Home is equally great.
Instant oatmeal isnt your only option.
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Althoughinstant and slow-cooked oats are two of the more popular oatmeal options, there is a third, equally delicious, choice: Baked oatmeal from Taste of Home. Taking under an hour to prepare and cook, this is the perfect way to meal prep your breakfast for the week, just make sure to warm it up before enjoying with a cup of warm coffee.
Never underestimate overnight oats.
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Overnight oats are tasty and require no day-of meal prep before eating. Tasty's overnight oats smoothie , complete with almond butter and peaches is delicious and nutritious.
Savory oatmeal is a great option for breakfast and dinner.
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If a sweet breakfast isn'twhat you're looking for,dress up your oats with some garlic, spinach, and yogurt with this recipe from the New York Times. If you want to get really creative, top the creation off with a fried egg for optimum nutrition.
Sweet potato + oatmeal = heaven.
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Dont knock it until you try it: Sweet potatoes pair perfectly with rolled oats in this unique breakfast recipe from Self. Both gluten-free and vegan, this recipe calls for sweet potato puree, cinnamon, and brown sugar to make the imitation pie come to life.
You can never go wrong with fresh fruit.
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Seriously, this hack has saved my boring oatmeal breakfast every. single. time. My personal favorite fruit combination is diced nectarine with a drizzle of honey and chia seeds. But, you could add sliced bananas, various berries, and even dragonfruit to your oatmeal for an instant burst of flavor.
Oatmeal bars are your on-the-go breakfast savior.
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It might not be the healthiest option on the list, but if you find yourself rushing out of the door each morning, consider pre-making some oatmeal bars for breakfast. These strawberry oatmeal bars from Food Network are particularly simple to make and wont cost you a fortune in must-have ingredients.
Oatmeal always tastes better as cookies.
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If porridge isnt really your thing, oatmeal can always be upgraded by transforming them into breakfast cookies from Momables. Unlike the oatmeal bars, these babies are packed with tons of healthy ingredients that will help keep you energized throughout the morning.
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