A hearty breakfast of steel cut oatmeal will get jump start your day and is an inexpensive breakfast that is easy to make. You can even make the hearty oatmeal the night before when you are cleaning up from dinner.
The biggest hurdle in the fight against obesity, diabetes and the battle to eat healthier seems to be the school of thought that eating healthy is just too expensive. The idea that eating to prevent diabetes and other serious health conditions is more expensive is simply not true.
Breakfast seems to be one of the biggest battles because these days everyone is on the go, either to work or school or rushing to do errands. Most people will stop at a fast-food restaurant for a sugar-loaded latte and a breakfast sandwich because it is quicker than making breakfast at home.
Think about the amount of money you spend on fast-food breakfasts each week, you may be shocked to find you are spending a minimum of $20 every week. Or perhaps, you do not eat breakfast, you either skip it or have coffee or gulp down a diet supplement drink or bar. Think about how much each cup of coffee you drink costs, especially if you are picking up coffee on the run and not making it at home. Think about how much each of those supplement drinks or bars cost. You are probably spending another $20 or more every week on food that is not good for you, even though advertisers want you to believe they are.
On an average day you are probably spending a minimum of $4 per day just on your individual “breakfast,” but with a little planning, you can make breakfast at home for about 25¢ per person. If you add coffee or tea made at home, factor in another 10¢ to 15¢ per person who drinks it. If the kids also drink milk with breakfast, factor in the additional 10¢ to 15¢ per person, too. You do not need juice with this breakfast, because you add the fruit in the oatmeal.
This recipe for hearty steel cut oatmeal serves two, but the recipe can easily be doubled. Buy all the grains in the bulk section at your supermarket or co-op and buy only what you think you will need for about a month. If two adults are eating this oatmeal twice a week, ¼ to ½ pound of steel cut oats, ½ cup buckwheat groats, ½ cup millet and just a small handful of bulgur wheat will last about 2 months.
Rachael's hearty steel cut oatmeal
Ingredients for Rachael’s hearty steel cut oatmeal:
- 1½ cups water
- pinch of salt, but just a pinch
- ¼ cup steel cut oats
- 1 Tbsp. buckwheat groats
- 1 tsp. millet
- ½ tsp. bulgur wheat
How to make Rachael’s hearty steel cut oatmeal:
- In a medium pot, bring the water and the salt to a boil on high heat.
- Add the steel cut oats and buckwheat groats. Reduce heat to medium-high, bring back to a boil.
- Add millet and bulgur wheat. Bring to a boil again, and then reduce heat to low or medium-low and cover
- Let the oatmeal cook, covered, for approximately 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove pot from heat and let stand, covered for 3 to 5 minutes. Serve oatmeal hot.
- This recipe makes approximately one cup, which is two servings.
Serve the oatmeal with a bit of agave nectar or honey or brown sugar or turbinado sugar, a tablespoon or two of fresh or frozen blueberries or strawberries or any fruit you like and a drizzle of whatever milk product you like, such as soy, hemp, almond, coconut, or dairy milk.
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