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January is National Oatmeal Month

Did you know the best way to start your body’s engines in the morning is with a bowl of oatmeal? It is the perfect way to start a day of healthy eating, providing over half of the daily value for those hard-to-find omega-3 fatty acids, as well as 109% of the daily value for manganese.

In the month of January, National Oatmeal Month, more oatmeal is eaten than any other time of the year - but oatmeal is not just for breakfast.  One of the favorite ways to eat oatmeal is in the form of a sweet cookie, which has been a favorite for many cookie lovers.  And, Oatmeal Bread is also a favorite way to eat oatmeal.

To help celebrate this occasion, Driscoll’s®, the nation’s leading provider of fresh berries, posted survey questions on its Facebook page to determine exactly what people think of their oatmeal. Not surprisingly, 66% of those who responded indicated that they eat oatmeal because “it’s nutritious and powers my morning,” while 40% said that eating oatmeal “makes me feel like I can keep up with my kids.”

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Here is the first of two delicious and nutritious oatmeal recipes courtesy of Driscoll’s®. Driscoll’s Triple Berry Oat Scones recipe will be published tomorrow.

Blueberry Banana Oat Bread

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 60 minutes
Makes 12 servings
Serving Size: 1 slice per serving

Banana bread, a perennial favorite, gets a boost by adding rolled oats, which give it texture, a nutty flavor and loads of nutrients; blueberries, a super food bursting with antioxidants, bring sweet tang and moistness.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup low fat buttermilk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup mashed ripe banana, about 2 medium
  • 2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup canola oil
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1-1/2 pkgs. (6 oz each) Driscoll’s Blueberries

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 9” x 5” loaf pan with cooking spray and dust lightly with flour.
2. Whisk buttermilk, eggs, banana, sugar and oil in a large bowl until well blended.
3. Combine flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda in a separate bowl. Stir into wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.
4. Gently fold in blueberries. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
5. Bake about 1 hour, or until browned and a pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 15 minutes.
6. Remove from pan and cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.

Nutrition Per Serving:  254 calories, 7.85g total fat, 0.87g saturated fat, 5.27g protein, 41.53g carbohydrate, 36.07mg cholesterol, 2.44g fiber, 240mg sodium

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For the latest food and restaurant news and seasonal recipes, visit me at Shore Region Restaurant Examiner and TastefuLiving.net.

, Shore Region Food Examiner

Margaret was public relations director for two luxury New York City hotels, where she did extensive research into America's culinary heritage. She is a founding member of The James Beard Foundation. She is former proprietor of a Jersey shore inn and restaurant, The Pelican Bistro, recognized as...

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