Oatmeal makes a super breakfast for a super day

August 27, 10:22 PMSF Comfort Food ExaminerDustin Platt

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satisfying, nutricious, and delicious by D Platt

Shredded Mini-Wheats now has a commercial with a caped biscuit standing on a barista's shoulders, helping her make it through the morning rush.  Yes, breakfast is important, but cereals across the board advertise themselves as being "part of a balanced breakfast."

Are Frosted Mini-Wheats really that great? Thanks to the advertising power of Kellog's, a box is found on hand and the Nutritional facts (with fat free milk) state: 2% of daily allowance for fat, 12% of potassium, 18% of carbs (12 grams of sugar) and a wopping 25% of Fiber. Ingredients include gelatin, High Fructose Corn Syrup (the satan of processed food), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6) and zinc oxide (rumors are it can be used to make solar panels). p.s. a serving is 24 biscuits, 8 servings to the box.

Really, not bad considering some of the other sugar cereals out there, and I am impressed with the fiber count.

Now, analyze the longtime favorite, Quick Oats, with one ingredient, "100% Whole grain rolled oats," 31 servings per tub, 140 calories, 0 grams sugar, with 4% of the RDA of fat, 9% of RDA of carbs, and 16% of dietary fiber. Stone rolled or old fashioned oats are even better, but aren't as easy to prepare.

Bonus! Oatmeal is great in cookies and breads, is easy to prepare, and filling; those 24 biscuits don't seem to do the job, especially when one is going to be working the grill for 10 hours.

By always keeping a kettle on the stove, it takes only a minute to prepare a great bowl of oatmeal. The essentials are:

2-3 dashes cinnamon

1 tsp butter (fat tells the brain you're full)

9-12 blueberries, or 6 blackberries (great cancer-fighters)

2 strawberries, cut (just plain yummy, plus lots of vitamins)

1/4 cup milk (put on after cooking)

I also add 1 tsp molasses (for iron) and sometimes 1 tbsp honey.

Set up the night before. Turn on the water when you get up, and get ready until the pot sings. Stir in water and let it sit for another minute. Add milk, enjoying a natural breakfast for less. 

So with processed cereal, what are we really paying for? An artificial item trying to be natural? Ad campaigns? It isn't as healthy, and isn't much quicker or easier, you can't make beer out of it, so what's with the cape?