5 Reasons to Eat More Oats this January (Plus Recipes!)

Did you know that 75% of American households currently have oatmeal in the cupboard? That is because oatmeal is one of the most popular breakfast foods. During January, more oatmeal is sold than any other month, which is why January is officially Oatmeal Month.

Oatmeal is a popular breakfast food for a reason, it is not only delicious, but it is also very nutritious. A bowl of oats is part of a balanced breakfast and can help keep you satiated until lunch. While oats can be prepared in a variety of ways, they still typically retain similar nutritional properties.

While the most common way to eat oats is in the form of a bowl of oatmeal, there are numerous ways to enjoy them. Oatmeal cookies are the number one non-cereal use for oats! Whether you decide to enjoy oats as a breakfast item or as a dessert, make sure to celebrate this wonder food throughout January.

5 Health Benefits of Oatmeal

This morning when you wake up and make yourself a nice bowl of oatmeal, take pride in knowing you are providing your body with many important nutrients. The nutrition profile of oats provides many unique health benefits, here are 5:

Lowers Cholesterol Levels: Oatmeal contains the soluble fiber, Beta-Glucan, which studies have found can reduce LDL cholesterol commonly referred to as bad cholesterol.

Rich Nutrient profile: Oatmeal contains many different micro and macronutrients that your body uses to function properly. Each nutrient helps with a specific function in the body. Some common nutrients found in oatmeal include Manganese, Phosphorus, and B-Vitamins.

Ample Antioxidants: Antioxidants protect the body’s cells from damage, which in turn can help protect against certain diseases. Oats have been shown to have a significant amount of antioxidant compounds like Vitamin E.

Protects the Gastrointestinal Tract: Oatmeal is known for its high fiber content, especially in steel-cut oats. The healthy bacteria in your colon use fiber as a source of fuel, which allows them to thrive. Fiber also keeps bowel movements regular, keeping the GI tract healthy.

Improves blood sugar: The whole grain of oatmeal is rich in soluble fiber and can aid in reducing and maintaining blood sugar levels by slowing the digestion of carbohydrates.

4 Yummy Oat Recipes

Now that you know some reasons to eat more oats, you are probably wondering the best way to enjoy them. Oats are a great food because they can be incorporated into many different recipes to create a healthy and nutritious meal. Here are some of my favorite ways to eats oats:

If you are looking for something a little more exciting than a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, try a parfait. All you have to do is layer a handful of oats, your favorite fruits, and vanilla yogurt for a parfait!

A popular dessert item for a reason, these tasty cookies are sold in most grocery stores. You can even try making them at home!

If you are always on the go, a muffin might be more your speed. You can always buy an oatmeal-based muffin at the store or try this tasty banana oatmeal muffin.

While sweet foods like sugar and fruit are popular toppings for oatmeal, a savory dish may be more to your liking. Start your day with an oatmeal dish of mushrooms, shallots, and rosemary.

There are many wonderful resources available to assist you in finding the perfect oatmeal-based recipe, such as my most recent cookbook, Enjoying Food Peace: Recipes and Intuitive Eating Wisdom to Nourish Your Body and Mind, which you can purchase here if you haven’t already.

Your turn to take action: What new oatmeal recipe are you going to try? Let me know in the comments below.