How to Make Heart-Healthy Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a heart-healthy food, and if you add the right flavorings and ingredients you can increase its heart-healthy benefits. Eating a healthy diet is important for everybody; healthy diets are not only for people who want to lose weight- everyone who wants to live a long life and be active, healthy and happy should follow a healthy diet.

If you are trying to lose weight, then you need to eat less and exercise more; if you are trying to gain weight, eat more food, and exercise to build muscle; if you are just trying to be healthier eat the same amount of calories. Just be sure that whatever your goal, you are eating a healthful diet!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Old-fashioned Oatmeal
• Blueberries, Blackberries or Cherries- unsweetened
• Peanut butter or nuts (almonds, walnuts, etc.)
• Skim milk
• Splenda sweetener, or honey

1. 
    
   Oats lower cholesterol

   You can make your breakfast heart-healthy, high in protein, and very filling with this quick, heart-healthy version of oatmeal. For one serving : In a microwave safe bowl, or on the stove top in a small pan, heat one cup skim milk with 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats.

2. 
    
   Add your favorite fruit and nuts and make this your favorite oatmeal recipe

   Cook on med-high until the oats are cooked- about 2 minutes in the microwave and 3-4 on the stove top. Now add sliced almonds, or peanut butter, or walnuts- use about 1-2 TBS. Nuts and nut-butters (almond butter is really good in oatmeal!) are high in fiber and protein, PLUS good for your heart!

3. 
    
   Berries are high in fiber and antioxidants

   Add 1/2 cup of blueberries, cherries, or blackberries to your oatmeal, stir, add Splenda sweetener (about 2 packets) or honey to taste. Now enjoy the healthiest, most filling breakfast that any Nutritionist would be happy to eat.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are a vegetarian you can use soymilk in place of the cup of milk, and even add protein powder to your oatmeal for extra protein.

Resources

• Health
• Healthy Recipes from Oxygen Magazine

[grove]

on 2/11/2009 I love peanut butter in my oatmeal - thought I was the only one!

[brantsbabe]

on 2/10/2009 Great ideas to pump up that oatmeal a few notches. 5*

[hlthychoclitnut]

on 1/17/2009 Oatmeals great. I even sprinkle some on cold cereal to make it healthier.

[hlruther]

on 1/17/2009 I've never thought to add peanut butter. I'll have to try that.

[Ladybugblue]

on 1/17/2009 I'll try this! Thanks, good article!