Protein-Packed Oatmeal with Fruit

Oatmeal is one of those base recipes I think everyone should know how to make. It’s so healthy, keeps you full for hours, and can be ready in less than 15 minutes. If you have the time and commitment to make steel cut oats, even better. Usually I turn to this recipe when I know I won’t eat for awhile at work and am slightly rushing, so I opted for rolled oats. You could even use half oats half quinoa if you had some extra cooked quinoa lying around (or just boil some quinoa for 15 minutes and you’ll be good to go).

Once you have the oatmeal base down you can add literally anything - extra fruit you have lying around, peanut butter, chocolate, protein powder, nuts, seeds, cinnamon, caramel, spices, the options are pretty close to endless. I love the mixture of seeds and protein I’ve included below to add protein and fiber. The picture above is how I made it in the summertime when stone fruits were ripe and delicious. I also love a mixed berry version, and especially a combo with walnuts, banana, cinnamon, and peanut butter.

• 1 cup almond milk, or milk of choice

• 1/2 cup rolled oats

• handful blueberries

• 4-5 strawberries or however much you’d like

  • Use any type of fruit you want! Apricot, peaches, apples, raspberries, etc.

• 1/2 banana

• 1 tbsp chia seeds

• 1 tbsp hemp seeds

• 1 tbsp ground flax

• 1/4 - 1/2 cup yogurt, depending on how much you’d like - I like to use nonfat

• shredded coconut, lightly toasted, to sprinkle on top (optional)

• a small handful nuts if you have them

  • I like walnuts or almonds in this

• cinnamon, or any spice you’d like

  • nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, or a mixture of these all work great

• lemon or orange zest, if you’d like

1. Bring the milk to a boil. I like to add the berries at this time because I prefer a more cooked taste and texture in my oatmeal. You can add them later or just on top if you like them firm. This is a great time to add spices and let them infuse or steep into the milk for a bit while it heats up.

2. Add the oatmeal, lower the heat to a simmer and cook the oatmeal to your desired thickness. Add the banana and seeds.

3. Add the yogurt at the end of cooking. Heat up the mixture to make sure it’s warm, but don’t cook it with the yogurt for a long time because it can curdle.

4. Mix in anything else you’d like to add, or save it to sprinkle on top. If you’re using any citrus zest, I add it on top or at the very end to maintain the freshness.

5. That’s really it! If the oatmeal becomes a little thicker than you’d like, you can simply add a little bit of milk or water to thin in out. Usually I’m all about digging right in, but this is one of the meals I like to take time for to make it look nice. It makes me feel fulfilled, satisfied, and ready for the day!