Is Instant Oatmeal Good For You?

By Matt

Provided you are just talking about plain, regular instant oatmeal without the added sugar of things like Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal or Cinnamon & Spice Instant Oatmeal, instant oatmeal is still a solid breakfast.

You’ll still get the cholesterol-lower benefits of the soluble oat fiber — and while instant oatmeal does have a slightly higher glycemic load — it’s not nearly as bad as people think. So if the convenience of instant oatmeal helps you eat more of this healthy food, then go ahead and eat it.

In terms of sodium, even here, instant oatmeal isn’t terrible. There are other sources of food you probably eat daily with much more salt. So I wouldn’t over-focus on this unless you are on a sodium-controlled diet.

The Main Difference: Flavor and Texture
At the end of the day, the biggest difference between instant oatmeal and things like thick rolled oats or Scottish oats is the texture, flavor and how satisfying and filling they are.

Instant oatmeal is very mushy and its flavor can’t really compare to something like thick rolled oats. But many people like instant oatmeal just fine.

Also, oatmeal that takes longer to cook tends to absorb more water, and increases in volume much more than instant oats. Eating old fashioned or thick rolled oatmeal can help you feel fuller, for longer and makes the non-instant variety of oats more satisfying for many people. So that definitely can be an advantage.

If you want to have the convenience of instant oatmeal but with some of the flavor and texture benefits of a slower-cooking oatmeal, you can always prepare a large batch of oatmeal the night before and simply warm it up in a microwave the next morning. You will probably have to add some water or skim milk to it to make it creamier, but this is one way to get the time saving benefits of instant and the flavor benefits of slow-cooked oats.

Oatmeal prepared ahead of time can be stored in the refrigerator in a covered container for up to four days.

Article Source: http://www.answerfitness.com/369/is-instant-oatmeal-good-for-you/

Healthy Breakfast Ideas

Author: Penny Williams

You should always have breakfast. It’s the one meal of the day you should never skip. The reason is that by the time breakfast comes around you have been fasting for around 10-12 hours. This was fine while you were resting and sleeping, but now your body needs to be re-charged with nutrients and energy so that it can cope with a sudden shift in pace.

If you always find that you are too rushed to have breakfast or to have a decent breakfast, get up earlier. Breakfast should be a time for easing yourself into the day. By making time for breakfast you’ll enjoy easier weight control, better energy, and greater well-being.

Here are some ideas for healthy, energy-sustaining breakfasts. Don’t skimp on amounts as this will only backfire later on - a good breakfast will keep you going until lunchtime, with perhaps some fruit for a mid-morning snack.

Idea 1

-Half a grapefruit (helps the liver to detoxify).
-Bowl of muesli, with milk and/or natural yogurt (good balance of protein and carbohydrate for sustained energy, weight control).
-Slice of wholemeal (or rye) toast with honey (whole grains are a good provider of B vitamins, essential for energy).
-Drink of hot water with a slice of lemon, or a herbal tea such as peppermint (good for digestive cleansing, energy boost).

Idea 2

-Kiwi fruit (good for vitamin C to boost immune health).
-Bowl of porridge (good for long-lasting energy).
-Slice of wholemeal (or rye) toast with honey (natural sugar for quick boost of energy).
-Drink of hot water with a slice of lemon, or a herbal tea such as peppermint (good for digestive cleansing, energy boost).

Idea 3

Fresh fruit or vegetable juice (full of nutrients to boost energy and vital for general good health).

-Kedgeree* (good source of essential fats found in oily fish, essential for healthy skin, digestive health, balancing hormones, natural anti-inflammatory).
-Slice of wholemeal (or rye) toast with honey (good source of fiber to improve digestive health).
-Drink of hot water with a slice of lemon, or a herbal tea such as peppermint (good for digestive cleansing, energy boost).

*Kedgeree is a basic dish of rice and flaked fish, to which you can add your favorite savory ingredients (it’s a good way to use up odds and ends of vegetables). All the ingredients can be prepared the evening before.

If you are short on time you can still manage something healthy. For example, you could have a hot drink and a slice of toast with a healthy topping (cheese, banana, ham, tuna, scrambled egg).

When you are buying breakfast foods try to avoid cereals that contain sugar or salt. If you like porridge, sweeten it with honey, molasses or grated apple instead of sugar.
Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_10862_23.html

About the Author: Penny Williams is a nutritional therapist. She writes regularly for the LifeFirst - Dedicated to Wellness newsletter. If the links aren’t working, paste this address to your browser bar: www.lifefirst.info