(That's right. You and your breakfast-eatin' self are champions. Visualize yourself running to the top of those famous steps in Philly and pumping your arms above your head with shameless pride.)I absolutely love breakfast. I'm also a ridiculously predictable and structured person (think: opposite of spontaneous). As such, my weekday breakfasts are always the same (Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal) and my weekend breakfasts are consistently a variation on a theme (some sort of fruit-and-nut-filled pancake or waffle).
*Enter Rocky theme music*
Today, however, I busted out of the predictable box and went wild.
Loaded Vanilla-Almond Oatmeal. mmmmmmmm...
And I'm not talking about a wimpy packet of just-add-water "oatmeal." I'm talking OATS!
My new weekday breakfast (which strangely debuted on a Saturday morning) is a bowl of chunky, filling, and oh-so-healthy loaded oatmeal. Inspired by other food bloggers who tout their love of morning oats, I decided there's no better time to try a new breakfast than during my 5K training period (which will finally come to an end on September 17!).
So, this morning's recipe is simple, quick, and will definitely get your day off to a healthy start.
Some common oatmeal add-ins include:
- Milk (regular, soy, or almond) as the liquid
- Nut butters (of course!)
- Chopped, toasted nuts
- Ground flaxseed
- Fresh fruit (bananas, peaches, strawberries, or bluberries)
- Dried fruit
- Honey or maple syrup
- Cinnamon, vanilla, other seasonings of choice
Loaded Vanilla-Almond Oatmeal
(Inspired by fellow food bloggers!)
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup quick oats
- 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (use less milk if you like thicker oatmeal)
- 4 small strawberries, chopped
- 1/4 cup blueberries
- 1 TBSP almond butter (my favorite is pictured on the right)
- 1 tsp. flaxseed
- sprinkling of cinnamon
- dash of vanilla
Directions:
1) Combine oats and milk in a bowl and microwave for about 2 minutes.
2) Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
3) You're a champion :)
