Happy Oatmeal Recipes

Remember how we were forced to eat oatmeal as a child? How was the experience? How we managed to finish our breakfast back then, or how we cheated our way to finish breakfast was always a mystery. But if you're one of those children who weren't fans of oatmeal, I get you.

The thing is, there is reason why our parents or grandparents or maybe our yaya made us eat oatmeal in the morning as opposed to the colorful cereal we would rather have (with super cold milk please!). It's actually good for us. It's got fiber for our digestive system, B vitamins and minerals, protein for all you bodybuilders out there who want to repair and build lean muscle, and most of all, carbs for energy. Oatmeal also keeps you satiated longer so you don't go looking for a candy bar or a bag of popcorn before lunchtime.

Some people think of oatmeal as "sad" food, being a beige bowl of mush so I got you covered with recipes that make oatmeal happy. I like making my food pretty and Instagram-worthy. Pretty food is happy food! Also, I chose things that make oatmeal pretty to also be very healthy and nutritious, so eating healthy doesn't always have to be such a chore. Eat a rainbow of happy, healthy colors as they say.

Whole Grain Rolled Oats are very versatile as you can cook them to other things besides oatmeal. 

Personally, I prefer whole rolled oats because they're quite versatile since I can make them into oatmeal, pancakes, granola, mug cakes, and even blend them into smoothies (more on that later). They also cook fast, only 5 minutes. If you have no access to a stovetop or a microwave,  say you're in the office or a dorm, go ahead and use instant oats (I also have a recipe for that). However, as much as you can, try to use old fashioned whole rolled oats.

Awesome Bowl

I have no real name for this so I just called it awesome because of all the awesome toppings it has. It's got banana and strawberries for good carbs, and superfood such as chia seeds and goji berries. Strawberries and goji berries are high in vitamin C and antioxidants you need to combat diseases. Chia seeds have omega-3 acids which help fight heart disease and keep your skin and nails healthy. It's also good for mental health, I don't know if I can call it a beauty bowl, a happy bowl, a good morning bowl, or what not so I just called it awesome bowl.

How to make your awesome bowl: Cook your regular oatmeal (by regular, I mean Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats.). Top with sliced bananas, sliced strawberried, goji berries, and chia seeds in a pretty fashion so it's all so perfect for Instagram. Drizzle with some honey and serve.

Tropical Vacation Bowl

The tropical vacation bowl takes you to your favorite tropical destination with the tropical fruits I chose as toppings. I chose a rainbow of  bright, contrasting colors to inspire you in the morning. Each fruit is available all-year round here in our tropical country. The color of the dragonfruit doesn't matter. I just like the magenta color because it looks so pretty contrasting with the green kiwi and yellow mangoes. This is best in the summer where mangoes are super cheap and super sweet.

How to make your tropical vacation bowl: Cook your regular oatmeal and top with sliced kiwi, sliced mangoes, and sliced dragonfruit. Be creative on how you arrange this. Sprinkle some chia seeds for more omega-3 goodness. You can top this with Greek yogurt if you wish. For this recipe, I used coconut sugar as a sweetener and also added toasted coconut flakes for more crunch and texture. 

Chunky Monkey 

The chunky monkey is created for all you people who want something faster than the 5 minutes to cook your oatmeal. It takes its inspiration from a soda fountain dessert. It's got chocolate (and who doesn't love chocolate?) and bananas and I healthified it by adding a dollop of Greek yogurt and chia seeds,  I made this for someone who really wants to ease into oatmeal for breakfast slowly if an all-fruit and superfood topping intimidates you at first. It's a beginner-friendly oatmeal that's a hit to children. It tastes somewhat like the ice cream treat, with the yogurt adding just the right balance to the sweetness and the walnuts adding more crunch and texture.

Quaker Oats also has flavored instant oatmeal for those with no access to a stove or for those who want something fast. 

How to make your chunky monkey: Use chocolate-flavored instant oatmeal and prepare according to package directions. Top with a dollop of greek yogurt and arrange with slices of banana and sprinkle cinnamon for some warmth and chia seeds. Add some walnuts and you got some crunch too. No need to sweeten as the chocolate oatmeal is sweet enough as it is. 

These pretty recipes totally make my day. They're easy, they're fast, and they're delicious. My favorite has to be the awesome bowl because it's super filling and it keeps my energy up and running throughout the day. Try making these recipes yourself and tag me in Instagram @bambikitty when you do. It makes my morning so nice to see everyone eating a very healthy and happy breakfast. See? Oatmeal doesn't have to be sad.

Store Directory:

Quaker Oats
Available at all leading supermarkets and drugstores; quakeroats.ph;