This is how you keep your oatmeal healthy
Oatmeal has been popular for years. Not only is it easy, but it’s also super healthy. So every reason to regularly put it on your menu. However, there are a number of things you should pay attention to when you eat oatmeal (porridge), because there are a number of pitfalls.
Oatmeal contains a lot of soluble fiber. As a result, it swells up and provides a long feeling of satiety. Ideal for breakfast, because you will get through the morning without feeling hungry. But be careful – if you add something – what you put on it as a topping. Because if you choose the ‘wrong’ topping or if you put too much on it, your bowl of oatmeal is a lot less healthy.
Pitfall 1: too many nuts
Unroasted and unsalted nuts are very healthy. It contains everything: unsaturated fats, proteins, fibres, vitamins and minerals. But they do contain a lot of calories. So don’t take too many nuts, and only unroasted and unsalted, but keep a handful of about 25 grams on top of your oatmeal. Weigh it a few times and you will be surprised how quickly you reach the 25 grams.
Pitfall 2: sugar
Warm oatmeal porridge is delicious on cool days, but the cold variants – or overnight oats – are also very tasty. And handy if you don’t have much time in the morning, because you can make them the night before. Many healthy recipes can be found online, but also many recipes that use sugar. Take a recipe with no added sugars, such as this recipe for instance.
Pitfall 3: dried fruit
Dried raisins, apricots, prunes, figs and dates are tasty and are often used in oatmeal recipes, but the downside is that they are high in sugar. So here too: don’t take too much of it. Opt for fresh fruit instead.
Pitfall 4: honey
Honey is often used to give oatmeal a sweeter taste. It is often thought that honey is a healthier alternative to sugar. But that’s not true. Honey is a mixture of glucose and fructose and is not very different from other forms of sugar.
Pitfall 5: ready-made products
In the supermarket you will find shelves full of bags of granola, muesli, granola and other toppings that contain oatmeal and oat flakes. These products often seem healthy, but many of these products often contain a lot of sugar. Read the labels carefully and check carefully what exactly is in it and how much sugar. There are many different names for sugar and sweeteners. For example, think of fructose or glucose. So pay attention to that too.
