Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Quickie Breakfast

As a child, I always ate breakfast. Mom cooked breakfast for us. We had eggs with bacon or sausage, pancakes or waffles, and lots of hot cereals like oatmeal, Cream of Wheat or even rice topped with a little sugar and milk.

At some time during my teen years, I quit eating breakfast. I wasn't concerned about my weight, and I wasn't overly rushed in the mornings; I simply lost my appetite for food that early in the morning.

That lack of early-morning appetite has continued into my adult years. I make breakfast for Kat (who can hardly wait to eat when she gets up), but I almost never eat anything myself. When I do eat, I stick to the cooked breakfasts of my childhood rather than boxed cereal or toaster pastries. Sometimes I'll have a slice of leftover pizza. In any case, I find that when I do eat breakfast, odd things happen. Either I am hungrier than usual all day long or I am immediately so tired that I want to go back to bed. Or both.

Lately I've been eating this "overnight oatmeal" for breakfast.

Yoplait Blackberry Pomegranate yogurt with old-fashioned oats.

I first read about this "overnight oatmeal" at Kayla K's Thrifty Ways. I think she, in turn, first read about it at Iowa Girl Eats. Simply, it's yogurt and oats stirred together and refrigerated overnight. The result is that the oats soften and the yogurt is even creamier than before. I've been happy with a ratio of 6 ounces of yogurt (any flavor) and 1/3 cup old fashioned oats. It's filling, but doesn't make me feel sluggish or hungrier than usual. What's more, it's a good dose of calcium for my somewhat brittle bones and a good dose of soluble fiber for my barely-above-optimal cholesterol level.

There are all kinds of ways to embellish this breakfast with fresh or dried fruit and nuts, but I'm sticking with this simple for now. Who knows? I might eventually start liking breakfast again.

Edited 4/28/10:  My favorite, by far, is 1/3 cup oats, 6 oz. of homemade plain yogurt, 2-3 Tablespoons homemade spiced cranberry sauce and a spoonful or two of sugar if needed.  Yum!

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If you haven't already, don't forget to enter my giveaway for a Red Gold Tomatoes prize pack.  I'm going to sweeten the deal just a little.  Winner #1 will receive the prize pack directly from the nice people at Red Gold.  In addition, I'm going to draw the name of a second winner.  Winner #2 will receive my duplicate copy of the Red Gold cookbook, "Heartwarming Recipes For The Busy Cook".  Just passing on the tomato love...

9 comments:

Miranda said...

OOOOO, that sounds good! I've been trying to eat both yogurt and more grains each day. I will have to try this.

Sam said...

This sounds great! I got so many boxes of oats when they were super cheap @ Walgreens. This would be a good way to use them up :)

Frances said...

That oatmeal sounds good!

Go pick me to win your giveaway!! LOL!

slugmama said...

The oatmeal/yogurt mixture....that would be rolled oats, correct? I can't see steel cut oats going soft enough to eat that way without some serious cooking.lol

I also have that too full, want-to-take-a-nap feeling if I eat heavy carb foods for breakfast. I find that a little fruit gets me perked up(natural sugars), keeps my stomach quiet but doesn't make me want to go back to bed. ;-)

slugmama said...

Hey,
I gave you an award.
Go pick it up....
http://simpleslug.blogspot.com/2010/03/my-1st-blogging-award.html
Ok...you probably already have this one..lol

Annie Jones said...

Miranda: It's good!

Sarah: I read somewhere yesterday about making "oat milk". It's supposed to be pretty good. If I can find it again, I'll post it.

Frances: Patience. We still have a few more days. :)

Sluggy: Yes, I use old-fashioned (rolled) oats.

As for being tired after breakfast, even a high-protein breakfast will do that to me. I think it's odd.

And thanks for the award. I saw it yesterday, but haven't had a chance to come pick it up. :)

Sheila said...

I never thought of doing oatmeal like that--it sounds really good--and easy!! I'll have to try that next time I buy some yogurt. I have a problem eating hot oatmeal--flashback of childhood--even though I know I should eat it for health reasons. Now I have a "cold" way to eat it. Thanks!!!

Sonya Ann said...

I should try this. It sounds like a good way to get rid of some yogurt too.
And I feel the same way if I eat breakfast. Weird?

Annie Jones said...

Sheila: Not much for hot oatmeal, huh? I've always liked it.

SonyaAnn: You and I have way too much in common. ;)