Are you a fan of oatmeal?

Did you know that Oct. 29, is national oatmeal day,

In honor of this humble whole grain, here are a few reasons oats make a great breakfast:
~Oatmeal is a form of protein and can replace flour in most recipes.
~The beta-glucan fiber in oats is famous for lowering
LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol) and can
help stabilize blood sugar.
~Oats are also rich in antioxidants which prevent free radicals from oxidizing LDL, thus reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
~Oats are versatile, and can be eaten on the go in
sugar-free instant varieties, made overnight in a
crockpot, added to baked goods, or used as a
thickener in meatloaf.
~This whole grain (especially when certified gluten
free) is tolerated by many on a gluten free diet.

Fun Fact: There is a city in Texas, names Oatmeal.
Oatmeal and the nearby city of Bertram have hosted an
annual Oatmeal Festival since 1978.

 

Here is a recipe that you can try out. You can make it the night before and have enough to feed the whole family in the morning. Just heat it up and serve.

 

BAKED APPLE CINNAMON OATMEAL

Total Time: 45 min.
Prep Time: 5 min.
Cooking Time: 40 min.
Yield: 6 servings

What you need:
• 2 cups apples, chopped
• 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 2 cups non-fat milk
• ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 tsp. butter
• 3 Tbsp. honey
• 1 egg white, beaten
• 1 Tbsp. brown sugar, packed
• 1½ tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp. salt
• 1 spray olive oil cooking spray

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Lightly coat a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray.  In a large bowl, combine oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.  In another bowl, mix together milk, brown sugar, and applesauce.  Pour mixture into baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes.  Remove dish, stir, fold in chopped apples. Bake for 20 more minutes or until top has browned. Serve.

Nutritional Information (per serving):