sleepy oats

Posted: October 27, 2010 at 10:58 am

Good morning! Or whatever you call 11 am. I’ve already been up for 6 hours. Likely longer, in fact, since I did not sleep much at all last night. I maybe got 3 or 4 hours total. I laid down at 10:30 and was up by midnight tossing and turning from the worst lower back, hip, and sciatic pain I have ever felt. On the bright side of this oh so fabulous pregnancy, my blood sugar levels are perfect and I don’t have gestational diabetes. Yay!

I really do feel thankful for that. And for hot tea, Tylenol, and a daughter willing to let me chill on the couch until I can move again without wincing. You know, until she needs something. So an entire five minutes at a time people! Woo! I sure do love her though. Despite the fact I almost considered still going to Power class because it could feel easier on my body than the up/down/up/down of chasing after and helping her.

What? Did I say something wrong? Oh, you’re just reminding me of that whole role model thing? Thanks. I needed that. 😉 In all seriousness though, I am taking a rest day today because I know my body does not feel up to doing much. I always remind myself of the fortune of this pregnancy and the child it will bring. And I will enjoy my day, even though there is no rest for the weary mother. So now we shall move on to this morning’s sleepily written post: my favorite oat concoctions!

As you may know, I set up a place for you all to easily ask me questions for the Q + A series I hope to do in November. I also realized this morning that I typed the link incorrectly, so I apologize to the the 20 or so of you who clicked and found a missing page in the past few days. HERE IS THE CORRECT LINK if you feel inclined to ask me a question. I’m an open book, so ask away. You can also post a reader’s request topic there, as someone did requesting a post on my favorite ways to eat oatmeal. And here we go!

I make my oats the same way every day I have them, which is most days because they are easy, versatile, and delicious. I always make my oats hot. I do not do overnight oats. Something about the texture bothers me. I do the eyeball method, so you will have to bear with me here. I add about 1/3 c oats with cinnamon to a microwave safe dish and then add enough water to slightly cover the oats.

I microwave (yes, microwave – I’m the notorious lazy cook remember?) for 4 minutes at 50% power and it always gives me the perfect creamy consistency. At this point, I add my toppings. I add any variety of the following that sounds good on a particular day: sliced banana, berries, sliced peaches, “baked” apples, dried fruit, coconut, nutella, honey, peanut butter, greek yogurt, maple syrup, maple almond butter (thanks to Janetha!), pumpkin, and on the rare occasion some protein powder. I’m sure I have forgotten some favorites in there too. Below are some of my favorite combos:

Berries + Nutella

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Pumpkin + Maple Almond Butter Parfait

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Greek Yogurt (usually strawberry or honey flavor) + Peanut Butter

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Dried Fruit, Honey, and Peanut Butter (a current obsession for the whole lower volume eating need)

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Banana, Coconut, and Peanut Butter (although I bet this would be amazing with Pineapple Chobani instead of the pb)

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  • What is your favorite oat topping combo? Or, if oats aren’t your thing, what is your favorite go to breakfast?
  • What’s your favorite tea? I’m loving me some black chai vanilla right now. So calming! And hot!

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38 Comments to “sleepy oats”
  1. Rest rest rest! I love cinnamon apples with blueberries in my oatmeal (PB is a given). I also really enjoy bananas in my oatmeal with PB.

  2. Angela says:

    My favourite oats are oats + vanilla protein + pumpkin + loads of pumpkin pie spice, topped with walnuts. Howeverrrr…. if I have more time to make breakfast, then I’ll make waffles with loads of fruit and yogurt.
    And right now, my favourite tea is definitely Vanilla Rooibos tea!

  3. I microwave my oats too. No shame! 🙂

  4. Shannon says:

    I’ve never gotten into oats. Its a texture thing, as in I think they have the mouth feel of regurgitated baby food. TMI – probably and I’m sorry, but I wont go into details about why I detest mango which is probably worse.

    But this may just inspire me to give it another go, I have large flake oats in my cupboard to make into granola and bake into yummy treats and am craving hot in the morning as opposed to smoothies as our temperatures drop.

    My best friend is being induced today and well she’s sad to never be pregnant again (this is her second and last child), shes thrilled to have her body back and not ‘feel terrible every freaking day’ (her words). Feel better and for now, just savour that this is the only time in his life you won’t have to share Baby B with everyone else.

  5. Marg says:

    I microwave them too. My favorite is to add almond milk to them, love the flavor it gives them. This week it’s either been figs or raisins for toppings.

    • Tina says:

      I completely forgot about almond milk. I usually add a splash or two after mixing in the PB because it thickens back up.

  6. Courtney F says:

    Right now my oats consist of oats, cinnamon, berry flavored Amazing Grass, pumpkin, some yogurt. It isn’t pretty, but I am loving it.

  7. Oh I nearly always microwave my oats! Unless it’s the weekend…then we typically make a bit more time for breakfast items.

    I won’t lie and say that I’ve been having pumpkin with nearly every bowl of oatmeal these days, but that’s beside the point. I’m also a huge fan of savory oats for lunch with beans, avocado, red sauce, salsa sometimes as well. Throw a bit of cheese on top and it’s pretty ridiculous!

  8. Annie Crow says:

    Rolled oats, on the stove (I don’t find that it takes much time and I’m doing other things in the kitchen anyway). This is my pre-run breakfast every single time I go running, so I eat it 3-4 times a week. 1/2 c. rolled oats, 1/4 c. raisins, 1/4 c. chopped walnuts, cinnamon, salt, brown sugar.

    I like the suggestions for other ways to flavor it – I’ll save those for my quinoa or rice cereal days (I have hot cereal almost every day) – I cannot mess with my pre-run oats.

  9. Camille says:

    I microwave my oats too. Honestly, I think they taste better that way!
    Deal with it, snooty foodies!

  10. Cynthia says:

    Never been a big fan of oats. I do love eggs though, eggs and bacon. Lately, I also pair the eggs with half a bagel with almond butter and jam. Yum

  11. Lisa says:

    All those oatmeal picutres look so good! Especially the greek yogurt and peanut butter one/the parfait one! Yum!

    I agree with you about overnight oats. The texture is weird! Its like chunky or something, I cannot explain it! haha.

  12. You poor thing!! Hope you get some better rest tonight, dear:)

  13. it’s all about the peanut butter and jelly oats…LOVE that stuff!

  14. I know this will shock you, but I am a microwave oat girl too! I measure though cause I like it to be consistent and I am notorious for letting them boil over. I normally do unsweetened applesauce and cinnamon with almond milk, but lately ’tis the season for pumpkin!

  15. Definitely microwave, em. Been awhile, though. When I eat them, it’s almost always with peanut butter and 1/2 a banana.

    Recently? I’ve been living on Cinnamon Total with soy milk. I know, I know, the health bloggers of the world would be horrified…cereal…gasp! But, y’know what? 4g of fiber and 100% of my daily calcium is really darn helpful to this pg, lactose-intolerant gal right now!

  16. I actually prefer cold oats to hot ones. I didn’t eat a lot of oats until I tried Overnight Oats.

    I like to make them with almond milk and dried cherries or cranberries, or dark chocolate almond milk and banana … always with a little almond or peanut butter mixed in.

  17. Great cartoon!

    I truly wish I liked oats. I have tried. On more than one occasion. Sad! My go-to breakfast is egg, turkey bacon and cheese on an english muffin!

  18. I like my oats with almond milk,cinnamon, bananas, and a topping of almond butter or pecan butter. I microwave them!

  19. Allie Finch says:

    Lately I have been making my oats with tea.
    http://aroadmorebalanced.wordpress.com/2010/10/25/meal-planning-over-tea-d-oats/
    Love it!
    My favorite combination so far is zhena’s gypsy, ambrosia plum, with cranberries.
    I am partial to rooibos tea but love the above as well as irish breakfast, silver needles jasmine, homemade chai…it really just depends on the moment!

  20. April B says:

    I love oats in the morning! My fave is to make them on the stovetop with either almond or soy milk, but most days, I bring a packet to work and cook it in the microwave. I like a brand called RAW because it’s whole oats with wheatberries and seems heartier than the old standard. For toppings, I love Peanut Butter, chocolate almond butter, and a little granola plus a pinch of salt. Such a delicious, filling breakfast!
    Hope you get some rest today and feel better!

  21. Leashieloo says:

    I’m very fond of fruit and PB in my oatmeal. Oats in a jar are about the greatest thing ever invented so I that’s actually may favorite way to eat them.

  22. Sarah says:

    Oats are one of my favorite foods 🙂 Right now I’m loving pumpkin mixed with greek yogurt dumped into microwave cooked oats. I love the texture from the microwave. And yay for five minute attention spans.

  23. Eden says:

    I’m sorry you didn’t get much sleep. At least you had some delicious oat ideas to get up too.
    I (gasp) am not a fan of oatmeal. I never had it as a kid and I feel like I need to add all sorts of things to make it edible for me. I love nutella and berries and cinnamon and all those ideas. But i like THEM and not so much the oats, so I always figure I should just have a big bowl of oatmeal toppings.
    I’m like simple teas like english breakfast or earl gray with a little fresh ginger grated in. the one thing I can’t stomach is green tea. I need to put like half a cup of honey when I have it!

  24. I like oats, but not like how everyone on blogs is obsessed with them. The best thing I ever tried on top? Ice cream.

  25. of COURSE oats are my THANG!! haha I love how versitile they can be!! a bowl of oats can transform into something so complex by adding mix ins and toppings! I love adding cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla extract to my oats. I mix in some eggwhites (cooked separately) and some fresh berries as well! I like to top my oats with a drizzle of syrup for some sweetness 🙂

  26. That cartoonie is hilarious. I HATED being prego and hated labor even more. I did not know it was even POSSIBLE for a human being to have pain THAT intense. Shall never go there again!!
    Sorry to hear you slept really bad last night and were so uncomfy. 🙁 You’re almost there, girl. It won’t be long at all!!
    Heh – I always use the microwave to make oatmeal, too. Have never even THOUGHT of using the stove!

    • Tina says:

      Everything was SO easy with Makenzie – pregnancy and delivery. I admit to already being a bit fearful of the delivery for this one if the pregnancy is any indication.

  27. I love this! I’m not oat obsessed but I’ve been trying to eat them more often since they are full of good stuff, filling, and cheap. Thanks for all the good topping ideas! 🙂

  28. I couldn’t get into making my own oatmeal last year but I loved the packaged stuff. I finally figured out how to make it so I like them, but I am going to try using 50% power to make them even better. Great tip!

  29. Kasey says:

    Love the cartoon!
    My go-to bfast is whole grain cereal (usually Kashi), skim milk, & fruit. Hot green tea (Tazo’s Zen) is my absolute favorite.

  30. rebecca says:

    hello
    are you aware that you have advertising pop ups now?
    I love your blog, but everytime I visit they pop up, and it is sadly very annoying.
    sorry tina, not sure if you knew

    • Tina says:

      Pop ups? I didn’t know anything about pop ups. I’ve never seen any. Thanks for letting me know. It might be something with the publishing network that I’m sure I can adjust.

    • Tina says:

      I just wanted to let you know that I just changed that setting with my publishing network. I thought I had already opted out of the survey ads, especially since I had never seen one, but apparently that box wasn’t clicked. So sorry about that! I definitely don’t want being involved in the ad network to affect my site negatively in any way. 🙂

  31. I love oats for breakfast!!
    I really like them with bananas and coconut butter. Maybe a little honey on top. YUM!!

  32. Sara says:

    Green teas are my favorite, I think … and I’m not that big on oats, but I want to try a breakfast cookie with them! (I like oats raw more.)

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