Call me a bad mother; call me strict or no fun! But, when our children were small much of the way through those early years from 4 on, we served a warm breakfast based on oats the children helped me roll many, many mornings! We usually added eggs or chicken sausage or both and fruit. A glass of milk topped it off.
It wasn’t because I was a perfect or very disciplined mother, but rather because we had been exposed to mold (I didn’t know it yet) and began having health issues (big ones). I was forced to find out how to get us well. It is a l.o.n.g story and won’t get into it now, but I was scared with good reason and just had to begin with what we ate. At some point we had to do a rotation diet, but it started us on the road to eating very healthy…as best I could by reading/studying and prayer.
I know some people think oatmeal is gruel or lifeless grey porridge, but I want to encourage you to try the real thing! To this very day, we all love freshly rolled groats soaked overnight to remove the antinutrient (phytic acid). Warming and highly digestible, it made breakfast something we all looked forward to. The Marga oat roller works very well.
Our boys, in particular, will tell you that a big, steaming bowl of oatmeal will satisfy for a long time. What homeschooling mother would want her children to be hungry again at 11AM? What mother won’t go do what she has to do to solve a health mystery puzzle? I believe we were more productive, and that’s why we still make it after so many years.
Soak overnight. Acid-rich water must be poured off.
I think of oatmeal and oatbread as a comfort food with health built in. Slather it with organic butter and raw honey or maple syrup, and it is {honestly} delicious. In Scotland, oats are held in high esteem, nourishing a robust people and fabulous draft horses alike.
A bit of research on oats found some neat things:
1.) New research has discovered that the antioxidants in oats reduce cholesterol by reducing the ability of blood cells to stick to the inside of artery walls.
2.) Eating oats can spread the rise in blood sugars over a longer time period. Control of blood glucose and insulin levels is essential in preventing many of the complications associated with diabetes.
3.) Oats, like other grains and vegetables, contain hundreds of phytochemicals (plant chemicals). Many phytochemicals are thought to reduce a person’s risk of getting cancer. Phytoestrogen compounds, called lignans, in oats have been linked to decreased
risk of hormone-related diseases such as breast cancer.
4.) Oatmeal is a significant sources of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber and helps avoid a toxic build-up with regular elimination.
5.) A serving of whole oats rich in soluble fiber can reduce hypertension, or high blood pressure, and so reduce the need for anti-hypertensive medication. Nearly 1 in 3 American adults has high blood pressure.
6.) New research suggests that children between ages 2-18 years old who have a constant intake of oatmeal lowered their risk of obesity. The research found that the children who ate oatmeal were 50% less likely to become overweight, when compared to those children that did not eat it.
7.) Oats have one of the best amino acid profiles of any grain. Oats are a good source of essential vitamins such as thiamin, folic acid, biotin, pantothenic acid and vitamin E. They also contain zinc, selenium, copper, iron, manganese and magnesium.
8.) Oat beta glucan also speeds up immune response to infection.
Cut up some fruit or add walnuts or raisins to top it and make it pretty.
I have always loved this saying and we try to implement it whenever we can ~“Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, supper like a pauper.” Eat a big breakfast and lunch and try to go to bed on an empty stomach. This principle is good for weight control and longevity. Let your body heal and restore at night, not digest your late meal.
Eating oatmeal certainly wasn’t the only thing we did or the magic bullet for our problems. I was very tired and fearful through it all, but it was the path the Lord lead us on. Now I am thankful in hindsight. We learned so much, and it taught our young people sound health principles to take into their own families someday.
Oats can be purchased gluten-free. Problems occurs for some people when they are processed on gluten contaminated equipment. Bob’s Red Mill is one good source to solve this problem ~their whole factory is gluten-free.
So don’t resort to Pop-Tarts or boxed cereal for breakfast. You can get control of your mornings, begin to head towards greater health, and feed your family a meal which will really satisfy. By soaking overnight you are half the way there. This cooks up in less than 8 minutes…truly a fast food!
Just pour off the soaking water. It will be milky. Retain only the oats and set aside. For every 1 cup of oats you soaked, boil 1 cup of water and add 1/4 tsp. sea salt. (Each 1 cup oats should feed 2-4 people) Once the water is at a rolling boil add the oats and stir until oatmeal consistency. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes with lid on. Serve hot with cinnamon, and the toppings of your choice.
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Welcome Back, Everyone!!
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” ~1Thessalonians 5: 11
Rules for this Link up:
1.) Please use the Linky Tools below to link up an encouraging post that will help other families grow stronger! This could include topics such as: character-building or homemaking skills, cleaning, cooking, gardening, an alternative medicine tip, devotions, a special photo, scripture, or any other topic that would be of encouragement to someone.
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3.) If you are unable for some reason to put the button in your post, please make sure you link back to this post!
4.) Visit a fellow blogger who linked-up and give an affirming comment on their post. Spread the word so we can learn more ideas on keep our families growing! If you’re not participating today, I hope you’ll come back & join in next week!
~ Jacqueline
Wow! We even eat the same things. Your breakfast looks amazing! Wonderful post.
I have never soaked our oats before preparing them. And we’ve never rolled our own. I’m going to have to look into this. We serve oats at least 2 or 3 times a week for breakfast and it would be good to optimize the nutritional value! Thank you!
Love all the info about oats. We have eat oats for breakfast several times each week. I didn’t see the Linky tool at the bottom this week?
Jacqueline I can’t believe it! This is the first morning in MONTHS that I have fed the children cold cereal! LOL! Guilt guilt:)
I love love love oatmeal. You make it nice and thick just how I like it! Thank you for the list of nutritional benefits, some of those are new to me.
Dana: LOL! That was funny.
We’re transitioning away from cold cereal. Right now that means rotating breakfast smoothies, oatmeal, and raisin bran. Never tried soaking the oats though. I will try that!
I’ve always liked oats, but, sadly, not oatmeal… yet I’m liking the looks of fresh fruit with it. I shall have to try that sometime.
P.S. I know of a beautiful new photograph of you for your sidebar. It makes me smile. Oh, and you might just find it here.
Hey, that is a lovely photo. Congrats on your new sphere of influence, my friend. May you be a blessing to many!
We’ve never bought gf oatmeal but eat buckwheat grits instead. Yum! I cook it on the stove top in milk, stirring a lot, and that gives me just enough time to do all my exercises. Before breakfast too! I love that.
Have a wonderful week.
Annie Kate
This breakfast looks wonderful! I need to get into the soaking thing myself.
Hello!
I was getting back with you about linking our cookbook on oats. We would be delighted if you would link our ebook! Here is the link to the cookbook http://www.thetheologyoffood.com/p/buy-oats-e-cookbook.html
Please stop by our site again soon!
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Jacqueline, the breakfast looks fantastic. I love soaking my oatmeal. I first learned about soaking overnight when I read Jordan Rubin’s book – The Maker’s Diet.
I linked up an article called Simply Begin – Resolutions for a Mother.
Thank you, friend.
Hi Jackie,
Even if I didn’t love oatmeal, which I do, I’d be won over by that post! And your beautiful photos make it look too yummy! I don’t know how steal cut oats compare for health benefits, but I do love those, too. Thanks for signing up for my blog!
Connie, I thought I had signed up a long while ago, so it surprised me to see it undone. I love to read your edifying and lovely posts!
Looks like a fantastic breakfast – great images.
Happy MM
Thanks for the post! I’m new to your blog and just read this. So, if we are not going to roll our own oats…do we use steel-cut oat groats or old-fashioned oats? I’ve never been an oatmeal person until using steel-cut oats, and honestly, when I soak them overnight I don’t like how mushy they are. Any thoughts?
We often use organic old-fashioned rolled…we get them at Trader Joe’s. Occasionally, we use steel cut and like them just fine, but we REALLY love the old-fashioned, soaked overnight oats. I hope you find what pleases you, and after time, most likely, your tastes will just change
love your posts, site, blog whatever it is. Was wondering about the steel cut oats. Should they also be soaked overnight. I have been cooking them for about 20 min. making enough for a few days. So, when i jump up in the morning and am in a hurry, the oats are ready. I usually add cinnamon and raisin, sometimes a dash of cloves, or ginger.
Ginger,
Welcome~ and thank you for your kind word of encouragement
Yes, the steel cut oats should be soaked as well as the rolled (maybe longer b/c of their thickness~ overnight really should do it). Phytic acid is in every grain and binds up nutrients. You can soak and still make enough for several, three days. Actually, we do that, too, and it gets slightly fermented and very, very delicious and ‘good for you’! OOh, the spices sound warm and yummy :_]