Decided to take up my dad’s challenge to have oats for breakfast everyday for a month. There goes my usual mouth watering breakfast fare of nasi lemak, chee cheong fun, fried noodles, roti-cannai, dim sum, etc.
Though I have always known the benefits of calcium (especially more for women) and also oats, I’ve been sort of in denial-mode, unwittingly associated them as ‘old/sick people food’ thus avoiding them as in my mind – hey, I’m still young and just really don’t need them…well not just yet anyway!!! Ha ha ha….
As you know time usually makes a mockery of us all, moving all too quickly than we realize.
Though I have always known the benefits of calcium (especially more for women) and also oats, I’ve been sort of in denial-mode, unwittingly associated them as ‘old/sick people food’ thus avoiding them as in my mind – hey, I’m still young and just really don’t need them…well not just yet anyway!!! Ha ha ha….
As you know time usually makes a mockery of us all, moving all too quickly than we realize.
Now, to be healthy and stay physically young in the body (and not just in the mind), time to UP my intake of calcium and fibre!!!
Day 1 saga…..my first cook out with oats ended in quite a disaster.
First of all my colleague has a blue bag of oats, bother – cos that means I have too ‘cook’ it compared to the red bag which is instant. For first timers it can be a little confusing as both red and blue bag shouts seem to shout ‘instant’ but in fact the blue one requires a little cooking over the stove or microwave. Hm…actually both bags requires cooking, now I’m totally confused. Anyway, poured about 4 tbsp of oats into some hot water and based on the instructions on the bag, I can microwave it for 2.5 min which I did. But since I hardly use this MW, as you guessed (intentionally or unintentionally) ¾ of my breakfast exploded into the MW – bother, more cleaning up!!!
Much to my surprised, I enjoyed what’s left of the oats – probably worked up an appetite cleaning up the mess earlier!
Ps. I find this vanilla flavoured low fat Anlene Concentrate milk rather sweet so it pairs just nicely with the bland oats.
Add sufficient milk to your oats and mix to the consistency you like. I prefer it water down and not thick like porridge.Other ways to jazz up oats – condense milk, fresh milk, sprinkling of sugar, egg white, honey, maple syrup, marmite, etc. You can also try the 'Super' health mix comprising oats, wheat germ, lecithin and grounded flax seed. *sounds very healthy huh, er...I'll slowly work there*
Hm….its long pass breakfast but I’m debating now whether I should have just a little more. Surprising huh, especially since I was dreading a little that this challenge would be a difficult one! Should be a walk in the park, erm….anyone care to jump in the band wagon for a month full of tasty wholesome goodness in a spoon, cup, mug or bowl? Your choice.
12 comments:
Being a choc lover, I have oats with hot chocolate or Milo. Sometimes I have it while enjoying a pack of nasi lemak. *_*
Hiyas! Been following your blog after finding your link from the Mothering Corner blog.
Anyway, good for you! I actualy don't like eating oats by itself so I usually take it with a mix. Previously, I take it as a muesli mix but now, I tend to take Weetabix. Mueslis and Weetabix are more expensive than oats but I just can't stomach taking it alone.
My colleague takes the Red Bag Oats at work. She just pours hot water in. Same as my Grandmother.
For higher calcium intake, I've stop taking in too much milk and have sinced relied on calcium tablets.
Also, I take natural brown rice vinegar to regulate the acid-alkali body balance. I never used to believe in this stuff until a couple of months ago. Got a shock that this actually works. If you can manage the acid-alkali balance in your body, you can stop osteoporosis. Milk doesn't help because it's too acidic.
Anlene is expensive but it is very sweet compared to other types of milk. Well, except HL Milk which has vanilla flavouring that makes it taste like ice-cream.
being a coffee person, I definitely overlooked the joys of chocolate, milo and horlicks - I'm sure they all pair well with oats.
Double combo - great idea 3lilangels!!! tks
emm...i doubt...i doubt...u can survive the 1 month, hahaha coz i'm so sure i can't survive myself, LOL!! i knew oats r good but i just hate it :( cham mou?
I drink the Anlene milk quite often...quite nice but sweet hor!!
Not only survive one month, I have to survive for rest of my life! :( Have high blood pressure (Stage 2 hypertension BAD) so have to lose weight and clean up diet. Now it's very clean. Haha!
Ok, checking with my colleague, she just puts hot water and let it sit for 1-2 min. If you wanna hit it up in the microwave, heat it for 30 secs. That should be enough for the water to be warm. If not, try in intervals of 10 secs so that it doesn't explode. :)
I don't take Milo or the premix hot chocolate because there are too much hidden fat and sugar in there. If you really want to have homemade Milo, put 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder in fresh milk and zap in microwave for 30-40 sec. Trick from my sister and it works!
Oats are good yes but you don't have to eat it by itself. You can mix it with fresh fruits, dried fruits, wheat bran, etc. :) I hate eating oats by itself.
Hmm...why are you eating oats anyway? You never mentioned?
jacss, its been 3 days so far ok. Might mix it up a little based on suggestions by others...sounds interesting.
But not sure how long my will power will actually last.
Like u I'm not keen on oats at all. The mention of it and i'll start frowning, shaking my head and distance myself as far away as possible. Maybe u throw in some chili padi or sambal and that could entice u a little??! ha ha ha Anyway u suppose to eat healthier now right :)
The milk option so far has been acceptable - hm, maybe my taste bud is changing its mind on oats after all.
Hi Wena, tks so much for sharing your thoughts and many suggestions on oats and also how to cook it - am slowly discovering that i don't need 1 min in the MW, like u said, about 30sec should be ok. Sounds like you are an oats expert - u make oats sound and taste interesting!!! REally need all the encouragement.
Weetabix and museli...wow in my books u are definitely in the healthy category. Haven't worked up the taste for weetbix yet though I've been told its tasty. One step at a time i suppose.
I find just plain oats and water a little difficult - too bland for my taste. Feel like a kid, need to be coax and a sweeteener!! ha ha ha
Calcium pills, tks for your reminder, er...think i got 5 bottles still sitting in the fridge!!
Brown rice vinegar - where do u get that? Do u take it like apple cider - 1tbsp a day with water?
Agree that Anlene is expansive but for a 125ml tub, can make at least 3 half cups of oats. So maybe not too bad, but anyhow thinking of other ways and other types of milk to 'jazz up' oats so it will not be too mundane. Needs a smiley face to entice me heh he he
There is no special reason why i decided to start eating oats. Just to be healthy - too much heavy and oily breakfast (typical of Msian big breakfast) is not too good in the long run. I suppose partly my dad's challenge and also spurred by the knowledge that my long time neighbour uncle has cancer of the intestine - very sad for the family.
Suppose if u don't look after yourself, nobody will. Best time to start and do something about it is TODAY! :)
Nah, I'm not that good. I got a wakeup call from hearth palpitations one day after Chap Goh Mei. And since heart problems and diabetes run in the family, it was time to clean my act together.
Did a one-month self-study and planning. Plus, learnt a lot from the Health and Fitness ppl from the Lowyat.net forum (although they can be blunt sometimes). :)
Oats help but that is based on the theory that you can use it to control the LDL cholesterol. It's not so effective once you read up more about what inflammation is and how it causes the increase of LDL cholesterol. Then it's more of eating more veggies and less fat and simple carbs. Now that's tougher than eating oats everyday. :)
Wena, glad u made a decision and stuck to it. Hope to learn more from u - will check out the forum u mentioned, tks.
Quick links. I'll post more later
Weight Loss & Eating Healthily : http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=978436
Oxidative Stress :
http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=987971
Okinawa Diet :
http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=1014220
Sorry about the short post. I had to rush and could only post those links. Myremi is me.
Errrm..thik I better stop posting here. Maybe too much info already! >.<
No worries Wen, find our enthusiasm strangely comforting. Would luv to know more :)
Post a Comment