Clean Eating Gingerbread Oatmeal Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you sweeten oatmeal without sugar? ›

High-sugar toppings like chocolate, syrup, and dried fruit

As Best points out, "some of the worst ingredients that are mistakenly added to healthy overnight oat recipes include chocolate sauce, sugar, syrup, and dried fruit."

Fresh fruit will add fiber, vitamins, minerals and some sweetness to your oatmeal. Fruit's fat-soluble vitamins like A, E and K will best absorb if you add in a fat source like nuts, which will also add extra fiber and protein.

In medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Stir in oats. Cook uncovered over medium heat, 1 minute for Quick Oats, 5 minutes for Old Fashioned Oats, stirring occasionally. Stir together almond butter, honey, cinnamon and ginger, adding water 1 tablespoon at a time if mixture seems too thick.

Natural sweeteners, such as Stevia and monk fruit sweeteners, may provide health benefits over refined sugar. Benefits may include lower blood pressure and blood sugar. Reducing your intake of refined sugar can be tough, but given how incredibly harmful sugar can be, it's definitely worth the effort ( 1 ).

Oats contain phytic acid, an antinutrient that is known to interfere with the absorption of the vitamins and minerals from oats into your body. So, you need to include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet to make up for the possible nutritional loss.

If you need to add a sweetener besides fresh fruit, opt for a natural one like maple syrup or honey. They're still high in sugar and calories, but at least they come with the benefit of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Oats can cause gas and bloating. To minimize side effects, start with a low dose and increase slowly to the desired amount. Your body will get used to oat bran and the side effects will likely go away. When applied to the skin: Lotion containing oat extract is possibly safe to use on the skin.

Both oatmeal and granola make for a healthy, nutritious breakfast, but the winner for us is granola—the added nuts, seeds, and dried fruits give you a source of fiber and healthy fats that oatmeal can't quite compete with.

What is the healthiest oatmeal in 2024? ›

Steel-Cut Oats Are the Least Processed

They're chewy, highly textured, and take up to 30 minutes to cook. They also boast a natural, nutty profile and more fiber content compared to the milder rolled or quick oats - though there really isn't too much difference in their overall nutritional value.

Some people may prefer to cook oats with water, especially those who are lactose intolerant to avoid any digestive issues. For those who can consume dairy, using milk can enhance the overall flavor, protein content, and creaminess of an oatmeal bowl compared to using water.

Possible Interactions

Blood-thinning medications: Ginger may increase the risk of bleeding. Talk to your doctor before taking ginger if you take blood thinners, such as warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), or aspirin. Diabetes medications: Ginger may lower blood sugar.

Avoid using ginger together with other herbal/health supplements that can lower blood sugar, such as alpha-lipoic acid, chromium, damiana, devil's claw, fenugreek, garlic, guar gum, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, psyllium, Siberian ginseng, and others.

Eating oatmeal with cinnamon can bring several benefits according to Ayurvedic principles. Oats are considered nourishing and easy to digest, providing sustained energy without taxing the digestive system. Cinnamon, in Ayurveda, is believed to enhance digestion, support metabolism, and balance blood sugar levels.

Whip in Thinly Sliced Banana for Creamy Sweetness

This is what Kath Younger, R.D., describes as “the ideal bowl of oatmeal.” “The banana helps make the oatmeal sweeter and creamier without the use of table sugar or cream,” she says. Use a ripe banana and slice it thinly, then whisk it into the oats as they cook.

Sweeteners like fresh fruit, monk fruit extract, raw honey, pure maple syrup, coconut sugar, and blackstrap molasses can help satisfy a sweet tooth while providing other nutritional benefits. Many natural sweeteners contain vitamins and minerals that can support your overall health.

“Whole grains are beneficial and healthy foods, and I can say that oatmeal is definitely beneficial,” Qi Sun, assistant professor of nutrition, said in the same article. As long as it's sugar-free, “eating oatmeal for breakfast is a good choice.”

Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, allspice, mace, cardamom and star anise are commonly associated with sweetness. These spices are often used in baked goods and pair especially well with fruit dishes. Vanilla extract can also make food seem sweeter, perhaps due to its aroma.