Obsessed With Oats

By Tia Rockland

Anyone who knows me well is aware of my deep passion and love for oats. They truly are a staple part of my daily routine, as I start my day with a warm bowl of oatmeal most days of the week. They are incredibly versatile and add both texture and flavor into the meals and baked goods they are incorporated into. Some may call me boring for going on day 100 of eating oats for breakfast, but let me explain to you all why I am so obsessed. 

When someone mentions that oats give you that nice energy boost, they are not lying as oats are packed full of complex carbs that slowly release throughout the day. It’s true! Oats have healthy soluble fiber that keeps you full for hours. They even help lower your blood pressure and control your blood sugar levels. But truthfully, the endless list of health benefits that accompany oats is only one of the many reasons I love them. 

How could one get bored with oats when you can make them so many different ways? Of course, you have your classic steamy bowl of rolled oats, which takes approximately two minutes to make in the microwave. This has been my go-to in college so far, as nothing beats its simplicity and ease. My favorite part is topping the oats to perfection with whatever ingredients I happen to have laying around. These often include cacao nibs, chia seeds, coconut flakes, cinnamon, and you can’t forget about a diced-up banana. Also, I find that drizzling peanut butter, or any nut butter for that matter, on top of the final creation is the perfect way to complete the bowl.

Next up we have baked oatmeal. At home, whenever I judged that I had enough time, I would bake my oats. All it takes is 25 minutes in an oven to turn that porridge-like consistency into a crispy delight. I typically combine one mashed banana, ½ cup of oats, and ½ cup of almond milk with a splash of vanilla, baking powder, and cinnamon. Then, I pour the mixture into a container and throw it in the oven at 350 degrees and wait until she is cooked till perfection. Feel free to top off your baked oats with nut butter because, let’s be honest, you can never go wrong with some extra peanut butter in life. 

Oats are not just for breakfast. All it takes is a quick search on the internet of “baked goods with oats” and millions of fun recipes appear. Over quarantine, I experimented with dozens of dessert oat recipes and found many that I loved. Personally, I like the subtle nutty texture that oats add to “healthier” baked goods, particularly ones that are sweetened naturally with bananas rather than refined sugar. I recommend you test out many recipes that involve oats, but if you’re feeling overwhelmed by all of the options, my advice would be to stick with ones that combine oats with bananas, chocolate, and peanut butter. This combination never, and I mean never, can go wrong.

To be completely transparent with you all, I go to bed thinking about the oatmeal I am going to make in the morning. I am undoubtedly on “Oat TikTok,” which essentially means that my for you page is filled with people sharing their favorite oatmeal recipes and toppings. My Snapchat memories contain dozens of pictures of my oat creations and bowls I am proud of. At this point, I sometimes question whether my obsession with oats has become unhealthy, but that’s beside the point. If oats have never been your thing, I strongly suggest you give them another try with one of the methods mentioned above. Prepare yourself to become just as obsessed as I am.