For some of us, eating instant oatmeal or overnight oats plain without any mix-ins is just plain boring. Mixing in spices, fruits, nuts, and other snacks can really bring variety and flavor to your healthy breakfast. Here are 9 of my favorite add-ons that you can rely on when you need to give your palate the boost that it needs.
- Fresh and dried fruits. A classic mix-in that gives a healthy boost of sugar and fiber to your diet. Apples, peaches, mangoes, pears, raspberries, cranberries, raisins, banana slices…the options are practically endless. I recommend chopping some of the larger fruits to make them more bitesize and not as intrusive.
- Pumpkin puree. It doesn’t have to be Thanksgiving to eat something so akin to pumpkin pie! Very easy to mix with oatmeal and provides a creamy, autumn taste.
- Apple cinnamon sauce. My personal favorite mix-in for any oatmeal type. Some brands of instant oatmeal use apple cinnamon as one of their flavors, but my suggestion is to mix in your own apple cinnamon sauce to plain oatmeal. It provides such a hearty and zesty taste that really makes you feel like you’re in the middle of October, surrounded by tons of fall foliage.
- Almond butter. Another great mix-in that leaves you feeling very satisfied, thanks to all the essential vitamins and healthy fats in this nut butter. This is a great option for those looking to lose weight due to its high fiber content. If you cannot afford almond butter, then peanut butter and tahini are viable alternatives.
- Chia seeds. Not only are they tiny, making them very easy to mix in, but they also contain omega-3 fatty acids and protein. I recommend putting a little bit more hot water to your oatmeal since chia seeds absorb some moisture.
- Milk chocolate chips. A dream for chocoholics, this option needs no explanation. Easy to put in, easy to combine with other foods, tastes amazing…what more can you ask for?
- Pasteurized egg whites. The bodybuilder’s option! If eating egg whites raw is too disgusting for you, then mixing it with oatmeal is perfect. You get your healthy carbs from the oatmeal and the amino acids from the egg whites. The best part about it is that it doesn’t compromise the flavor of oatmeal very much, if at all.
- Bleu Cheese crumbles. A rather unconventional option, but through personal experimentation, I found that it works great. The flavor of bleu cheese contrasts greatly with the oatmeal, providing an unparalleled taste that will keep you coming back for more.
- Any chopped nuts. Another classic mix-in, especially because nuts are very healthy for you. The most popular nuts used are pecans, almonds, walnuts, and cashews. I recommend purchasing chopped variants of the nuts you’re using, it will eliminate the hassle required when mixing them.
