7 Easy Oatmeal Upgrades

Oats — cheap, easy to make and versatile — those hearty grains make for one mean breakfast! At Fit Bottomed Eats, we love us some oats and today, on National Oatmeal Day, we’re positively feeling ‘em!
To mark the occasion, we’ve got seven easy oatmeal upgrades for you to try — one for each day of the week! It doesn’t matter which type of oats you choose — steel cut, rolled or quick — just follow the cooking instructions on the package. Milk makes for a creamier bowl of porridge, but use water if you prefer.
Fruit Cobbler Special: Prepare oatmeal. Near the end of cooking time stir in ½ cup cooked apple or pear, chopped fresh peaches, seasonal blackberries — you get the idea — and top with a quarter cup of your favorite crunchy granola.
Tropical Dreamer: Replace half of the cooking liquid with whole unsweetened coconut milk (the kind from the can). Add pineapple tidbits; heat through and sprinkle with toasted coconut.
Happy Camper: Prepare oatmeal, use vanilla almond milk in place of water. Immediately toss in a handful of mini chocolate chips and stir so that some of the chips begin to melt. Top with crumbled graham cracker pieces and mini marshmallows.
Southern Comfort: Replace the cooking water with buttermilk and prepare oatmeal as usual. Stir in a medley of dried, chopped apricots, dates and prunes. Sprinkle with toasted pecans and serve with a little honey or orange marmalade.
Hungry Man: Prepare oatmeal. Top with a poached egg, crumbled and cooked bacon, two tablespoons ricotta cheese and a teaspoon of real maple syrup.
Mexican Muscle Builder: Prepare oatmeal, use almond milk in place of water. Add one serving chocolate protein powder, one tablespoon unsweetened cocoa, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and a dash of cayenne pepper.
Savory Sensation: Cook oats in chicken broth instead of water. Stir in a teaspoon of both sesame seed oil and soy sauce. Add a handful of baby spinach to hot pot, cover (away from the heat) and allow spinach to wilt; season with sea salt and pepper to taste.
You just can’t beat a bowl of hot oats for breakfast, but if you don’t like to eat your breakfast with a spoon, try this recipe and get your daily dose of fiber in a muffin instead!
How do you take your oats, straight up or fancy? My favorite breakfast is Irish oats with Greek yogurt for extra protein and dried fruit. —Karen