Baby, it’s cold outside, and it’s perfect weather for a warm bowl of oatmeal.  If you want the best tasting fat-free oatmeal, use steel-cut oats.  They are healthier because they use the whole grain.  That means they include the bran with all that fiber, the germ with all the B vitamins and iron, and the endosperm which is the energy source.  Traditional oatmeal, like Quaker instant oats, are rolled, not steel cut.  As a result, they’ve been steamed, toasted, and rolled, and as a result, they’ve lost most of their taste and some of their nutritional value.  A cup of steel cut oats has more fiber and fewer calories than a bran muffin.  They also have a bit of a nutty, crunchy texture.  If you’ve never had them, you’re in for a treat.

Yes, they take longer to cook.  If you use the microwave, it will take you 10 minutes, but you can always get dressed while they cook.  They are worth the extra time.  There are some new varieties that only take five minutes, but I haven’t tried them yet.  Because of the higher fiber content, they will fill you up and keep you from wanting to snack on those doughnuts sitting out at the office.

My personal favorite brand is McCann’s, and you can find them at many grocery stores, including Amazon’s grocery store.  I usually add some Splenda brown sugar blend or some Craisins, but feel free to add what you like or eat them plain.

Cheers!