Monday, January 28, 2013

Banana Split Oats (A Clean Eating Recipe)

Do you eat breakfast?  Of course you do, it's the most important meal of the day.  Right?  Ummmm....maybe not?  I mean, I know I eat breakfast, every single day, but I'll tell you right now it's not within the first hour of waking up in the morning.  I typically do my workout first thing in the morning, then I eat breakfast.  But I'm lucky, because I have the time to workout in the morning and then make a nice breakfast (but just so you know, I wake up at the crack of dawn so I do have the time to do those things in the morning!).

Does your breakfast include several different ingredients?



It doesn't have to.  I once had a client tell me that he "didn't have time for breakfast", and that all he ever eats in the morning before work is a piece of toast with peanut butter.  Um, hello, that's breakfast!  It doesn't have to be a gourmet meal, or even a meal at all, as long as it's something that will "break the fast".  A piece of toast and peanut butter is just fine.  But, if you have the extra time, why not get creative with your breakfast?!


I've tried many different oatmeal combinations in my time.  I love oatmeal, but lately I've been doing my Greek yogurt, granola, and blueberry combination, and leaving the oatmeal creations for Nick.  Here are some of my new and old favorite oatmeal creations (both for Nick and myself)....

Oatmeal, unsweetened almond milk, dark chocolate peanut butter, bananas, dry-roasted almonds


Oatmeal, pumpkin butter, and apples (I was very jealous as Nick ate this.....it's loaded with FODMAPs!)


One of my old favorite combinations (as in, I was addicted to this for two years.....); oatmeal, pumpkin puree, and peanut butter

Another addiction I used to have; Oatmeal, flavored Greek yogurt, almond butter, and cooked sweet potato.  Yes, it's true, I used to eat this all the time.  It is fantastic. I swear.

Anyway, after my addiction to oatmeal was over (I'm sure it will be back one day) and I handed it over to Nick, I thought I needed to come up with some new ideas so Nick could see that I haven't lost my talent for taking oatmeal to "the next level".  As I perused my latest issue of Clean Eating Magazine I was happy to find this recipe for Banana Split Oatmeal.  


Banana Split Oatmeal
Slightly modified from a Clean Eating Magazine recipe
Serves 1
Can be gluten free
Can be Vegan
Can be lower FODMAPs

Ingredients
1/2 cup Old-Fashioned rolled oats**
1-cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/8 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup canned diced pineapple, in light syrup, rinsed
1/4 cup sliced strawberries, organic if possible
1/4 banana, diced
1/2 ounce dark chocolate, finely chopped **
1 Tbsp raw walnut pieces
OPTIONAL:  Vanilla protein powder

Directions

Follow the directions on the oat container to make the oatmeal (typically says to mix the liquid and the oats and microwave for ~3 minutes.  Or use the stove-top).  Once cooked, mix in the vanilla extract and the vanilla protein powder, if using.  Top with the pineapple, strawberries, banana, chocolate, and walnuts.  Serve warm.

** Use gluten free oats if you want this to be gluten free

** Be sure your dark chocolate has zero milk ingredients if you want this to be vegan



This was heavenly (I tried a few bites of Nick's.  He's so kind)

I even thought it would be even more heavenly with some unsweetened coconut flakes on top.  Nick agreed.




QUESTION:  What's your favorite oatmeal combination??  Come on, you know you have one!



Thanks for reading!

The Candid Rd







11 comments :

  1. So pretty, I don't have oatmeal for breakfast but we do have an oatmeal at work with cacao nibs, goji berries in it that's pretty good. I like spice so cinnamon/cardamom/gingery flavors etc.

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  2. Oooo love the colors! I never put pineapple in my oats! Looks great :)

    Lately I've been replacing my oats with quinoa, just for something different. I'm kind of diggin' the texture. I love mashed banana or raspberries as my sweetener!

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    1. I have yet to dive into the sweet quinoa. I've heard it does replace oats well, and it's a bit higher in protein too....I believe. Also a bit more expensive though, I would think. Either way, it's something I need to try.

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  3. Mmmm, I like the sound of this! I like berries and vanilla protein in my oats.

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  4. I have to eat breakfast! And I really wish I had your motivation to get up every morning early enough to work out. I was on a running kick for awhile super early, and felt soo good about myself. But...it also felt torturous upon initially waking up, ha. I'll definitely be doing some morning runs though once the weather gets nice.

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  5. That's the thing about these so-called eating "rules" - they don't need to be rules at all! I think sometimes people read these "rules" that don't work for them and then give up. That's why I love flexibility :)

    You have some super yummy combo up there, Gina! My favorite oatmeal combination is peanut butter and frozen berries. Kind of like a modified PBJ :)

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  6. Yum! That sounds delicious. That reminds me that I wanted to get some frozen strawberries and blueberries to add to my oatmeal. My favorite combination is old fashioned oats, pumpkin, egg whites, and apple :)

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  7. wow -- yum!! everything looks so good. i'm a huge almond butter and pumpkin fan...oh, and cinnamon. LOTS of cinnamon.

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    1. Yep, I think almond butter and pumpkin is my favorite from the past, and will be brought back to my life one of these days! It's great in oats, but also with yogurt (greek especially)!

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  8. I've gotten away from eating oats,but my fave combo was coconut, dark chocolate chips and walnuts!

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