I look forward to this breakfast every morning. Not only is it healthy, but it’s very tasty and it keeps me full for a while.

Here’s the ingredients:

1 packet maple & brown sugar instant oatmeal

1/2 cup 1% milk (you can use skim or fat-free and eat even less calories)

1 turkey sausage patty (I use the pre-cooked Jimmy Dean ones and all I have to do is heat it up cuz I’m lazy like that)

1 slice whole wheat bread

I heat the oatmeal and milk up for however long the packet says. Then, I cut up the turkey sausage patty into little cubes and throw them into my oatmeal. (I know this might sound kinda weird, but it’s really good. My 3-year-old little brother really likes it, too). Stir it up and use the unbuttered toast for dipping in your oatmeal, if you like. Or you can have no toast at all and save around 70 calories.

I like to keep my meals in the 400 calories vicinity and this one comes in at 375, so it’s perfect.

Since I’m talking about oatmeal, I wanted to throw in some interesting little tidbits about how it’s a weight loss power food. I started eating it a lot when I found out in high school that Halle Berry ate it every morning for breakfast. Who doesn’t want to look like Halle Berry? But, my information is coming from The Abs Diet. The author touts the unsweetened, unflavored variety (which I’m 100% sure is better for you), but I just can’t abandon my maple and brown sugar flavor. My life would be remiss. A piece of me gone. And it also means that I wouldn’t be bucking the system and we can’t have that now, can we?

The reason oatmeal keeps you full longer is that it contains soluble fiber, which attracts water and stays in your stomach longer than insoluble fiber (vegetables). This reduces your blood cholesterol because during digestion, your liver has to pull cholesterol from your blood in order to keep making digestive acids. Therefore, your bad cholesterol levels drop. You can’t beat that for an added bonus.

Doctors recommend 25-35 grams of fiber per day. I know I wasn’t getting that before I started eating healthier. The book says, “Fiber is like a bouncer for your body, kicking out troublemakers and showing them the door. It protects you from heart disease. It protects you from colon cancer by sweeping carcinogens out of the intestines quickly.”

You know what else it does? Maintains your blood sugar levels longer than many other foods. This keeps your insulin levels low, so you won’t be starving in 2 or 3 hours. This is amazing because when your insulin levels spike, your metabolism drops and sends a signal to your body that it’s time to start storing fat. Yeah…not good. That’s why oatmeal is so beneficial to a weight-loss plan.

So, folks, treat your body to some oatmeal today! If not for breakfast, throw some in a smoothie or use it as a late-night snack. You’ll feel good about the healthy decision and I will be happy.

An oatmeal enthusiast,

The Dairy Maid

Source : The Abs Diet by David Zinczenko. The recipe is adapted for my own personal preferences, though.