What are some good ways to add flavor to oatmeal without the calories?

Pumpkin with stevia and cinnamon.

A quarter cup of canned pumpkin is 14 calories and counts as a half cup veggies.

I've replaced my ~450g $5 Kashi Go Lean Crunch with 1kg $2.29 Quacker Oatmeal and LOVE IT.

My Favourites: 1 sliced apple with cinnamon, 1 sliced banana and cinnamon, 1 sliced banana with 1 tbs peanut butter (special treat since the cals,) 1/2 cup pumpkin puree with pumpkin pie spice, sugar free maple syrup You could also add like nutmeg, or allspice for some more kick and no cals. Oh I use a splash of Vanilla extract in mine everyday. You could try Maple extract or Almond Extract.

My NEW favourite is using Nestle's Summer Peach Ice Tea packets!! This does have splenda, but I use half a normal amount and it gives a sweet peach taste to oatmeal. I've considered now trying different Crystal Light flavours and see how those taste.

The Quacker Oatmeal site has 30 topping ideas. http://www.quakeroatmeal.com/qo_quakerKitchen /toppers/index.cfm

I had the same problem. I have actually gone the natural way and had a teaspoon of pure honey. I also add flaxseed for the health benefit. Sometimes I add some lowfat granola.

I like a tablespoon of flax seed and fresh fruit (apple, strawberry, banana, peaches, plums, raspberries,  mango, etc.)too.

nutmeg or allspice or both! would also be good. or vanilla or almond flavoring.

this is an interesting recipe I found that sounds good :) I didn't calculate the calories but I can't imagine that it would add many on top of the oatmeal since it's mostly spices. and a whole mango is about 135 cal. but that's a lot of mango!

Chai Spiced Oatmeal with Mango

oatmeal

1/2 tsp vanilla

dash of salt

dash of cinnamon

dash of ginger

1/2 dash of cloves

1/2 dash cardamom

sprinkle of black pepper

1/3- 1/2 mango, in small chunks

Measure oatmeal into a microwave safe bowl and add appropriate amount of water. Add salt and spices.

Microwave according to oatmeal instructions.

Top with mango chunks and stir. Let stand for a minute or two; mango will become tender and juicy.

Sprinkle with a bit of sugar and top with milk, if desired.

Any flavor of jam you like.  I eat mine with blackberry jam every morning.  1 Tbsp is 45 calories, if you got the sugar free kind it would probably be even less.

add a couple tablespoons of applesauce, chopped dates and apricot preserves. Mmmmm...............

Hi! When I make my oatmeal I add a teaspoon of organic all natural peanut butter( essentially just smooshed peanuts!) for protein and flavor as well as a small handful of craisins (a great source of vitamin C). By doing this, I needn't add any sugar as the peanut butter and craisins add a nice touch. Sometimes I add a little light vanilla soymilk if its a bit too thick but its usually so good I just eat it as is. Hope this helps!

Frozen berries and some milk...typically frozen berries as they defrost are a bit gooshy, so when they're mixed in with oatmeal it doesn't bug me and they usually have enough of a flavor that it's great, I add a bit of milk for sweetness.

A tsp of cocoa powder!

With strawberries and/or banana slices (banana split oatmeal!)

I like to add the sugar free caramel vanilla coffee creamer to my oatmeal. The hazelnut creamer gives it a good flavor too!

Original Post by meleba:

Stevia! It's an all natural, plant made sweetener with no calories. Expensive, but a little goes a long way. Add that to your peach cinnamon stuff and I bet it'd be wonderful.

Salt is also good.

Meleba, can you bake with stevia? I heard good things about it.

This might sounds strange but try savory oatmeal. I was trying to cut down using artificial sweeteners and came up with this combination: Add in a splash of soy sauce and some scallions after the oatmeal is done cooking. Then after it cools for around a minute garnish with more scallions for an added crunch. It has a congee type of taste(atleast i would imagine, never had congee). Also for some added protein you can mix in a couple uncooked eggwhites and continuely stir the oatmeal until the egg whites are cooked, there will be streaks of cooked egg throughout the oatmeal. Then after the eggs are cooked ass the other ingrediants. Definitely a different way to eat oatmeal ^^

I didn't ask the question but Great suggestions... thanks

I have mine dry - I don't like it cooked. I chop fresh fruit through it when in season (currently strawberries and blackberries) and I like tinned pears too. Then I'll add a sprinking of trail mix w/almonds for protein and good fat. Super filling, it gets me through til lunch

I add a little vanilla extract, cinnamon and brown sugar (about 1/2 tspn or less of each).

This makes the oatmeal very tasty with very little added calories. Just make sure you cook it till boiled and stir it well.

Nathan3

Sugar-free Nesquik powder, choco-oatmeal!

I Love Oatmeal. I try t oget trader Joe's oatmeals that are graet tasting and good for you. You can add blue berries to oatmeal and that's pretty healthy for you.  Perhaps a little tiny drizzle of honey does the trick too....beware of the type of oatmeal you're buying (i.e Quaker oats isn't the best for you....try a steel cut oatmeal....or one from whole foods or traderjoe's...theyr'e better than the ones that are garbage andfull of sugars....) good luck! I eat oatmeal every day....Oatmeals that are full of Fiber are great too....Try Trader Joe's heart healthy wholegrain blue berry!

1/2 cup of traditional oats made with 3/4 c. water (115 cal)

add one container of flavored Nonfat yogurt (70 cal)

add small sliced banana (~80)

add a dash of cinnamon to taste and you have a delicious low calorie breakfast.

diced apples and goji berries :)

oameal with a scrambled egg mixed in and seasoning (i like spike seasoning)

oatmeal with vanilla extract, cimmanin, and ground cloves

i liked your suggestion of making oatmeal with tea... maybe chai tea would be good