Need some oatmeal ideas using cafeteria food...?

I go to boarding school, and I am a big fan of cooking my own foods. Most of the time it's me taking bits of cooked meat for dinner and coming up with some awesome salad from the salad bar, or what mind you. However breakfast IS a challenge!

They serve oatmeal packets and at home I had oatmeal EVERY morning, but the toppings are limited here, and I can't cook it with milk like I would like to try! Anyways this is what I have availablef for toppings so I need some HEALTHY ideas here :)

Honey
Maple Syrup
Raisins
Peanut butter
Jam
Jelly
Brown Sugar
Salt
Artificial Sweetener
Fresh Apples
Fresh Bananas, Oranges
Diced  Pineapples
Plain Yogurt
Fruit-Flavored Yogurt
Occasionally strawberries and fruit cocktail

Could anyone give me some good ideas? Cook 1 plain packet, 2? Add what toppings, need some ideas ! :)

Oatmeal  with fresh sliced apples and raisins...I sprinkle cinnamon on mine...no sugar  this is one of my favorites ..I love the crunchy apple in the oatmeal...raisins are good but concentrated..don't need to over load..but they are sweet,  too!

Oatmeal with fresh sliced banana is good.....any nuts?

My grandpa use to have oatmeal and brown sugar every morning wtih butter....you'd have to figure out the amounts for your calorie intake...

Yogourt and diced pinapples any of the fruits go with yogourt..  Portion control...when in doubt don't take more then will fit in one fist (approx. 1/2)  I am sure you know what you like..but just look up the calories and become aware and you are covered..Good luck!  But you are doing the right thing...Breakfast is really important...makes all the difference through the day...

Or you could chop up the fresh apples, bing for 1 minute (best would be green apples) so they shrivel, kinda like apple pie filling, add to the oatmeal and cook them together.

I also love banana in oatmeal. but cook in in there. I use about half a banana for 30g oats, chop it up, sit it in there, and it goes mushy and warm. Its great!!

Doing the same with strawberries is good too. THen I top with any left over frsh fruit.

Can you get an egg? I heard of people putting and egg with their oatmeal and it going cakey!

You could also cut out the inside of the apple (core) but not all the way through, add a few raisins and some oatmeal and a sprinkle of brown sugar and microwave that until the appl eis mushy - baked apple.

Having PB in the morning is good - fills you up. But watch your portions! You could have a tbsp of PB with a sliced apple and banana.

Have fun and experiement but dont be afraid to use the microwave! I always cook fruit (like chopped strawberries) and add it to things

Not sure if you live on campus or off (guessing on) - however if you have access to a small dorm fridge/freezer (my friend had one in her dorm room), you could always go to a local grocery store, pick up some items like fresh fruit, nuts, etc and keep them in your room and then when it's mealtime, just bring the 1 or 2 items you need with you.  My friend did that all the time.  She also kept her own seasonings in her room (for example, Mrs. Dash, cinnamon, etc).

The suggestions you have received so far (fresh fruit in the oatmeal) is what I would have suggested.  If you like the taste of 'brown sugar and cinnamon' oatmeal, then maybe just a little drizzle of the maple syrup and/or brown sugar through the oatmeal might be good?  Personally I love banana in my oatmeal (and in my cold cereal) too.  I just bought some frozen fruit in packages.  Gonna warm them up and put them on oatmeal some time too.


EDIT:  just read it was 'boarding school', not 'away at school'... my bad... sorry about the mis-reading.

Breakfast is my fav meal and I'm a long time oat eater, both regular and Irish.

I absolutely have to have brown sugar on mine as my mother always put it on mine when I was a kid (I have 1/2 a tbsp).

If you're cooking it in the microwave (1 packet should be sufficient) you can add raisins and stir them in about 20 secs before it's done. Sometimes I add walnuts (my fav nut).

Canned peaches are divine on oatmeal, but I don't think you listed that.

I put vanilla soy, just a little on mine.

My grandfather used to put vanilla ice cream and maple syrup, though I don't think that's condusive to weight loss, haha!

Are the oatmeal packets the kind you just add hot water to, or are they microwaved?  If microwaved, you can cook them in milk (half milk half water works best).  If they are the kind you just add hot water to, you could microwave some milk. 

I'd go for whatever fresh or canned fruit was available first, then raisins and/or nuts, or crunchy granola on top, then, if not available, as little of any of the sweeteners as possible. 

One or two servings depends on how hungry you are.  I'd do just one and fill up on whole wheat toast or any fruit available, just for variety.

I was thinking of this recipe, anyone know if it will taste good?

1 Packet regular oatmeal
1 Sm apple chopped up (I don't know if I will do this every morning, I've chopped an apple with the knives we are given, and it is kinda annoying)
1tbsp Honey or Maple Syrup
1tbsp Raisins
Then for a drink, 8oz of Skim Milk

Would this be a healthy way to start off the morning?

Because as of right now, I just use a packet of Weight Control oatmeal, one glass of skim milk and a piece of fruit (change it every morning: apple, orange, banana, pineapple, pears, fruit salad, variety is good :) )

Very healthy, and delicious too!  It's good that you put so much thought into your choices.

If you get a chance you may want to try Steel Cut Oats instead of the processed oatmeal you are using.  This may be difficult due to your being at school.   Steel cut oats are really the best of the best when it come to getting the most out of a whole grain oat.  Of all of the varieties of oats on the market (rolled oats, instant oats, quick oats, etc.) steel cut oats are the best choice.  Steel cut oats maintain all of the nutrients from the whole grain oat as they are simply whole oat groats that have been cut into small pieces.  Steel Cut Oats are a rich source of soluble fiber, protein, and vitamins, as well as other nutrients like selenium, thiamin, phosphorous, and manganese. Just three grams of soluble fiber from oatmeal daily in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease. A thirty day regimen of 1 bowl a day of oatmeal will actually aid the body in removal of cholesterol.  Steel cut oats are a great way to supplement a diet targeted at maintaining a healthy digestive tract and a healthy heart.