Oatmeal -- what's your fave brand, and best way to fix it?

I keep reading how oatmeal is so good for you, what with all the fiber and grains, so I want to try it but it always seems to taste like ... well ... dirt to me.  LOL.   I DO like the Quaker Oat Instant Oatmeal packets but those have tons of sugar in them and I'm not sure that's the best for someone trying to stay nutritious. 

Any good ideas?  How do you eat your oatmeal?  What do you put on it?  What brands do you like?   And really, IS oatmeal all that healthy or are there better breakfast options?  Thanks!

I know that this will sound weird, but I eat my whole flake oatmeal raw with plain yogurt a cut up banana and a drizzle of honey.
I just do not care for it cooked unless it is covered in brown sugar and I am trying to give up sugar.

I prefer steel cut oats. Here's an article about oatmeal, more information about steel cut oats near the end:
http://www.formerfatguy.com/articles/oatmeal/ oats.asp

And I too, like it with yogurt or soymilk with strawberries. Mayble a little maple syrup (the good stuff).

I like to get irish oats, also labelled as steel-cut oats. It looks like grains of broken brown rice, kind of, and I think the taste and texture is *so* much better than regular rolled oats (which can be kind of pasty to me). Usually I toast the grains (just shake them gently over heat until they start to smell nutty), then boil them with a mixture of milk and water with a little salt, stirring every so often until almost thick. If you let them sit uncovered for about 5 minutes the whole thing thickens beautifully and comes together almost like pudding and when you eat it the grains have a little bite and then burst in your mouth. Sooo delicious. I like to top mine with a sprinkle of cinnnamon and chopped figs and just a little honey.

Hmm, I must try this "steel cut" oats. I just buy some generic brand rolled oats like Quaker's. Instead of microwaving it for convenience, I do it with milk, sweeten it with honey or brown sugar. Sometimes I add nutmeg and/or cinnamon to it but I usually go for bananas.

-Lemon Jello

One more thing - If you want to try something other than oatmeal, you can always make your own fruit and yogurt parfaits at home. Just get whatever yogurt flavor you like and layer it with some fresh fruit and granola (get it in bulk to save money or make your own mix at home). You can pretty much eat anything you like for breakfast as long as it's balanced and nutritious. Sometimes I just smear chunky natural peanut butter on some whole grain toast or bagel and have a glass of milk. I've also been known to toss egg whites, soy sausage and low fat cheese into a tortilla with some salsa and call it good. I like blended smoothies, too, with some protein powder.

Old fashioned rolled oats, steel cut oats, or whole oats.  I like a spoonful of brown or demarara sugar, some dried fruits, and a tablespoon of two of flaxseed meal.  I cook mine in fat free milk, not water.  It makes a very filling breakfast. I also like blueberries on top.

I haven't had oatmeal in the longest time, but I just had a craving for it now... Maybe I'll try having a bit tomorrow. I got oat bran on sale from the store, and it's supposed to be like oatmeal.

If you're looking to flavo your oatmeal, instead of bumping the calories with syrup or honey, try cinnamon! 18 calories, 14% DV iron, and 3.7g fiber per tbsp (I really doubt you'd use that much since it packs so much flavor). Also, top with those blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries. Throw on cold, or zap in the microwave for a fruity syrup to drizzle on! :)

McCann's Irish oatmeal w/ 1/4 cup skin milk, 1 pack splenda, and a handful of blueberries. You literally cannot get a better combo and i am not one to like artificial sweetener!

I bought some of the mccann's the other day and it is really good!!  I just make mine with skim milk insteadof water.  Splenda and sometimes milled flax seed or flax seed oil added to it.  I never have been a fruit in my cereal type.  

I always buy Quaker's old fashioned oatmeal, and cook it in the microwave, because it's faster than on the stove.  I have a few different ways I make it.  I always add Splenda, because I like it sweet, but you don't have to.

-Cinnamon

-Cinnamon and toasted walnuts

-Bananas and toasted walnuts

-Peanut butter (I use PB2)

-PB2 and bananas

-Vanilla almond (1/4 tsp vanilla extract and a few sliced almonds)

-Plain with just some Smart Balance Light and some Splenda

-Peach oatmeal (1/2 cup of peach slices microwaved with a little sweetner so it tastes just like peach cobbler, then mix it in with the oatmeal)

The possibilities are endless!

I just started eating "steel cut" and now the other tastes mushy and over processed.

I don't put milk on it,  a handfull of frozen blueberries, which thaw immediatly, or a handful of raisins and that's it.  Sometimes a pk of natural sweeter, Stevia, if I'm in the mood for something a little sweeter.

Since it takes longer to cook I fix extra and heat the rest later, in the microwave.

My favorite is steel cut, but I eat Quaker Old Fashioned if I'm in a hurry because it only takes 5 minutes on the stove. I also like the Bob's Red Mill multigrain hot cereals.

Regardless of which type of oatmeal I'm eating, I put in 1/4 cup raisins (regular and golden mixed) with a few hits of cinnamon.

i get the old fashioned quaker oats. cook about .5 cup in one cup of water over the stove. i always add almonds with a small banana, or strawberries, or cinnamon. sometimes i'll just eat it with a piece of toast.

I know you said you're trying to stay away from the Quaker Instant Oatmeal, but the Apples & Cinnamon packets taste SO GOOD with pieces of real cubed apple added...

...mmm...

I make my oatmeal with 3/4 cup of vanilla soymilk and cinnamon. I just use plain ol' quaker oats.  :)

This may be insulting 'cause it sounds like most of you are die hard cooks and don't like the instant, but I was looking for a low cal oatmeal to add to my breakfast rotation. I found sugar free brown sugar and cinnamon instant, generic oatmeal. I love it! ( : It's only 100 calories, so I do some Egg Beaters or something too, but yum! I add a little more water than it says, so I get more, it's sweet enough it sometimes serves as my healthy snacky dessert later in the day if I still have calories I need, and it's filling and good for me! YAY! 

The only problem I have with the instant is the sodium they always seem to have to add.  I have borderline hypertension and need to stay away from added salt - so that is why I cook mine from the real deal vs instant prepackaged stuff.  Just my reason for cooking.

I love peaches and cream packet oatmeal but way more sugar that I'd prefer so I now buy the box of the packets of just regular flavor, add a packet of splenda and a few shakes of cinnamon and it's quick and delicious breakfast! 

I have peaches in the fridge and just imagined them in my oatmeal -- tomorrow's breakfast for sure. ( :

I have fresh and frozen -- thoughts?

I could write some serious poetry about my love affair with oatmeal. I switched to steel cut a couple of months ago and there's no going back to the flakes! I have a small crock pot that I cook up 3-4 days worth in, then reheat EVERY morning. When I cook them, I generally add a tiny bit of vanilla extract and a couple of packets of stevia(I recently cut out artificial sweeteners) Upon reheating, I either chop an apple and cook with the oatmeal plus cinnamon, or just a couple ounces of frozen blueberries. I like the blueberries, because I just dump them in the steaming bowl of oatmeal, stir them in, and they cool off the oatmeal while thawing the berries. That way I can eat my oatmeal almost immediately out of the microwave. Sometimes I throw in almonds or walnuts, if I feel like spending the calories. But for me...the simplicity of the oatmeal and fruit is MAGNIFICENT!!