question about oatmeal

i have oatmeal 3 times a day... so quick to make and i love it. my work schedule really prevents me from being able to have anything else, so pretty much i make the quaker instant apples and cinnamon and a regular flavor packet together, 3 times a day. i know oatmeal is a decently healthy food... but is that not healthy eating that much oatmeal? i have a 6in. subway turkey sandwich (wheat bread with no cheese or sauce/dressing) and an apple for lunch and dinner, and an apple snack between the two. its about 1600 cals a day, which is my goal... what do you guys think? is this healthy? thanks in advance.

It depends what kind of oatmeal you're having. Look it up on here according to brand, there are some brands that have alot more sugar than others. It's healthy, however, try replacing one of your oatmeal servings with something else. A healthy diet has a variety of foods. When you always eat the same foods, you only get those nutrients and vitamins. Switch the fruit around every now and then, and be sure to get some good veggies on your sub - maybe a side salad or fruit cup. Otherwise, good job!

oatmeal can be very balanced if you put alot of different things in it, like fruits and milk.

oatmeal is good, but try plain rolled oats (or steel cut) and add yoru own flvaours. Besides saving you money, its prolly healthier. And much more ufn. ROlled oats only take about 2-3 min in the microwave and you can have much better concoctions - like with banana, thats real and mushy. Mmmm

Oatmeal is good for you, (like really good for you, someone suggested 7 1/2 cups serves of oatmeal or similar (brown rice etc.) a day) but you need variety too. :)

I used to not like oatmeal but now I do.  (I started out with the cheap generic stuff that tasted like glue and then switched to a name brand)

Do you make the oatmeal with water or milk?  I've tried 2% milk in mine and it doesn't taste any different but I feel better knowing that I've gotten some calcium for the day.  Haven't tried it with skim, that's next on my list.

Sometimes I will throw in a handful of trail mix, dried berries or nuts into the oatmeal just to give it a little something special.  That really depends on my CC for the day.  Make sure you drink plenty of water to help with the increase in fiber. :)


Cheers!

i made me and my mom oatmeal this morning, threw some cinnamon + brown sugar and rasins and let it simmer, it came out great!

i like to top mine with ice cold milk.

What about your vegetables?  Do you eat any at all.  You should be having 5 servings a day, plus 2 or 3 servings of fruit.  If you eat oatmeal that often your diet is going to be unbalanced.

I love oatmeal, but I don't eat that prepackaged kind. 

Steel cut oats are my favorite breakfast.  I make them with vanilla soy milk and frozen raspberries (the ones without sugar added, thank you very much!!).  It's delicious, filling, and gets an A here.  But the rest of the day I don't generally eat many carbs, maybe a piece of homemade bread or some noodles or brown rice for dinner.  Lots of beans and vegetables.  Oatmeal is good for you, but you definitely need to change it up.

yeah, eating it all day isnt recommened, but for breakfast, with some milk and fruit, its one the best things you CAn have, much better than bacon and tons of cheese.

also oatmeal gives me ton of long term energy before i work out, etc. (infact most complex carbs do the same for me)

i love oatmeal too. i hope you are getting enough variety in your diet. oatmeal is good, id say a serving a day is excellent, but have different foods for lunch and dinner, different fruits for your snack and switch up your sandwiches. variety gives you the nutrients and vitamins you need.

If you're going to eat Quaker oatmeal, try the weight control kind.  It has extra protein and fiber to keep you fuller longer.  I also like Organic Oat's & Flax instant oatmeal from Trader Joe's.  Steel cut oatmeal is probably the best for you, but I haven't been able to find any that is instant, and I just don't have time to stand over the stove and stir for 20 minutes.  ;-)

I eat steel cut oats every morning.  I cook it with water and only add frozen blueberries, cinnamon, nutmeg and ground flax seed.  I wouldnt eat it 3 times a day though. 

Why dont you make food in the evening and take it to work for lunch the next day?  And eating more veg and some fruit would be healthier than oatmeal 3 times a day.  :)

oatmeal is really good for you, but be careful as oats are reallly high in calories. I absolutely love it, and was addicted for a while, i even eat rolled oats on there own sometimes, mixed with raisins it tastes yummy, its like making your own muesli. I think it is a bit addictive though, as i tend to binge on it sometimes..but i think it is better to eat something like that for a snack than chocolate or something.

I make my rolled oats with skim milk and add 2 tblspoons of milled flax seed to it.  I don't care for the instant stuff and flavored as its high in sugar.  If you have to have flavored do as the others suggest and add your own fresh.

I cook mine in the micrawave too, just be sure to watch it and use a very large bowl as it will overflow. The milled flax seed helps prevent this too and adds a nice crunch flavor.

On the Weight Watchers "Core" food plan you can eat as much oatmeal as you want.  The core plan doesn't use pts its just eat till you are "satisified" not full or "stuffed".

I also agree with the others you need to add some vegetables to your foods.  Munch on carrots or brocoli and stuff.

When you cook old-fashioned oatmeal in the microwave, it does best when you cook it at 50% power for 5-6 minutes.  It doesn't boil over that way and is so very good.  I love oatmeal with a little salt instead of sugar (think grits if you're a southern girl).  Sometimes I cut up apple and put in just as it finishes cooking.

I find that if I use a large enough bowl and microwave on less than 50% for a longer time, my oatmeal comes out perfect with no boil over.  I do put a paper plate under the bowl just in case. 

Just me, but I think you need to have a look at your protein intake, are you getting it from any other source beside the Subway sandwich?

I always add cottage cheese to my oatmeal to up the protein level.

Yeah, I'd jsut watch you're getting all your vitamins and minerals - the whole variety. Try using different fruits, not just apple.

My fav oats fruits - banana (number 1!!!), apple, strawberries (both cooked with it, and raw, on top), blueberries, dried apricots, dried, pitted prunes

Other things to help boost its nutrition - walnuts, bran, almonds, wheat-germ, soy milk, mayple syrup (real stuff), egg white (sounds odd I know, but its good for protein. Just bing your microwave and add the egg white. Makes it really smooth and creamy, tho you may want another flavour in there too)

Kiwifruit + oats = no no