How to Turn Your Oatmeal Into a Gourmet Breakfast Treat

You know how hearty and nutritious a warm bowl of oatmeal can be in the morning. Unfortunately, if you eat this heart healthy grain every morning for breakfast without varying the recipe, you run the risk of becoming bored. Why not turn your boring morning oatmeal into a healthy and delicious breakfast treat? Here are some ideas and recipes to jazz up your morning oatmeal:

1. Why use only cow's milk on your oatmeal? Try choosing one of the alternative milks such as almond milk, rice milk, goat milk, or soy milk for a different variation. Why eat your oatmeal dessert style by adding chocolate milk?
   
2. Add a butter to your oatmeal such as almond butter, hazelnut butter, peanut butter, or tahini. Adding a teaspoon of regular, dairy butter to your morning oatmeal can also make it taste more creamy.
   
3. Sweeten your oatmeal and give it added flavor with jams and jellies. You can add a bit of applesauce of apple butter for added fruit flavor. The antioxidants found in the fruits will give your breakfast additional health value.
   
4. Have you seen all the flavors of yogurt on your grocery store shelves these days? Why not stir a few spoonfuls into your oatmeal? Not only will it taste delicious, you'll benefit from the added vitamins and calcium.
   
5. If you have trouble getting an adequate intake of protein each day, try adding a serving of protein powder to your morning oatmeal. This idea will add a real power boost to your breakfast.
   
6. Fresh fruit is particularly delicious on oatmeal. Try adding fresh strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, sliced bananas, peaches, pears, or pineapple. With all that natural fruit sweetness, you may not need to add sugar.
   
7. Go a little nuts by adding walnuts, almonds or pecans to your morning oatmeal. For a different taste, try adding sugar or cinnamon glazed nuts.
8. Sweeten your oatmeal with a bit of maple syrup in place of your usual sugar
9. Have you tried coffee syrups in your oatmeal? These syrups not only sweeten your oatmeal but add additional flavor. Visit your local coffee store and discover the amazing array of flavors available in coffee syrups. Some of the best flavors for your oatmeal include almond, raspberry, coconut, caramel, and hazelnut, although you'll find many more.
   
10. Experiment with the many breakfast cereals on the market by adding them to your oatmeal. Granola is an obvious choice but why not increase the health value of your breakfast by adding bran flakes or Grape Nuts? With all the cereal brands available, you can design endless oatmeal variations.
11. For added health benefits, add a few teaspoons of flaxseed or wheat germ to your daily oatmeal.
12. Don't forget the spices. A dash of cinnamon or nutmeg can really add additional flavor.

Now you can have the health benefits of oatmeal for breakfast and have it taste delicious too. Give some of these oatmeal recipes and ideas a try and you'll never settle for plain oatmeal again.