Peanut Butter and Honey Oatmeal

Since school days have begun in our house, I’m always looking for quick, easy breakfasts that are loved by the entire family.  

I try to cook a variety of meals, not only to prevent boredom but also to provide a variety of nutrients that are found in different foods.

When choosing grains, one of the most important nutrient components I look for is the amount of fiber.  To be considered “high fiber,” a food must have at least 5 grams per serving.  

And this recipe fits that criteria with 6 grams of fiber for every cup of oatmeal.

Thankfully my husband has loved oatmeal his entire life and has encouraged us non-oatmeal lovers (me) to give it a try.  

Well, I have to say I am so glad he did since not only is oatmeal high in fiber but it’s also extremely satisfying, especially with the few additions in this recipe.

On these brisk cold mornings, oatmeal is the perfect warm, satisfying meal to start your day off right.

We have perfected this oatmeal through trial and error—not a recipe.  So I’ll start by giving the quick guide to our method, but you can also find details in the recipe below.

First, I use a large microwaveable bowl and fill it about three-quarters full with dry oats and add an ample serving of raisins

Next, I add water to the bowl to just above the oats and raisins.

Now in our home, we love our oatmeal thick and hearty (meaning cookie dough-like texture, no runniness in our oatmeal).  So depending on how you like your oatmeal, you may want to add more water to your bowl before cooking it.  Of course, you could always add milk instead of water for some added calcium, but since our kids consume adequate amounts of dairy throughout the day, we stick to water to help keep the calories in-check for my husband and myself.

Next, microwave cook it for 17 minutes at about 40%.  Make sure you let it cool before removing it from the microwave (it’s ridiculously HOT!).  Finally, add peanut butter and honey* to the oatmeal and you have a hearty, nutritious breakfast your whole family will enjoy.

Now on occasion, JP will ask to add chocolate chips to the oatmeal so that adds a bit of excitement and variety to the breakfast as well.

© 2014 Kristy Hegner